Comparing Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis of the Holy Bible :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Parallels Between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible The most well-known parallel between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible is the story of the Flood, in Genesis 6-7. This is essentially equivalent to the story that Utnapishtim, the Sumerian Noah, tells to Gilgamesh on Tablet XI. Even the way the narrative is laid out is similar - the gods put a bug in Utnapishtim's ear; a description of how the ark is built ("daubed with bitumen," a common glue or mortaring agent in Mesopotamia); everyone piles in, and it starts to rain. When it's over, Utnapishtim releases a dove, then a swallow, and finally a crow.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, the section of the Bible that really seems linked to Sumerian mythology is the book of Ecclesiastes. The writer of that book informs us, in Eccl. 12:9-10, that in the course of composing it he read widely, presumeably everything that he could get his hands on in those days. From internal evidence it's obvious that he read some version of the Epic of Gilgamesh. It's fascinating to see that the story, already very ancient by Biblical times, circulated so widely in the Middle East.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (in the Revised Standard version) runs, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up." This appears in fragmented form in Tablet V column ii of the epic. (If you want to look at the tablets in English translation the best one is by John Gardner.) It was apparently a common proverb in the Middle East, and you can easily find equivalents all over the place in literature. It appears in King Lear and in Beowulf, "Bare is back without brother behind it." (Alliteration's artful aid, what?)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Epic of Gilgamesh has two main parts. In the first, Gil has a number of the standard Conan-the-Barbarian style adventures, whomping monsters, humping maidens, defying the goddess Ishtar. And he's king of Uruk, one of mankind's first cities - all very picturesque, and would make a great cover for a genre paperback. Then, in the second half, Gil has a spiritual crisis and goes on a quest for eternal life. Well, when he's wandering around having angst, he meets a Wise Woman, a barmaid - it seems the Sumerians invented beer, too.

Health Organization Case Study Research Essay

Health Organization Case Study Research a health Health Organization Case Study Research a health care organization or a network that spans several states within the U.S. (Example: United Healthcare, Vanguard, Banner Healthcare, etc.). Harvard Business Review Online and Hoover’s Company Records, found in the GCU Library, are useful sources. You may also find pertinent information on your organization’s webpage. Review â€Å"Singapore Airlines Case Study.† Prepare a 1,000-1,250-word paper that focuses on the organization or network you have selected. Your essay should assess the readiness of the health care organization or network in addressing the health care needs of citizens in the next decade, and include a strategic plan that addresses issues pertaining to network growth, nurse staffing, resource management, and patient satisfaction. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin. Singapore Airlines Case Study (student paper) Singapore Airlines was created in 1972 following a separation from Malaysian Airlines. In the wake of reorganization, Singapore Airlines undertook aggressive growth, investing and trading to maximize profitability and expand market share. Through this change, a new company philosophy emerged, â€Å"Success or failure is largely dictated by the quality of service it provides† (Wyckoff, 1989). By reinventing the company infrastructure and introducing new initiatives focused on excellence in customer service, Singapore Airlines became a global leader in the service industry, elevating existing standards among competitors. Evaluation of Workforce Management Program The strategy widely utilized by Singapore Airlines to ensure differentiation in an increasingly competitive market was its attention to in-flight service. â€Å"Good flight service [was] important in its own right and is a reflection of attention to detail throughout the airline† (Wyckoff, 1989). This statement perpetuated the belief that excellence in service was directly tied to the careful selection and individual performance of in-flight crews charged with the responsibility of fulfilling the needs of individual passengers and exuding the levels of service demanded by the organization. Applicants destined to work as flight stewards were drawn from a very young population, typically spanning the ages of 18-25 years of age with high school equivalency against the English system of education. Selection of applications was competitive largely due to the degree of skill, poise, and experience required of its candidates. These policies led to the on-boarding of a highly skilled and youthful workforce with positive attitudes and a willingness to be trained. Critique of this approach revealed several disadvantages. The most significant being the potential for greater turnover when hiring a younger population as opposed to an older, more experienced crew. Experience alone would play some role in the development of new employees, as greater experience would bring greater poise and confidence. However, in light of the predominant population Singapore Airlines catered to, a younger in-flight crew would remedy the awkwardness likely to be encountered by older clients being served by older crew members. In addition, a younger crew would likely be more accepting of new procedures and less cynical of the requirements of employment. In light of the young demographic most desired in this role, recruitment, training and â€Å"conversion† processes were both stringent and comprehensive. All aspects of in-flight service, including training related to terminology, amenities and food preparation were provided in great detail, as were training for emergency preparedness and response to every potential s cenario encountered in the air and on the ground. Formalized on-boarding, training and continued development were the hallmarks of the comprehensive workforce program. Even well into a crew member’s employment, on-going training and cyclical evaluation provided a mechanism for employees to be aware of individual performance and gain exposure to methods of continuous  improvement. With an on-going plan of evaluation, communication, and development, the workforce was well-positioned for high levels of performance and quality improvements. Though it would seem that Singapore Airlines’ work management program suited the organization well, it greatly narrowed the pool of applicants and kept many, well-qualified and experienced candidates from positions that would create diversity among the largely homogeneous workforce and place the organization in a better position to serve populations whose ethnic origins were not of Asian descent. If the organization aims to be the leader in an increasingly global marketplace, the workforce must mirror the diverse needs and perceptions of the greater population. Advertising Campaign Singapore Airlines is known in the airline industry for its quality of service. This emphasis on customer service and customer satisfaction is largely reflective of the Asian culture for which the company embodies. Attention to detail, impeccable presentation, and care for others are traits synonymous with countries of Asian heritage. Similarly, Asian countries revere conservatism, organization and hierarchy (Allik, n.d.) so, it would follow that young Asian individuals demonstrate the same gracious, caring behaviors to others. The expectation of â€Å"gentle, courteous service† is consistent with these norms and with the approaches taken by the organization. So much are these standards and stereotypes linked to Asian culture and the epitome of service, that the symbol applied to the