Follow the details Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Follow the details - Essay Example Like many photographs, this one is one in which my entire family is gathered about the time when I was celebrating my 10th birthday. One of the reasons that the photograph bears so much importance to me is that it has both sets of my grandparents as well as my mother and father in it. Only a few years after the photo was taken, three of my four grandparents had passed away. In this way, the photo itself is a way to remember the happiest memories of my childhood. The second object is one that I have brought with me in my travels abroad; a leather bound copy of the Holy Koran. The book belonged to my father and my grandfather before him. It was always something that was unique and holy within our household and I remember being fascinated by it since I was very young. This fascination was due in part to the fact that it was physically different than all other books that we had in our house. The leather engraving on the cover and on the back was exquisite and the Arabic calligraphy that covered it had always sparked my imagination. In this way, when my father learned that I would be going overseas to study, he entrusted me with this family treasure. This was done not as a way to keep me safe or as a good luck charm but to remind me of my culture and of the importance of my upbringing even though I would be far away in the land of different customs and interpretations of right and wrong. This type of moral compass and guiding principle of my fai th and of my ethnicity was and is something that I keep close to my heart and treasure to this very day. The final article that this brief essay will discuss is that of my high school graduation diploma. Although having a high school graduation diploma in and of itself signifies little within the current era, it is not the receipt of the diploma itself that is of the most importance. Rather, it is the strong memories that are associated with it, the friendships I made, the times I spent, and the

Outsourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Outsourcing - Essay Example se of two dramatically different effects – while some claim that it will result in layoffs and dislocation for many US workers, most economists believe that it will ultimately strengthen the US economy (Otterman, 2004). Outsourcing should not be restricted as it will be good for the US economy in the long run. With the US economy still recovering from recession, some economists feel that this is not the right time to send jobs overseas. High technology companies have been contracting out many of their software development projects to overseas software companies, particularly to India. Outsourcing has always been a part of the American economic regime. Gradually outsourcing is being done in more and more sectors. It is fueled by a combination of quality services at affordable prices both by the service providers and the consumers. The developed countries could venture into outsourcing as the developing countries have demonstrated the required skills and upgraded the technology in communications (Sourirajan, 2004). Despite claims of job losses no one really knows how many service jobs have been outsourced overseas as companies are not required to maintain such statistics. According to a Forrester Report, US will export 3.3 million US jobs by 2010 and most will be in the IT software development sector (Sourirajan, 2004). By 2015, Forrester predicts, roughly 3.3 million service jobs will have moved offshore, including 1.7 million "back office" jobs such as payroll processing and accounting, and 473,000 jobs in the information technology industry (Otterman). This according to economists is a very low figure as the United States employs some 130 million non-farm workers. Despite the recent economic downturn, according to a McKinsey Analysis, the U. S. economy created an average of 3.5 million new jobs in the private sector per year (Otterman). Outsourcing helps to stimulate the economy, argue some economists. The loss of jobs can be attributed to other factors like

