Differences Between My Best Friend and I free essay sample

It is difficult to accept that my closest companion Kelly and I have a heaps of contrasts. Despite the fact that, we love each other we are totally extraordinary As a part of our characters, work understanding and how we deal with our family. We both have incredible characters. Kelly and I have been companions since I was 5 years of age. We went to a similar school and remained In a similar class until we went to secondary school. For instance, Kelly Is neighborly and she has an incredible cleverness. She Is friendly and love to chat with various individuals , even individuals she just Met . The other hand, I am exceptionally bashful and genuine sort of individual. I don't prefer to chat with others. For these explanation is difficult for me to make new Friend . To show that ,when we are welcome to our neighbor birthday celebration , so we went to celebrate with his loved ones. We will compose a custom article test on Contrasts Between My Best Friend and I or then again any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page The gathering was loaded with outsiders and Kelly started to chat with those outsiders. Everything I did was seat in the table alone and trust that somebody will converse with me. Kelly came and begin to acquaint me with her new companions .I feel so pleased with her , in such a case that wasnt for her , I never have the fierceness to acquaint myself with them. Another model, Is that Kelly and I have various types of works . She fills in as secretary and I function as housekeeper - She had this extraordinary Job In Boston as secretary . Alt Is close to her home, she has an incredible compensation and a month of get-away paid each year - Her Job Is so natural and she Just need to pick up the telephone ,book arrangements and be in the workplace the entire day. In any case, I function as housekeeper , it is difficult work by cleaning others filthy houses.One of the issues is cap I spend a great deal of cash on gas, cleaning items and vacuum fixes. My pay isn't steady it depends in what number of houses I clean each week. Paid get-away forget about it . At long last is our Family, that is the best and significant blessing that anybody can have . Kelly and I have a superb family, we both have children and we have been hitched for a long time. Kelly has two young men and one young lady, their names are Robert 10 years of age, Nicholas 8 years of age and Amanda 4 years of age . Have three children as well ,least fatty, I have two young ladies kern 9 years of age, Sarah 4 years of age and a kid he Is 12 ears old. We both love Our family without question and we value remaining along with our family . Despite the fact that, Kelly like to remain at home and be imaginative with her children by doing makes exercises . 1 like to head outside and play with them . The previous winter we went to Jockeys Park and our children got the opportunity to play together and they made some awesome memories - When the recreation center was shutting we chose to rest at the inn inside the recreation center, again that was the best part for Kelly stay inside.Besides our disparities , we both have a magnificent family and we generally share tit each other approaches to bring up and teach our children. After the entirety of our disparities we despite everything closest companions Differences Between My Best Friend and I By Joked It is difficult to accept that my closest companion Kelly and I have a loads of contrasts. Indeed, even remained in a similar class until we went to secondary school. For instance, Kelly is well disposed and she has an incredible amusingness. She is cordial and love to converse with various individuals , even individuals she Just Met . A the other hand, I am exceptionally modest and to her new companions .I feel so glad for her , in such a case that wasnt for her , I never have the Another model, is that Kelly and I have various types of works . She fills in as secretary and I function as housekeeper . She had this extraordinary Job in Boston as secretary . Alt is close to her home, she has an incredible pay and a month of get-away paid each year . Her Job is so natural and she Just need to pick up the telephone ,book as well ,rather, I have two young ladies kern 9 years of age, Sarah 4 years of age and a kid he is 12 time . At the point when the recreation center was shutting we chose to rest at the inn inside the recreation center.

Essay on Belief and Trans Verb

Paper on Belief and Trans Verb Paper on Belief and Trans Verb reinforce: TRANS VERB to urge or loan backing to. Syn: square, sabotage Her words reinforced me in those dull occasions. abundant: ADJ liberal in giving; liberal. Insect: parsimonious, miserly Matt's plentiful commendations to his instructors consistently made him a most loved in the group uncover: TRANS VERB to cause known; to uncover Ant: cover, stow away, smother The columnist was reluctant to reveal the name of her source. narrow minded: ADJ affirming convictions and feelings as if they were demonstrated realities. Matt's stubborn discourse, in spite of the fact that feeling based, was extremely persuading ambitious: ADJ strong, vivacious, and loaded with activity. Insect: sluggish, unenterprising, unoriginal Because of her ambitious mentality, Mary was picked by her educators as Student of the Month. light up: TRANS VERB to clarify or justifiable; explain; clarify. Insect: confound, obscure, cloud The commentaries help to light up the content. to offer information to; edify Will you light up us with regards to your goals? uprightness: NOUN a solid feeling of genuineness and profound quality; solidness of good and moral character. Insect: contemptibility He indicated extraordinary trustworthiness when he would not lie for his manager. assemble: TRANS VERB to get together or call forward (regularly followed by up). He summoned up the entirety of his quality and pushed the truck over. essential: ADJ fundamentally significant or pivotal; on which something is unexpected It is crucial to your scholastic accomplishment to keep steady over your schoolwork assignments.

