Blue and White Size free essay sample

For each lecture, there is a prefecture web quiz which is due on the day of the lecture and a post-lecture web quiz with a due date after the lecture that can be found under the Class Schedule link as well. Each pre-lecture web quiz contains mostly simple and straightforward questions designed to ensure that you have picked up the major points from the assigned reading so that you can better participate in the in-class discussions. The post-lecture web quiz contains the more challenging questions that require you to digest the material you should have learned from each lecture.Detailed rules for the re and post-lecture web quizzes are at the Quiz Instructions link on the home page. You may take these quizzes ten times to improve your grade. Your highest grade on a quiz is the only grade recorded. We drop the lowest of your Pre-lecture, Post-lecture and Lab quizzes. Pre-lecture, post-lecture and lab quizzes are given in a time frame near the delivery of the related course material. After the deadline for a quiz, you will not be able to take it resulting in a grade of zero. See your instructors Class icon for the details of the scheduling of these quizzes.You may take the quizzes five times to try to improve your grade. You will receive the highest of the grades you score on a quiz. For the Learning Styles and Pre-Assessment Survey, you will receive 100% for taking these surveys, but that credit will not appear under My Grades on the day you take them. On the Post-Assessment Survey, you will earn 0. 25 points for each correct answer to a maximum of five points that will be added to your rounded final exam score as extra credit. Abs and Lab Web Quizzes Ten labs are held at the LAB Rooms. The lab sessions serve the purpose of familiarizing students with various Excel commands needed to complete the arioso lab quizzes. There will be a lab web quiz for each lab session mainly to test the materials presented during the lab. The due dates of the lab web quizzes are under your instructors Class Schedule link. You can use the PCs in the FCC student lounge room 203 when you are not in your assigned lab. You may also use the Learning Resource Center (building #61) during the week and on the weekends. Check their door for open hours. You may take these quizzes ten times to improve your grade. Your highest grade on a quiz is the only grade recorded. We drop your lowest of your Pre-lecture, Post-lecture ND Lab quizzes. Lecture Exams and Final Exam Both the lecture exams and final exam will be in multiple-choice and fill-in- the-blank format. These exams include material similar to that found in the Post-lecture and Lab quizzes along with the individual Lecture Review Exams (optional). Many of the questions include the use of Pastas and Excel including calculations that you copy and paste into answer blanks. The exams are open Speedster and textbook. All exams are in the Lab Rooms. The final exam is comprehensive.The dates of the lecture exams and final exam are under your instructors Class Schedule link. There is one Lecture Exam per lecture. They are available only during lab under exam environment. You may attempt a Lecture Exam one time only. These exams take the place of midterm exams. We record a zero when the exam deadline passes without a record that you have taken it (See Class Schedule for beginning dates and deadlines). You have until the date of the next exam to supply us with a legitimate documented excuse to have the grade changed to dropped (not used to calculate the exam average grade).You will not be able to see your exam nor your raw score when you have completed the exam. You view your exam results during the next scheduled lab. After the grades are rounded, we post your grade to B Learn (see Rounding of Grades above). We drop your lowest lecture exam grade at the end of the semester. Prior to a Lecture Exam, we release Review Exam that contains questions similar to those found in the Lecture Exams. They are under the Assessments folder in B Learn. The Review Exams are for feedback only without the recording of grades.You may take them an unlimited number of times to review the lecture material. Use these exams to study for the Lecture Exams and the Final Exam. Projects The team project constitutes a crucial component in this course. This project not only attempts to expose you to the use of statistics in real life situations, it also serves the purpose of training you in the presentation of results. Therefore, your grade will depend on your ability to present results in a way that will be appropriate in a business setting. We require you to translate statistical jargon into everyday language in this process. A project score consists of three components. Ten % comes from the project web quiz, 20% from self-peer evaluation and 70% from the report. For students with a self- peer evaluation score below 80%, the report score is then multiplied by the score on the self-peer evaluation. Please refer to Getting Started found under the Projects icon on the homepage of the class web site. Anybody who does not complete the Self-Peer Evaluation form online gives a strong indication that he/she does not care about the project or the evaluation process.Hence, that person loses the opportunity to help their own grade and to evaluate the contribution of the other members of the team. Please refer to Self-Peer Evaluation found under the Project folder on the amoebae of the class web site. Every team needs to make an appointment with the Business Communication Center (BCC) to have their first draft checked and corrections made prior to submission. At least 50% of the team members must be present at the meeting. The first draft must be reviewed by BCC. It is optional for any team to have the final draft reviewed by BCC prior to submission.This could serve to improve the teams final grade. Any first draft that has not been read/approved by the BCC will not be graded and, hence, no comment will be provided. To sign up for an appointment tit the BCC, look for the link under the Class Schedule on B Learn. For more information regarding the BCC, go to www. Franken. Ana. Du/ Strenuousnesss/commenter. Schedule of Class Activities, Quizzes, Exams and Projects See the Class Schedule link found on the homepage of the class web site. You will find topics, resources, reading assignments and important dates and deadlines for the entire semesters work.For the starting dates and ending dates of the pre-lecture, post-lecture and lab quizzes, also consult the Class Schedule. You may complete any quiz that has an active link. Professionalism Recognition Program All CEO 201 classes participate in the