Counselling Rape Survivors

Counselling Rape Survivors According to the Home Office findings, Rape is defined as ‘forced to have sexual intercourse (Vaginal or anal penetration)’. The legal definition stipulates it to be ‘penile’. In general terms, rape is an act of aggression and violence against another; it is not an act of sex but is one of specifically dominance and power. Key points of the findings of the Research, Development andStatistics directorate of the Home Office published in 2002 are listedbelow. 0.4% of women aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales said they hadbeen raped in the year preceding the 2000 BCS, an estimated 61,000victims. 0.9% of women said they had been subject to some form ofsexual victimization (including rape) in this period. Around 1 in 20women (4.9%) said they had been raped since age 16, an estimated 754,000 victims. About 1 in 10 women (9.7%) said they had experiencedsome form of sexual victimisation (including rape) since age 16. Age is the biggest risk factor for experiencing sexual victimisation; women aged 16 to 24 were more likely to say they had been sexually victimised in the last year than older women. Women are most likely tobe sexually attacked by men they know in some way, most often partners(32%) or acquaintances (22%). Current partners (at the time of theattack) were responsible for 45% of rapes reported to the survey.Strangers were responsible for only 8% of rapes reported to the survey.18% of incidents of sexual victimisation reported to the survey came to the attention of the police; the police came to know about 20% of rapes. 32% of women who reported rape were ‘very satisfied’ with theway the police handled the matter, 22% were very dissatisfied. Lessthan two-thirds (60%) of female rape victims were prepared toself-classify their experience as ‘rape’ and less than three-quarters(70%) of women who self-classified themselves as having been victims of ‘attempted r ape’. Amnesty international reported that there were 14,000 recorded rapesin 2003 and 11,441 recorded rapes in 2002, representing a 8% increase.According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2003, the totalnumber of sexual offences recorded by police in England Wales was 48,654, a 17% rise over the previous year. A victim of rape feels the fight or flight response that humans have built-in; which means that when the incident is over, one is leftwith a feeling of devastation, exhaustion, confusion, sadness, etc. The lingering psychological disorder is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The most effective therapeutic approach for long-term,severe PSTD appears to be talking treatment sessions with a clinicalpsychologist, in which the person is encouraged to talk through theirexperiences in detail. This may involve behavioural or cognitivetherapeutic approaches. Antidepressants may also be prescribed torelieve concurrent depression, a common feature in survivors, andenable the person to get the most out of any psychological treatment.Counselling may be helpful too in the early stages of recovery,particularly from counsellors experienced in the treatment of PTSD. Before we go into detail on counselling for rape survivors, it is essential to take into account the effectiveness of counselling in general. According to the Department of Health (2001), Counselling hasbeen defined as â€Å" a systematic process which gives individuals anopportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of living moreresourcefully, with a greater sense of well-being †. The use ofcounselling as a means of responding to people in distress and turmoilhas been increasing rapidly in recent years. This has generated adebate on the effectiveness of counselling process itself. The methodsof evaluation of effectiveness is also highly controversial. Theconcerns in the qualitative and quantitative evaluation is discussed indetail later. Bondi summarises from her reports on controlled trials conducted inhealth care settings. They seem to indicate that counselling is aneffective intervention, clinically and economically. Its costs andbenefits are broadly comparable to those of antidepressant medication. Moreover, it seems to be a popular choice with many patients. Cautionis sometimes attached to the results of these trials. This may be dueto the fact that it only involves a small trial when compared to thelarge trial group of medication. Studies of counselling in othersettings indicate a high level of satisfaction among clients. Bondialso writes that there is good evidence to suggest that counselling hasa capacity to reduce demand on psychiatric services. This is becausecounselling prevents less serious problems from becoming more seriousand helps people to maintain reasonably good levels of mental health. Choice of treatment of survivors of rape has been one of increasing significance within health care and also highlights the need toconsider factors other than clinical and cost-effectiveness.Counselling is not the only form of talking treatment available. Otherforms of talking treatment include psychotherapy, cognitive behaviourtherapy, self-help groups and support groups. Counselling attaches a great significance to the autonomy of the victim and therefore it cannot be administered to the unwilling. The success of counselling, therefore, depends on active participation. For counsellingof rape victims, feelings caused by abuse may be quite overwhelming and difficult to deal with. The Department of Health (2001) has recommended counselling as one of the types of psychological therapy for depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety and phobias andpost traumatic disorders. These problems can be mainly related tosurvivors of rape. The National Center for Victims of Crime (2004) recommends that counselling can help cope with the physical and emotional reactions to the sexual assault or rape, as well as provide necessary information about medical and criminal justice system procedures. According to the reports by the Brunel University (2005) on sexual abuse and rape, sharing experiences in a safe, understanding and confidential setting may help to manage their feelings by being heard and taken seriously.   Counselling enables to make sense of the present, in relation to the past.   Some survivors of sexual abuse maybe plagued by memories in the form of distressing flashbacks, mental images or nightmares.   Talking about the images and memories while being heard and supported will often ease the problem.   It may beeasier to share incidents and feelings with a professional counsellorconfidential, rather than a friend. Some people prefer to talk to ahelpline so they do not have to face the person they are disclosing to.    According to Bondi’s summary of her studies on the effectiveness ofcounselling that sceptics often voice doubts of counselling because itappears to involve nothing other than one (or two people) â€Å"chatting† toa counsellor. However, in spite of these doubts, communication takesplace when counselling is effected, whereby a special kind ofrelationship is developed between the counsellor and the victim. Bondiattributes this to the fact that human beings are social creaturescapable of connecting with others. It is worth to note that allapproaches to counselling share a commitment to apply insights andunderstandings about the importance of these connections to offertherapeutically effective relationships. Impacts of counselling on rape survivors often depends on the development of a helpful working relationship between the counsellor and survivor.   According to the STAR findings, some women feel nervous and unenthusiastic about seeing a counsellor. Therefore, it is essential that they feel relaxed and comfortable to be able to talk freely. Setting up of a pace comfortable for the victim is important as it recognises the interlinked nature of people’s lives (Skinner andTaylor,   Home Office report 51/04).   According to Bernes (2005), effective counselling leading to a good counsellor-victim relationship follows the following dynamics. They are an emotionally charged, confiding relationship between the patient and therapist; warmth, support and attention from the therapist in a healing setting; a positive therapeutic alliance between patient and therapist; a new rationale or conceptual scheme offered with confidence by the therapist; the passage of time; installation of hope and expectancy and finally techniques consistent with patient expectation and efficacy. Common process strategies in counselling include gathering sufficient information, listening well and with understanding, helping the individual reflect and gain insight, helping in decision-making and goal setting, and providing options and ideas for client consideration (Korhonen). According to the Home Office reports on the STAR scheme, the data collected from the survey did not give any indications that anyone counselling technique works better than another.   Methods likedrawing or making lists of feelings, events, concerns and workingthrough them were found to be effective by some rape survivors. Some found making plans for the future, for example, symbolic moves such aschanging the dà ©cor of the room seemed to indicate a new phase in their lives.   Others indicated that a flexible integrated approach with respect, a respectful politeness, support and even the smiling face of the counsellors seemedto have helped them. The need for administering couna respectful, supportive and caring environment is also essential. Also, them cope development of a programme of work that enabled them to look at themselves in a logical, positive and respective manner athem cope with their emotions and move forward at their own pace is essential. The university of Dundee has introduced a computer counsellingtechnique called ‘ENHANCE’ for rape victims. Often, women who have been raped find it hard to talk about their feelings and research evidence shows that in sensitive and potentially embarrassing areas of human functioning, some people may find it easier to talk openly to acomputer. ENHANCE,   a computer based facility which includes a diaryfacility for free writing, a visualisation tool to describe feelingsand graphic manipulation and exploration, an information base to accessa range of supportive information, leaflets and contacts and the optionof what to destroy or save it for later reference. Further work is being done to develop ENHANCE and the researchers feel that their workcan be transferred to other agencies in future. Furthermore, it is inan early stage to be assessed for effectiveness. Computer counselling is, therefore, new and brings to attention to the fact there is very few online support avail able for rape survivors. This can be a good sourceof data for qualitative research as it reduces some of its ethical risks which are discussed in detail later.  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is very difficult to assess the effectiveness of counselling forrape survivors as due to the dilemmas in relation to the ethicalpractises of counselling, training and qualifications of counsellors and the evaluation of counselling and little published information.Counselling services are offered in a wide range of settings, which influences the kind of outcomes (Bondi). Bondi, in her review ofdifferent counselling orientations writes that similar effects may beusually reported. This is consistent with the argument that it is thequality of the therapeutic relationships offered by the counsellorswhich determine the effectiveness of counselling.   Effectiveness of rape counselling can be studied by either qualitativeor quantitative research. McLeod (2000) reports from his paperpresented at the 8th Annual International Counselling, University of Durham that counselling in Britain at the beginning of the twenty-first century does not have a clear vision of the role of research. It is worth mentioning that very few studies have focussed on research methods to measure effectiveness of counselling for rape victims. McLeod also reports that, in general, published studies of counsellingand therapy in dominated by quantitative research like up to 95%. Ingeneral, cultural assumptions are concerned with the development ofmethods that are valid and reliable.   Quantitative research reduceshuman experience and action to variables. Hypothesis are framed interms of the relationships between these variables, which can often beinterpreted a rational voice allowing no expression of feeling orpersonal experience (McLoad, 2000).   There has been no reports  relating to quantitative research on counselling for rape. Qualitative research has been used lately in the health care settingsand voluntary organisation for rape survivors. Qualitative research refers to research conducted in an interpretive or critical tradition. Research conducted in this tradition generally includes ethnographies, naturalistic observation or intensive interviewing studies, and usessome type of content analysis of words or texts to generate themes, which summarize the results of the study. The goals of qualitative research are not usually to generalize from the findings to some largertruth, but rather to explore or generate truths for the particular sample of individuals studied or to generate new theories. There is often an emphasis in qualitative research on perception or livedexperience.  There   are quite a few ethical concerns in qualitative research of assessing the effectiveness of counselling of rape victims.   Knapik (2002)in his paper summarises the ethical concerns of qualitative researchwhich mainly rev olve around an assessment of benefit versus harm,confidentiality, duality of roles, and informed consent   It is oftenassumed that qualitative data does not involve physical manipulation orintrusive procedures on victims. But it can pose certain risks to the victims.   Moleski and Kiselica (2005) highlight the dangers of a dual or multiplerelationships between the counsellor and victim. During research involving in-depth interviews or focus group discussions on such asensitive as rape, the researcher (generally a counsellor, but called aresearcher in this context as the data collected is for the purposes of qualitative research) develops a relationship of trust with the victim. The relationship may be misinterpreted by the participant as atherapist-client relationship. The data may be interpreted in waysunflattering or damaging to participants. It is therefore important toassess the harms and benefits in dealing with real clients. Secondly, risks to individuals participating in qualitative researchmay often not be anticipated. This is because the method and researchquestions are always evolving and changing from the various organisation’s approach to the case. These risks should be made clearto the participants from the beginning and also du ring the course ofthe experiment. Thirdly and most importantly, qualitative research   always generatesquestions on the ability to protect confidential information. Usually, names and personal data are excluded from published results, but quotations, cues from the publications can always identify theparticipant to those familiar with the research. Reasons for this maybe because of the nature of sensitivity of the rape abuse problem,  trial groups always being small and trials being conducted in smallcommunity structures. Reports were published by the Home Office on the ‘STAR young person project’ on assessing the counselling services offered to rape survivors. Young women primarily had a positive counselling experiencebut a small number reported some level of dissatisfaction.   One of the reasons were the short sessions of counselling, as they could not continue working with their counsellors on a long term basis. This indicated the issue of assess to a restricted number of sessions.  Another issue was the pace at which information is disclosed to thecounsellor, as a small percentage of the women disliked gettingstraight to the information or having to answer questions pertaining tothe incidents within a shorter period of contact between the victim andthe counsellor. This may be because a certain time span is needed toestablish a counsellor-victim relationship which varies from case tocase and depends on the severity of the case.       Another small percentage of the STAR participants felt that the counsellor was not equipped to work with areas of the case and thatthey were given unhelpful advise or irrelevant information or help in away which was not the one suited for the particular case. This throwslight on the training issues of counsellors, whether they are properly equipped for the job. Another percentage of the women, said that thecounsellor disapproved of them being late or related issues whichindicate an over-protective or over-controlling issue which can causenegative impacts on the counselling experience. The findings indicatethe need for a more flexible approach during counselling experiences, longer-term counselling and support by the counsellor, proper trainingfor counsellors and more research into counselling methods and theirevaluation.   According to the findings of the British Crime Survey (2002), it isdifficult to assess the level of support for victims of rape due to the small number of victims in year 2001. Also, the British Crime Survey(2002) reports that support services are under-funded, relative tosupport services dedicated to victims of domestic violence. In UK, therapy services for rape survivors are available from charity andlistening services, health services provided by the universities forstudents, NHS and   few religious movements.   In the NHS, there areusually long waiting lists sometimes up to a year for patients toaccess counsellor services. In voluntary and charity services there maynot always be round-the clock assistance for rape survivors. Telephone access is restricted to certain times of the day.   Findings of research on women rape victims are available in a varietyof forms and from a variety of places. Professional journals such as Violence Against Women, the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Aggression Violence Behavior, Violence Victims, and the Journal of Family Violence include research conducted by psychologists, social workers, sociologists, advocates, and others. In addition to professional journals, findings of research are presented at domesticviolence conferences, described in the popular press, found on websites devoted to ending violence against women, and are available aspublications from government agencies like the Home Office, UK orprivate research organizations (various voluntary organisation’swebsites). Research reports published in scientific journals are subject to peer-review.   Research published in scientific journals thus gives thereader some confidence in the scientific credibility of the researchfindings. Scientific credibility, however, does not necessarily meanthat the findings represent â€Å"the truth†. Research released directlyfrom an organization sponsoring the research does not usually gothrough the peer review process. So there is a real need for independent qualitative research into the counselling services for rape victims in the UK. The UK Home Office should actively engage inindependent evaluation of counselling services for rape victims. The STAR project recommendations the following for future research. There is need for piloting and evaluating peer support systems. New research projects into contexts and circumstances of rape is requiredto throw new light on the academic and practitioner’s knowledge. More research is needed into the needs of victims from internet supportservices while reviewing the current internet support service toprovide guidelines for practise. More creative approaches in regards toservices for survivors were also required. It is also recommended that counsellors be given appropriate training to improve the services to rape survivors. According to Bernes (2005), there are five critical components forbecoming an effective counsellor. The counsellor should have aprofound, genuine and early draw to the field, a profound and genuinefascination to try to understand human nature, cognitive ability, arigorous and quality academic program and major field exposure. There is therefore a genuine need for efforts to be focussed in creating effective counsellors to deal with rape victims. More funding to develop therapy services is required. There is a need to establish infrastructure towards organisations involved in treatmentand care of victims. Further research into the effective processes ofvarious approaches of counselling is recommended. Detailed research isneeded into the qualitative analysis of effectiveness of thecounselling processes. Also, independent qualitative analysis in victimsupport is needed to verify the results. In general, in the UK, counselling for rape survivors have still a long way to go.

The Molten Core Theory Essay -- Geology Education Earth Essays

The Molten Core Theory The center of the Earth is composed of a solid metallic core surrounded by a molten layer of liquid metal. This paper will discuss the reasons to believe the theory that the Earth has a molten core, and the important discoveries that have led to this generally accepted theory. It is very reasonable to agree with this theory when paying credence to the logical evidence that answers questions about the Earth’s core. This evidence includes information about the elemental make up of the Earth, the reason for the Earth’s magnetic field, and some of the possibilities of the Earth’s formation. Dr. Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Hawaii. Explains that the Earth is made up of an accumulation of all of the known elements combined in different forms to make the various rocks, and minerals that are present in the crust, mantle, and core of the Earth. With the understanding of these elements and their properties we can begin to make judgments on the harder to observe questions, like that of the Earth’s interior make up. Knowing the properties allows for the determination of things on a much larger scale, such as the density of the Earth, which is crucial to understanding the Earth’s core. Much of what is known about the Earth can be learned from observing the other planets in our solar system. Every planet has a different mass and density. That means that planets create varied gravitational pulls on each other. By testing the effects of the Earth’s orbit on that of the other planets it becomes possible to estimate an overall density for the planet. Knowing the density of the Earth is extremely important to understanding it’s interior structure. Returning to ... ...it’s basic structure. Along with the new evidence of the Earth’s magnetic field originating in the Earth’s core, and new experiments, such as the multi-anvil press experiment, it is logical and more than plausible to believe that the Earth’s core is a liquid hot fluid made up of iron and nickel, surrounding a compressed solid metal center. Works Cited Dr. Rubin, Ken. How do scientists know what is in the core of the earth?. 24 October 2002. . Kloeppel, Jim. â€Å"Long-standing mystery of earth’s inner core may be solved.† news bureau 1 March 2002. The Source of the Earth’s Magnetic Field. 22 Oct. 2002. Earth Core Studies. 26 October 2002.