Effect Of Facebook On Academic Performance

Impact Of Facebook On Academic Performance THE IMPACT OF FACEBOOK ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Presentation Facebook is rule potential â€places among youth uncommonly understudies. A large portion of understudies are investing more energy in utilizing Facebook which is lead to affect time spending in training. This exploration is going to examine whether Facebook sway on students’ execution or not in SLIATE. The SLIATE (Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education) is one of the main instructive establishments in Sri Lanka for advanced education and is a legal body going under the domain of Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education. SLIATE has been built up by the Parliament Act 29 of 1995 concentrating on encouraging Advanced Technical Education at a post-optional level and its head is Director General designated by the bureau. It is commanded to build up Advanced Technical Institute (ATI) in each region for both Engineering and Business Studies. (http://www.sliate.net/about.htm) Foundation OF THE STUDY These days the greater part of people groups use Facebook to make informal community among individuals everywhere throughout the world. Furthermore, understudies additionally investing the greater part of their energy in such internet based life called Facebook. Facebook.com (Facebook), the most well known and generally utilized online informal organization Web website, has made energy among undergrads in present day years. Understudies are become very enthusiasm for online long range interpersonal communication. â€Å"Online informal community locales, for example, Facebook function as a significant diversion for students. Facebook, the most well known informal community site, was explicitly intended for students and is the most ordinarily utilized. In this way, time spent on Facebook may influence scholarly execution. For instance, time spent on Facebook may legitimately influence as well as sensible the students’ scholarly execution. Target OF THE STUDY A definitive reason for this investigation will analyze the utilization of Facebook climate it is sway on students’ scholarly execution or not. The center research question of this study is: what is the impact of online person to person communication website, Facebook, having on students’ scholastic execution (Examination Marks)? As it were does time going through (get to) consistently on Facebook significantly affect scholarly execution (Examination Marks)? Notwithstanding that this study going to test do Sex, age and status of the understudy sway on scholastic execution on them? Essentialness OF THE STUDY The school homeroom is accustomed to conveying the item (understudy training) of the school. The target of instruction is to have understudies learn and succeed. Along these lines, it is essential to know and see how understudy utilization of online informal community destinations (for example Facebook) influences scholastic achievement. In this way, a basic assessment of the effect of Facebook on scholastic execution is extremely fundamental. This valuable introduction to support understudies, instructor, educators and scholarly pioneers. Understudies, extraordinarily, can show signs of improvement comprehend the results of Facebook site use on instructive execution. Instructor, educators and scholarly pioneers can get esteemed comprehension and data about the connection between the understudies time spend on Facebook and how it influences students’ scholastic execution. Likewise, academicians can be get solid and steady to guide and tutor understudies with respect to the negative effects of Facebook destinations on their scholarly exhibition. System This exploration is intended to test the effect of utilizing Facebook on understudy scholarly achievement and execution in their test. Research can clarify through the assortment of numerical information, which is then examined utilizing electronic factual bundle. With study explore, I can choose a gathering of respondents, gather information, and examine the information to address the exploration question. I have gathered quantitative just as subjective information from an example utilizing poll procedure. This examination is a fitting examination apparatus for making summed up understandings about a huge gathering of individuals dependent on information gathered from fewer people from that gathering. Populace AND SAMPLE The populace for this investigation is Higher National Diploma 2009 Batch understudies of SLIATE, Kandy. The students’ scholarly execution is assessed through definite imprints taken by understudies in Strategic Financial Management. The autonomous variable is utilization of Facebook consistently. This information was taken from the separate understudy through little examiner during the class. Besides some segment information likewise have been gathered, for example, sexual orientation, age, and understudy status climate full time or low maintenance. They portrayed the example qualities. The understudy (test) chose the appropriate responses from the review that best depicted them. Information ANALYSIS I utilized SPSS 16.0 to play out the measurable investigation. Fundamental recurrence investigations were directed utilizing segment data. The inquiries were investigated utilizing elucidating factual dissecting methods. Enlightening measurements was another factual method which is utilized in this examination to characterize the mean, least worth, most extreme worth, and standard deviation for all the segment factors. SPSS is introduced in tables and outlines. In particular the center research question’s answer is tried by utilizing Independent Samples Test and ANOVA test likewise is proceeded as measurable strategy. I utilized this strategy to discover the effect of utilizing (investing energy consistently) Facebook on student’s execution, by looking at implies stamps between student’s who are investing time in Facebook and who are most certainly not. So I utilized SPSS 16.0 to investigate measurement and decipher the outcome. This examination is proposed to po int out and attention to the effect of utilizing Facebook on students’ scholarly execution. Discoveries This segment is available the yield produced by SPSS 16 from information gathered for study. Table 1 speaks to the complete number of respondents remembered for the example of 106 understudies. Among them 45 understudies are investing energy in Facebook consistently which speak to 42.5%. Yet, 61 understudies (57.5%) are not investing energy in Facebook consistently. Table 2 speaks to the status of the understudies, for example, regardless of whether full time or Part time understudies. 