airline is that of a young Asian woman. This image is resoundingly more beguiling and traditional, recognized by nearly 50% of consumers over typical marketing imparted by competitors, with a marginal recognition of 9.6%. In light of the positive impact and recognition of the existing marketing campaign, it was considered advisable to retain the current marketing strategy. Systems for Measuring Service Quality Singapore Airlines has two primary components involved in measuring service quality. The first is a system to measure customer complaints and compliments for every 10,000 passengers. The second measurement is a  comparative rating of airline services prepared by the International Research Associates (INRA). The first component, customers’ complaints and compliments, stayed relatively the same despite rapid organizational expansion. This type of analysis has shown a generally high satisfaction level, but could be skewed due to the vast areas the complaints and compliments could cover; from ticket sales and baggage areas to in-flight crews. To address this concern the complaints were split between the areas. However, to get an accurate barometer of customer satisfaction, it was recommended that the airline conduct routine surveys of customers. Often, customers submitting comments fell into one of two categories; those having complaints or those having compliments. The second component to gauge customer satisfaction involved the INRA surveys. The airline executives paid particular attention to these scores as they indicated levels of satisfaction among the general consumer population and identified areas requiring continuous improvement. In 1973 Singapore Airlines scored 68, in 1974 the company scored 74 and in 1979 they scored 78. The scores of 39 other airlines demonstrated that two other competitors, Cathy Pacific and Thai International, were improving rapidly. This provided one indicator of competitive advantage. In order for Singapore Airlines to stay ahead of their competitors they would need to evaluate their position against industry leaders and determine if changes would be needed to stay competitive, particularly with respect to customer service and customer satisfaction (Wyckoff, 1989). Plan to Introduce Slot Machines Singapore Airlines has responded to many changes in order to differentiate itself within an increasingly competitive market place. One responsive action was to remove sleepers, replacing them with a business class section. Reactions from consumers were less than favorable. The move strayed from what consumers came to expect of elite levels of customer service, which were in large part, due to the attention paid to the personal needs of its elite customers. Although intended to be innovative and distinctive, the inclusion of slot machines on transatlantic flights was another idea met with considerable consumer dissatisfaction. While potentially generating a new stream of revenue, the idea only worked to incite passengers with a new category of charges. In addition to generating cost for the consumer, the  machines took valuable space away from seats and posed problems in light of weight restrictions (Time, 1981). These changes only compounded issues and introduced new problems such as the potential for in-flight injury, rather than improving in-flight services. While there was some opportunity for revenue, initially, the gains would last for a season and were not expected to extend out into the long-term. Conclusion The Singapore Airlines Case Study highlights both effective as well as ineffective management approaches within the company. The subsequent analysis and evaluation of company operations and strategies offer a compelling glimpse of organizational design and leadership amid change, as well as provide a platform for future discussions of organizational development and change management. Group evaluation of organizational design, organizational decision-making, and organizational process at Singapore Airlines yielded some recommendations for new approaches to address complaints, become more mainstream in an increasingly diverse market space, and become more innovative without losing sight of the customer service focus that has made Singapore Airlines so successful.

Development Of A New Facility In A University - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 14 Words: 4202 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? 1.0 Introduction A client brief has been provided for the development of a new facility in the University of Salford. In this report, a review will be carried out based on the requirements of the client in the brief and critically analyse the potential procurement methods for both the design and construction of the project. Recommendations for the appropriate procurement route and forms of contract supporting by detailed reasons will be suggested in the report. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Development Of A New Facility In A University" essay for you Create order The Client, The University of Salford, is aspiring to become an outstanding University renowned for the quality of its engagement, humanity, global reach and leadership in research, innovation and education. Strategic plan has been developed to achieve the Universitys goal which is to be ranked amongst the very best of UK universities and recognized internationally by 2017. To achieve this objective, the School of the Build Environment is intended to develop a new facility within the university campus. The building is to be a prestigious and high aesthetic facility which will replace an older building in the university. The new proposed building will contain facilities listed as below: State of the art lecture theatres Meeting rooms Extensive classroom and studio facilities Office accommodation Laboratory accommodation Learning Resource Units External works In addition, the Client requires the new facility to be carbon neutral to be in accordance with the University policy. Furthermore, the Client has allocates a budget of  £ 20 million to cover the total development cost of the project. This cost will include construction works, external works, statutory and professional fees. This proposed building must be completed and handover by 1st of August 2012. The completion date is critical as the facility must be ready for the new academic year. In short, the Clients key requirements and objectives of this new build building are listed as follows: New university facility which will realise the Universitys goal to become a high reputable and internationally renowned university. The facility is to be constructed in highest aesthetic and qualitative standards. The budget of the project is  £ 20 million. The construction time is important as the building is needed by 1st of August 2012 at the very latest. To carry out the construction works of this new facility, the Client needs to understand the various procurement methods available for the project. Hence, this report will analyse the key procurement issues for the Client to consider. 2.0 Procurement Assessment Criteria (PAC) Turner (1990) says that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"the procurement route that is appropriate to the overall balance of objectives and to client priorities for each project should arise from those objectives and priorities. There are several procurement assessment criteria being set as a guide to choose the appropriate method of procurement: Time Complexity Quality Cost Risk Flexibility In this case, three main criteria which are time, cost and quality will be focused and assessed in the following sections for this particular project to find the most suitable procurement route that balance between these three criteria. Figure 2.1: The balance of time, cost and quality 3.0 Traditional Procurement The traditional system, probably the most commonly adopted procurement strategy in UK, sometimes referred as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"design-bid-build method. This is because the traditional route separates the responsibility for the design of the project from its construction with a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"tendering period (Cooke Williams, 2009). Initially, the client appoints consultants for design and for cost control and contract administration of the project. After the design is completed, the tender stage starts by using two stage tendering or negotiation to appoint a contractor for the project. The appointed contractor will then enters into a direct contract with the client and responsible to build and deliver the project. The organizational structure of traditional procurement is shown in Figure 3.1. In addition, due to the design must be completed before the tender stage, the cost of construction can be determined with reasonable certainty before the construction commences on site (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006). Client Consultant Contractor QS, structural engineer Architect    Subcontractor Supplier Figure 3.1: Traditional procurement (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006) The traditional procurement is commonly used because of its particular advantages. These advantages are listed as follows: The design is complete before tendering ensures price certainty for the client. The design does not substantially change during construction therefore contract variations can be kept to a minimum. The client able to have direct influence and retains control over the design team, thus quality in the design can be assured. Detailed information such as drawings and Bills of Quantities provide a common basis for tendering and evaluation is relatively easy. The procedures are well known and enabling confidence to be assured in parties which involved throughout the process. Variations and contract changes are relatively easy to handle. Firm contractual date for completion. While this procurement route has its advantages, there are also criticisms. The main disadvantages are: The duration of project may be longer than other procurement methods as the strategies is sequential and construction cannot be commenced before the completion of design. A longer duration of project may make the cost of project higher because of the increased period of interim financing charges and interim payment to the contractor and consultants. These may cause the cost of project exceeds the clients budget. All the design risk is carried by the client. The contractor has no input into the design and planning of the project. The sequential nature of this system can result in poor communication between the client and the project team and can be cause of expensive disputes. 3.1 Cost By adapting this method of procurement, the cost is agreed as a lump sum fixed price between the University and the contractor thus provides overall cost certainty for the University before the construction commences on site. Besides, the project cost can be estimated, monitored and controlled by the Clients cost consultant during the whole project period and therefore large cost overruns will not occur which is an important advantage to the Client. In addition, traditional method could provide the Client value of money. As explained before, since the design stage is completed before the construction, the design and cost consultant team of the Client will corporate to ensure the design is value for money. 3.2 Time With this procurement route, as the design is carried out before the tender process, the length of time spent to develop the design and prepare the tender documents by the consultant team can be very long. This process tends to prevent the construction works to be started on site. In fact, traditional procurement is identified as the slowest method of procurement compare to others. Hence, this is a disadvantage for this new university facility project as the date of completion is critical. 3.3 Quality The traditional procurement provides the high degree of certainty that the quality and aesthetic standards will be met (Masterman, 2002). This is because the University can select the most appropriate design team for this project to complete the design before the tender stage. During the design stage, the University has direct control and influence over the design therefore can ensure the high aesthetic and quality standards for the new facility are fulfilled. 4.0 Design and build Procurement Ashworth (2006) defined design and build as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"a procurement arrangement where one single entity or consortium is contractually responsible to the client for both the design and construction of the project. In other words, under a design and build strategy, a single contractor takes the risk and responsibility for designing and building the project. The client will employ a design team to carry out some preliminary design or scheme design. The client will then appoint a contractor to assume the responsibility for the design as well as the construction process. The contractor needs to develop the scheme design to a detailed design. Figure 4.1 illustrates the relationships between the parties that involved in the project. In this method of procurement, the construction can start before the detailed design is completed, but at the contractors risk (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006). In practice, design and build procurement consist of a range of variable. The two common vari ants of this type of procurement are client-led design and build and contractor-led design and build. Client Architect or QS advisers Contractor Subcontractor Suppliers Architect and other designers Figure 4.1: Design and build (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006) In client-led design and build, also known as develop and construct, a small number of contractors will be invited to tender for the project when the design is virtually completed possibly with full bills of quantities or notional bills. In this procurement route, study of Cooke Williams (2009) indicates that the client is fully involved in the design development and therefore the design risk is taken fully by the client as the contractor has little involvement to the fundamental design. Additionally, the client will be responsible for all design fees from start to ends of the project. There is an alternative to this method which is a popular practice in the construction industry. Once the contract has been awarded, the design team including the clients architect and other members of the design team will be novated to the contractor. In other words, the contractual obligation to complete the detail aspect of design is legally passed over to the contractor. In this way, the client wi ll maintain an interest in the design but the contractor will be responsible to the continuing design fees and the entire design (Cooke Williams, 2009). On the other hand, in contractor-led design and build, the client may provide minimal information in the outline brief to the contractor. Thus, the contractor is fully responsible for the conceptual and detailed design. As a result, the contractor has to produce a building which meets the clients requirement. In this situation, the contractor takes all of the responsibilities, risks and rewards of design. The contractor may provide an in-house design facility or engage independent design teams (Cooke Williams, 2009). It is preferable to appoint a design team coordinator to ensure the flow of information between the design team and the project team. The main advantages of design and build procurement are listed as follows: The client has only to deal with one firm since the contractor provides single-point responsibility for design and construction. Price certainty is obtained before the commencement of construction works provided the clients requirements are adequately specified and changes are not introduced. The total cost of project is usually lesser than other types of procurement systems. The overall project period is reduced because of overlapping activities as construction can be started before the design is completed. Despite its advantages, design and build has many arguments among the practitioners and client of the industry. The drawbacks of this procurement method are: Tender bids are difficult to compare since each design will be different result in different project time and prices. The tender period and negotiation tends to be much longer Changes of client to project scope can be expensive. No guarantee in terms of design and quality because has less control over this aspect. The client may find difficult in preparing an adequate and sufficiently comprehensive brief. 