Environmental impacts Essay

Environmental impacts of fuel utilization include critical issues such as resource and pollutant issues. The analysis on quantifying the extent should include greenhouse gas emissions and its effect to the environment. Worldwide, the demand for biofuels has been increasing dramatically. With the fast depleting fossil fuels, current initiatives to attain energy sufficiency and sustainability is being pursued with biofuels as one of the alternatives, Moreover, the utilization of alternative fuels is being proposed to address current environmental issues on global warming. Studies on biofuels, specifically bioethanol and biodiesel showed promising results in reducing GHG emissions and in turn create a positive impact on the environment. Given the increasing demand for biofuels, benefits brought about by its utilization is expected to be significant specifically on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. While there are issues on land use and energy balance for biofuels, extensive research should be conducted in order to identify the most viable biofuel feedstock as well as other aspects in its production and utilization. Introduction Biofuel refers to fuels made from biomass and primarily used for motive, thermal and power generation. The earliest experiences in combustion were with the utilization of solid biofuels for domestic needs. Later, liquid biofuels became equally valuable energy resources. Years before the discovery of petroleum, ethanol was already being used as lamp fuel. By 1860, distilleries in the United States of America produced at least 90 million gallons of alcohol per year for lighting. Vegetable oils were also found to be good home heating oils and engine fuels for stationary power systems. Rudolf Diesel has originally invented the diesel engine to run on vegetable oil specifically from peanut. Samuel Morey developed an engine that ran on ethanol and turpentine as early as 1826. Nikolaus Otto, the German inventor who is best known for his development of a modern internal combustion engine, used ethanol as the fuel in one of his engines in the year 1860. Henry Ford’s first automobile was fuelled by pure ethanol. He also fabricated the first flexible fuel vehicle (Model T in 1903) which is fuelled by either gasoline or ethanol or by a mixture of both. Cars and other vehicles, however, begun running on cheap crude oil or petroleum as soon as reserves were discovered in the United States of America. Nevertheless, biofuels remained important energy resources competing with imported oil in countries such as Germany and Great Britain up to the close of World War II. Biodiesel Biodiesel, classified as a renewable and biodegradable diesel fuel which is produced thru extraction of natural fats and oils. It can substantially reduce green house gas emission due to its low sulfur content. It is now commonly used in various parts of the world. Biodiesel can replace petroleum diesel in both the transport and non-transport applications. A shift in the utilization of alternative energy resources (including alternative fuels) will change the total demand for biodiesel as well as the level of utilization in specific applications. Bioethanol â€Å"Bioethanol is a high-octane, water-free alcohol produced from the fermentation of sugar or other converted biomass. In its purest form it is a colorless clear liquid with mild characteristic odor that boils at 78oC and freezes at 112oC† (www. doe. gov. ph). Ethanol burns more cleanly because it contains oxygen and has a high octane number, hence less carbon monoxide emissions and averts premature detonation. It burns slightly cooler, extending engine life, and promotes higher volumetric efficiency of the engine, thus, increases power. Adding ethanol to gasoline â€Å"oxygenates† the fuel so that it burns with less emissions. Most modern gasoline vehicles could operate on pure ethanol with a few basic engine modifications. â€Å"A 10% blend requires no engine modification while making a contribution to reducing emissions. Anything more than 10% requires engine modification† (www. doe. gov. ph). The other commercial blends are E15 (U. S. A. ), E20 (Brazil), E85 (Sweden and Minnesota), and E100 (used with 4% water in Brazil and Argentina). Fuel ethanol is primarily used for land transport as alternative to gasoline in spark-ignition engines. Other Biofuels The potentials of other alcohols such as methanol, propanol and butanol can be exhaustively explored for very specific future applications that can further increase the total amount of biofuel substitute to conventional fossil and fossil derived fuels. Methanol produced from biomass is not economically competitive at present. There is, however, an interesting possibility as alternative to hydrogen as fuel. Propanol and butanol can be produced by the action of microorganisms and enzymes. Butanol, particularly, is produced by fermentation in a process that can be modified for high net enegy gains. It has sufficiently similar characteristics with gasoline fuel such that there is high probability that it can be burned pure in existing commercial engines without modification and without any difficulty. There are other important biofuels such as biogas, charcoal, producer gas, etc. They can be processed and utilized in accordance with the provisions of existing laws, rules, regulations and standards. Studies are conducted in order that these important biofuels can be integrated into the biofuels program in a package for both energy and socio-economic objectives. Other First Generation Biofuels The most common First Generation Biofuel is biogas which is a product of anaerobic digestion of organic materials an example of which is methane from wastes. Both the gas and digestate can be used as fuel. The utilization is usually site specific because of the environmental implications of production. A number of big commercial farms are producing and using biogas from wastes for process heating and the generation of supplementary power. Another first generation biofuel is Charcoal which is the product of the carbonization of hydrocarbon materials including wastes. Producer gas is from the gasification of hydrocarbon feedstock. In the late seventies, this fuel was utilized as engine fuel. The gas was generated from small wood chips fed into a reactor mounted unto the vehicle. Second-generation Biofuels â€Å"Second generation biofuels are those from lignocellulosic biomass feedstock using advanced technical processes. Being currently developed are: BioHydrogen, Bio- dimethylether (Bio-DME), Biomethanol, dimethylfuran (DMF), High Temperature Upgrading (HTU) diesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, Mixed Alcohols† (http://www. export. gov). Biofuels, A Preferred Energy Source The earliest experiences in combustion were with the utilization of solid biofuels for domestic needs. Later, liquid biofuels became equally valuable energy resources. In the aftermath of the war, abundance of cheap crude oil from the Middle East brought about the reduced interest in biofuels. The oil crises of 1973 and 1979, however, brought about urgent need for extenders and substitutes, temporarily focusing attention on the indigenous and renewable biofuels. In view of the rising prices (Figure 1) as well as the uncertainty of supply of crude oil and the increasing greenhouse gas emissions, it is time for a major shift in the energy mix towards the use of cleaner indigenous renewable energy in the interest of energy security, the economy and the environment. The start of the present decade ushered in the realization that the era of cheap fossil fuels, particularly petroleum, is drawing to a close. Figure 2 shows the historical and projected petroleum contribution to the world energy mix. The rising oil prices shall persist not only because of depletion of reserves but also because of the continuing political instability in the Middle East. Developing countries shall soon find it difficult to compete for access. There is also the matter of worsening green house gas emissions from excessive burning of fossil fuels. Continuing dependence on crude oil, therefore, is disadvantageous in terms of national security, the economy and the environment. Figure 3 shows the projected greenhouse gases emissions from developed and developing countries based on historical human and natural emissions. In view of the rising prices as well as the uncertainty of supply of crude oil and the increasing greenhouse gas emissions, it is time for a major shift in the energy mix towards the use of cleaner indigenous renewable energy in the interest of energy security, the economy and the environment.

The Tumbling Down of Rates Across the Globe

Even months after the repeated unfolding of events that have led to the continuing global crisis, the economies worldwide are still reeling from its disastrous effects. The downfall of some of the icons in the financial industry – Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Merill Lynch, AIG, Wachovia, to name a few – followed by the similar fate of the automobile giants all served to transform the once thriving business landscape of the country into a sullen territory of besieged by unemployment, home foreclosures, and an ominous recession.These days, central banks from country to country have been slashing their Treasury rates in their attempts to revive their respective economies. Benchmark Interest Rate The benchmark interest rate, also referred to as the â€Å"base interest rate,† is the minimum interest rate that investors are willing to accept for investing their money in instruments that are relatively riskier than the gover nment-issued Treasury securities.(Farlex website) It is the â€Å"yield that is being earned on the most recent on-the-run Treasury security of similar maturity plus a premium. † (InvestorWords. com) Needless to say, the benchmark interest rate fluctuates in unison with the Treasury yield. An increase or decrease in the prevailing Treasury yield will prompt a mirrored reaction from the benchmark interest rates. The benchmark interest rate varies from one country to another. These interest rates are actually indicative of the investment and economic climate that is currently in place.