43 understudies are participating in Full Time and 63 understudies are occupied with low maintenance course. Table 3 speaks to the absolute example comprise of 64 understudies are female (60.4%) and 42 understudies are male (39.6%). Table 4 speaks to the age gathering of the example. 68% of the example understudies speaks to the age gathering of 25 Years. 15.1 % of understudies in 26 years age gathering. Other age bunches are roughly like 10%. Table 5 speaks to synopsis of respondents. 11 female and 10 male Fulltime understudies, and 16 female and 8 Male low maintenance understudies are investing energy in Facebook consistently. In any case, 11 female and 11 male Fulltime understudies, and 26 female and 13 Male low maintenance understudies are not investing energy in Facebook consistently. Table: 6 speaks to the expressive insights of the example with a variable of Facebook use on student’s execution which is spoken to by Marks. The understudies mean denotes the individuals who are investing energy in Facebook is 77.36. At 95% certainty level the mean characteristics of the student’s lies between 74.52 to 80.19 imprints. Be that as it may, there is a 5% change to the mean imprints not exists in the range. Furthermore, the standard deviation of imprints is 9.432, middle is 78.00, ordinary dispersion is adversely slanted to left at - .592. The understudies mean denotes the individuals who are not investing energy in Facebook is 77.93. At 95% certainty level the mean signs of the understudies lies Between 75.96 to 79.91. Be that as it may, there is a 5% change to the mean imprints isn't lies in the range. What's more, the standard deviation of imprints is 7.726. , middle is 78.00, ordinary appropriation is adversely slanted to left at - .276. Trial of Normality H0: Student’s marks are regularly circulated H1: Student’s marks are not typically appropriated The Tests of Normality are appeared in the table 7. Here two tests for typicality. For dataset little than 2000 components, we utilize the Shapiro-Wilk test, in any case, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is utilized. For our situation, since we have just 106 components, the Shapiro-Wilk test is utilized. From the table Group Yes p-esteem is .040 and Group No p esteem is .294. So in bunch indeed, we can dismiss invalid speculation and we can reason that the information comes isn't ordinary dispersion. In any case, in the event of Group No, We can't dismiss the invalid speculation and reason that the information originates from a typical dissemination. Anyway when break down the Normal Q-Q plot of imprints in Figure: 1 Group yes is roughly ordinarily appropriated. So we can accept that information are ordinarily disseminated to utilize the autonomous example test. Figure: 1 Figure: 2 Figure: 3 Measurable Hypothesis H0: Student’s signs of two gatherings are equivalent ( µ=â µ) H1: Student’s signs of two gatherings are not equivalent ( µÃ¢â€° â µ) Research Hypothesis H0: Use of Facebook isn't fundamentally influence the students’ execution H1: Use of Facebook is essentially influence the students’ execution This table 8, speaks to the consequences of the free examples t-test. The Levene’s results had a F-measurement of 1.844 with a noteworthiness esteem (P) of 0.177. Since, P > ÃŽ ± (0.177 > .05), the two factors has measurably equivalent fluctuation disseminations. In this manner, we can utilize the primary line of t-test data to decide whether the two gathering mean imprints are measurably unique in relation to one another. The t-measurement esteem is - 0.347. The degrees of opportunity is 104. The 2-followed centrality esteem is 0.729. The contrast between the methods for two gathering is - 0.579 and the standard mistake of this distinction is 1.668. The 95% certainty interim of the distinction extended from - 3.887 to 2.729. Since P > ÃŽ ± (0.729> 0.05), we can't dismiss invalid theory for example there is no signifi

Marketing to the Bottom of the Pyramid Essay Example for Free

Advertising to the Bottom of the Pyramid Essay Teacher C. K. Prahalad’s fundamental distribution, The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, proposes a colossal market at the â€Å"bottom of the pyramid† (BOP)â€a gathering of somewhere in the range of 4 billion individuals who stay alive on under $2 per day. By certain appraisals, these â€Å"aspirational poor,† who make up three-fourths of the world’s populace, speak to $14 trillion in buying power, more than Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Japan set up. Demographically, it is youthful and developing at 6 percent a year or more. Generally, the poor have not been viewed as a significant market fragment. â€Å"The poor can’t manage the cost of most products†; â€Å"they won't acknowledge new technologies†; and â€Å"except for the most fundamental items, they have next to zero use for most items offered to higher pay advertise segments†Ã¢â‚¬these are a portion of the suspicions that have, up to this point, made most global firms give practically no consideration to those at the base of the pyramid. Commonplace market examination is constrained to urban territories, along these lines overlooking country towns where, in business sectors like India, most of the populace lives. In any case, as significant markets become progressively serious and at times saturatedâ€with the subsequent ever-diminishing benefit margins†promoting to the base of the pyramid may have genuine potential and be deserving of investigation. One scientist proposed that American and European organizations ought to return and take a gander at their own underlying foundations. Burns, Roebuck was made to serve the lower-pay, inadequately settled provincial market. Artist sewing machines molded a plan to make utilization conceivable by permitting clients to pay $5 every month rather than $100 without a moment's delay. The world’s biggest organization today, Walmart, was made to serve the lower-pay showcase. Here are a couple of instances of global organization endeavors to defeat the difficulties in promoting to the BOP. Structuring items for the BOP isn't tied in with making cheapâ stuff yet about creation innovatively propelled items moderate. For instance, one organization was enlivened to develop the Freeplay, a windup self-powerâ€generating radio, when it discovered that separated, ruined individuals in South Africa were not getting data about AIDS on the grounds that theyâ had no power for radios and couldn't bear the cost of substitution batteries. BOP MARKETING REQUIRES Trend setting innovation The BOP showcase has a requirement for trend setting innovation, yet toâ be usable, framework bolster should regularly go with theâ technology. For instance, ITC, a $2.6 billion every year Indian combination, chose to make a system of PC stands in towns. For a considerable length of time, ITC led its business with ranchers through a labyrinth of delegates, from specialists to dealers. The organization needed ranchers to have the option to associate legitimately to data sources to check ITC’s offer cost for produce, just as costs in the nearest town advertise, in the state capital, and on the Chicago items trade. With direct access to data, ranchers got the best cost for their item, crowds ofâ intermediaries were avoided, and ITC increased an immediate contact with the ranchers, along these lines improving the effectiveness of ITC’s soybean procurement. To accomplish this objective, it needed to do considerably more than simply circulate PCs. It needed to give gear to overseeing power blackouts, sunlight based boards for additional power, and a satellite-based phone hookup, and it needed to prepare ranchers to utilize the PCs. Without these means, the PCs could never have worked. The intricate arrangement serves ITC well indeed. Presently moreâ than 10,000 towns and more than 1 million ranchers are secured by its framework. ITC can pay more to ranchers and simultaneously cut its expenses since it has drastically decreased the wasteful aspects in coordinations. The immense market for PDAs among those at the BOP isâ not for telephones costing $200 or even $100 yet for telephones costing under $50. Such a telephone can't just be a chopped down variant of a current handset. It must be entirely dependable and have loads of battery limit, as it will be utilized by individuals who don't have solid access to power. Motorola went careful four overhauls to build up a minimal effort mobile phone withâ battery life up to 500 hours for residents without customary power and an extra-boisterous volume for use in loud markets. Motorola’s minimal effort telephone, a nitty gritty mobile phone evaluated at $40, makes some backup memories of about fourteen days and adjusts to nearby dialects and customs. The PDA maker says it hopes to sell 6 million PDAs in a half year in business sectors including China, India, and Turkey. BOP MARKETING REQUIRES Inventive FINANCING There is additionally interest for PCs yet once more, at low costs. To address the issues of this market, Advanced Micro Devices showcases a $185 Personal Internet communicatorâ€a essential PC for creating countriesâ€and a Taiwan Company offers a comparable gadget costing just $100. For most items, request is dependent upon the customerâ having adequate buying power. Organizations need to devise innovative approaches to help those at the BOP to fund bigger buys. For instance, Cemex, the world’s third-biggest concrete organization, perceived an open door for benefit by enablingâ lower-salary Mexicans to assemble their own homes. The company’s Patrimonio Hoy Program, a blend builder’s â€Å"club† and financing plan that objectives property holders who make under $5 per day, markets building packs utilizing its premiumgrade concrete. It enrolled 510 advertisers to convince new clients to focus on building increases to their homes. The clients paid Cemex $11.50 per week and got buildingâ materials like clockwork until the room was done (aboutâ 70 weeksâ€customers were all alone for the genuine structure). Albeit poor, 99.6 percent of the 150,000 Patrimonio Hoy members have taken care of their tabs in full. Patrimonio Hoy pulled in 42,000 new clients and is relied upon to turn a $1.5 million benefit one year from now. 8/27/10 2:14 PM Cases 3 Assessing Global Market Opportunities One client, Diega Chavero, thought the plan was a scamâ when she initially knew about it, however following eight years of being not able to sufficiently spare to grow the one-room home where her group of six lived, she was happy to have a go at anything. After four years, she has five rooms. â€Å"Now I have a palace.† Another obstacle to the advancement of little endeavors at the BOP is accessible wellsprings of satisfactory financing for microdistributors and growing business people. For quite a long time, those at the base of the pyramid requiring credits in India needed to rely upon neighborhood moneylenders, at financing costs up to 500 percent a year. ICICI Bank, the second-biggest financial foundation in India, considered these to be as a potential market and basic to its future. To change over them into clients in a savvy way, ICICI went to town self improvement gatherings. ICICI Bank met with microfinance-help bunches working withâ the poor and chose to give them funding to begin making little advances to the poorâ€at rates that run from 10 percent to 30 percent. This sounds usurious, however it is lower than the 10 percent day by day rate that some Indian advance sharks charge. Each gathering was made out of 20 ladies who were educated about sparing, obtaining, contributing, etc. Every lady adds to a joint investment account with different individuals, and dependent on the self improvement group’s track record of reserve funds, the bank at that point loans cash to the gathering, which thusly loans cash to its individual individuals. ICICI has created 10,000 of these gatherings arriving at 200,000 ladies. ICICI’s cash has helped 1 million families get credits that normal $120 to $140. The bank’s official registry says the endeavor has been â€Å"very profitable.