Fibs Professionalism Recognition Program. Students who demonstrate professional behaviors in and out of class are eligible for high ratings through that program. Students who receive overall high ratings in the program will receive a letter from the Dean indicating that they ex. bibbed high professional conduct a useful tool to distinguish yourself with employers as you seek a job.In order to receive a high professionalism rating in this course, students must have: (I) missed no more than 1 class; and, (ii) received at least a 95% score on the projects self- ere-evaluation. To receive a Professionalism rating, students need to have: (I) missed no more than 3 classes; and, (ii) received at least an 85% score on the projects self-peer-evaluation. In addition to the above requirements, students will also be assessed on their participation in the classroom, timeliness to class, use of appropriate language (both written and spoken), demonstration of respectfulness, etc.The determination of a students rating for professionalism is a subjective determination by the faculty member. Additional Rules of the Course Makeup Exams There will be no makeup offered for lecture exams. We drop a missing lecture exam score only for those students with institutional excuse, proper documentation or a legitimate excuse (and tell us in advance of missing the regularly scheduled lecture exam). You must deliver the institutional excuse or documentation before the next lecture exam is given. Otherwise, we record a zero for missing exams.You have the option to take a makeup for a missed lecture exam only if you have an institutional excuse. If you decide on this option, the makeup exam must be taken before the next lecture exam. Attendance Name cards and the clicker are used to take attendance. You will receive 1. 5 percentage points credit added to your course average for perfect attendance; 1. 25 percentage points credit added to your course average for missing no more than 2 classes; 1. 00 percentage points credit added to your course average for missing no more than 4 classes; 0. 5 percentage points credit added to your course average for missing no more than 5 classes; 0. 50 percentage points credit added to your course average for missing no more than 6 classes; and, 0. 25 percentage points credit added to your course average for missing no more than 7 classes. We add this attendance score to your course average at the end of the semester before assigning a letter grade. If you do have legitimate excuses for being absent, bring proper documentation and come speak with your professor in the next class and he or she will consider removing the penalty.The maximum amount that can be added to your course average is 1. 5 percentage points. While class attendance is required per the above stated policy, please be cautious about attending class if you are feeling ill. Please inform your professor by email if you are feeling unwell; if you are experiencing flu-like homonyms, you should not attend class; please take precautions not to infect others, and seek medical attention if your symptoms worsen Seating Arrangement In the 2nd week of the semester, we form teams to facilitate in-class discussions and team activities, and assign seating arrangement in the lectures and labs.If you have particular preferences on sitting location, please speak with your professor as soon as possible and he will try to accommodate your request. Where is the homework? We designed this course to substitute web quizzes for the homework that is usually associated with a statistics course. It is important that you do work in addition to taking the quizzes. After you have mastered the material by making 100 on each quiz, you should use that quiz as a study aid. Go to Assessments. Find the quiz of interest. Click the View Results button. Under Attempts-number find your attempt on the quiz for which you made 100.Click on the number for that quiz. Read each question and critically evaluate why each correct answer is correct and why each wrong answer is wrong. If you do not know why an answer is correct or not correct, then you need to do extra study in the textbook, the Speedster or the Powering slides. You must have read the required text material and studied the Powering slides before coming to lecture. Student Responsibility Taking a statistics course is challenging. You will be taking pre-lecture quizzes due before the lecture is presented, post-lecture quizzes due after the lecture is completed and lab quizzes due after the lab is completed.You must have a personal schedule that allows you to keep up with the class. We are here to help you in any way we can, but you are responsible for your education. You must be able to take the quizzes on time, complete the assigned readings on mime, complete the team projects and attend class. According to the Arizona Board of Regents policy statement on Academic Credit (use Control-click), a minimum of forty-five (45) hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit during a semester.So for a 3-credit course, each student is required to put in at least 9 hours per week including class time. To meet this policy during summer classes means that you will need to work more than full time. Cell Phones and Music Players We do not allow cell phones and music players in lectures, labs or exams. Turn off cell phones when in class. Academic Honesty We have a zero tolerance policy in this course. We encourage students to work together, especially in lab sessions, to improve their understanding of the concepts and processes covered in this course.This does not extend to lecture exams or the final exam. Any instance of cheating on a lecture exam or the final exam will result in immediate and automatic failure for the course, irrespective of the performance Of the student or students up to that point. Aside from the straightforward copying of answers, cheating also includes any discussion during the exam. Cell phones are not allowed anywhere on the desktop during exams. In addition to these punitive measures, a report will be filed with r-CB and the University. Plagiarism is also a form of cheating.This relates, in particular, to the semester project that you will prepare as part of this course. You should be aware that we have thoroughly read all the projects that have been prepared for this class in the past. In addition, the data used for the analyses are changed from time-to- time. Thus, it is an easy matter for us to determine whether submissions have been popularized from previous submissions. Any confirmed instance of legalism on the project will result in all members Of the team receiving a grade of zero for the exercise.