Profile of Mary Lacey Sr. & Mary Lacey Jr, Salem Trials

Profile of Mary Lacey Sr. & Mary Lacey Jr, Salem Trials The name â€Å"Mary Lacey† belongs to two women involved in the Salem witch trials of 1692: Mary Lacey the mother (referred to here as Mary Lacey Sr.), and her daughter Mary Lacey (referred to here as Mary Lacey Jr.). Mary Lacey Facts Known for:  in the 1692  Salem witch trialsAge at time of Salem witch trials:  Mary Lacey Sr. was about 40, and Mary Lacey Jr. was 15 or 18 (sources differ)Dates: Mary Lacey Sr.:  July 9, 1652- 1707.  Mary Lacey Jr.: 1674? - ?Also known as:  Mary Lacy Family, Background: Mary Lacey Sr. was the daughter of Ann Foster and her husband, Andrew Foster.  Ann Foster emigrated from England in 1635.  Mary Lacey Sr. was born about 1652.  She married Lawrence Lacey on August 5, 1673. Mary Lacey Jr. was born about 1677. Mary Lacey and the Salem Witch Trials When Elizabeth Ballard of Andover fell ill with a fever in 1692, the doctors suspected witchcraft, knowing of the events in nearby Salem.  Ann Putnam Jr. and Mary Wolcott were called to Andover to see if they could identify the witch, and they fell into fits upon seeing Ann Foster, a 70-something widow.  She was arrested and sent to Salem jail on July 15. She was examined on July 16 and 18.  She resisted acknowledging that she had committed any witchcraft. An arrest warrant was issued against Mary Lacey Jr. on July 20th, for â€Å"Committed Sundry acts of witchcraft on Eliz Ballerd, the wife of Jos Ballerd of Andover. to her great hurt.† She was arrested the next day and brought to an examination by John Hathorne, Jonathan Corwin, and John Higginson.  Mary Warren fell into a violent fit at the sight of her.  Mary Lacey Jr. testified that she had seen her mother, grandmother and Martha Carrier flying on poles given by the Devil.  Ann Foster, Mary Lacey Sr. and Mary Lacey Jr. were examined again that same day by Bartholomew Gedney, Hathorne, and Corwin, â€Å"accused of practicing witchcraft upon Goody Ballard.† Mary Lacey Sr. accused her mother of witchcraft, probably to help deflect the charges against herself and her daughter.  Ann Foster had until that time denied the charges; she may have shifted strategies to save her daughter and granddaughter. Mary Lacey Sr. was indicted for bewitching Mercy Lewis in Salem on July 20. On September 14, the testimony of those who charged Mary Lacey Sr. with witchcraft was delivered in writing.  On September 17, the court tried and convicted  Rebecca Eames, Abigail Faulkner, Ann Foster, Abigail Hobbs, Mary Lacey Sr., Mary Parker, Wilmott Redd, Margaret Scott, and Samuel Wardwell, and they were condemned to be executed. Later in September, the last eight convicted of witchcraft were hanged, and at the end of the month, the Court of Oyer and Terminer stopped meeting. Mary Lacey After the Trials Mary Lacey Jr was released from custody on October 6, 1692, on a bond. Ann Foster died in jail in December of 1692; Mary Lacey was eventually released.  Mary Lacey Jr. was indicted on January 13 for â€Å"covenanting.† In 1704, Mary Lacey Jr. married Zerubbabel Kemp. Lawrence Lacey sued for restitution for Mary Lacey in 1710.  In 1711, the  legislature of the Province of Massachusetts Bay  restored all rights to many of those who had been accused in the 1692 witch trials. Included were George Burroughs, John Proctor, George Jacob, John Willard, Giles and  Martha Corey,  Rebecca Nurse,  Sarah Good, Elizabeth How,  Mary Easty, Sarah Wilds, Abigail Hobbs, Samuel Wardell, Mary Parker,  Martha Carrier, Abigail Faulkner, Anne Foster, Rebecca Eames, Mary Post, Mary Lacey, Mary Bradbury and Dorcas Hoar. Mary Lacey Sr. died in 1707.

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER Since newspapers generally have a policy of NOT reviewing self-published books its almost impossible to get a book review in any newspaper. Some papers go so far as to not review anything published A feature story about you is more credible and likely to generate interest than a review of your book. So look at your life and see what you have to offer newspapers readers. Do you collect Santa Claus dolls or trains? Have you turned your living room into a bird sanctuary where 50 birds fly free where your couch used to sit? Do you spend your weekends building tree houses for neighborhood kids? I wrote feature stories on all these people. When you can get a reporter interested in you running your 10th marathon, or heading up the drive to distribute sleeping bags to the homeless its very easy to work in, Oh, and I just published a book. If you have something in your life to pitch to a reporter OTHER than your book, youre almost guaranteed to be able to talk about writing the book in the article. Your self-published book may drive interest in something the public wants to know about. For instance, a parent who self-publishes a book on how to get through the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of her childs cancer to raise money for cancer research or her child, is likely to get a reporters attention. So is the coach who writes a book on how to introduce your child to sports. If you have a recognized expertise, most reporters will find a story in that. Have you written a book on the history of your town and had to go on some amazing road trips, or dig into old courthouse documents, or interview veterans in a near Are you related to someone famous who is mentioned in the book? You dont have to be Oprahs long lost sister, but if the towns local celebrity is related to you, then good for you! If youre a famous coach, teacher or political figure who self-publishes a book, chances are youll get the attention of any small town paper. Think holidays! If youve written a book on Thanksgiving traditions, or how to wrap Christmas gifts, or anything related to the big holidays- Veterans Day/Memorial Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas, Easter etc., MOST small to medium newspapers will write a story to tie the holiday to a local person. Dont stop at your daily paper. Almost all cities have alternative papers, and rural areas have weekly papers. If you live in a bedroom community then chances are you have a weekly paper whod love to write about your book. But read several issues of the paper FIRST, before you write the editor. Try to see if your book has relevance for the readership. There are all kinds of weekly papers for seniors, grandparents, sports enthusiasts, fishermen and parents. Try to find a paper (most are free and distributed at libraries, grocery stores and shopping centers) that caters to people who would be interested in your book. Dont try to get a grandparenting magazine to review your Sci-fi thriller. Do get a parenting magazine to look at your How I Learned to Get Offline and Love the Playground book on parenting in a high tech society. Dont forget bloggers! Many of the larger newspapers read local blogs and will pick up on any content that generates online buzz. The trick is to never stop marketing! You can do it!

About John Stuart Mill, a Male Feminist and Philosopher

About John Stuart Mill, a Male Feminist and Philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806 to 1873) is best known for his writings on liberty, ethics, human rights and economics. The utilitarian ethicist Jeremy Bentham was an influence in his youth. Mill, an atheist, was godfather to Bertrand Russell. A friend was Richard Pankhurst, the husband of suffrage activist Emmeline Pankhurst. John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor had 21 years of an unmarried, intimate friendship. After her husband died, they married in 1851. That same year, she published an essay, The Enfranchisement of Women, advocating for women being able to vote. It was barely three years after American women had called for womens suffrage at the Womans Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York. The Mills claimed that a transcript of a speech by Lucy Stone from the 1850 Womens Rights Convention was their inspiration. Harriet Taylor Mill died in 1858. Harriets daughter served as his assistant in subsequent years. John Stuart Mill published On Liberty shortly before Harriet died, and many believe that Harriet had more than a small influence on that work. The Subjection of Women Mill wrote The Subjection of Women in 1861, though it was not published until 1869. In this, he argues for education of women and for perfect equality for them. He credited Harriet Taylor Mill with co-authoring the essay, but few at the time or later took it seriously. Even today, many feminists accept his word on this, while many non-feminist historians and authors do not. The opening paragraph of this essay makes his position quite clear: The object of this Essay is to explain as clearly as I am able grounds of an opinion which I have held from the very earliest period when I had formed any opinions at all on social political matters, and which, instead of being weakened or modified, has been constantly growing stronger by the progress reflection and the experience of life. That the principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes - the legal subordination of one sex to the other - is wrong itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement; and that it ought to be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, nor disability on the other. Parliament From 1865 to 1868, Mill served as a Member of Parliament. In 1866, he became the first M.P. ever to call for women being given the vote, introducing a bill written by his friend Richard Pankhurst. Mill continued to advocate for womens vote along with other reforms including additional suffrage extensions. He served as president of the Society for Womens Suffrage, founded in 1867. Extending Suffrage to Women In 1861, Mill had published Considerations on Representative Government, advocating for for a universal but graduated suffrage. This was the basis for many of his efforts in Parliament. Here is an excerpt from chapter VIII, Of the Extension of the Suffrage, where he discusses womens voting rights: In the preceding argument for universal but graduated suffrage, I have taken no account of difference of sex. I consider it to be as entirely irrelevant to political rights as difference in height or in the color of the hair. All human beings have the same interest in good government; the welfare of all is alike affected by it, and they have equal need of a voice in it to secure their share of its benefits. If there be any difference, women require it more than men, since, being physically weaker, they are more dependent on law and society for protection. Mankind have long since abandoned the only premises which will support the conclusion that women ought not to have votes. No one now holds that women should be in personal servitude; that they should have no thought, wish, or occupation but to be the domestic drudges of husbands, fathers, or brothers. It is allowed to unmarried, and wants but little of being conceded to married women to hold property, and have pecuniary and business interests in the same manner as men. It is considered suitable and proper that women should think, and write, and be teachers. As soon as these things are admitted, the political disqualification has no principle to rest on. The whole mode of thought of the modern world is, with increasing emphasis, pronouncing against the claim of society to decide for individuals what they are and are not fit for, and what they shall and shall not be allowed to attempt. If the principles of modern politics and political economy are good for any thing, it is for proving that these points can only be rightly judged of by the individuals themselves; and that, under complete freedom of choice, wherever there are real diversities of aptitude, the greater number will apply themselves to the things for which they are on the average fittest, and the exceptional course will only be taken by the exceptions. Either the whole tendency of modern social improvements has been wrong, or it ought to be carried ou t to the total abolition of all exclusions and disabilities which close any honest employment to a human being. But it is not even necessary to maintain so much in order to prove that women should have the suffrage. Were it as right as it is wrong that they should be a subordinate class, confined to domestic occupations and subject to domestic authority, they would not the less require the protection of the suffrage to secure them from the abuse of that authority. Men, as well as women, do not need political rights in order that they may govern, but in order that they may not be misgoverned. The majority of the male sex are, and will be all their lives, nothing else than laborers in corn-fields or manufactories; but this does not render the suffrage less desirable for them, nor their claim to it less irresistible, when not likely to make a bad use of it. Nobody pretends to think that woman would make a bad use of the suffrage. The worst that is said is that they would vote as mere dependents, the bidding of their male relations. If it be so, so let it be. If they think for themselves, great go od will be done; and if they do not, no harm. It is a benefit to human beings to take off their fetters, even if they do not desire to walk. It would already be a great improvement in the moral position of women to be no longer declared by law incapable of an opinion, and not entitled to a preference, respecting the most important concerns of humanity. There would be some benefit to them individually in having something to bestow which their male relatives can not exact, and are yet desirous to have. It would also be no small matter that the husband would necessarily discuss the matter with his wife, and that the vote would not be his exclusive affair, but a joint concern. People do not sufficiently consider how markedly the fact that she is able to have some action on the outward world independently of him, raises her dignity and value in a vulgar mans eyes, and makes her the object of a respect which no personal qualities would ever obtain for one whose social existence he can ent irely appropriate. The vote itself, too, would be improved in quality. The man would often be obliged to find honest reasons for his vote, such as might induce a more upright and impartial character to serve with him under the same banner. The wifes influence would often keep him true to his own sincere opinion. Often, indeed, it would be used, not on the side of public principle, but of the personal interest or worldly vanity of the family. But, wherever this would be the tendency of the wifes influence, it is exerted to the full already in that bad direction, and with the more certainty, since under the present law and custom she is generally too utter a stranger to politics in any sense in which they involve principle to be able to realize to herself that there is a point of honor in them; and most people have as little sympathy in the point of honor of others, when their own is not placed in the same thing, as they have in the religious feelings of those whose religion differs f rom theirs. Give the woman a vote, and she comes under the operation of the political point of honor. She learns to look on politics as a thing on which she is allowed to have an opinion, and in which, if one has an opinion, it ought to be acted upon; she acquires a sense of personal accountability in the matter, and will no longer feel, as she does at present, that whatever amount of bad influence she may exercise, if the man can but be persuaded, all is right, and his responsibility covers all. It is only by being herself encouraged to form an opinion, and obtain an intelligent comprehension of the reasons which ought to prevail with the conscience against the temptations of personal or family interest, that she can ever cease to act as a disturbing force on the political conscience of the man. Her indirect agency can only be prevented from being politically mischievous by being exchanged for direct. I have supposed the right of suffrage to depend, as in a good state of things it would, on personal conditions. Where it depends, as in this and most other countries, on conditions of property, the contradiction is even more flagrant. There something more than ordinarily irrational in the fact that when a woman can give all the guarantees required from a male elector, independent circumstances, the position of a householder and head of a family, payment of taxes, or whatever may be the conditions imposed, the very principle and system of a representation based on property is set aside, and an exceptionally personal disqualification is created for the mere purpose of excluding her. When it is added that in the country where this is done a woman now reigns, and that the most glorious ruler whom that country ever had was a woman, the picture of unreason and scarcely disguised injustice is complete. Let us hope that as the work proceeds of pulling down, one after another, the remains of the mouldering fabric of monopoly and tyranny, this one will not be the last to disappear; that the opinion of Bentham, of Mr. Samuel Bailey, of Mr. Hare, and many other of the most powerful political thinkers of this age and country (not to speak of others), will make its way to all minds not rendered obdurate by selfishness or inveterate prejudice; and that, before the lapse another generation, the accident of sex, no more than the accident of skin, will be deemed a sufficient justification for depriving its possessor of the equal protection and just privileges of a citizen. (Chapter VIII Of the Extension of the Suffrage from Considerations of Representative Government, by John Stuart Mill, 1861.)