† ICICI is working with nearby networks and NGOs to broaden its compass. BOP MARKETING REQUIRES Viable DISTRIBUTION When Unilever saw that many offices were loaning microcredit loansâ funds to poor ladies all over India, it believed that these would-be microentrepreneurs required organizations to run. Unilever acknowledged it couldn't offer to the base of the pyramid except if it discovered minimal effort approaches to appropriate its item, so it made a system of a huge number of Shakti Amma (â€Å"empowered mothers†) who sell Lever’s items in their towns through an Indian form of Tupperware parties. Start-up advances empowered the ladies to purchase loads of merchandise to offer to neighborhood townspeople. In one case, a lady who got a little credit had the option to reimburse her beginning up advance and has not expected to take another. She presently sells consistently to around 50 homes and even fills in as a miniwholesaler, loading minor shops in distant towns a short transport ride from her own. She sells around 10,000 rupees ($230) of merchandise every month, keeps about $26 benefit, and furrows the rest once more into new stock. While the $26 every month she acquires is not exactly the normal $40 month to month pay in the territory, she presently has pay, though before she didn't have anything. Today around 1,300 poor ladies are selling Unilever’s items in 50,000 towns in 12 states in India and record for around 15 percent of the company’s rustic deals in those states. Generally, country markets represent around 30 percent of the company’s income. In another model, Nguyen Van Hon works a skimming sundries distributorship along the Ke Sat River in Vietnam’s Mekong Deltaâ€a labyrinth of streams and channels specked with towns. His vessel is loaded up with boxes containing little bars of Lifebuoy cleanser andâ single-use sachets of Sunsilk cleanser and Omo clothing cleanser, which he offers to riverside businesspeople for as meager as 2.5 pennies each. At his first stop he makes conveyances to about six s

Stereotypes and Exploitation of Women in Invisible Man - Literature Essay Samples

In Invisible Man, the trope of invisibility functions as a criticism of racist American society, but it also encompasses the novels subtext of gender erasure. Both black and white females throughout the novel are underdeveloped and virtually invisible, constructed along a spectrum that replicates the classic duality in stereotypes of womenmother/Madonna or whore/seductress. The most notable white women represent the tabooed white female and are portrayed as highly sexualized and obsessed with the sexual stereotypes of black men. Black women are also seen as extremely sexual creatures, but those who are not overtly sexual automatically fall into the category of the nurturing mother figure. In the novel, both black and white women are blatantly stereotyped and are exploited and used by men who seek to further their own interests and desires.The white women that appear in the novel represent the taboo of the white female for black men, symbolized especially by Mr. Nortons daughter, Huberts wife, Emma, the sophisticated hostess at the Chthonian, and the Naked Blonde. The novels most notable white women are highly sexualized and are used by the novels men by means of that sexuality. These women, especially the Naked Blonde and Sybil, are thereby relegated to the role of the stereotypical white seductress who is attracted to the equally stereotypical notion of the primitive and animalistic sexual impulse of the black man. The Naked Blonde, with a small American flag tattooed upon her belly, (Ellison 19) dances for the narrator and the other black boys before the Battle Royal and is recognized as an obvious taboo by them. This woman, who ostensibly seems to be the American dream for every man, white or black, is actually taboo for all the men who watch her dance. For the narrator and the other black boys, the prospect of a naked white woman is horrifying and painfully shaming, knowing that she is completely forbidden to them and that the only purpose of her s ensuous dance is to make the boys squirm in anguish. For the white men the Naked Blonde is off-limits because she is a stripper and is therefore of a decidedly lower class then they are, which makes her unmarriageable. Their only access to her, then, is through paying her to arouse them. Thus the white men dominate her and control her sexuality through money, their higher class, and through their perceived male superiority.The Naked Blonde is completely aware of her sexuality and faintly [smiles] at [the] fear (20) of the black boys as she dances for them. Just as she serves as the stereotypical female seductress, she projects a similar stereotype onto the boys as she believes that they will not be able to control their primitive sexuality in the presence of her naked body. She smiles knowingly at their discomfort, aware that it is evidence of their attraction to her. The Naked Blonde is not only reduced to the role of seductress, but is used as a commodity by the white men to fulfill their own desires. As a stripper at a function put on by white males, the Naked Blondes purpose is to entertain, arouse, and follow the white mens orders, much like the function of the black boys. She is relegated to subhuman status by the white men, evidenced by the terror and disgust in her eyes as they chase her around the floor and toss her as college boys tossed at a hazing (20). The narrator himself describes her hair as yellow like that of a circus kewpie doll, (19) further augmenting the image of the Naked Blonde as a puppet of the rich whites, controlled by them to further their own wants.Similarly, Sybil, the white wife of a Brotherhood member, portrays a forbidden white female and also functions as the overly sexual white seductress. Sybil, in Greco-Roman mythology, was a siren who lured sailors to their death, advancing the image of Sybil as a white seductress. She admits to having rape fantasies involving black men, furthering the stereotype that black men cannot control their sexual impulses. She begs the narrator to threaten to kill her (518) and cries, Come on, beat me, daddyyouyou big black bruiserHurry up, knock me down! Dont you want me? (522). The narrator is put off by the way she sees him as Brother Taboo-with-whom-all-things-are-possible (517) and becomes disinterested in her, just as he is disinterested in the Naked Blonde because he is terrified by the taboo she represents. Sybil wants to use the narrator to fulfill her interracial rape fantasy, but he is only using her to get information about the Brotherhood. He admits that she is the type of woman who he would have avoided like the plague had her unhappiness and the fact that she was one of the big shots wives not made her a perfect choice (516).The narrator wants to use Emma in similar fashion, remembering that she was once attracted to him and thus deciding to use her to get information about the Brotherhoods plans. He remembers Emma in terms of her sexuality, r ecalling her bound breasts pressing against him and that teasing light in her eyes (512). Thinking of her boldness and the voicing of her opinion, he notes the resentment he had once felt for her. He likes her when she is sexual, but when she starts to speak and act on her own thoughts like a man he resents her. Later, noticing that she is so sexually turned on that she might willingly surrender herself (in order to satisfy herself), he decides not to pursue her any longer