A Value Based Society for Our Future Essay

Present day society has seen its share of the erosion of values ever since the dawn of technology. It is as if these values were being thrown aside for technology to take its place. And technology like a dark mist shrouding the values of a person making what we know today as materialism. This obviously puts forth proof of how flawed society can be without values being the base of it. The vision of how our future society is intended to be is undoubtedly a utopia where peace and harmony is above all else. Currently our world and society faces violence, on a general scope of this issue would be the occurrence of war, Wars in the past have been fueled by a difference of values. Now what are values you might ask, as defined by the oxford’s advanced learner’s English dictionary, values are beliefs about what is right and wrong and what is important in life. Since values are a belief on what is important in life, it is necessary that the right belief is instilled within an individual of a society, so as not to create any forms of false society norms. The topic which I intend to highlight today would be the examples of values that communities in the society should practice and apply. As well as reasons to support my points of view. From my perspective on the topic, I feel that it is important to have the values of Change, Tolerance, Teamwork and Honesty First and foremost, Change, a value portraying the will of an individual to undergo a course of development for the better. Before dwelling on what type of values should be instilled in an individual or how do we apply these values, We have to first realise the importance of possessing this will for a better change, because without this most important criteria, the instilling of new values to improve our society is impossible. Allow me to give you an analogy, what is the use of knowing what is a value which benefits society when you have no will to act so? This depicts how actions speak louder than words, and in this case the will to act is indeed very important. Secondly the value which I would like to highlight on is Tolerance. Tolerance is the willingness to accept somebody/something, especially opinions or behaviour that you may not agree with. This value plays a key role in creating an environment of peace and harmony, Because tolerance is the solution for the difference of values of which people possess, and definitely the first step to achieving peace between individuals of different values would be the acceptance of one another. To apply this in a real-life situation, when someone sees things in a different perspective, don’t discriminate or brand him weird, instead try and see things from that person’s perspectives to understand him. And if both or more parties understand and can tolerate each other, misunderstandings will be reduced and harmony on the other hand will be promoted. Moving on, I would like to emphasize on the value of teamwork. Teamwork is cooperative or coordinated effort of a group in the interests of a common cause which is usually effective. And if a value based society is the goal to reach, then it would suggest that those who are a part of the society should chip in their efforts in order to make the goal a reality instead of continuing to encase it in dreamland. Teamwork is definitely a very dear value if a better future is the main focus of the goal in the future. Teamwork can be easily applied in everyday life, for instance, when you and another person are made in-charge of something. Do not do that ‘something’ alone, because this would lead to poor results due to miscommunication. With teamwork, everything would be set just right because the resources to accomplish something are multiplied. Lastly I would like to bring forth the value of Honesty. Honesty is the quality of never hiding the truth of something. And in a value based society for the future, honesty plays a big role as well. Because through honesty, will trust be promoted. To explain this, honesty means that everyone is truthful with one another, this can break down the cautious barrier between people which has been inhibiting them from understanding and trusting each other well for a long time. And without trust let me remind everyone here, a good society is impossible to be achieved because people of both sides spend their time and effort on the precautions about one another. As a conclusion, Society in the future will have no improvement if values such as change, tolerance, teamwork as well as honesty are not what the society is based on. And society will continue to fall if these values continue to be seen as negligible in the eyes of the modern society.

Jane Addams- Biography

The argument Addams makes that â€Å"educational matters are more democratic in their political than in their social aspect† (197), I believe she is referring to the long struggle between the teachers and the Chicago School Board. The Chicago School Board was politically corrupt. Many of the teachers and custodial engineers were friends of politicians who secured their positions in exchange for certain kickbacks. The school board maintained control over the school administration for many years. During which they restricted the types of children that were able to attend the public schools and they restricted the amount of freedom and authority the teachers were able to use in their classrooms. On several different occasions the â€Å"Dunne† members of the board attempted to lower the restriction on the teachers side but were warned-off with tales of the politicians and the difficulties previous attempts encountered. Addams' describes the situation between the superintendent and the Teachers' Federation as â€Å"an epitome of the struggle between efficiency and democracy† (171). She clearly understood both standpoints and why they both felt compelled to make their argument, although she does mention that they both â€Å"inevitably exaggerated the difficulties of the situation† (171). As a member of the school board, Addams tried to influence the Federation to make changes that would be in the best interest of the children, but after the legal struggle and following months of constant change, many of the important measure were withdrawn. Although she did have an opportunity to debate these measures in a democratic way, they were dismissed because of (more or less) political reasons. Jane Addams' role for education in an effort to reform the city was to take the disruptive delinquents the public schools rejected and accept them unconditionally into the settlement. Give them the opportunity to learn domestic training and trade teachings. She felt that even people of lesser means were interested in the same topics as the â€Å"well-to-do† people of society. She also thought that if you give a child encouragement and a sense of self-worth combined with an opportunity to become something in society that they would try to become productive. Hull-House offered educational opportunities for anyone who wanted to attend with no political or economic restrictions. Hull-House also offered the opportunity for recreation, such as supervised sports matches, which hundreds of youths seemed to prefer. Jane Addams' makes an important statement that â€Å"The educational activities of a Settlement, as well as its philanthropic, civic, and social undertakings, are but differing manifestations of the attempt to socialize democracy, as is the very existence of the Settlement itself,† (206). That illustrates her idea of education, which I believe is what she wanted for the public school system, but was unable to achieve while she was a member of the board.