4.1 Cost The design and build approach enables the contractor to be more positive about the final cost to the Client at an earlier stage (Masterman, 2002). The price would be agreed between the Client and the contractor before construction commences on site. Besides, the initial cost and final cost of using this procurement system are usually lower than other procurement approaches. This is mainly because of the reduction in design costs and the integration of design and construction process. However, value for money is difficult to assess in this type of procurement. This is because there is usually limited information available at the tender stage, not to mention there are different methods, designs and services can be offered by the contractor. As a result, the Client may not be able to judge the efficiency of the design. 4.2 Time The specialty of this procurement route is that the contractor is responsible for both design and construction. Therefore, it allows the overlap of design and construction phases thus reduce the overall project period. This would be an advantage for the University because it ensures the construction works of the new facility can be commenced early. According to Masterman (2002), design and build projects have a better record in terms of completion on time. Hence, the University would be able to have the new building ready for new academic year by using this method of procurement. 4.3 Quality This method of procurement would not be a suitable procurement for this high aesthetic and quality standards project. Design and build is belief that most suitable for simple uncomplicated project which the aesthetic and quality of the project is low. The reason for this is that the contractor is responsible to develop the detailed design of the project. In some circumstances, inevitably the contractor will economise the cost of design to boost the profit margins which will caused a negative effect on the project quality. Additionally, in a design and build project, if the Client unable to provide a satisfactory brief, it is possible result in the Clients functional and quality requirements being unsatisfied. 5.0 Management Procurement 5.1 Management Contracting In this procurement strategy, a management contractor is engaged by the client to manage a number of work package subcontractors in return for a fee. Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi (2006) stated that the management contractor has direct contractual links with all of the subcontractors and carries the responsibility for the construction works without actually carrying out that work. In this method of procurement, the works are let in forms of work package and subcontractors will bids competitively for each work package to obtain the work. The relationship between the parties in management contracting is shown in Figure 5.1.1. Client Consultants Contractor QS, structural engineer Architect Work contractor Figure 5.1.1: Management contracting (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006) Management contracting is a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"fast track strategy says Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi (2006). The work package approach allows the maximum overlap design and construction activities. In more general terms, provided that the work package is completed, the subcontractor may starts works on site before all of the design works are completed. Therefore, the overall project period can be reduced. Due to the nature of this type of procurement, cost certainty cannot be achieved until all packages of work is tendered and let. Hence, strict control of the work package budget is essential for the success of the project (Cooke Williams, 2009). In this strategy, the client reimburses the cost of the work packages to the appointed management contractor who will then pay the subcontractors. So, it is important to appoint the management contractor carefully and ensure that the management fee is appropriate. As the common characteristics of management contracting are previously described, the advantages of this procurement route can now identified: Overlapping of the design and construction processes tends to save time for the overall project thus enables earlier completion to be achieved. The nature of the procurement enables the contractor contribution to design and project planning. Changes can be accommodated provided that packages affected have not been let and there is little or no impact on those already let. Quality of the project can be assured as the design can be developed in stages and site supervisor can be appointed to ensure the quality standard is achieved. On the other hand, there are also weaknesses in this procurement method. The disadvantages are listed as follows: Poor price certainty at the early stage and the potential cost commitment depends on the design team estimates. The total cost of project is usually unknown until the project is well into the construction programme. The client must provide a good quality brief to the design team as the design will not be completed until the client has committed significant resources to the project. The client is responsible for the majority of the project risks. Damages of delay are difficult to pin on one subcontractor. 5.2 Construction Management Under a construction management strategy, Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi (2006) points out that the client does not allocate risk and responsibility to a single main contractor. The client employs the design team and appoints a construction manager based on a negotiated fee simply to manage, programme and co-ordinate the design and construction activities carried out by the work package contractors. Unlike the management contracting, the each work package contractors have direct contractual link with the client and is paid directly by the client (see Figure 5.2.1). Client QS, structural engineer Architect Construction manager Trade contractor Trade contractor Figure 5.2.1: Construction management (Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi, 2006) The construction manager will provides professional construction expertise without assuming financial risk because there is no contractual link with design team or work package contractors. Hence, by using this procurement route, Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi (2006) stated that the client has to be involved closely in the design and construction phases and take necessary actions based on the recommendations from the construction manager. Therefore, this method of procurement is not suitable for inexperienced client. It is recommended to use this procurement for large and complex project or a high degree of design innovation where the client wants deep involvement. Basically, the construction contracting has the similar advantages and disadvantages with the management contracting. Therefore, they will not discuss more in this section and please refer to the previous section if necessary. 5.3 Cost The uncertainty of price will be seen as a disadvantage for the management procurement system. However, the benefit of this à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"fast track strategy may result in cost savings and offsetting extra construction costs. Therefore, it could reduce the overall expense of the project. Besides, in this procurement, the cost of the project can be minimised by improving buildability and by work package contractors undertake the works at competitive prices. 