because she was far too sophisticated and skilled in intrigue toreveal anything important to him (515). The narrator is only using Emma to get what he wants from her, and once she has outlived her usefulness he abandons her.She is also used by the Brotherhood, who marginalize her by making her pour drinks for them, using her as their messenger by making her deliver the narrator a message, and by using her sexuality to help lure the narrator into joining the Brotherhood. Brother Jack warns Emma that the Brothe rhood wants to recruit the narrator and that she should make [him her] interest too, after which she asks him to dance (303). Emma is therefore another example of a white woman being used by men to further their own interests.The black women in Invisible Man are equally stereotyped, most forming to the classic female duality of mother/Madonna or whore/seductress. For example, Edna, Hester, and Charlene, the whores at the Golden Day, fall into the whore/seductress side of the spectrum. Edna admits to fantasizing about white men and jokingly propositions Mr. Norton: I sho do. I just love em. Now this one, old as he is, he could put his shoes under my bed any night (88). It can also be said that the prostitutes at the Golden Day portray maternal aspects as well, helping the narrator take care of the ill Mr. Norton. The exotic girl with a pleasant voice with a slightly husky edge who mistakes the narrator for Rinehart is also a seductress, as her speech makes it clear that she and Rinehart are sleeping together: No, daddy, dont look back; my old man might be cold trailing me. Just walk along beside me while I tell you where to meet me. I swear I thought youd never comee. Will you be able to see me tonight? (494). Also fitting the stereotype are the girls from Harlem, the best-looking girls who are commandeered as a squad of drum majoretteswho pranced and twirled just plain girled in the enthusiastic interest of the Brotherhood (380). Similar to the way that the novels white women are primarily used by the men, the majority of the black characters are exploited as well. This is particularly evident in the stereotypic black whores/seductresses. The whores at the Golden Day are obviously used by men for their sexuality; Rinehart is not only using the exotic girl for sex, but as she mistakenly tries to slip the narrator Rineharts money it becomes clear that he is using her as a cohort in his schemes as well; the girls in Harlem are procured simply to use thei r sexuality to arouse interest in the Brotherhood. Clearly, the stereotype of women as merely sexual creatures crosses color lines, encompassing both the novels black and white women, who are then exploited by the men around them2EOn the other side of the spectrum is the motherly/Madonna stereotype of black women found in the novel. The women characters that fit this stereotype are portrayed as nurturing, caretaking, and helpful. While this is not necessarily an offensive characterization as whore/seductress is, the act of stereotyping women into this duality of Madonna/whore serves to deny the diversity of black women in America. An example of this mother/Madonna stereotype is Sister Provo, the elderly woman being evicted from her home. The narrator describes her as a motherly-looking old woman (267) and states that her tears move him as when a child, seeing the tears of its parents, is moved by both fear and sympathy to cry (270). It can be said that Sister Provo and her hus band are being used by the white power structure, which is responsible for their eviction, to maintain its power and dominance over the black community. They are exercising their power over the poor minority culture and are using the couple to display the reach and strength of the authority that they yield. By taking their possessions, the white power structure is reinforcing the notion that it is in control of the lives of the blacks in America; it can give and take as it sees fit.Mirroring this scene is the one with Lottie, the pregnant wife of Dupre, who begs him not to burn down the tenement and who represents a mother figure, as does the nameless mother with the children who also inhabit the tenement. In this scene, the angry mob is displacing its anger at the white power structure onto their own community, burning down their own tenements. These women become victims of this misdirected anger as a mob of drunk, chaotic men destroy their homes.Also fitting the mother/Madonna stereotype are the duped Sisters from Rineharts church and Jim Truebloods wife and daughter. While both of the Trueblood women are pregnant and are therefore mother figures, the daughter Mattie Lou functions as a seductress as well, evidenced when Jim Trueblood refers to her as a whore: maybe sometimes a man can look at a little ole pigtail gal and see him a whore (59). The Sisters from Rineharts church are used by Rinehart in one of his many schemes involving his shifting identities, and the Trueblood women are banished to the periphery as their voice is never heard outside the story of a man. Neither white nor male, these women are treated as invisible and their version of the story is never told. Kates violent reaction to finding her husband on top of their daughter is the only time that the female perspective is interjected into Jim Truebloods recounting of the events, and Jim primarily thinks in terms of his own survival instead of the suffering he has caused his family: Except that my wife and daughter wont speak to me, Im better off than I ever been before (67). The act is judged by an audience of men, including Mr. Norton and the narrator, the school administrators, and other powerful white men. Mr. Norton even pays Jim Trueblood for telling his story; clearly, it is the Trueblood women who have been used and victimized.The only memorable black woman who is positively portrayed and given any kind of depth and development is Mary Rambo, the kind woman who acts as mother/Madonna by taking in and healing the narrator after the explosion at the paint factory. Mary is a nonsexual big dark woman (251) who offers to take care of [the narrator] like [she] done a heap of others (252). A man nearby then praises Marys maternal instincts: You in good hands, daddy, Miss Mary always helping somebody and you need some help (253). As her name suggests, Mary represents the saintly mother of Jesus, doing everything she can to support the narrator and, in effe ct, adopting him as her surrogate son. Mary pushes the narrator to learn from and embrace his past, and he comes to think of her not as a friend, but as something