Hr Provision free essay sample

Provision function: is a consecutive process of human resources planning, job analysis, recruitment, selection, placement and incorporation. HR Planning The ongoing process of systematic planning is to achieve optimum use of an organizations most valuable asset its human resources. The objective of HR planning is to ensure the best fit between employees and jobs, while avoiding manpower shortages or surpluses. Sands Corporation would have to look at the three key elements of the HR planning process, which are: forecasting labour demand, analyzing present labour supply, and balancing projected labour demand and supply.Proper human resource planning will enable Sands HR department to plan recruitment, selection, training and career development . The HR plan needs to be flexible enough to meet short-term staffing challenges, while adapting to changing conditions in the business and environment over the longer term. Job Analysis and Design Job analysis is the process by which HR systematically investigate the task, duties and responsibilities of the jobs within an organisation. We will write a custom essay sample on Hr Provision or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For human resource to be effective, Sands HR must be aware of the essentials that amount to each position.That is there should be a process whereby the substance, demands and responsibilities of a job are determined. Therefore two sets of information should originate from job analysis. First, Job Description which is the document that identifies and defines: a job in terms of duties, responsibilities, tasks and supervisory relationships. Second, Job Specification which is a written statement which emphasises the characteristics required from the incumbent to perform the job successfully, which should include skills, abilities and knowledge .Recruitment and selection the process of acquiring applicants who are available and qualified to fill the positions and choosing from a group of applicants the individual best suited for a particular position. Recruitment usually comes about as a result of HR planning and vacant positions that have to be filled. The staffing personnel, should use the job analysis as the point of departure, and follow steps such as recruitment planning, recruitment action (how, where and when), the type of recruiting source, screening and selecting .HR manager and the staffing personnel should through the recruiting process, consider the legal a spects as well, such as the labour Relation Act, No. 66 of 1995, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No. 75 of 1997 and the Employment Equity Act, no. 55 of 1998. Placement this is the process by which the staffing specialist will place a new appointed employee in an organisation, or transfer existing employees are transferred to new posts. Placement is important because of the heterogeneity of the labour groups.The staffing personnel should make sure that there is â€Å"FIT† between the job itself and the new job incumbent, so that there would be high productivity and a lower turn over from the new incumbent. It should be clear that placement is a combination of the employers’ requirement to fill a position successfully and the employee’s motivation to reach the top. Incorporation The specialist in training and development should attend and make sure that the new employee settles into the new position. The employee should be provided with the information regarding the organisation and its culture through orientation, must also be given specific information about the position and the department should be given through induction. The new employee must be made to feel part of the new work group as soon as possible. The training personnel need to explain the organisations policies, rules and regulations to the new employee as well as counter negative influences by fellow workers.

Writing Spaces Where to Write Why it Actually Matters

Writing Spaces Where to Write Why it Actually Matters Writing Spaces: Where to Write Why it Actually Matters You know that writers writebut did you know your writing spaces matters significantly?You’re a writer when you put your pen on your paper and create words that combine together to form a sentence. You’re a writer when you stroke the keyboard and type out an email. You’re a writer when you comment on a Facebook post.The fact is, you’re a writer whenever and wherever you add anything in writing in a physical or virtual location- but especially if youre writing a book.But where should you write? What makes a great writing space? And how do you create one?Heres what well cover about your writing space:Writing spaces at homeWriting spaces outside of the houseWhere to writeUtilize at-home writing spaces alwaysBlock out noise with headphonesSet a timer in your writing spaceWrite in the same placeWriting space tips from famous authorsRead on, my friend.You’re going to learn about my favorite writing spaces and tools for where to write and creating a writing space.NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it hereWriting Spaces at HomeCreating a writing space at home is not difficult and can generally be done without spending a lot of money. I am lucky enough to have my own writing office, but even without that, you can still create a space that is just for you and your writing.Here are a few tips to start building your writing space:Clear off the corner of your table. (It might mean that you throw away the mountain of mail you’ve been meaning to open or you finally put your laundry away, but a corner of a table will do just fine for this).Find a paper and pencil, pen and notepad, or a computer.Put your tools in that space and you’ve built a writing space.Tell your kids, your significant other, or your cat (although best of luck on training the feline) that this is your space and it is protected in a ma gical bubble where only you are allowed!Now, you have a writing space where you can do what writers do, write.If you have a small budget (less than $100) to set up a writing space, you can scour buy, sell, trade groups for small writing desks. My husband found this gem of a writing desk for $75 on a local Facebook swap site.I use it to journal during my morning routine (don’t forget to check out Chandler’s morning routine video) and outline things with good old-fashioned pen and paper.Once my brain dumping to my journal is finished, I often transition to a more standardized office desk where I have my computer set up.So if your budget is a little higher, between $300 $500, you can buy an office desk from a used furniture store and get a nice desk, with delivery and set-up.This helps you feel like you’re in more of a work mode and will be able to get things donePerhaps you have a grand budget to use. You can go to a higher-end furniture store and buy a cherry o r an oak desk for $1000-$2000. But, it is absolutely not necessary.So, if you have have as little as $0 or as much as $2000+ dollars to spend, you can set up a writing space at home for you to meet your daily writing goals.Where to Write Outside of Your HomeAnywhere!Really, anywhere? Sure, you can go anywhere to write. I have some places that I recommend and some places that I would stay away from, but you can write anywhere.Most writers have a favorite coffee shop. I have three. I love writing at a chain coffee shop when I need a little more background noise. It