Marketing Case Study with Questions and Answers

CHAPTER 13: THE MARKETING OF SERVICES ADDITIONAL CASE STUDY NEW LINE IN MOBILE PHONES One of the oldest principles of marketing is that sellers may sell features, but buyers essentially buy benefits. This is a distinction sometimes lost on technology led organisations, and the service sector is no exception. Recent experience of the UK’s largest telecommunications company, Vodafone Airtouch, illustrates how crucial it is to see service offers in terms of the benefits they bring to customers.The company was aware of extensive research which had found high levels of confusion among purchasers of mobile phones, with a seemingly infinite permutation of features and prices. With four main networks to choose from, dozens of tariffs and hundreds of handsets, it easy to see why buyers sought means of simplifying their buying process. Throughout the 1990s, Vodafone had positioned its UK network as superior technically to its competitors. Advertising focused on high coverage rates and c all reliability. Vodafone was the UK's most popular mobile phone operator, with almost eight million customers, including 4. million Pay as you Talk customers. It had opened the UK's first cellular network on 1 January 1985and was the market leader since 1986. Vodafone's networks in the UK – analogue and digital – between them carried over 100 million calls each week. It took Vodafone more than 13 years to connect its first three million subscribers but only 12 months to connect the next three million. Vodafone had the largest share of the UK cellular market with 33% and had more international roaming agreements than any other UK mobile operator. It could offer its subscribers roaming with 220 networks in 104 countries.Despite all of the above, Vodafone was aware that although it was recognised as an extremely strong business in the corporate marketplace, it was not so strong in the market for personal customers. Research indicated that personal buyers bought Vodafone for essentially rational reasons rather than having any emotional attachment to the brand. The success of the competing Orange network, which had developed a very strong image, was a lesson to Vodafone that many people did not understand many of the product features on offer, but instead identified with a brand whose values they could share.Vodafone recognised that it needed to be perceived as adding value to a consumer’s lifestyle?. Given the increasing complexity of product features, positioning on technical features was likely to make life more confusing for personal customers. An alternative approach was needed which focused on image and lifestyle benefits. The company decided to hire Identica – the consultancy that originally created the One 2 One brand – to revamp its brand communications and advertising strategy in an effort to make Vodafone more appealing to personal customers.Identica created a new ‘visual language’ for the Vodafone brand. Vodafone became involved in the biggest ever TV, press, poster and radio advertising campaign in its 15 year history. Employing a completely new style, the new advertising centred around the theme: ‘You are now truly mobile. Let the world come to you' and featured a new end-line – Vodafone YOU ARE HERE. The campaign demonstrated how Vodafone's products and services were designed to make life easier for its customers. The campaign, created by BMP DDB, was worth ? 20 million over two months alone and ran for the whole year.Bringing meaning to the Vodafone brand and what it represented, a series of advertisements, through a range of media, showed how Vodafone let the world come to its customers, enabling them to be truly mobile. This portrayed how Vodafone always pioneered to make things more possible for its customers in a wire-free world. In press and poster executions, Vodafone used arrows photographed in various real life situations to depict its flagship services, e. g. a weather vane was used to illustrate the Vodafone Interactive weather service showing how weather information could be brought to customers through their mobile.Each advertisement again had the Vodafone YOU ARE HERE end-line. The arrows indicated the directional approach of Vodafone, letting the world come to the customer. Other executions illustrated cinema listing information, sports updates, share price information, international roaming and the Vodafone Personal Roadwatch 1800 service. The change in emphasis by Vodafone seemed to be timely. The mobile phone industry was facing a new wave of confusing product features hitting consumers, with the development of Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) phones and the newer â€Å"Third generation† phones due to be launched in 2001.It seemed inevitable that all of the competing networks would be offering confusing permutations of features with their service, so Vodafone calculated that, given similar levels of reliability and sophis tication by all networks, a favourable image and lifestyle association would be an important source of competitive advantage. Given the right image with existing technology, there would be a strong probability that consumers would migrate with the brand to the new technology when it arrived. Source: adapted from Vodafone Image Shift†, Marketing, 4th May, 2000 and Vodafone Home Page, http://www. vodafone. co. uk ADDITIONAL CASE STUDY REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Identify the principal benefits to customers which derive from a mobile phone. What differences are likely to exist between market segments? 2. Is a strong brand identity on its own a source of sustainable competitive advantage? To what extent must this be backed up by real product features? 3. Are goods different to services in the way that a distinction is made between features and benefits?