morea force, a stable, a familiar force like something out of my past which kept me from whirling off into some unknown which I dared not face (258). Mary reminds him that he can and is expected to become something in life. Soon, though, the narrator meets Brother Jack and joins the Brotherhood, and he begins to see Mary differently. He becomes ashamed and embarrassed of her, and his vain attempt to dispose of the cast-iron bank is symbolic of the narrators attempt to shatter her image. The bank, like Mary, represents a part of his heritage that the narrator wants to forget. He begins to complain about her cooking and starts to notice the noise, poverty, and filth of her home, as indicated by the banging on the pipes, the smell of cabbage, and the invasion of roaches. Marys language turns from concern to the stereot ypical nagging of a mother: Boy, when you come home? [] Then where you going so soon, aint you going to eat supper? [] What kind of business you got on a cold night like this? (297-298). The narrator begins to feel uneasy and guilty under Marys restrictive gaze, and she becomes another situation that the narrator must leave in order to find his identity.When the narrator at last leaves Marys home, she appears no more in the novel except in the narrators thoughts and memories. She becomes an abstraction that the narrators consciousness invokes when he is in trouble and in need of motherly guidance. In fact, Mary regains her helpfulness and reaches the full power of her position as mother/Madonna after she is removed from the novel. The narrator leaves Marys home without even saying goodbye, confident that she will be fine. Just like the other women in the novel, Mary has been used by men and discarded when she proves to be no longer useful. The narrator no longer needs Mary in the flesh, for he can conjure her up in his mind whenever he needs her.Women in Invisible Man are conspicuously underdeveloped and stereotyped along two extremes of the spectrum, denying the diversity and complexity of the female gender. The narrators encounters with white women suggest that he primarily understands them as forbidden objects of desire, but a closer examination of the white female characters in the novel indicates that they are primarily used by men for their own ends. Black women are similarly used by men, existing only as highly sexualized seductresses or as self-effacing maternal figures. The novel makes the struggle for social equality visible through the narrative of an invisible black man, but the marginalization of blacks in the novel is mirrored by that of the women as well. With the exception of Mary Rambo, the women characters in the novel are underdeveloped, undiversified, and, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Women are exploited by men and th eir own struggle for equality is ignored because the novels dominant institutionsthe white power structure, the Brotherhood, and society as a wholetends to treat people not as individuals but as stereotyped groups. It is because of this tendency that the narrator has so much trouble forging an identity, and it is why the novels women can never attain a fully developed or meaningful identity for themselves.Works CitedEllison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 1952. New York: Vintage-Random House, 1995.

Humanitys Capacity for Change as shown in Year of Wonders - Literature Essay Samples

Humankind has the potential to undergo significant change, and instances of crisis often act as catalysts for such transformations. The once meek and complacent Anna Frith becomes a women of exceptional bravery and compassion in Geraldine Brooks’ historical novel Year of Wonders, as in the course of her journey she changes many of her own views and challenges others’ perceptions of her. She overhauls many of the key pillars of her existence, meaning the changes she experienced were all-encompassing, demonstrating to readers the extraordinary malleability of human nature. The first important alteration Anna endeavoured to make was in regards to her relationship with men and her class status as a lowly maid, both features of her life that fed into her lack of independence and power. This transition is marked by the change in how she refers to Elinor, from â€Å"Mrs. Mompellion† at first to â€Å"my friend† later, and using her first name. This change in addr ess indicates that she becomes comfortable with her equality to Elinor and that she deserves such a position. It was Elinor, in fact, who was the main influence on Anna’s defying of class boundaries, as Elinor’s own past mistakes led to her acting as a surrogate mother to Anna and helping her to see her value and potential. By treating Anna as an equal and educating her, articulated by Anna when she says â€Å"for as I loved to learn, she loved to teach†, Anna is exposed to a world previously closed off to her by her lack of means and she is consequently able to interact with all classes of people and get a job that is not menial. Much of Anna’s transition from lower class to classless also stemmed from her perception of herself, a perception Elinor is key in shaping, as she began to view herself as just as worthy as the wealthy consequently forcing those around her to challenge their views, seen when Elizabeth Bradford visited Michael in the novelâ€℠¢s first chapter. While Elizabeth â€Å"pushed past† Anna twice throughout their interaction, a gesture that indicates her sheer dismissal of Anna and lack of respect for her, Anna rebutted her rudeness by using the same doorway as Elizabeth. This was a discrepancy Elizabeth was clearly uncomfortable with, but one that illustrated Anna’s steely self-confidence at the plague year’s end and her new perspective on the redundancy of social class. Unfortunately, members of society such as Elizabeth will always view Anna as lesser than themselves, but Anna’s successful career and solo journey at the novels end prove that her resolute nature far outweighed a few doubters. If it were not for the rapid crumbling of her religious faith, Anna’s intelligent, open mind would have never been able to challenge her puritan upbringing and eventually turn to science as the more logical alternative. She begins to question her faith early on as she realises Anysâ€⠄¢ â€Å"fornication and blasphemy branded her a sinner† despite her altruistic work in helping the villagers with their ailments and wellbeing. If it were not for her admiration of and respect for Anys her initial doubts about religion would perhaps never have arose, rendering Anys essential in her painstaking journey