helps me zone into my rough draft writing and I work well when I am surrounded by others, coffee in hand, and can dedicate my time to writing. There’s also an independent coffee shop that I enjoy going to.During NaNoWriMo we had some of our write-ins there. I love that it was designed so that at any table there is a spot where we can plug in our devices and type away.I find this particularly useful when I am needing some motivation from being around other creatives, as there’s also a wall of art that changes frequently. Finally, I really like a pay-it-forward cafe that has a community table where I can go when I need to concentrate on editing. Sometimes the different niches help me out the most so that I can focus on doing what writers do write!Here are some ideas for writing spaces outside our home:The libraryA museumA parkA dinerYour backyardYour front or back porchIt will depend on what you’re writing though as to which works the best.Anywhere that you can go with your notebook, computer, or your phone is a location that you can write.So, there you have it! You can write anywhere that you can take a writing device.These are my overall recommended writing spaces:An area of your home, dedicated to writingA local coffee shopA libraryA MuseumA parkA shared officeThe beachA friends houseA dinerAnywhere that you can take a writing deviceWhich Online Writing Spaces to UseOn a noteboo k, a computer, a phone. Anywhere that you can record words and be a writer. Because that’s what a good writer does, you write.There are many different writing softwares to use for your virtual writing space.Personally, I prefer to outline, mindmap, prewrite with a good old-fashioned pen and paper. But I know many writers who prefer to do their prewriting in a Google Doc, on Scrivener, Microsoft Office 365 or in a similar space online. Be sure that no matter where you decide to write that you are free from distractions and that you write. Once you have your prewriting done, then you can move into creating a first draft.Google DocsThis is when I generally switch over from pencil and paper to an electronic format. I open up my Google Doc and I make an electronic version of my outline. This is important, because then I can quickly move from place to place in my document. After I outline on my Google Doc, I move into writing out sentences. At this point, I don’t necessarily worry about whether or not I am writing cohesive sentences, I just get words on the paper, because I am doing what writers do- they write.As Ray Bradbury says, â€Å"Quantity makes up for quality.†Microsoft WordIf you’re not a Google Docs person, there are other tools out there that you can use to capture your words electronically.The most well-known is Microsoft Word.This is great if you always have access to it, which is possible with Office 365, but for me, Google Docs works better.ScrivenerScrivener is another tool that you can use to capture all your ideas, outlines, and planning in one place. The best thing about this is that it’s web-based, so you access it anywhere that you have access to the internet. Most writers that use this tool absolutely love it- so let us know if you have it and you love it.Finally, if you’re driving and have ideas come to you, you can capture them with a speech-to-text app and then transfer them to a word processing docu ment later.This is particularly useful, as I often have ideas come to me when I am traveling. Do not let the excuse of â€Å"I don’t have a writing space† hold you back from writing, because with very few tools (most are free or minimal cost), you have a writing space or a location to write.Writing Spaces Tips for BeginnersSetting up a writing space is not always easy, but you know you want to write and you need to have a space to do what writers do: write! So here are some tips to help you.#1 Use your at-home writing space for writingYou wouldn’t take a bath in the kitchen sink, right?Right! Don’t use your writing space for other activities only use it for writing.â€Å"But I only have one computer where else do I go to get on Facebook, watch YouTube, or pay my bills?†I am guessing that if you’re like my family, you have a mobile computer a laptop, a surface, an iPAD, or something similar. For the purpose of writing at-home, make sure t hat the device goes to the designated spot you have set up for that.Then move when you’re not writing.When we move to specific places to accomplish a task, our brains engage in those tasks and we are able to focus on doing what writers do write.#2 Block out noise with headphonesYou will be distracted. If you’re writing at home and have children, your kids will distract you. If you’re writing at a coffee shop, there will be other customers (hey, you want coffee shops to have customers that’s what keeps them in business and gives you a space to write).Invest in some headphones. Our brains can process doing other things with music or white background noise. Create some by tuning into your favorite playlist.I personally find meditation music especially helpful for this.#3 Set a timerEquip your writing space with a timer. I, personally, usually have enough self-discipline to use my phone as a timer, but I love my Google Home Mini for this too.Simply say, â€Å"Hey Google Set timer for 25 minutes.† Twenty-five minutes is my magic number to get a lot of words written in a relatively short amount of time.#4 Write in the same place, at the same timeWhether you write as a part of your morning writing routine, when you get home from work, or some other time of day, write in the same place at the same time.That’s why it’s important for you to have some kind of writing space even if it’s only the corner of the table.#5 Write when inspiration hits tooKeep a dedicated writing space, but don’t forget about diving into the spontaneity of writing also.That’s why I keep my Google Doc app on my phone. I can make brief notes and then splice them together into coherent sentences later.Writing Space Tips from Famous AuthorsThe advice from almost any best-selling author is to always be ready to write anywhere. You never know where inspiration will hit, so always have something to record your thoughts. J.K . Rowling also says, â€Å"I can write anywhere.† Jodi Picoult says â€Å"I can write anywhere.† E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web, â€Å"A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.†So don’t wait until you have the perfect space prepared to start writing. Just start writing, because that’s what writers do write.Writing Space Tips to Get You StartedFind a device a laptop, a computer, a phone, a notepad, a notebook, a journal to record your thoughts. Then do what writers do write.Do not wait until you can make your writing area perfect or until inspiration hits to write. Write right now. Because that’s what writers do, they write.That’s right! All you need for a writing space is a dedicated space to write and the desire to put one word in front of another and you’ve created your writing space, so write on, my friend.For additional tips on setting up a home o ffice or working from home, be sure to check out How to Successfully Work from Home (Habits, Handling Distractions, And The Ultimate Office Setup video created by Chandler Bolt.Are You Ready to Get Started Today?Publishing your book is SO CLOSE.If your ready to get started, check out this free training to help you write, market, and publish your book within 90 days!