5.4 Time For projects which need fast design and construction period, this would be the appropriate type of procurement to be used. The overlapping of design and construction phases will allows an early start of construction works on site and therefore saving in time can be achieved. Since the time of completion is an important issue in this project, the Client would be suggested to consider to adopting this procurement methods. 5.5 Quality Under this procurement route, the quality of the completed project can be achieved which fully meet the Clients needs provided that the design team is working closely with the management contractor on all aspect of the project to ensure he is fully aware of the design constraints as well as the Clients requirements. Besides, due to the management contractor is appointed at the early stage, he will be able to contribute his construction expertise to achieving an efficient quality standard for this project. 6.0 Justification of procurement strategy 6.1 Procurement Matrix After considering and evaluating the options of procurement available for the project, the most appropriate procurement system that suitable for the project can be selected. This can be achieved by assessing and setting the priorities of the project objectives in terms of time, quality and cost and the client attitude to risk. A universal procurement selection technique which is a procurement matrix is employed to help to select an appropriate procurement strategy for this particular project. The Universitys key objectives and requirements of this project are taken into account during the assessment. After completing this procurement matrix, the result shows that Management Contracting would be best suited procurement system for this new university facility project. Please see the attachment for the completed procurement matrix for this project. 6.2 Procurement strategy After a critical analysis of the procurement options as discussed above and completing the procurement matrix, the Management Contracting route is highly recommended to be adopted for this new build facility project. The reasons of this suggestion is being made are discussed as below. 6.2.1 Cost strategy In terms of cost issue, the Management Contracting probably is not the most recommended procurement systems compare to Traditional and Design and Build. This is because it is not the greatest at providing price certainty to ensure the budget of  £ 20 million can be met at the beginning of the project. However, Morledge, Smith Kashiwagi (2006) points out that this does not mean that the Client has less control over the project cost as strict supervision can be exerted over this aspect of the project. Due to that each package of work are being let by competition between contractors, the Client can monitor the cost closely and if necessary, adjust later work packages in order to cover any cost overruns in the previous work package. Furthermore, the University has to appoint the Management Contractor so that he can advise and contribute at the design process based on his professional expertise and carry out value engineering works to ensure the project is being built within the budget. 6.2.2 Time strategy The completion on time is a key requirement of this project. The Client has specifically required that the new facility must be completed on 1st August 2012. Under this circumstance, Management Contracting would be appropriate to meet the deadline. Due to the rapid progress of this procurement which provides overlapping of design and construction phases allows early commencement of works on site and therefore results in time saving. Moreover, the key strategy to ensure the project is completed on time is to make sure that all of the information from the design team is continuously issued on time to the Management Contractor and to ensure that the Management Contractor is always being updated. Hence, these could avoid any misunderstandings and delays during the construction works. Besides, the competency and experience of the Management Contractor will also ensure this à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"fast track procurement can be carried out efficiently. A high level of experience Management Contractor who familiar with this type of procurement route must be appointed so that the works on site are well manage and control throughout the whole process. 6.2.3 Quality strategy The Management Contracting would ensure the required high quality and aesthetic standards of this new build project can be successfully met. This is because this type of procurement method allows the Client to appoint and oversee the design team to develop detailed design which fulfills the specific requirements. Furthermore, to ensure the quality and aesthetic standards of this university facility are met, the Client has to make sure that the design team are aware and focus from the beginning of the project to develop the design based on these commitments. Additionally, all of the detailed drawings and specification produced by the design team must go into the contract between the Client and the Management Contractor so that the requirements of the Client are well informed thus can be managed efficiently the works on site to ensure the requirements are met. 7.0 Form of Contract A contract is defined by Cooke Williams (2009) as a means of formalising the relationship between the contracting parties in which the rights and obligations of the parties are agreed and the balance of risk between the parties established. The contracts also establish how administrative procedures and the serving of formal notices are to be conducted and mechanisms for dealing with contract payments, delays, compensation and disputes says Cooke. There are several of contracts produced by different bodies used in the construction industry but by far the JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) is the most popular forms of contract in use. Hence, the JCT 2005 Management Building Contract is recommended to be used in this project. The JCT 2005 Management Building Contract comprises (Hackett, Robinson Statham, 2007): Management Building Contract Management Works Contract Tender Agreement Management Works Contract Conditions Management Work Contract / Employer Agreement Under this forms of contract, the management contractor tenders on the basis of a management fee and the works contract are being let by separate packages when the design of those packages are developed (Cooke Williams, 2009). The management contractor is legally bound with these work package contractors under the Management Works Contract. In other words, the management contractor is responsible to manage the work package contractors. Moreover, during the design stages, the contract also requires the management contractor to cooperate with the consultant team such as architect, engineering and quantity surveyor. In addition, all necessary programmes for execution of the project which includes detailed construction programme are required to prepare by the management contractor (Cooke Williams, 2009). Under the contract, the management contractors duties include maintaining and regularly updating the detailed construction programme. 8.0 Conclusion In conclusion, the Management Contracting is the most suitable procurement route for this project. This procurement system allows the Client to design the new university facility according to his requirements and appoints the Management Contractor to manage the construction works on site. Using the Management Contracting, the price certainty can be achieved with close monitor of the cost of each work packages so that the building can be built within the budget of  £ 20 million. Furthermore, the advantage of this à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"fast track procurement method tends to meet the time of completion for this project. Last but not least, since this is a prestigious project, this type of procurement route ensure the high quality and aesthetic standards are met in accordance with the Clients requirements. With these, it is recommended for the University to adopt the Management Contracting as the method of procurement to maximise the success of the project.