from puritan to atheist. The â€Å"dark and light† in which she â€Å"had been taught to view the world† began looking distinctively grey although she continues to go to church and see the plague as the doing of God until very late on in the novel when her mind is freed by the realisation the plague may be â€Å"a thing in Nature merely†. Anna’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-reliance filled the void opened up by the disintegrating of her faith, as she left the certainty and comfort it offered to pursue her desire to become wordly and educated – a plight impossible without the ever patient teachings of Elinor. It i s almost impossible for Anna to release herself from a lifetime of teachings, however, partially because of her admiration for Mr. Mompellion and the sermons he continues to preach until the novels final pages. Even then, when her faith has turned into hope, she still refers to the â€Å"Plague† with a capital â€Å"P†, suggesting that there is still a trace of her subconscious that sees the disease as a hopeless force similar to that of how she now views God. As she breaks the binds her strict upbringing placed upon her, however, she proves that it is possible to change in a way that opens one up to a myriad of exciting opportunities. Furthermore, there are many small instances of change Anna experiences throughout Year of Wonders, all which relate back to her fear of certain activities that stem from traumatising life experiences. Firstly, she confronted the idea of dabbling in herbal remedies, scared of becoming a â€Å"widowturned witch† but eventually overc oming her self-consciousness in order to ease the pain of those in great suffering, displaying exceptional compassion and benevolence. Elinor’s powerful role modelling assists her decision greatly as she encourages Anna to help her in discovering remedies and applying them to the wrath of the plague. Anna was then gently pushed, once again by Elinor, whose kind, calm tone as she says â€Å"we will do the best we can by Mary Daniel† coaxes Anna into acting as a midwife to the first time mother. She is desperately afraid because of her own mothers death in childbirth but the experience sparks her passion to move â€Å"away from deathfrom birth to birth† in the novels epilogue – a passion she would have never discovered if it was not for the mentoring of Elinor. She overcame past traumas once again when she went down into the mine to assist an orphaned child in surviving, battling with her fear of darkness and death and emerging injured but triumphant. On th ese three occasions, Anna’s selfless desire to assist those more in need than herself overcame her crippling fears, proving an enduring valiance far greater than what most can claim and most certainly proving mankind’s capacity to change.Ultimately, Geraldine Brooks illustrates humankind’s exceptional capacity to be moulded and shaped through the character of Anna. This is demonstrated through Anna’s psychological and social transformations as she emerges from the plague year having opened up doors she never knew existed and having been â€Å"tempered and made strong.†

Quantity Surveying in Mechanical and Electrical - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 18 Words: 5274 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION In future the proactive and effective manage of cost, contracts, communication and claims à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the four Cs- will consistently become more important to developers and facilitators involved in physical structures and properties. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Quantity Surveying in Mechanical and Electrical" essay for you Create order 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 leads By not dominating, he leads By 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 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 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 Mediation means different things to different people, but in the construction industry, it usually denotes a procedure in which a neutral third party seeks to resolve a dispute between contracting parties, by conducting an enquiry, similar to arbitration, but less formal and by giving a non -binding opinion. The parties represent themselves without calling in legal professionals. The mediator should know the details of the dispute and should give each party the opportunity to state their case. The mediator should decide which procedure is the best, based on circumstances. Quantity surveyors often perform mediation tasks for clients or other parties, be it informal as a quantity surveyor mediator or formal by appointment. However, in terms of many contracts (JBCC series 2000, Ed. 4.1), the parties shall agree on the appointment of a mediator and meet with the mediator in an effort to reach a settlement. If a settlement is reached, the mediator shall record such an agreement which shall become binding on the parties on the signing. 7.2.4 Arbitration In some countries, arbitration is a process provided for by an act of law, adopted by parties through mutual agreement stipulating that they will submit any dispute that may arise between them to the impartial judgement of some third party of their choice and that the award by this impartial person will be final and binding. Arbitration is not a new process; in fact, it was know n to the Romans, used by the Dutch and English in the days of colonial expansion and is currently widely used in the construction industry and further a field. Arbitration is a more formal process than the dispute-resolution processes mentioned earlier, but arbitration has many advantages. Some of these are: Expert knowledge of a selected arbitrator possible savings in legal representation costs Flexibility of the process The decision is final and binding Time and money are saved Arbitration is a private matter Quantity Surveyors perform or can perform an important role in arbitration, as cost advisor, expert, representative, witness or even arbitrator. 7.3: Conclusion A knowledgeable professional, utilizing the claim- and dispute -resolution met hods available to best effect, may assist the parties by means of these methods, to save money, time and effort. Quantity surveyors may be in a good position to assist the parties and professionals in this manner, because of their knowledge and skills in relation to determining costs, tariffs, rates, prices, certification, contract terms and contract related communication. Chapter 8: References 1. 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