Assessment of Organization Process. The Art of Effective Listening Research Paper

Assessment of Organization Process. The Art of Effective Listening (How does it work in the Wal-Mart Stores) - Research Paper Example The process entails continued collection and utilization of information and ideas from customers, employees, competitors, interest groups and policy makers with a dream to improve the eminence of workforce productivity (Duke & Robson, 2012). This paper therefore seeks to provide a detailed account of organizational behaviour process of listening as entrenched in the operational philosophy of Wal-Mart. Particularly, the paper focuses on relevance of this behaviour process in relation to branding, pricing, marketing, operations, customer satisfaction and revenue performance. In conclusion, the paper examines how the art of listening as impacted the quality of work relations and productivity from the managements’ and staff perspective. Wal-Mart and the art of Listening Wal-Mart is a multination corporation dealing in a wide range of consumer products with its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since its inception in 1962, Wal-Mart has steadily grown to become the worldâ€℠¢s largest retail chain store by revenue estimated at US$446.95 billion as at 2012FY as reported by Duke and Robson (2012). The corporation operates more than 8600 retail stores in 27 countries with major divisions in the US, UK, China, Canada and Mexico. That notwithstanding, Wal-Mart is governed by a 15-member board of directors, managed by 37 executive officers and a total of 2.2 million associates under the able leadership of the CEO (Duke & Robson, 2012). The magnificent success of Wal-Mart has come a long way especially with its legendary concerns for the varied income status of the customers. With over 200 million customers worldwide, Wal-Mart has managed to keep a leading edge in the global retail market. Wal-Mart offers a balanced mix of variety and quality at competitive prices well attested by its low prices. This has been made possible through the art of listening to the concerns of customers while appreciating the tireless efforts of the staff and management to make Wal -Mart the shopping destination of choice as observed by Duke and Robson (2012). At Wal-Mart, issues are handled with urgency and each member of staff is encouraged to prioritize the needs of customers. Gereffi and Christian (2009) states that the first core value of Wal-Mart relates to quality customer service through a personalized approach that will make the customer keep coming. The organization encourages customers to give feedback so that the Wal-Mart can improve its values, services and productivity in line with customer needs. Not only does the management listen to customer queries, it is also committed to ensure that the organization exceeds the best expectations of customers as ascertained by Diana (2007). The essence of this behavioural process is coined in the marketing strategies of the company which transcends all the departments including operations, productions, quality assurance, marketing, customer care and HR department. The company recognizes that its employees ar e the success factor of Wal-Mart. As such, the organization supports all employees through an open-door policy where employee concerns are handled amicable without victimizing the concerned employee. When employee concerns as handled promptly and in the best way possible, employees feel appreciated and cared for. In addition, this behavioural

Abraham Lincoln Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Abraham Lincoln - Essay Example Had Abraham Lincoln died in the spring of 1860, he would today be a forgotten man; it was his handling of the greatest crisis ever faced by America that sparked the continuing interest in his life."Whatever made Lincoln's life memorable occurred in the brief but eventful time between the summer of 1860 and the spring of 1865." "With the possible exception of the depth of Confederate resolve, nothing shaped the Civil War more than the United States Constitution." (Neely, Mark E, Jr.; "The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America"; Harvard University Press; pp.91) "The four-year presidential term assured that Lincoln would be in office throughout the war's duration. The Constitution 'put the army and the navy in the hands of a determined Republican commander-in-chief." (Neely, Mark E, Jr.; "The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America"; Harvard University Press; pp.91-92).Little wonder, therefore, that "Lincoln was the only United S tates President whose entire time in office was bounded by war". (McPherson, James M.; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp.5). His administration synchronized with "the crisis created by South Carolina's blockade of Fort Sumter, and ended with his assassination five days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox; at his death, Confederate armies were still in the field". (McPherson, James M; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp.5). ... dependence all they needed was to defend their territory; the Union forces had to dislodge them while fighting through hostile countryside." (McPherson, James M; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp. 15-16).The personnel disadvantage was that "at the outbreak of hostilities, the military was overwhelmingly Southern, and three quarters of the officer corps were Democrats. And then, there was the question of competence: when Lincoln assumed office, the general-in-chief was Winfield Scott, 75 years old, weighing over 300 pounds, suffering from edema and vertigo, and with a disconcerting propensity to fall asleep during meetings." (McPherson, James M; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp.17-18). In the political realm, Lincoln was forced to deal with "political appointee generals of limited military skills, chosen because their local following enabled them to raise troops in the days before the Union instituted a draft". (McPh erson, James M; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp.18-19) Both political leaders and political press, especially the influential Horace Greeley of The New York Tribune, anticipated "Lincoln's every move, particularly on emancipation; further, as Union losses surged, and Lincoln had to navigate a rising anti-war movement among Democrats sympathetic both to the South and to slavery, a movement that raised doubt about his prospects for re-election." (McPherson, James M; "Abraham Lincoln: A presidential Life"; Oxford University Press; pp.20-21) As chief executive, Lincoln "defined the nation's war aims: to preserve the Federal Union and the country as a republic based on majority rule; he coined the term 'war powers' to justify extra-constitutional executive

Strategy For Sustainable Construction 2008