The Role of Stakeholders in the Indigenous Employment Program of Rio Case Study

The Role of Stakeholders in the Indigenous Employment Program of Rio Tinto - Case Study Example The company has been steadfast in creating employment opportunities for the indigenous people in Australia. A majority of these people are of aboriginal origins, but some of them belong to other tribes or sub-tribes. Since most of its major operations and plants are located in rural or remote areas, Rio Tinto feels obligated to return the favor by promoting the development of those areas. The only way it is capable of doing this is by creating space for those people in their company. This gives indigenous people the opportunity to secure the futures of current and future generations, and move away from the mainly subsistence form of life they are used. In this day and age, it is worrying to know that there are people who are so close, yet so far, to civilization. What Rio Tinto is doing is bringing civilization to the indigenous people of Australia, and there is nothing better than what they are doing at the moment. It is worth noting that the company is not solely focused on just employing indigenous people. It supports (through educational grants and other forms of support) individuals from indigenous communities who have the potential to make positive changes in society. This makes a lot of sense because if its only intention was to employ people it would be unable to find enough people to employ. For example, if the company wanted indigenous people to form ten percent of its total workforce and only managed to realize a five percent figure, where would the other five percent come from? Rio Tinto’s strategy is based on spot, supporting, training and then employing individuals from indigenous communities. This ensures that its conveyor belt does not run dry, and keeps churning out skilled and qualified personnel. For many years, the indigenous peoples of Australia were maligned, ridiculed, scorned and mistreated2. This however changed with the passing and signing into law of several legislations that made it mandatory for indigenous people to be accorded their full rights as lawful citizens of Australia.

"Creative Spark" Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

"Creative Spark" - Research Paper Example Through the talk, we are able to gain an in depth perspective on creative confidence while engaging in a number of matters surrounding it. David begins by mentioning that people more often classify themselves as the creative and not creative type. However, according to David, people are born creative but over time the creativity in them is eroded by judgmental persons around them (Kelly & Kelly, 2012). He advances to illustrate his theory using an example of his friend Brian, who at a young age was discouraged from pursuing his artist ambition by a fellow student. He goes ahead to say that many people similarly opt out of thinking and viewing themselves as creative during their childhood and this is attributed to remarks made by teachers and fellow students. Remarks made when they try to be creative dent their confidence. David further tries to present tips on how to eliminate this negative energy. He equates the process of building ones creative confidence to that of overcoming a phobia. He clearly outlines how Albert Bandura, who David terms as the fourth most important psychologist, used a series of step by step procedures to help people overcome their fear of snakes. One needs to overcome fear of the messy unknown, fear of judgment, fear of the first step and fear of losing control to gain creative confidence (Ted Summaries, 2014). The speaker in yet another in depth illustration describes how creativity makes the world a better place. He discusses a technician who by all means is at first deemed not creative but due to a problem he notices at work decides to come up with a solution (Kelly & Kelly, 2012). The solution involves him being creative and developing something that solves the initial problem. He remodeled the MRI by painting it in bright colors with a pirate ship theme so kids would not be terrified of scans. According to David, regaining creative confidence is crucial. It helps one gain a totally new view

Control Mechanisms Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Control Mechanisms Paper - Essay Example According to Long et al (n.d.): "Managers within bureaucratic control systems use primarily rules and regulations, hierarchical lines of authority, and job specifications to direct subordinates in their tasks". Certain premises of the decisions on these matters are to be supplied in advance in the form of general rules or standards, and compliance with these standards is to be enforced by centralized units. All decisions for which standards have been prescribed are cleared with or reviewed by the appropriate centralized unit to assure compliance. One way of meeting control problems of this kind is to assign to specialized administrative units in their particular area of specialization. A central office enforces the rules relating to the hiring, pay, promotion, and dismissal of personnel throughout the entire organization. The College School System determines special rules and standards in order to create a unified system of education and maintain high level of service delivery (Medei ros, Barbosa, n.d.). Also, the College School System uses some elements of clan and market mechanisms which help it to survive. Following Long et al (n.d): "Managers within clan control systems place relatively greater emphasis on the development and actualization of common values, traditions, and beliefs". The College School System follows educational values and traditions which have a great impact on its decision-making and performance. These traditions involve equal treatment of all students and high level of education, programs and activities based on human-centered approach and Christian morality. In some cases, The College School System can be seen in terms of market control mechanism when: 'managers make decisions based on price considerations" (Long et al n.d.). Many private schools are driven by this control mechanism which helps them to maintain high level of education and services. The main advantage of bureaucratic control mechanism is structure of control procedure. Control is exercised through the executive hierarchy itself. The main limitation (negative consequences) of clan and market control mechanisms is that the executive hierarchy itself does not know and cannot be expected to know enough about all the many areas of an organization's activities to make sure that all these activities are being conducted according to the expressed wishes of those higher up in the organization, the chief executive, the legislature, or the public. The chain of accountability is maintained by assigning different parts of the review process to centralized units whose personnel then become specialists in securing high standards in their respective fields. The effectiveness of clan mechanism can be explained by the fact that "the traditions and norms that clan system managers use to affect subordinate behaviors are best applied before tasks are commenced" (Long et al, n.d.). T he effectiveness of market control is explained by output control targets which allows the organization evaluate the work when it completes. The bureaucratic control mechanism determines the structure of four functions of management based on hierarchical relations. All functions and decision-making are closely connected with each other following strict rules and procedures. An important element is the mechanism employed to see that the policies laid down by the body and the top executives are carried out by the

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 11

International Business - Essay Example For example, the author states, â€Å"Lina Pedraza Rodrà ­guez, Minister of Finance and Prices of Cuba, said that the country urgently needs to modernize its economy so as to protect the achievements of the Cuban Revolution. For that it requires foreign investment, including from the United States† (Knight, 2015). This quote captures the minister’s comments on Cuba and its needs for foreign direct investment. This was a remark meant to woo countries such as the U.S to come and invest in Cuba. The countries about which the article was written include Cuba, the United States of America and Mexico. The article directly focuses on Cuba as a country that is advertising itself for foreign direct investment. USA and Mexico are referred to in the article as two countries that can possibly invest in Cuba. To make this possible, Cuba’s officials laid bare the environment and regulatory frameworks put in place in the country to ensure that foreign investment in the country would be a smooth process and a mutually beneficial endeavor for both parties. The information contained in the article might influence my decision to invest in the country in the sense that knowing the business environment, the regulatory and legal frameworks in Cuba will help me make appropriate decisions on whether it is a safe and beneficial place to invest in. For instance, Lina Pedraza Rodrà ­guez states, â€Å"Cuba is open to investment from the United States. It has never been closed† (Knight, 2015). She also added that the Cuban government had stabilized the microeconomic indicators to ensure that private and foreign companies operate with secure property rights. Deborah Rivas, the General Director of Foreign Investment in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment also stated that appropriate laws are established to protect foreign investment. These facts positively influence me to invest in the country

Design and Implementation of the Website Assignment

Design and Implementation of the Website - Assignment Example This ensures that these maxims are wide banded and thus are applicable to a wide range of design criteria2. The audience for this website is expected to span all kinds of age ranges, demographic and socio-economic backgrounds because emergencies could occur anywhere at any point in time. Therefore, there was a consistent need to ensure that the design criteria for the website were pervasive and would fit most audiences well. Lund’s usability maxims are presented below along with the appropriate design incorporation in the website. It must be kept in mind that these criteria are listed in order of decreasing importance according to their mean rating of importance derived from Lund’s work. 1.2.1. Identifying the User This website is intended for audiences looking for information on First Aid in general and more specifically audiences specific to Newcastle University. This indicates that the concerned audience could consist of: any age range between 10 and 65 years of age; any demographic background as there are international students on campus; any forms of disability; people with different levels of computer interaction and knowledge; people with little knowledge of first aid; people in a panicked state. The criteria listed above describe the typical user for the website. Among other concerns, the major concern was the state of panic in which certain users would visit the website. The website is intended as a first-hand reference for first aid in emergency situations so it can be expected that people in emergencies would visit the website for seeking out what to do. Given this overriding constraint, it would make a lot of sense if the website tends to deliver the required content with the least effort required by presenting an... The essay "Design and Implementation of the Website" describes all the necessary steps for creation an information site so that it will deliver useful even lifesaving information in the simplest possible manner. This website is intended for audiences looking for information on First Aid and for audiences specific to Newcastle University. This indicates that the concerned audience could consist of any age range between 10 and 65 years of age; any demographic background as there are international students on campus; any forms of disability; people with different levels of computer interaction and knowledge; people with little knowledge of first aid; people in a panicked state. The criteria listed above describes the typical users of the website. The major concern was the state of panic in which certain users would visit the website. The website is intended as a first-hand reference for first aid in emergency situations so it can be expected that people in emergencies would visit the website for seeking out what to do. Given this overriding constraint, it would make a lot of sense if the website tends to deliver the required content with the least effort required by presenting an intuitive interface that is operable by anyone. The key element here is simplicity of use that offers information just when required through the application of minimal computing expertise. Based on this usability criterion, the website was provided with a fitting logo on top that sticks out prominently to indicate the nature of the website.