Beach Home Pros And Cons - 726 Words

I visited Shea Homes in South west San Diego near the City of Imperial Beach Imperial and spoke to a sales agent named David. The development has 174 homes to be released over two years in 15 Phases. Averaging 10 to 15 every month and a half to two months. This development sells two brands housing. One brand is called Sea Glass and the other is Blue Strand. Sea Glass the cheaper of the two with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 to 3 bathrooms and the area range from 1660 to 1999 square feet with three styles Santa Barbara, Spanish, and Craftsman. 2 car garage. No driveways. The starting price without the upgrades $420,000 to $460,000 Blue Strand is the more luxurious of the two communities. It offers 4-5 bedrooms and 3 to 5 baths and the area range†¦show more content†¦The targeted demographic for these developments are mid-sized family with median income. At all the phase release all the homes get sold because they are priced relatively cheaper for the quality. The price per soft rages from $214 to $254 the average price per soft is close to $350. This area is likely to continue to develop, but at a slow rate since it is mostly built. Future price could continue to increase due to the demand for housing. The issue of polluted beach if it continues to be unresolved could lower or maintain the value these properties. To value this development is using the market sales comparison approach method and adding additional value for new construction then adjusting negatively for the crowded or lack of privacy and tight parking situation. NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION These communities are located in the city of San Diego in the Southern portion of San Diego County. The immediate area consists mostly of average to good quality, tract built homes with a small mix of multi-family dwellings and condominiums. Schools, shopping, public private facilities are all located nearby. Freeway access is adequate. The subject communitys value opinion estimate exceeds the predominant neighborhood value due mostly to its gross living area and age. The communities are considered an over-improvement for this neighborhood due to the existence of an adequate demand for homes of this size and in the price range. No adverse conditions wereShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr. And Gandhi1132 Words   |  5 Pagesnonviolence are Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas K. Gandhi. While there are many pros to nonviolence, there are just as many cons. Somehow these two people managed to impact millions of people’s lives and still continue to do so today. Through all o f the negativity and discrimination these two people became leaders in our society’s eyes and still remain as role models in our society now. There are always pros and cons to being a leader to millions, but Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi’s â€Å"non-traditional†Read MoreGraduation Speech : College Students974 Words   |  4 PagesCollege students have two choices when it comes to spring break, either go home or to go on a wild vacation with their friends. I recently had to make a similar choice between going to Destin, Florida, which includes partying with my friends or going home to Chicago, Illinois to rest. In order to make a decision it was best to compare and contrast my two choices. There are few things in common that both options offered. Brinda Patel of The List offers a few of these. First, I will not be in classRead MoreOnline Education1381 Words   |  6 Pagesabout online educating because there are so many pros and cons to the issue. Mary Kassop, author of Ten Ways Online Education Matches, or Surpasses, Face-to-Face Learning, writes, Can students learn as much and as well online as they do in F2F courses? 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Safety, discipline, and bullying are big reasons for dress codes in highRead MoreDebate on School Uniforms1191 Words   |  5 Pageswere from middle schools. In Long Beach, officials found that the year after their mandatory program with parental opt-out was implemented, overall school crime decreased by 36%. In Seattle, Washington, which has a mandatory policy with an opt-out saw a decrease in truancy and tardies. PRO 1 School uniforms would save parents money. PRO 2 School uniforms would save parents time. Kids in the morning would not have to make up their minds on what to wear. PRO 3 Kids whos parents would not orRead MoreComparisons of Different Famous Diets1760 Words   |  8 Pagesis that participants eat prepackaged, premeasured, and processed meals which are delivered to the participant’s home. Counselors are available in order to assist with long-term goals and teach participants to avoid emotional eating. 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From where I stay, even though it is not too far from my home, but it is not a walking distance, for someone who don’t have a car will be it will be difficult for them to get to any drug store to pick up them items. Monday morning June 6, 2016 at 2PM I visited more than two pharmacy stores and the name of the stores that I visited where Walgreen in 705 N Pebble Beach Blvd, Sun City Center, FL 33573, CVS105 S Pebble Beach Blvd, Sun City Center, FL 33573 and the last store where the Walmart

The Disney-Pixar Merger Essay - 2468 Words

Table of Contents Disney – Pixar Merger 3 Introduction 3 Aggressive cost cutting 3 Co-production agreement 4 The Financials 5 The Investment decision 5 How had this merger worked in the long run 7 Advantages 8 Disadvantages 8 Bibliography 10 Appendix 11 Exhibit 1 11 Exhibit 2 12 Exhibit 2a 13 Exhibit 3 14 Exhibit 4 4a 15 Exhibit 8 16 Exhibit 9 17 Exhibit 11 18 Disney – Pixar Merger Introduction The Walt Disney Company was established by the brothers Walt and Roy Disney on October 16th 1923 and is one of biggest entertainment and media’s company’s throughout the world. It is the largest of a number of television networks such as the American Broadcasting company together with 7 theme parks. Also in the 1930’s, Disney started to†¦show more content†¦Pixar’s contribution represented 10% of revenue and over 60% of total operating income over the period. The dynamics of theatrical and financial success changed completely, and new revenue streams were generated by other sectors (see Exhibit 3). By 2005, a structural change in profits occurred with the largest revenue sources was home video and not the theatrical box office. As for Pixar, the company was established in 1979, originally as a graphics group to form part of the computer division of Lucas Film Limited by John Lasseter and George Lucas. In 1986, Steve Jobs - who had left Apple Computer the year before—bought the Lucas Film computer business for $10 million. Later Steve Jobs established it as an independent company co-founded with Dr. Edwin E. Catmull and renamed the company to Pixar. Although it would be worth knowing that initially, Jobs intended Pixar to be a computer hardware and software company (see Exhibits 4 and 4a). Nonetheless, as an American computer animation film company, Pixar became an award winning company, best known for its creation of a string of animated films. It’s most popular films include the likes of Toy Story, The Incredibles and Finding Nemo, amongst others. Also on a side note, the release of Toy Story on November 22, 1995 was the biggest impact on the future of film making industry. In fact in 1995, Toy Story was the film which generated the highest earnings ofShow MoreRelatedDisney : Disney And Pixar Merger1187 Words   |  5 PagesDisney and Pixar Merger The strategy that led to the merger of Disney and Pixar was a simply business deal with two companies that has been working with each other for years. Pixar initially began in 1979 as the Graphics Group, as a piece of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm. The gathering basically chipped away at PC equipment. Apple prime supporter Steve Jobs later obtained the company in 1986. The studio sought after its fantasy of making the first PC vivified full-length film. In 1995, PixarRead MoreWalt Disney-Pixar Merger2965 Words   |  12 PagesWalt Disney-Pixar Merger Brief Industry Analysis Because of the technology nowadays, one successful film can be distributed all over the world, which is in a form of motion pictures or DVD. Animation is one media that is spread all over the world; push it to be one of fastest growing industry. The demand for the animation is increasing from the emerging number of cables and satellite TV and the popularity of The Internet. In addition, in the past, the target market of the animation industryRead MoreMerger Between Walt Disney and Pixar1070 Words   |  5 Pagesresearching the information on Disney and Pixar, I came across some differences between Steve Jobs and Michael Eisner regarding how the two companies will work together. Going through the articles that I have read through they all show that Disney and Pixar has always been competing against each other on who can make the best animated motion picture. Here is a little history Disney has always been about producing animated features and live-action movies and as for Pixar they have always produced computer-animatedRead MoreAcquisition And Acquisition Of Aol / Warner And Disney / Pixar1206 Words   |  5 Pagestype of change (merger and acquisition) with different outcomes. Merger is combination of two or more companies in which the assets and liabilities of the selling firms are absorbed by the buying firm. Although the buying firm may be a considerably different organization after the merger, it retains its original identity while Acquisition is the purchase of an asset or an entire company (Sherman, A. J., Hart, M. A. (2005). Chapter 1: The Basics of Mergers and Acquisitions. In, Mergers AcquisitionsRead MoreMerger1346 Words   |  6 PagesMerger, Acquisition, and International Strategies Shonia L. Murphy Dr. Bennett Strayer University Bus 499 Introduction Any public limited company can grow through the process of either organic growth or internal growth or through the process of merger and acquisition. In the following pages two different public limited companies listed in the United States are taken. One of the animation companies has international exposure and a history of merger and acquisition and otherRead MoreMergers and Acquisition939 Words   |  4 Pageshave chosen to examine why Disney and Pixar merged as a company. A brief definition of an Acquisition and a merger will be given following with the difference between them. I will be discussing if these two companies were a success or a failure and why and which were their reasons behind this statement. A merger is a combination of two companies, which form a new firm, while an acquisition is the purchase of one company by another in which no new company is formed. Mergers and Acquisitions take placeRead MorePixar1465 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 7, 2013 Strategic Management 5301 Walt Disney-Pixar Analysis The Walt Disney-Pixar merger carries a number of convincing advantages for Disney, but Pixar shareholders should be less enthusiastic about such a deal. Pixar’s resources and capabilities have set a standard that is extremely difficult to imitate. Through its highly talented employee pool, culture of creativity and collaboration, and proprietary 3D computer animation software, Pixar has created a competitive advantage in the animationRead MoreWalt Disney Pixar Case Analysis1439 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 7, 2013 Strategic Management 5301 Walt Disney-Pixar Analysis The Walt Disney-Pixar merger carries a number of convincing advantages for Disney, but Pixar shareholders should be less enthusiastic about such a deal. Pixar’s resources and capabilities have set a standard that is extremely difficult to imitate. Through its highly talented employee pool, culture of creativity and collaboration, and proprietary 3D computer animation software, Pixar has created a competitive advantage in the animationRead MorePixar s Organizational Structure Of Pixar Essay1405 Words   |  6 PagesPixar is a company that has ties to other major corporations in our American culture. Pixar Animation Studios started as a part of the Lucas film computer group, which is owned by George Lucas the creator of Star Wars. However, after receiving funding from Steve Jobs the division became its own corporation in 1986. After that Disney purchased Pixar, which allowed Steve Jobs to become a shareholder in Disney also. With these changes due to the ownership of the corporation an analysis of managerialRead MoreCapstone Assignment 41313 Words   |  6 Pagesthe strategy that led to the merger or acquisition to determine whether or not this merger or acquisition was a wise choice. Justify your opinion. The merger I choose to research was the acquisition of Pixar by Disney. The merger between Disney and Pixar was a very successful one. They worked together in the past and their contract was running out after the release of Cars. This was the perfect opportunity and sensible move for these two companies to merge. The merger would allow the companies to

Fried Green Tomatos free essay sample