Management verses leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management verses leadership - Essay Example Responsibility and accountability for the use of organizational resources accompany the power accorded to a manager or director. In contrast, the term leader implies effective use of influence that is somewhat independent of the formal authority granted to an individual because of position. Leadership cannot be granted to a person by a higher authority; rather, those who decide to follow bestow it on an individual. While managers have formal authority, leaders have the informal ability to get things done by attracting and influencing followers. Effective managers in any organizations must be leaders also, and many leaders become managers, leaders, and directors. The two sets of roles and functions, however, differ (Steven, 2001). If we have to list out the qualities a good leader should possess, the first and foremost is that leaders are good listeners. An effective leader listens emphatically. He welcomes ideas and inputs from his team. This promotes harmony within the team. Leaders are good decision makers. An effective leader, who is focused, authentic, courageous and emphatic, must also have the proper timing in making and executing decisions. Time management is the important parts of good leadership. It is also important to set an example to the team through proper time management. A leader must have talent or specific skills at some task at han... He must be a role model, someone who leads by example. Self-knowledge and self-awareness are also essential characteristics. A leader trusts in his team and motivates them for high performance. A good leader is always generous in praising and recognizing each individual who is a performer and appreciate all contributions, big and small. A leader must project fearlessness in facing challenges. A leader must stand firm even in the presence of criticisms, but still having the courage to admit his mistakes (Smith, 2005).The most important attribute for a leader is being principle-centered. Centering on principles that are universal and timeless provides a foundation and compass to guide every decision and every act. All enduring philosophies, religions and thoughts are based on principles such as integrity, compassion, trust, honesty, accountability and others at their core. (Khan, 2005). Management and the roles of Managers in Organizations A typical definition is that "manager's work toward the organization's goals using its resources in an effective and efficient manner." In any organizations, different levels of managers are present they include top managers, middle managers and first-line managers. Top (or executive) managers are responsible for overseeing the whole organization and typically engage in more strategic and conceptual matters, with less attention to day-to-day detail. Top managers have middle managers working for them and who are in charge of a major function or department. Middle managers may have first-line managers working for them and who are responsible to manage the day-to-day activities of a group of workers (McNamara, 1999). For a healthy organization it is essential to have both good leaders as well as good managers.

Disciplinary Literacies. Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Disciplinary Literacies. Communication - Essay Example Many sources of information exist that define writing and literacy in the field. A review of finance journal articles, documentations from finance oriented professional organizations, and experiences among professionals in the field are some of the sources of information for evaluating literacy in the finance field. Advertisement is one of the forms of communication that promote literacy in the field. Financial institutions depend on operations from their clients, such as deposits, withdrawal, and funds’ transfer in which service fees are charged on consumers and advertisements market the institutions. Advertisement based communication must however be sensitive to consumers and other stakeholder’s values because improper usage is likely to generate adverse reactions from stakeholders while some cases may also lead to legal liability. An advertisement by Capital One is an example that demonstrate the scope of literacy in the finance field. The advertisement was not succe ssful because while it sought to promote use of the organization’s credit cards, it elicited negative reactions and some of the advertiser’s clients threatened to close their accounts or stop using the cards. This identifies a reverse reaction to what Capital One had intended and the nature of expected communication in the field explain the experience. The main problem to the advertisement, as Aspan explains in the American Banker, was selection of words as Capital One sought to draw consumers’ attention. Other professionals in the field did not welcome the use of damn day and their response identifies significance of ethical standards in communication in the finance field (Aspan 1). Another important aspect of communication in the field, and one that also relates to corporate ethics, is application of polite language in communication. Whether in appreciatory correspondence or in a critical communication, a formal and courteous tone is recommended and pecuniary liability exist in cases where a person or an organization is believed to have influenced other people, or parties’ communication. Positive criticism, with the aim of correcting perceived ills is however acceptable and the case of Capital One advertisement explains this. Aspan reports calls by organizations that people criticize the advertisement but notes that the level of responsibility in such calls when One Million Moms explains that even though it called for e-mail communications to Capital One to criticize its advertisements, it did not advocate for offensive comments in the elicited communications. The article also identifies the use of mass communication and online communication in the finance industry. The experience in the conflict identifies the use of advertisement as a sales strategy, the act that stimulates the conflict. One Million Moms, in its response to the advertisement and in its attempt to restore sanity in the profession, uses its website, a mass media, to urge its members to criticize the advertisement. The organization also specifies its preferred mode of communication for reaching Capital One, email, and these acts identify a high level of literacy among stakeholders in the finance sector to promote written and online communication. The level of literacy, in the sector, is also explained through expertise