The Nexus between agency theory and corporate governance Essay

The Nexus between agency theory and corporate governance - Essay Example This essay tries to explain the agency theory and corporate governance in the present day environment. Economists recently are more diverted to the phenomenon of organisation. The recently formulated organisation theory agency theory is different from the ones which existed in the past. Fama (1980) focused at the possible managerial labour market to restrain and guide individual decision-making expedience. In essence all these various statements are construed based on a few simple assumptions. These assumptions according to Donaldson (1990) are construed as a 'theory of interest, motivation and compliance'."Specifically, agency theory is directed at the ubiquitous relationship, in which one party (the principal) delegates work to another (the agent), who performs that work. Agency theory attempts to describe this relationship using the metaphor of a contract" (Eisenhardt, 1989: p58).The neoclassical school analyses the individual who tries to maximise or in the least to satisfy their utility between work and time off. This combination of assumed independence and selfish enthusiasm that is problematic within the relationship of agent and principal. In terms of corporate governance the shareholder is the principal. The problem arises due to the separation of ownership and control.According to Jill Solomon (2007) the failure to corporate governance and corporate crumple can take place in the firmest company. It is possible to seduce the Investors, creditors and employees through a company's repute and achievement. This can even throw caution to the wind. If the agents of economic accountability were intellectuals, as it is a must based on the economic and finance theory, this form of sightlessness could never occur. But the problem is that it does happen, investors behave rationally not always, and the factors of human behaviour and psychology are tricky to fit in a finance framework or an economic hypothesis. Cases of irrational behaviour in the UK during the 198 0s were that of Polly Peck and Coloroll. This was a case when the capitalist found very important information relating to contingent liabilities were missing from the accounts of these companies (Smith et all, 1992). Differences between managers and shareowners Agency theory brings up a basic problem in organizations and that is self-interested conduct. The managers of a corporation normally have their own goals which often cross roads with the proprietor's goal of maximising shareholder wealth. As it is the shareholders who give power to the managers to manage the firm's wealth, a prospective difference of opinion arises between the two groups. Agency Cost How does the agent that is the company directors serve the principal that is the shareholders is the question. The solution lies in accepting certain agency costs. These costs involve either in producing incentives or approve which adjust executive egoism with the concerns of shareholders. Or else they may be involved in supervising executive behaviour in order to restrain their self-interest. This led to the development of the number of non-executives on the company boards. Also it resulted in augmented arrangement of their function and considerations of freedom, leading to reforms all over the world. The separation of the part played by the chief executive and that played by the non-executive has been made a part of this reform. The establishment of audit, compensation, and recommendations committees is actually independent non-executives appointed to assure the proper use of the incentives and also to check the performance of the executives. These internal controls

Design and Implementation of the Website Assignment

Design and Implementation of the Website - Assignment Example This ensures that these maxims are wide banded and thus are applicable to a wide range of design criteria2. The audience for this website is expected to span all kinds of age ranges, demographic and socio-economic backgrounds because emergencies could occur anywhere at any point in time. Therefore, there was a consistent need to ensure that the design criteria for the website were pervasive and would fit most audiences well. Lund’s usability maxims are presented below along with the appropriate design incorporation in the website. It must be kept in mind that these criteria are listed in order of decreasing importance according to their mean rating of importance derived from Lund’s work. 1.2.1. Identifying the User This website is intended for audiences looking for information on First Aid in general and more specifically audiences specific to Newcastle University. This indicates that the concerned audience could consist of: any age range between 10 and 65 years of age; any demographic background as there are international students on campus; any forms of disability; people with different levels of computer interaction and knowledge; people with little knowledge of first aid; people in a panicked state. The criteria listed above describe the typical user for the website. Among other concerns, the major concern was the state of panic in which certain users would visit the website. The website is intended as a first-hand reference for first aid in emergency situations so it can be expected that people in emergencies would visit the website for seeking out what to do. Given this overriding constraint, it would make a lot of sense if the website tends to deliver the required content with the least effort required by presenting an... The essay "Design and Implementation of the Website" describes all the necessary steps for creation an information site so that it will deliver useful even lifesaving information in the simplest possible manner. This website is intended for audiences looking for information on First Aid and for audiences specific to Newcastle University. This indicates that the concerned audience could consist of any age range between 10 and 65 years of age; any demographic background as there are international students on campus; any forms of disability; people with different levels of computer interaction and knowledge; people with little knowledge of first aid; people in a panicked state. The criteria listed above describes the typical users of the website. The major concern was the state of panic in which certain users would visit the website. The website is intended as a first-hand reference for first aid in emergency situations so it can be expected that people in emergencies would visit the website for seeking out what to do. Given this overriding constraint, it would make a lot of sense if the website tends to deliver the required content with the least effort required by presenting an intuitive interface that is operable by anyone. The key element here is simplicity of use that offers information just when required through the application of minimal computing expertise. Based on this usability criterion, the website was provided with a fitting logo on top that sticks out prominently to indicate the nature of the website.

Coffee delight Essay Example for Free

Coffee delight Essay I agree with Lisa’s view to a certain extent that the marketing budget is the most important component in the marketing plan. Harry has set a market objective of two million subscribers by 2015; a target that is very ambitious to achieve a fifth of the forecasted market share which is seen as very unrealistic with a basic marketing budget and Robert media plc will need to do a higher proportion on research than normal which will cost a lot more than usual. Another reason why the marketing budget is so important is that Roberts’s media is changing from print format to digital as they seek to achieve their object of increasing ROCE to 8%. Digital media is a new market for the business and therefore will need extensive research to see what the target markets’ needs and wants are. Although the marketing department had previously won awards for the way it promoted print magazines, but was concerned that the new technology would require a very different approach. As digital is completely different to print media, it obviously needs research conducted. However, Harry is being stubborn and dismissive stating that the marketing budget is un-important and will not provide additional funds. This could therefore mean that the businesses target the wrong people and that their objective to increase the ROCE to 8% could be dented and un-applicable. The rivals of Roberts media plc are already one step ahead of the business as they were already launching their own digital magazines within the next sic months and had already started their marketing campaign. This will have a big effect on the Roberts media as their targeted customers are already being targeted by rivals which could therefore mean fewer sales in the future. As the business is behind its rivals, a big promotional campaign will be needed in order to attract potential customers away from rivals. A big promotional campaign will require a big marketing budget but is what is needed in order to out beat its competitors in the race for customers. However, I agree with Harry not to provide addition funds to the marketing budget as the financial situation of the business is not very stable at this moment in time. The return on capital has fallen from 10% to 2% meaning that it will not be wisely to invest as it’s not really worth it to invest. Along with the poor state of ROCE, the current ratio is also in a bad state fallen from 1. 5:1 to 0. 5:1. This means for every 50p of current assets the business had ? 1 of liability. Having such a poor financial position will rupture the finance available and will need to use the scares finance available wisely. To conclude, I certainly agree with Lisa that the business’s marketing budget is the most important feature on the marketing plan. This major change from print to digital will cost a lot and will be in need of a big marketing budget to be successful. Also, Roberts media is already behind its rivals on its marketing and therefore will need something big to attract customers. Finally, Harry has set a very ambitious objective and therefore it will need a big marketing budget to be able to fulfil its purpose. Although the financial state of the business is poor, harry will need to help its marketing team and provide which they feel what is needed as the long run.

Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2007

Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2007 The 2007 Regulations The key aim of CDM 2007 is to incorporate health and safety into management of all construction projects as well as to encourage everyone else in the project to give a combined effort to: Improve the planning and management of projects from the very start Identify risks early on Target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health and safety Discourage unnecessary bureaucracy. The drafters stated goal to remove useless bureaucracy is a definite advance on previous regulations such as manual paperwork that contributes little to risk management and such a waste of resources (according to the ACoP) may prove to be a distraction from actual business leading to risk reduction and risk management. The removal of requirement for a designated planning supervisor and the introduction of the CDM coordinator role is also seen as a positive step by most people. The clients role CDM 2007 stipulates that clients must not â€Å"appoint or engage a CDM coordinator, designer, principal contractor or contractor unless he has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the person to be appointed or engaged is competent† and must then ensure that they co-operate and co-ordinate their efforts. The Approved Code of Practice contains detailed information on the process and procedures that may be followed when determining the competence of the various post holders mentioned above. Clients are expected to make appointments to the above roles at the first opportunity in order to contribute to risk reduction throughout planning stages. It is generally accepted that impractical deadlines as well as failure to assign adequate funds are regarded as two major factors leading to poor control or increased project risk. As such, clients need to consider all resources such as staff equipment and time required for planning and conducting the work correctly when making appointments and inform prospective candidates accordingly. For all construction projects, CDM 2007 says the client needs to: Appoint the right people: competent designers and builders with sufficient resources, who are members of a reputable trade association Allow adequate time; rushed projects are unsafe, poorly planned and poor quality Provide adequate information to their teams, to enable them to design and plan a structure that is safe to build, safe to use and safe to maintain Ensure they communicate and cooperate with their teams throughout the project, especially during the design stage when issues such as buildability, usability and maintainability of the (finished) structure are up for discussion Ensure suitable management arrangements, using practicable risk assessments and workable method statements Make sure adequate welfare facilities are provided on site before work starts Ensure workplaces are designed to comply with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. For construction projects that must be notified to the HSE under CDM that is, any project scheduled for more than 30 days or involves more than 500 days of work when all workers time is totalled the client also needs to do the following: Appoint a CDM coordinator to advise and assist on CDM duties (but note that CDM 2007 does not require the CDM coordinator to supervise or monitor work on site) Appoint a principal contractor to plan, manage and coordinate construction Ensure the principal contractor produces a construction phase health and safety plan outlining the key arrangements so as to ensure work is carried out safely and without risks to health; work should not start on site until there is an adequate plan Keep the health and safety file: at the end of the project, the CDM coordinator should hand over the health and safety file to the client (ideally at the topping-out ceremony). The file is a record of useful health and safety information to assist the client in managing risk during maintenance and repair, additional construction work, or even demolition. It should be kept safe (preferably in the building), made available to anyone who needs to alter or maintain the structure, and kept up to date as circumstances change. Coordinator role According to L144 Approved Code of Practice to CDM 2007, the critical role of a CDM coordinator is to reduce risks of being hurt on construction sites. The client has to ensure that a coordinator is appointed up to the end of construction phase of that venture, although the actual company/individual carrying out the role can change. Where no such appointment is made, the client themselves will be held to take on the role of CDM coordinator and accordingly will have to abide by duties imposed in regulations 20 and 21 concerning the CDM coordinator. The duties of the CDM coordinator are to: Give suitable and sufficient advice and assistance to clients to enable them to comply with their duties; Notify the HSE about the project; Co-ordinate design work, planning and other preparation for construction where relevant to health and safety; Identify and collect the pre-construction information and advise the client if surveys need to be commissioned to fill significant gaps; Promptly provide in a convenient form to those involved with the design of the structure and to every contractor who may be or has been appointed by the client, such parts of the preconstruction information that are relevant; Manage the flow of health and safety information between clients, designers and contractors; Advise the client on the suitability of the initial construction phase plan and the arrangements made to ensure that welfare facilities are on site from the start; and Produce or update a relevant, user friendly, health and safety file suitable for future use at the end of the construction phase. Duty details The CDM coordinator is required to help the client to develop an appropriate management arrangement, and needs to advise clients on adequacy of appointed management. There are a number of issues that require consideration including ensuring that: The client is aware of their duties and understands what is expected of them; The principal contractor has been given enough time to plan and prepare for the work; Suitable arrangements are in place for developing the plan to cover risks that arise as the work progresses; The principal contractor has made arrangements for providing welfare facilities on site from the outset; and The PC has prepared a construction phase plan that addresses the main risks during the early stages of construction. When they work on notifiable projects, all contractors must: Check the client is aware of their duties under CDM 2007 and that a CDM coordinator has been appointed Check the CDM coordinator has notified the HSE about the project before work starts Cooperate with the principal contractor in planning and managing work, including agreeing on site rules and reasonable directions Provide details to the principal contractor of any subcontractors they engage in connection with carrying out the work Provide any information needed for inclusion in the health and safety file Promptly inform the principal contractor of any problems with or concerns about either the initial or construction phase health and safety plan Promptly report to the principal contractor any injuries, accidents, occupational diseases or dangerous occurrences. Clients are required to make available project related all health and safety information to the coordinator so that this may be passed onto prospective contractors and designers. A comprehensive list of information is given in the ACoP as an appendix. The information required includes details of the project and the management arrangements, along with information in respect of hazards such as location of utility services, information on existing structures and ground conditions. The principal contractors role Once appointed on a notifiable project, the principal contractors duties are to: Plan, manage and monitor the construction phase in liaison with all contractors and subcontractors Prepare, develop and implement a written construction phase health and safety plan and site rules; the initial plan should be completed and in place before the construction phase begins Ensure that all contractors and subcontractors are given copies of, and made aware of, their relevant parts of the plan Make sure there are adequate welfare facilities on site from the start of the project and that they are maintained and kept clean throughout the construction phase Check the competence of all appointed contractors and subcontractors Ensure everyone on site has a health and safety induction and receives any additional information, instruction and training deemed necessary to undertake their work in a safe and healthy manner Consult all workers on site regularly, ensure the site is secured at all times and Liaise with the CDM coordinator about any ongoing design work. Appointing the coordinator CDM 2007 requires appointment of coordinator to occur at earliest once the preliminary designs or related groundwork for construction project has started. Clearly, appointment of the coordinator will require some form of judgement to be made in terms of whether or not a project is likely to be notifiable. As soon as is practicable is not defined, but the ACoP requires the coordinator to be in a position of aligning health and safety aspects of designs and recommend compatibility and suitability of this design work. In accord, the coordinator needs to be appointed before any major detailed design is worked on. This major detailed design is considered as the preparation for early concept of both implementation and design during strategic briefs (typically Stages A and B of Royal Institute of British Architects plan of work stages). The reason for this is that as a project progresses the level of difficulty for making changes increases which would reduce risks. The coordinator can company or an individual or appointed independently or a combination with other roles (such as project manager or designer). However, the ACoP states that where roles are combined and performed by a single individual, it becomes critical for the CDM coordinator to have adequate independence for carrying out tasks in an effective manner. This can often be the case for larger projects, where tasks may be ‘shared out, but in these circumstances, it is significant to ensure that coordinators duties are clearly laid out and discharged. Assessing competence As with other appointments, coordinators competence must be assessed. As well as the necessary technical expertise, the coordinator will require sufficient social skills so as to promote cooperation between project designers and others. In particular, the ACoP highlights that the coordinator needs sufficient knowledge of: Health and safety in construction work; The design process; and The importance of co-ordination of the design process. The level of education needs to be germane to the project and the client has to consider complexity and size of construction project as well as the type of risks that may emerge. The coordinator does not necessarily have to be a designer, but they do need to have sufficient knowledge of design process so as to better analyse health and safety implications of it. Appendix 4 of the ACoP provides guidance as to the assessment process for both organisations that may be acting as a coordinator, as well as individuals within the organisation or who are acting in a stand-alone capacity. Typically, the evidence needed to demonstrate competence will include: The number of persons engaged in the project who have passed a construction health and safety assessment (eg CITB Construction Skills); Evidence of health and safety knowledge (eg NEBOSH Construction Certificate); Membership of professional bodies with level of membership commensurate with the complexity of the construction project; Evidence of continuing professional development; and Evidence of experience in the particular type of work to be undertaken. The designers role The designers duties according to CDM Regulations are to: Inform the client of client duties under the CDM Regulations and the requirements of the accompanying ACoP (this is still the case under CDM 2007) Ensure the design considers the need to avoid foreseeable risks to construction workers and others affected, such as cleaners (still the case under CDM 2007 and the ACoP) Combat at source risks to the health and safety of construction workers and others affected (still the case under CDM 2007 and the ACoP) Give priority to control measures that protect all on site not just individuals (still the case under CDM 2007 and the ACoP) Ensure that the design includes adequate information about construction site hazards (still the case under CDM 2007 and the ACoP) Cooperate with the planning supervisor and with other designers (not the case under CDM 2007 and the ACoP, as the planning supervisor role has now been replaced by the CDM coordinator, whose main role is to provide the client with a key project adviser on construction health and safety risk management matters; hence the designer needs to liaise with the CDM coordinator as well as with other designers). The importance of the designers role in terms of the ability to design out hazards from the start of any project (risk elimination/avoidance) and the need to specify the use of safer materials and construction methods. The designers role is also important to design the building/structure to be safe to use and maintain and also to provide fundamental information that is to be included in health and safety plan as well as in file. In all construction projects, designers are required to reduce hazards risks during the design stage and present sufficient information regarding effectively combating the remaining (foreseeable) risks. While, for all notifiable projects, designers also have to check that the client has knowledge of their duties under CDM 2007 and also that a CDM coordinator has been timely appointed and provides required information for health and safety file. In line with CDM 2007, designers are not responsible for providing information on unforeseeable risks which cannot realistically be anticipated simply fromdesign brief. Designers are not instructed specify construction methods however, they may do so in cases where the design requires particular construction sequence as well as in cases of a competent contractor requiring such information. Designers also do not have to practice health and safety management functions as they are exercised by contractors or others neither do they have to be concerned in relation to trivial risks. Everyone elses roles Anyone else on site, who doesnt fall into the categories above listed so far, must check their own competence, assist others and organize their work in order to make sure that health and safety of all construction workers and others (such as members of the public) who may possibly be affected by their work activities. Also, they need to report evident risks and follow through requirements laid out in Schedule 3 (workplace inspection reports) and Part 4 (health and safety duties on construction sites) of CDM 2007 for any work under their control. They also need to apply general protection principles as specified in Schedule 1 