Strategy For Sustainable Construction 2008 According to OGC Guide (2003), sustainability includes environmental, social and economic factors, and construction affects all three areas. HM Treasury launched a three-year Sustainability Action Plan in June 2000 which sets out how the government client would take forward the sustainable development agenda through better procurement of new works, maintenance and refurbishment. The Strategy for Sustainable Construction aims to achieve sustainable construction through procurement, good design, innovate the construction process, continuous professional development of people, better regulation, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation; reduce per capita consumption of water, enhancement of biodiversity, reduction of construction waste to landfill and using materials having least environmental and social impact. (HMG, 2008) According to Glover (2008), the following points should be taken into account while drafting construction contracts Identify the client and principal contractor; Identify who is responsible for complying with the regulations and drafting and updating the SWMP; Decisions in relation to sustainability provisions; Identify the different types of waste that will be produced in the course of the project and describe what waste management action will be taken; Identify who is responsible for removing the waste Construction Projects and contracts are already subject to certain sustainability provisions like clause 4.18 of the FIDIC Red Book entitled Protection of the Environment. Similarly, clause 16 of the JCT 2007 form states that the provider will assist the employer and the other project participants in exploring ways in which the environmental performance and sustainability of the Tasks might be improved and environmental impact reduced, for instance, selection of materials and adoption of construction techniques which result in reductions in waste. The wording of Clause 16 of the JCT 2007 form is similar to paragraph 56 of JCT Framework Agreement Guide. The government has introduced a number of legislative provisions like Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008, Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2008, Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, Landfill Tax and Code for Sustainable Homes 2008. (Glover, 2008) Having identified sustainability as a key issue, the JCT conducted preliminary discussions with senior industry figures. As a result of those discussions, the JCT launched a consultation, to deal with sustainability in construction contracts and ultimately the issue of how sustainability should be addressed in JCT contracts. The findings of the consultation were published in a guidance notes called Building a sustainable future together. It revealed that detailed requirements should be contained in the project specification rather than in the contract. The guidance notes also sought to address the feeling amongst participants that guidance was needed for tackling sustainability in contractual documentation. (Law-Now, 2009) The incorporation of suitable provisions in guidance notes or clauses in construction contracts offers the clients to incentivise to improve sustainability. Areas for possible inclusion under the heading of sustainability, are: sustainability targets, desired levels of energy, and water use; targets for waste minimisation and recycling; requirements for use of materials that come from sustainable sources; targets for health and safety of the workforce on site; targets for training and appropriate skills levels; requirements for use of up-to-date integrated supply chain methods including improved logistics and use of logistics plans; and targets for improved working conditions for staff both on and off site. Considerations on the transport side, both for bringing staff on site and bringing materials to the site will also be important to the overall carbon footprint of the project. (JCT Consultation Paper, 2008) Sustainability Objectives have to be reflected in the employers requirements and carried through into contract drafting. There are already a number of existing contractual provisions in many standard form contracts which can be tailored to address sustainability, for example, clause 2.15 of JCT 2005 Design and Build regarding Changes of law. A mechanism similar to liquidated and ascertained damages can be an effective means of ensuring delivery of sustainable requirements. Use of clear objectives and deliverables linked to a compensation mechanism is the key to delivering sustainable development through contract drafting. (Douglas and Oats, 2008) The principal purpose of Revision 2 is to recognise the increasing importance of sustainability and to provide a flexible framework. The sole alteration has been the insertion of the new Seventh and Eighth Recitals (Framework Agreement and Supplemental Provisions). Entries are provided against the references to them in Part 1 of the Contract Particulars. The default position for each Supplemental Provision is that it applies unless otherwise stated. (JCT Guide, 2009) The sustainability wording encourages the contractor to suggest economically viable changes to the works, which might result in environmental benefits to the works and requires the contractors to provide the employer with information on the environmental impact of the materials they select and use. (Law-Now, 2009) JCT SBC 05 has fall-back provision regarding sustainable development, which is according to clause 2.1 which deals in compliance with the contract documents, the construction phase plan and the statutory requirements. The key to sustainable construction is that the sustainability provisions are incorporated in the design and specification. In sustainability terms (as with any contract), there are two questions that need to be asked which are, what is the loss and what are the ordinary standards applicable when asked to incorporate sustainability provisions. (Glover, 2008) Under the Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol, it is possible to build sustainability provisions into the definition of practical completion i.e. a project is not complete unless certain sustainability standards have been achieved. The contractor might require the addition of a new relevant event under clause 2.29 of the JCT Standard Building Contract to account for the risks of such provisions. Clause 2.29.12 already deals with the risks of a change in the law i.e. the introduction of new environmental regulatory provisions. The client and the contractor have to decide who carries the risk for increase in prices of commodities for sustainable construction. (Glover, 2008) According to Glover (2008), the collateral warranty in terms of sustainability can be stated as The consultant warrants and undertakes to the employer that it has and will continue to use reasonable skill and care that it shall endeavour at all times to specify for use materials from the BRE Green Guide to Specification. To conclude, the JCT seems to be deciding between Aspirational clauses and specific obligations. The key to incorporating sustainability provisions into your contract lies with getting your specification right. When it comes to enforcing that specification, there are two options. Firstly, monitor the performance of the contractor through the use of Key Performance Indicators, which must of course be agreed in advance. Secondly, make sure that the achievement of practical completion is linked to the achievement of the sustainable goals you want incorporated into your project. (Glover, 2008) 2. According to