Sexual Assaults in Prison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sexual Assaults in Prison - Essay Example Even though the rate of imprisonment has increased over the years, most penal settings operate beyond the rated capacities. These lead to the crisis of overcapacity, limited resources and understaffing complications. Sexual assault in prisons has devastating psychological, social, and physical impacts on victims’ welfare. In most cases, the effects of sexual assault are exaggerated by captivity. In some instances, the affected persons face consistent infliction of fear, helplessness, physical assault as well as psychological trauma. The in-house problems in incarcerated centers are at times answerable to increased cases of sexual assaults in the penitentiary (Dumond, 2002). Sexual assaults have long term impacts on individual future growth and development. In addition to psychosomatic and physical harm, prisoners also face the peril of sexually transmitted diseases, depression, medical injuries, stigmatization, labeling, reduced social status, suicidal motivations, post-trauma disorders and reduction in individual esteem and social status. As a result, prisoners, jail administrators and clinicians ought to be aware of the increased cases of psychological and physical sexual acts and cases of victimization. Prison health practitioners should work hand in hand with the administrative staff and security to manage cases of sexual assaults and the subsequent intellectual, psychological and health conditions. Inmates are reported to have the highest level of sexual activity risks, high vulnerability to contagious diseases and highest rate of drug abuse. The recent decades have rising cases of sexual assaults and misconducts on female and male inmates by prison staffs. However, not all staffs are involved in these devastating acts. Cases of sexual assault by the staff members on the inmate are sometime accelerated by lack of a well defined

Marketing and Trasforming Business in Porcini's Company Case Study

Marketing and Trasforming Business in Porcini's Company - Case Study Example The company has also suffered stiff competition from Unos, Bertucci’s, and Buca di Beppo which try to offer the same products Porcini offers. This paper will, therefore, explore the marketing strategies that the company lacks in relation to customer focus and the 4P, Market target and expansion, and competition so as to be on the competitive advantage. The company has difficulties in choosing the right option for restaurant expansion to either undertake franchising or syndication. Ordinarily, the majority of the restaurant chains are considering new franchise agreements in their main avenue for growth where Porcini is not an exception.However, the restaurant has limited capital from restaurant-level operations to system-wide marketing and brand building. It should be noted that when the restaurant has no capital, it will be unwise for the business to go for a loan for expanding the business. This is because it will take time for the business to stabilize. Therefore, the cost of construction and leasing is normally shifted to franchisees which would likely bring outlets into operation more rapidly. This leads to expansion of the company. The restaurant is not vast with enforcing franchise standards. Normally, the franchise has a 20-year term with renewal at the franchisor’s option a 5% to 6% royalty on gross revenues and an upfront fee during franchising.Additionally, each franchisee is usually accountable for his own financing and this saves the finances of the company. Some franchisors often handle all expansion, including feasibility studies, market analysis, site selection, and construction themselves. Porcini does not have a construction department and this makes it hard for the company to avoid franchising. Therefore this is the best option for the company for it will increase the company profitability On the other hand, in syndication, the chain identifies purchases a number of sites, builds and furnishes a facility on each, then sells the  portfolio of properties to an investor group thereby recouping and recycling its capital.  