to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Management Regulations) when carrying out their duties. The principles of protection listed in the Management Regulations should be used by all dutyholders under CDM 2007 and direct how they identify and implement precautions necessary to control construction and demolition risks. The principles are: Avoiding risks Evaluating those that cannot be avoided Combating the risks at source Adapting the work to the individual, especially in the design of workplaces, the choice of work equipment and the choice of working and production methods, with a view to alleviating monotonous work and work at a predetermined work rate, and to reducing their effects on health Adapting to technical progress Replacing the dangerous with the non-dangerous or the less dangerous Developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships, and the influence of factors relating to the working environment Giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures Giving appropriate instructions to employees. However, it is worth mentioning there here there is no explicit mention of the issue and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) anywhere in general principles of protection, reinforcing the view that PPE is not an acceptable control measure but merely a barrier (often temporary) between people and hazards. Issues with Coordinator The CDM coordinator should advise clients on carrying out competency assessments. But frequently the CDM coordinator is appointed at the same time as the principal contractor and often it is the same company. Clearly some earlier advice would be useful to the unsophisticated client when choosing the CDM coordinator and the CDM coordinator should be appointed before anyone else is engaged. In reality, only an appointee can know whether they have the necessary skills and expertise to be truly competent and the client may not have asked about competence in the tender documents. While appointees can be asked to give warranties as to their competency, capacity and resources, these are of little use if there is an incident, a delay or a prosecution. In addition, companies will often put forward their best people to win the contract, but those people might not end up actually doing the work. One way to safeguard against this is to include clauses in the contract of appointment specifying minimum qualifications/competencies/experience levels, or even naming key people. The planning period CDM 2007 requires clients to allocate enough time before construction starts in order to facilitate the planning and preparation. As part of the preconstruction information that clients must provide to the contractors they appoint, they must inform them of minimum time beforehand the construction phase that is basically plans the preparation of construction work. Some standard construction contracts require this CDM planning period to be stipulated in the contract but this is still not common practice. In many cases, the clients lack of knowledge means they are not specifying any planning period and simply giving an end date for works to be completed. Clients are obliged under CDM to provide the â€Å"pre-construction information† that is, information they have already or what is realistically attainable. This might include information about the existing site and structures, including location of services, storage of hazardous materials or the presence of asbestos. Where the information is vital to planning works safely (a ground survey, for example), frequently the client might not already have this information but it would be reasonable for them to obtain it. Uncertainty as to whose responsibility it is to provide reasonably obtainable material can lead to contractors taking risks where timescales are tight. In cases of gaps in information, it may be the clients task to make sure that they present information, but it may be the contractors who are contractually obliged to obtain it. Unsophisticated clients might not have the information, they may not seek the advice they need and they might not want to pay for additional surveys. If clients get the issue of information requests sorted out early on, as part of the procurement or tendering process, they can minimise the risks of a contractor delay. If principal contractors get the issue of information flow sorted out early on, they will minimise the risk from being surprised by site hazards and may even impress the client with their efficiency. However, over the last six months (and even under the old CDM Regulations), a different approach has been common. The principal contractor is frequently required to take the risk of commissioning surveys and to obtain other relevant information which, in many cases, the client should already have. In addition, clients who are tenants of a site will not always seek information from the land or building owner, or tell the principal contractor to ask the owner for further information. Though managing things in this old way is contrary to the spirit of CDM 2007, it should not be problematic so long as the information is actually obtained, collated and provided to the relevant parties early enough to allow for the planning and preparation of the construction works. However, where timescales are tight, risks are likely to be taken which could jeopardise delivery dates as well as profit. Costs of CDM 2007 Implementation HSCs Construction Industry Advisory Committee (‘CONIAC) suggests that the most optimum manner of delivering change is to revise CDM Regulations 94 and also the CHSW Regulations 96 along with supporting ACOP. Such decision reflects experience from past corrective attempts that draw on productive aspects of these measures and is regarded by the construction industry as an acceptable response that adequately addresses the many questions raised, whilst, holding on to commonly accepted principles of CDM Regulations 94 putting into action provisions of TCMS Directive and including Better Regulation principles. Collective costs of implementing CDM Regulations 07 have been anticipated between  £1.0 and  £2.8 billion while, quantified benefits such as safety benefits and productivity improvements are expected within  £1.96 to  £5.9 billion. However, the estimated health and safety benefits are uncertain. Moreover, it is improbable for them to smaller than the figure included within general estimate as health benefits are not quantified. Additionally, the costs to familiarisation CDM Regulations 07 with clients have not been estimated as the number of clients per year is not recorded. However, it is reported that annually 65% of clients are classified as â€Å"repeat clients† and are also assumed be involved in five projects per year while, remaining 35% clients are the only ones involved in single project. Out of which 70% are classified as â€Å"commercial clients†. Supposing client familiarisation with CDM Regulations 07 takes up to eight hours while, receiving an average client wage and a supposed 100% compliance (an unlikely eventuality), then, the present cost of familiarisation is around  £57 million. The objectives that must be met on any construction project such as quality, cost and time objectives can be listed as major priorities. However, the key to achieving these objectives is usually the strength of the relationship with the client. This requires a sound understanding of their requirements. Construction companies tend to not work with a client if the relationship is anticipated to be adversarial and instead choose to work as collaborative partners in order to achieve successful project outcomes. It is also important to establish a strong and effective project team by choosing people that are well suited to the specific project. This needs very careful consideration in relation to complex projects, such as the Olympic Park development. Previously, relationships between designers, engineers and quantity surveyors were often adversarial, while, successful projects require the team members to work in a collegiate fashion with mutual respect for one another so that they can each perform at their best. The ‘Constructing Excellence agenda has not been sufficiently embraced by the industry as a whole, although there are some good examples of projects that have successfully adopted the initiatives. For instance, private construction companies have embraced ideas such as standardisation to drive down cost and increase value. There have also been similar initiatives in the public sector. A good example is the MODs Single Living Accommodation Modernisation programme (‘SLAM) which sets out to upgrade the worst service personnel accommodation by 2012. In light of these positive examples, it is possible for the industry as a whole to adopt better practice and achieve greater success. Indeed, there are considerable financial pressures on projects in the current downturn and so it is imperative that more efficient methods are adopted to provide better value for money to clients. Adopting smarter ways of working makes it possible to reduce construction costs by 20-30% and not by cutting the contractors margin which is usually counter-productive and does not yield significant savings in any case. Real savings can be achieved by standardising construction and simplifying the procurement process. Under control The CDM Regulations 2007 establish a clear procedure for managing health and safety risk on construction sites. Prior to adoption of latest regulations, the HSE held a very constructive dialogue with the industry over a period of six years, which has meant that they have quickly received tacit acceptance. Construction companies have implemented initiatives to bring about behavioural and cultural change with respect to health and safety. For instance, there are ‘incident/injury free policies on our which have been taken up by others. More can be done by the industry as a whole and it is important to share ideas on best practice. There are various initiatives that the HSE have been engaged with recently, such as worker involvement, site induction training and supervisor competency. The HSE is much maligned in the press but that emanates from peoples misunderstanding of its role. The first aspect to note is that HSE is not accountable for prescribing how activities should be conducted. In fact, the onus is on the individual or organisation carrying out such a task to undertake their own risk assessment to determine the safest method of working using the available guidance from bodies such as the HSE. The HSEs purpose is to administer health and safety law and regulations and it has an enforcement role where there have been breaches. In light of the risks highlighted by the recent crane collapses, the Tower Crane Action Group has consulted widely and has published excellent guidance, which is available on the Strategic Forum website. Similarly, the HSE produce excellent best practice guidance notes, which are available to down load on their website. The guidance is aimed at various types of business, although sadly it is not always being followed. Had the HSE guidance on running a hair salon been followed, for example, then the recently publicised incident of a hairdresser disfiguring a customer with toxic hair products could have been avoided. Additionally, organisations are not properly addressing occupational health hazards. Three thousand people a year die from occupational health issues and scores of people suffer from illness and disability Conclusion Under the predecessor to CDM, the principal contractor was seen by the HSE as being in control of the whole construction site. But in practice, there were often difficulties controlling the entire site, and in particular in supervising subcontractors or the clients nominated subcontractors work. This is still difficult to manage, and particularly where there is no contractual right to restrict attendance on site. Clients own contractors will often turn up on their sites while principal contractors are supposed to be in control. Utilities companies or other contractors may have separate contracts with the client and the principal contractor will have to deal with these in addition to agreed site procedures and the existing programme. In contract, a client can allow the principal contractor to control access to the site for all subcontractors and also require any subcontractors to carry out detailed supervision of their workers. In some cases, a site lease may even be appropriate. The client has to carry out competency checks on any contractors they instruct before appointment. In the contracts, it is also possible to specify who should carry out continued monitoring on the site to inform the client about ongoing competence, to restrict entry to the site or to restrict contractors ability to tender for future work. The ACoP clarifies that it is the clients duty to perform practical steps for ensuring suitable management arrangements carry out their duties throughout the construction project by in such a manner as to preclude risks to health. This is in addition to the duty to ensure that principal contractors prepare a construction phase plan that complies with CDM 2007 as well as welfare installations that would be adequate throughout construction phase. Clients arent required actually to manage the works but they do have to check that all management arrangements are appropriate and are being followed though from the initial stages of project. The ACoP specifies that they are allowed to rely on advices of a competent CDM coordinator for making judgments as to the adequacy of the management arrangements. Clients also need to be careful to not take an active role in managing construction works because CDM 2007 places liability on those who control or run the manner in which construction projects are carried out. Similarly, principal contractors need to make it clear who is carrying out the detailed supervision and whether they have control over the subcontractors activities on site if they are to seek to take advantage of the ACoPs advice that principal contractors do not have to undertake the responsibility of detailed supervisions of the contractors work. In summary, the management arrangements that can be detailed in the contract include: Control over the site Control over subsubcontracting without notification Ongoing competency checks Levels of detailed supervision required of subcontractors The time allowed for planning and preparation The arrangement for communicating among the dutyholders and reporting to the client The provision of pre-construction information and reasonably obtainable information The format and quality of information for the health and safety file The provision of the construction phase plan and all updates to the client (and cdm coordinator). The more that is set down in the contract, the less likely any of the duties are to fall between the stools of the dutyholders. Increasing the level of detail in the contracts can help to safeguard all parties against delays caused by incidents or regulatory breaches (which can often wipe out the profit on a project). It can also be useful in removing uncertainty which in turn could help to prevent accidents or even reduce the need for any of the parties to develop a defence to a charge under health and safety legislation. References (2007). CDM UPDATE: After a long consultation the new CDM regulati