NEC3 clause 10.1, the Employer, the contractor, the project manager and the supervisor shall act as stated in the contract and in the spirit of mutual trust and co-operation. This is similar to JCT 05, Schedule 8 (Eighth Recital) paragraph 1, which states that the parties shall work with each other and with other project team members in a co-operative and collaborative manner, in good faith and in spirit of trust and respect. In the NEC3, when Option C, D, E F are used, Clause 20.3 states that the contractor advises the project manager on the practical implications of the design of the works and on subcontracting arrangements. Clause 20.4 states that the contractor prepares forecasts of the total defined cost for the whole of the works in consultation with the project manager and submits them to the project manager. According to NEC3 clause 25.1, the contractor cooperates with others in obtaining and providing information which they need in connection with the works. According to NEC3 clause 40.3, the contractor and the supervisor each notifies the other of each of his tests and inspections before it starts and afterwards notifies the other of its result. These clauses illustrate the collaborative working environment. (Telford, 2008) JCT SBC 05 contains an express undertaking to comply with the statutory requirements and Construction Phase Plan in clause 2.1 which covers Health and Safety legislation. According to clauses 3.23 and 3.24, the contract also makes provision with respect to the CDM Regulations and a CDM Co-ordinator as well as a Principal Contractor is appointed by the Employer. The Part 2 of the CDM Regulations sets out the duties of clients, designers and contractors. According to JCT 05 Schedule 8 (Eighth Recital) paragraph 2, the parties will endeavour to establish and maintain a culture and working environment in which health and safety is of paramount concern. This supplement provision adds an obligation to comply with non-statutory HSE and HSC codes. (JCT Guide, 2009) This is similar to NEC3 clause 27.4, the contractor act in accordance with the health and safety requirements stated in the works information. It is necessary to include in the contract any particular requirements which the employer has and are in parallel with statutory requirements. These requirements may include such matters as the safety regulations of the factory, a health and safety plan for the whole site, submission of safety policies and which party is responsible for maintaining areas used by several contractors in a safe condition. (Telford, 2008) Also, clause 91.3 of NEC3 deals with the termination of the contractor in substantially breaking a health and Safety Regulation. For further reading on Health and Safety issues, there is a guide on Health and Safety in the Achieving Excellence suite which identifies how client decisions and activities impact on health and safety. (OGC, 2003) According to NEC3 clause 16.1, the contractor and the project manager give an early warning by notifying the other as soon as either becomes aware of any matter which could increase the total of prices or impair the performance of the works. Also, the intention of clause 16.3 in NEC3, regarding risk reduction meeting is to take action or make decisions which avoid or mitigate the effects of identified risks on cost, quality and time which helps in saving cost. The concept of Contractors share is used in Option C D of NEC3. The purpose of the Contractors share is to encourage effective management control of the final Price of Work Done to Date relative to the target i.e. for saving cost and value improvements. (Telford, 2008) The clause 63.10 of NEC3 deals with the reduction of price if the effect of the compensation event is to reduce the total defined cost. Similarly, the intention of clause 63.11 is to encourage the contractor to apply value engineering principles to the works inf ormation and save cost and improve value. (Telford, 2008) This is similar to JCT 05 supplement provision Schedule 8 paragraph 3, according to which, the contractor is encouraged to propose changes to designs and specifications for the works and to the programme that may benefit the employer in the form of reduction of cost of the works. It is during the pre construction phase that most value improvements are derived by value engineering exercises. Further opportunities for value engineering exercise arise in context of variations where cost saving can be done. (JCT Guide, 2009) For further reading, there is a guide on Whole-life costing and cost management in Achieving Excellence Procurement Guide suite which provides advice on producing whole-life cost models and explains what needs to be done to keep costs under control at key stages in the project. (OGC, 2003) Sustainability Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Glover, 2008) According to JCT 05 supplement provision Schedule 8 paragraph 4, the contractor is encouraged to suggest economically viable amendments to the works which may result in an improvement in environmental performance in the carrying out of the works and the contractor shall provide all such information that the employer requests regarding the environmental impact. According to clause 2.3 and clause 2.9, the JCT has taken an active role in establishing the importance of proper information being available on the environmental impact of materials and goods selected by the Contractor. (JCT Guide, 2009) Also, JCT SBC 05 has fall-back provisions regarding sustainable development, which is according to clause 2.1; the contractor shall carry and complete the Works in a proper and workmanlike manner and in compliance with the contract documents, the construction phase plan and the statutory requirements. This is similar to NEC3 Option X2 regarding Changes in the Law. Any legislation or regulation by the government regarding sustainable development can be incorporated in the NEC3 through this clause. As well as Option Z can be used in NEC3 to incorporate sustainable construction in the contract by adding additional conditions to the contract. Performance can be measured by Standard Key Performance Indicators, Post-project implementation reviews and Client performance surveys. The Improving Performance: project evaluation guide as well as benchmarking can be used to measure performance throughout the life of the project. (OGC, 2003) According to NEC3 Option X20, the contractor reports to the project manager his performance against each of the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) stated in the Incentive Schedule and if the target is not achieved then the contractor submits a proposal to the project manager for improving his performance. If the target is achieved or improved then the contractor is paid the amount stated in the Incentive Schedule. Also, the employer may add a Key Performance Indicator and associated payment to the Incentive Schedule. (NEC3, 2008) This is similar to JCT 05 supplement provision Schedule 8 paragraph 5, according to which, the employer shall monitor and assess the contractors performance by reference to any performance indicators stated in the contract particulars and where the employer considers that the target may not be met, he may inform the