Leadership Styles Movie Analysis Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership Styles Analysis - Movie Review Example What follows is 2 hours of unabashed manipulation targeted less at impassioning racial synchronization than leaving the viewer with a lump in his / her throat and tears in their eyes. In these events, the theme of leadership dominates that environment of an extremely racist society which has to collaborate to achieve in their children’s football. Situational leadership holds the idea that someone changes his or her style of leadership in response to a given situation. Situational leadership appears to be more evident in the movie that any other type of leadership (Kippenberger, 2002). According to Blanchard and Hershey, the leadership type that is suitable for any given situation gets driven by follower development or readiness. Readiness gets normally based on factors like ability, skill, and experience, willingness, or confidence, motivation and commitment. Coach Herman Boone applies any type of leadership that suits the situation on hand, from autocratic dictatorship to dem ocracy. When the coach forces the teammates to share rooms with their different races teammates, a symbol of dictatorship is demonstrated, but it is for the best interest of the team. He changes his leadership when need arises to solve or implement any of his strategies, as we are going to see in the paragraphs below. Autocratic leadership remains an extreme system of transactional type of leadership, where a leader exercises high levels of authority over his or her team members or a society. People within the team get few opportunities to make propositions, even if these suggestions would be in the organizations or team's interest (Kippenberger, 2002). Most people tend to begrudge being treated like this. Hence, autocratic leadership generally leads to high level of rebellion and absenteeism. Also, the team's production does not gain from the creativeness and experience of each team members, making many of teamwork benefits lost. In the movie, the main leader is the character Coach Herman Boone. Coach Boone demonstrates qualities of a firm and inspirational leader. The main obstacle the Coach faces are changing the ethos of a football team in a way that the society did not agree with at that time. He makes autonomous decisions for the team. This type of leadership seems to work since the he is the only team member with the knowledge of the game. He must dominate to diffuse the skills to the young players (Kippenberger, 2002). Bureaucratic Leadership is also demonstrated in the movie. Bureaucratic leaders work by the book ensuring that the ruled and ruler follow procedures precisely (Kippenberger, 2002). This stands a very appropriate style especially when working with young people and in cases where a mistake will cost the team heavily. Coach Boone and some of his team leaders go by the book to play football despite being affected significantly by racism. A charismatic leadership style may appear similar to the transformational leadership style, where the lea der injects enormous dosages of enthusiasm into the team, and gets very energetic in driving the team forward. Coach Boone starts tackling the problem of blacks and whites integration from day one in the football training camp. The coach makes the team gets off from the buses and sit with an opposite race team mate, and then he goes ahead to make that person their roommate for the duration in the camp. Through Boone's discipline

Large Scale Software Development Research Paper

Large Scale Software Development - Research Paper Example College diploma courses take three years and are offered by various colleges across the country. The majority of the people i.e. 80% live in abject poverty i.e. they cannot spend more than one dollar per day. Due to this most students cannot afford to pay for their education expenses which cover tuition, building and development expenses, food and catering, money to buy books and lastly the school uniform. Before free education was introduced most of the student dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. The government at that time was corrupt and very inefficient, these lend to a massive deterioration of the country education sector, and international funds were also not available as donor funds were withheld due to the many corruption scandals. In January 2003, the national rainbow coalition government took power with the promise to bring free primary education to help the poor illiterate student to attain basic education. Free primary education was implemented. This saw a massive enrollment of a student with classes which had 50 students now have more than 100 students . In Nairobi, the student population tripled. Free primary education has been advantageous. Many unlearned Kenyan have benefited from it. It was surprising that even old men joined the primary school. The limitations were however noticeable as the teacher's workload became enormous such that they were not able to handle the number of students. This, in a way, lends to a decline in the overall performance of public primary schools or. The classes are typically overcrowded. In 2008 the government implemented free secondary education, free secondary education has many setbacks as a student are still required to pay some amount in terms of development fees. Education in private schools, unlike the public school, is high tech with state of the art computers, swimming pools, well-trained teachers, student boarding facilities among other facilities. The student is however required to pay a lot of money to join these schools, these schools are dominated by the middle class and high-class citizens who can afford the fees charged.

Key Components of Interest Rate Risk and Approaches of Risk Management Essay

Key Components of Interest Rate Risk and Approaches of Risk Management for Chinese Banks - Essay Example This paper illustrates that the type of risk tends to affect the stock and bond market in different ways. However, as the interest rate risk impacts the bond market negatively, the investors shift their investment pattern from the bond market to the equity market, influencing the performance of this segment of the financial market. In this paper, the key components of interest rate risk will be analyzed thoroughly. The financial system of China is considered to be one of the highly regulated, involving highly integrated economic and monetary policies. Such regulations and integrations are reflected in the functioning of the banking sector of the country as well. Therefore, for the purpose of analysis, the risk management approaches of the banking sector of China will be critically evaluated. Non- alignments arises in the balance sheet and off-balance sheet items of the banking sectors. In case of fixed interest rate, such mismatches originate at the time of maturity of the financial instrument and in case of variable interest rates; the non-alignments arise at the time of revaluation of an asset, liabilities as well as off-balance sheet instruments. Scope and size of such temporal mismatches make it critical to forecasting changes in interest rate which in turn creates huge interest rate risk. Basis value risk arises out of the asset-liability mismatches. Many times, the correlation between the value of maturities and revaluation of asset- liabilities and their calculative values becomes highly negative because of the adaptation of interest rates. This kind of risk also changes the index rates used for pricing the liabilities and asset that does not really change in a concurrent way and originates huge amount of interest rate risk

Balancing and Resolving Conflicts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Balancing and Resolving Conflicts - Essay Example I am kindly requesting the government to help our members of state by providing funding to help improve the community facilities and their residents in the area. The citizens around here are poor and do not have enough funds to make ends meet. This state needs funds to improve the public housing and to provide recreational facilities for the people around here. The area is surrounded by poor people who involve themselves in crime activities because most of them are not employed. The area has industries but the products go to waste because the warehouses are poorly managed and lack good storage facilities. By providing the funds to improve people’s lives in our state, the public housing will be improved, there will be reduced crime rates, the old and poor people will live comfortably, the warehouses facilities will be improved and the citizens will create employment