Fried Green Tomatoes is a novel written by Fannie Flag and the setting is in the 1930’s. The novel, made national blockbuster by Jon Avnet, is a story of two women and the right to live and be free in a world where anything outside of â€Å"the norm† was hard for others to understand. Cited in the text of Women and Gender, a radical feminist Rebecca West (1913) said, â€Å"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat† (p. 6). This analysis paper will discuss the three views of feminism, radical, liberal, and cultural. Radical feminism is about domination and male control. According to Crawford and Unger, â€Å"Women as a group are oppressed, not by their biology or social class, but by men as a group† (p. 7). The film Fried Green Tomatoes fits in with radical feminism, for the abuse handed to Ruth from her husband seemed to be very brutal. Physical abuse is not the only form of abuse, for the verbal and overall controlling dominance is overbearing for anyone. â€Å"In other words, the power of men over women in society is expressed and acted out not only in sexual violence but also in male control of the very definition and meaning of sexuality (MacKinnon, 1994). Chapter 13 of the text Women and Gender explains the intimidation, criticism, threats, and humiliation of partner abuse. Radical feminism does not just speak of physical abuse, for mental abuse can be just as damning to a woman or man for that matter. In the movie, Ruth had a black eye at one point, was being carried up the stairs over her husband’s shoulder and pushed down the stairs of their home. That was a form of physical abuse. The scene where her husband comes in dressed in a KKK outfit, not only showed intimidation toward her about taking the baby, but against the caring black people that were family to Ruth. That was a form of intimidation and threats. According to Crawford and Unger, Liberal feminism is about equality between females and males. Chapter 6 of our Women and Gender text talks gender roles and the scripts ones follow for girls and boys. â€Å"Baby girls were dressed in pink, puffed sleeves, ruffles, and lace, whereas boys were dressed in blue or sometimes red, but nothing ruffled or pink (Shakin, Shakin, Sternglanz, (1985). The scene where Idgie is in her sister’s wedding at a young age is a very good example of a gender role. Idgie is ridiculed by an older sibling for being in a dress with a bow in her hair. Idgie is a tomboy little girl and this goes against the gender norm of a little girl. The mother tried so hard to tell her how pretty Idgie looked, but Idgie in the end was dressed in her â€Å"tomboy attire for the wedding†. Therefore instead of the cute little dress and the bow in Idgie’s hair, she had on a yellow/gold short suit. â€Å"Appropriate distinctions are very important if two genders are to be constructed. Gender-appropriate behaviors must be elicited from the infant and reinforced when they occur. Girls’ more delicate and restrictive attire can inhibit play and promote gender-stereotypic behavior. Kathy Bates played a lonely housewife, Evelyn Couch, trying to gain any kind of attention from her husband. Liberal feminism is about equality, but can it be equality of the same sex? One example in the movie is when Evelyn had her blinker for a parking place in a grocery store parking lot. These two ladies in a VW Bug wheeled in and took the spot and this infuriated Evelyn, especially when the lady said she was â€Å"younger and quicker. † Evelyn in the film was always being â€Å"run over† per say, from others that were younger than her. Being treated as an equal from opposite sex, same sex, younger, older, or people of other ethnicity can make one feel liberal. According to Crawford and Unger, â€Å"Cultural feminism emphasizes differences between women and men. This perspective stresses that qualities characteristic of women have been devalued and should be honored and respected in society† (p. 7). One belief is that women can be more nurturing than men. Ruth, for example, was a very nurturing character in Fried Green Tomatoes. Not only to her son but to all her admired her. Evelyn Couch, on the other hand, wanted to feel needed and valuable to her husband. Evelyn started attending a group therapy class for women on how to rekindle her marriage. The several ways in which to get her husband to notice her did not seem to work. The expectations of women from men are to be there to nurture when men are ready, stay home and make sure their needs are taken care of. In the text of Reading Women’s Lives, Judy Syfers (1972) I Want a Wife, is a very good example of cultural feminism. â€Å"I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. A wife who will pick up after me. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that my personal things are kept in their proper place so that I can find what I need the minute I need it. I want a wife that cooks the meals, a wife who is a good cook. (p. 36). † These are the types of events that took place when Evelyn was trying to get her husband to notice her, to feel valuable to him again. When Evelyn Couch stopped paying attention to her husband so much and focusing on herself and her needs, it is then that he realized what a pompous ass he had been. As we wrap this course up on Psychology of Women, I have learned so much on radical, cultural, and liberal feminism. For women not be beaten, ridiculed, or imitated by their male partner. Be able to be a liberal person. Be the person on the outside that you are on the inside without being judged by others in your life, job setting, church, or community. Most of all: Cultural Feminism. The feeling of being valuable to someone or for something is a wonderful feeling. Whether you are a man or a woman, we all want the same thing.

The Man in the High Castle Review Essay Example

The Man in the High Castle Review Paper Essay on The Man in the High Castle Write about Dicks books seriously first, because it is written, rewritten about him a lot, and for the most part is nonsense and obscurantism, and secondly, because these books to me personally are difficult to describe you need to read, to feel the . But, nevertheless, any Dick text deserves to be recommended, especially to fans of science fiction, and especially fans of all psevdofantasticheskoy cud domestic production roughly speaking, reduce a brain. Although through the demolition of the roof. The Man in the High Castle roofs are not blowing away, because it is written in the genre of alternative history, where not much to play with time and embedded reality that very often in other texts of the author. Dick comes from the fact that during world war II defeated Germany and Japan, and what came of it all over the world (in Russia a solid concentration camp in Africa killing all life) and, of course, in America . In addition to the rather slender logical and historical constructions, personally I am very interested pokazalis . S two points We will write a custom essay sample on The Man in the High Castle Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Man in the High Castle Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Man in the High Castle Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The first what Dick wrote about the adaptability of people to the new order, totally for them (and this is evident from the novel) unnatural. But, nevertheless, they live, work, love The second -. This is what I would say, tricks, Dick novel ends. The idea is briefly as follows: in fact, the whole as described in the three hundred pages of the German-Japanese national-fascist nightmare with elements of unbridled capitalism and protracted forever Holocaust is unrealistic. And only exists in peoples minds. And in order to get to our normal branch of history, with a much more pleasant reality, it is enough just to believe and you say -. The Matrix. The novel, by the way, was written in 1962.