contractor who shall submit his proposals for improving his performance. Another feature of NEC3 Option X17 is that, if a defect included in the defects certificate shows low performance with respect to a performance level stated in the contract data, the contractor pays the amount of low performance damages stated in the contract data. The performance of the contractor is certified by the supervisor following a specified performance test to be carried out between completion and defects date. (Telford, 2008) In JCT 05, according to Section 108 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act (HGCRA) 1996, a construction contract should enable a party to give notice at any time of his intention to refer a dispute to adjudication. If a dispute arises, the parties should consider whether to allow a reasonable period for negotiation before recourse to adjudication or other external means of resolving the dispute. (JCT Guide, 2009) This is similar to NEC3 which has also incorporated HGCRA 1996 in Option Y (UK) 2. According to NEC3 clause 13.7, a notification which this contract requires is communicated separately from other communications. In NEC3, Dispute Resolution is dealt using two options namely Option W1 which is used in international contracts outside UK and Option W2 which incorporates HGCR Act 1996 and is used in UK. According to NEC3, Option W1, disputes are notified and referred to the Adjudicator in accordance with the Adjudication Table. While in case of Option W2, a party may refer a dispute to the Adjudicator at any time. According to clause W2.3, a party gives a notice of adjudication to the other party with a brief description of the dispute. Within seven days of a party giving notice of adjudication he refers the dispute to the Adjudicator, provides information and send a copy of the information to the other party. If the subcontract allows, the contractor may refer the subcontract dispute to the Adjudicator at the same time. The Adjudicator may review and revise any action or inaction of the Project Manager or Supervisor, take the initiative in ascertaining the facts, instruct a party to provide furt her information or instruct a Party to take other action. The Adjudicator decides the dispute and notifies his decision and his reasons within twenty eight days. If a party is dissatisfied by the decision of the Adjudicator, he may notify the other party within four weeks that he intends to refer it to the tribunal. The tribunal has the power to reconsider any decision of the Adjudicator. The parties can settle the dispute through arbitration as well. (NEC3, 2008) According to JCT 05 clause 9, the parties can settle the dispute in four ways i.e. through mediation by using a third party to assist the negotiation process(Clause 9.1),refer disputes to Adjudication (Clause 9.2) and the procedure is similar to NEC3, refer disputes to arbitration (Clause 9.3 to 9.8) and litigation (Article 9). According to JCT 05 supplement provision Schedule 8 paragraph 6, each party shall promptly notify the other of any matter that appears likely to give rise to a dispute or difference. The senior executives nominated in the contract particulars shall meet as soon as practicable for direct, good faith negotiations to resolve the matter. In the case of the sixth Supplemental Provision (Notification and negotiation), there is a further entry for nominated employees. (JCT Guide, 2009) Word Count: 2862 References: Issaka Ndekugri and Michael Rycroft, 2009, the JCT 05 Standard Building Contract: Law and Administration JCT Consultation Paper, 2008, Sustainability JCT 05 Standard Building Contract Guide, 2009 JCT (2009), Standard Building Contract with Quantities 2005 Jeremy Glover, 2008, Sustainable Development in the Construction Industry, Retrieved from: http://www.fenwick-elliott.co.uk/files/Sustainable%20Development%20in%20the%20Construction%20Industry.pdf (Accessed on 25th January, 2010) Law-Now, 2009, Construction industry body embeds sustainability in its standard form contracts, Retrieved from Blackboard NEC3 (2008), Engineering and Construction Contract 2005 Simon Oats and Tom Douglas, 2008, Sustainability Contracts Strategy for Sustainable Construction, 2008, retrieved from: http://www.strategicforum.org.uk/pdf/1381-Report.pdf (Accessed on 25th January, 2010) Sustainable construction, Retrieved from: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/construction/sustainability/page13691.html (Accessed on 25th January, 2010) Thomas Telford, 2008, NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract 2005 Guidance Notes

Overpopulation in India Essay -- Environment Environmental Essays

Overpopulation in India: The Need for Improved Quality and Diversity of Contraceptive Options On May 11, 2000, Astha (Faith) was born in the Indian capital on New Delhi.[1] Her birth was not only a significant occasion for her parents, but for the entire Nation of India. Astha’s birth was designated the official point at which the Indian population crossed the one billion human beings mark.[2] India was thus officially inaugurated into the very exclusive one billion inhabitants of one nations club, and the world was left to ponder the repercussions of such a development. Stepping over the one-billion line brought into question all the policies, efforts, and difficulties that the Indian government had implemented and fought for over a half a century in order to prevent just such a joyous occasion from happening. The Indian Family Planning Program, initiated in 1952, was a sign of the desire of Indian leadership to develop the nation and take the steps necessary to do so. The program has evolved throughout the years, meeting varied success; however, in the year 2000 one aspect of the program has become blatantly clear – it has not succeeded in slowing India’s rapid population growth to a population replacement level. One of the major reasons India has failed to reach the replacement rate is because of a family planning program that emphasized sterilization as the main method of contraception and de-emphasized temporary methods. The services provided by the program were of poor quality. If the Indian government can even hope to reach its ultimate total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 in all of its states and provinces, it must shift its policy from the emphasis on sterilization as the main method of birth con... ...could be a good alternative for women who forget to take daily birth control pills. The ring is inserted into the vagina where it releases estrogen and progestin. The benefit of the ring is that it can be inserted for three weeks at a time thus disposing of the daily pill-taking requirements of traditional oral contraceptives. The widespread availability of such a method could have a similar effect as that of centchroman. Another contraceptive method, the female condom, could help alleviate cultural resistance to birth control. The female condom would perhaps increase participation in family planning by those couples who do not wish to use methods that have more side effects, but whose male partner is reluctant to use condoms. [47] Government of India. Department of Family Planning. National Population Policy. 2000. http://mohfw.nic.in/ppolicy.html.pdf