History of Culinary Arts Essay Example for Free

History of Culinary Arts Essay The history of culinary arts started in the early 1800 when the first cooking school in Boston was established to teach the art of American cooking and prepare the students to deliver and forward their knowledge to others. It was in 1896 Fannie Merritt Farmer published the first cook book; the book was written referring the Boston cooking school. In the year 1946 the first cooking show was telecasted on the televised. After thatJames Beard the father of American cuisine conducted regular cooking classes concentrating on the art of American cooking. In 1960s the French cuisine has been entered the American society by Julia Child. Later in the year the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) was founded and established this was the first culinary school that offers career-based courses of course in the art of cooking. The first campus of the CIA was inNew York and was started in 1972 and now there are Different types of cooking schools that offer different kinds of training programs to its candidates and the selection of the appropriate culinary arts and it can be determined by considering the goals and interests and aid to choose the education programaccordingly. The school was begun with the intention of offering education courses in culinary arts. The school offers both long term and short term courses. There are a number of students who enrol in the CIA and each year and the number of applicants increase. Prior to the establishing of the CIA, those who wanted to have a career in culinary arts typically had to go through many tests and challenges like until they become seasoned chefs by gaining on-the-job trainings. Looking at this today internships and recruitments are among the main essentials. .

Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales

Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales Abstract The objective of the Test and Measurement unit is to assist students get to understand the importance and the need of tests and measurement in the field of psychology. During counselling psychology, many testes and measurements are applied in the identification as well as definition behaviours as well as the mental state of clients. Among them is the Social Skill Improvement Rating System, which is just a taste that was developed to measure and assess social deficits within a person. The system is administered by high psychometric properties. It has been noted that, it has excellent internal consistency, adequate reliability as well as excellent to adequate excellent test-retest reliability. The samples used in testing reliability and validity are adequate. The tests in one way or the other addresses the significance of evidence-based multi-tired assessment that are applied when helping student to develop, improve as well as maintain their useful social skills. As a family, SSIS includes performance screening, class wide intervention program, rating scales as well as intervention guide. The instrument is a revised version of the most used SSRS, which enjoys strong history of use in most schools. In addition, the social skill improvement system rating scales, tent to have very strong psychometric features, along with scoring, makes the test ideally suitable to demands of screening, development of interventions as well as classifications in the middle schools. On the other hand, though there is existence of studies along with the information don the Social Skill Rating System, on the other hand, much has not been done to on the current SSIS These tests are best used within the context of four-phase problem solving processes. By this model, it is not easy for one to ignore the main purpose of the assignment, and that no matter the specific aim for waiting to assess SEL competencies, one tent to concentrate on his/her own assessment information in a manner that helps one the most significant questions. Tests and Measurements: Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales Introduction In the course, Tests and Measurements, enables one to gained understandings about the significance, need, and use of tests and measurements in the Psychology field. Psychology in its self is a broad field that can be applied in multiple settings, focusing on different aspects, yet operating with the same direction and purpose. Psychology studies the mental state and behaviour of individuals. In order to obtain knowledge about individuals, as such, Psychologists and trained professionals establish and develop procedures that are meant to identify and define specifics about an individual. These procedures are considered as Tests and Measurements, which were developed to diagnose and assess individuals through using subject-specific constructs to provide logical reason and evidence to validate predictions or proposed diagnosis. In Psychology, different diagnosis, behaviours, and disorders have been defined and identified through a wide array of tests and measurements. With the diversity in tests and measurements, psychologists are able to define most mental states and behaviours presented by individuals. Fields of Psychology, like Clinical, Educational, Industrial-Organization, and Counselling, all have specific uses of tests and measurements to clearly define behaviours and mental statuses and establish treatment, diagnosis intervention, and therapeutic method interventions. With a specialization in Counselling Psychology, professionals deal with the intrapsychic of a client. Questions that counselling psychologists work to identify for client clarification are, How does the client view themselves? What strengths/weaknesses does the client identify as existing? How are the clients social life, social relationships, and professional relations? These are questions that Counselling Psychologists seeks to unde rstand and use for client comprehension and clarity. This step commences as the starting point for Counselling Psychologists to rebuild and rehabilitate a client, (Psychcorp.com, 2011). In counselling psychology, multiple tests and measurements are used to identify and define behaviours and mental state of the client. The original Social Skills Rating Skills, which is now known as The Social Skills Improvement Rating System, is a test developed to measure and assesses social deficits within a person. This psychological test was intended to serve as a tool in identifying behaviours of a person, in order to, diagnose and treat to improve the social aspects of the person. With a purpose to build strengths, healthy relationships, and positive outlooks about the self, the SSIS is a relevant assessment that can be used by counselling psychologists, in order to obtain results about an individuals mental state about the self, social life, and personal lifestyle. In this paper, an attempt will be made to define and describe the SSIS and how it could be used in Counselling Psychology. Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales This test was developed by Elliot, Husse Gresham, this social skill rating system was published in 1990 by the American Guidance services. The social skill improvement system (SSIS), (Gresham Elliot), is just a comprehensive system of social skills assessment as well as the intervention tool for use with children and as well as these who are still in adolescence from the age of 3 years to 18 years, (Diperna, Volpe, 2005).. For my final paper, I have chosen to discuss the measurement Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), which is newly revised as the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales (SSiS). The newly revised version of the Social Skills Rating System is now the Social Skills Improvement System, which includes improvements in psychometrics, norms, and a new set of subscales (Psychcorp.com, 2011), as well as, a Spanish edition. Gresham and Elliot (2008) states that, Ninety percent of the items were new or substantially revised (paragraph 5). The Social Skills Improvement is intended to identify any social deficits, recognizing positive behaviours, as well as, negative behaviours, in students age ranging from 3 to 18. The SSIS includes three forms to identify social behaviours, the teacher-parent-student forms, which purposes are to evaluate behaviours at home, community, and within the school. Psychometric Qualities of the Test Standardization SSIS is a self-administered assessment, with a completion time between 10-25 minutes. The newly revised SSIS consists of technically sound measures when referring to the norms (Gresham Elliot, 2008). The norm group consisted of a mixture of 4,700 3-18 year old students. The sample was diverse and included representative numbers of children with educational disabilities and mental disorders, making the norms well-rounded and inclusive of all different cases of student descriptions. Reliability The revised Social Skills Rating System includes the same three forms as the original SSRS, the teacher, parent, and student, yet with better internal consistency reliability. Each form of the SSIS and there standard scores resulted in displaying consistent reliability. Test-retest methods were done over a 43-66 day time period and the results were as follow, for the Teacher form, results describe median adjusted correlations of .83 across 43-day intervals, with median adjusted correlations of .86 across 61-day intervals for the Parent form, and median adjusted correlations of .79 across 66-day intervals for the Student form (Gresham Elliot, 2008a). Validity According to Gresham Elliot (2008a), SSIS Rating Scales include three useful validity scales that allow examiners to judge the veracity of ratters: an F scale that will be elevated when ratters describe students as having an unrealistic number of problems; a response pattern index that is elevated if ratters provide an unusual pattern of responses (e.g., provides the same response to most of the items or provides a highly variable number of responses); and a response consistency index that is elevated if ratters complete similar items in very different ways(,paragraph 3). The validity of the construct has obviously made major and effective improvements, by measuring exactly what it is intended to measure. Correlations of the scales with measuring similar behaviour were high, with measurements of non-similar behaviours not correlating, (Gresham Elliot, 2008b). Uses of Tests The social skill improvement system in one way or the other addresses the significance for an evidence-based, multi-tired assessment that are used in the process of helping students to develop, improve as well as maintain much important social skills. Such like tools contained in the test, can be used early in the school years for the facilitation of the universal screening of these students who happen to be at risk for academic or even social behaviour difficulties. In one way or the other, it helps to plan for the interventions for improving such like behaviours, as well as evaluating progress on skills that are much targeted after the intervention. This assessment test contains tools that are particularly significant when evaluating students. The SSIS family of assessment as well as intervention tools include: performance screening guide; this tool offers universal screening of the behaviour which can be termed as being prosaically. Some of such like behaviours are math skills, reading skills as well as motivation to learn for all students in the whole classroom in not more than 20 minutes. Another tool is class-wide intervention program; this tool provides teachers as well as other professionals social skills instructional scripts as well as teaching resources for the top ten skills that tent to be much critical to the functioning of all students in particular classroom. The next tool is Rating Scales; this tool is concerned with offering targeted as well as comprehensive assessment of a persons social skills, problem behaviours along with academic competence. The last but not least toll is intervention guide; this provides in-depth social skills intervention for about 20 keystone social skills that are directly connecte d to SSIS Rating Scales outcomes, (Nihira, Leland, Lambert,1993).. Critique of the Test Strength This program is a revised version of the most used SSRS, which enjoys strong history of use in most schools. This instrument in addition contains assessment intervention records, which allows the integration of social skill assessment data with planned intervention strategies, as an effect, it allows professional to easily develop interventions that are based on the assessment results. Also, the instrument has a manual which clearly provides detailed descriptions of all SSRS objectives and goals, on top of having a guide that is user friendly. Nevertheless, the instrument test is easy to administer and much easy to score. In addition, the social skill improvement system rating scales, tent to have very strong psychometric features, along with scoring, makes the test ideally suitable to demands of screening, development of interventions as well as classifications in the middle schools. In addition, there exist SSRS versions that also provide further information that can be very much s ignificant in the process of planning on top of the evaluation intervention programming. Last but not least, the instrument use of multiple rater system provides a more broad-based assessment of social skills than any other instrument that uses a single rater system, like the elf reporting instrument, (Cynthia, Kenn, 2010). Another thing is that, the test measurement provides important needs assessment data for program planning. In addition, it also offers insight into the effectiveness of nationwide prevention as well as health behavioural initiatives that are designed to reach much education as well as counselling related objectives across the country. SSRS also produces the estimates of the prevalence of major adolescence behavioural risks and provides much crucial information for school officers, human service agency, policymakers along with parents, who are working in harmony optimum health young individuals globally. Weaknesses Though there is existence of studies along with the information don the Social Skill Rating System, on the other hand, much has not been done to on the current SSIS. In addition, the costs that are involved during SSIS are too high compared to other surveys. It also requires the knowledge of compiling data as well as coming up with reports is also required; this is based on the fact that, in the software package, it is not included. This instrument also faces the problem of standardization sample, as well as mixed reliability levels across all forms. Psychometric Qualities The instrument has standard scores which can be converted to percentile rank scores. The instrument furthermore provides separate norms for girls as well as boys, as well as these with and without disabilities. The high levels of internal consistency, test-retest reliabilities, content along with validity, have been reported by many writers. The computer software apart from facilitating scoring and reporting, it provides behavioural objectives and suggestions for planning purposes. A version that is scannable, offers group reporting options. Other than sorting, it arranges the information as per the group, classroom, individuals, schools, grades, gender, ethnicity, time and districts, (Mathews, Whang, Fawcett, 1980). The Tests Application in Counseling Psychology Setting Purpose The social skill rating system was published for the purpose of identifying and classification of social behaviours. In addition, it was also published for the purpose of assisting in the development of appropriate interventions for those who are identified as having social behaviour problems. Last but not least, the instrument was created for the purpose of addressing the significance for an evidence-based, multi-tired assessment that are used in the process of helping students to develop, improve as well as maintain much important social skills. Though theoretically is all kinds of children might be given the test, the test is purposefully geared towards handicapped children or children with mild to moderate learning difficulties. The instrument also can be used in the identification of social behaviour strengths, school or home-based behavioural interventions. Benefits or Usefulness The instrument is much useful in providing much comprehensive image or picture of children social behaviours. Another benefit accrued from SSIS is that, the three rating forms that are applied in the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales, offers much flexibility to the system. On the other hand, the instrument helps these using it like teachers and counselling professionals to plan for the appropriate intervention very quickly. Generally, the social skills rating systems allows individuals to get a more complete picture of social behaviours from educators, guardians and parents, and even students themselves. It helps in the evaluation of broad range of socially validated behaviours that affects teacher-student relations, academic performance, and peer acceptance among others. Challenges This instrument faces the challenge of sample standardization and mixed reliability levels across the forms. Another challenge is that, the instrument does not provide both appropriate and inappropriate social skills, so its users particularly focuses on the negative aspects of the behaviours of children other than taking into account also the positive aspects. Though there is existence of studies along with the information on the Social Skill Rating System, on the other hand, the instrument faces a challenge of having done less on the current SSIS; as a result, the current SSIS has little information. Another challenge faced by this system is that, the costs that are involved during SSIS are too high compared to other surveys. It also requires the knowledge of compiling data as well as coming up with reports is also required; this is based on the fact that, in the software package, it is not included, in conjunction with this challenge, only professionals trained in the psychology testing are in a position of interpreting the outcome, though it can be administered by any personel.. This instrument also faces the problem of standardization sample, as well as mixed reliability levels across all forms, (Malecki Demaray, 2002). How Results Would Be Used These tests are best used within the context of four-phase problem solving processes. By this model, it is not easy for one to ignore the main purpose of the assignment, and that no matter the specific aim for waiting to assess SEL competencies, one tent to concentrate on his/her own assessment information in a manner that helps one the most significant questions. The main function of the of the first phase which is termed as identification and clarification is to answer some basic questions that leads to the articulation clearly on the reasons that lead to the assessment undertaking in the first place. Din most cases, ones students are the main focus of the assessment; however the objectives of pursing the assessment might be far much complicated. In the data collection stage which is grades as phase 2, the counsellor collects the information needed that is needed during counselling. It is recommended that, the counsellor gives room for the assessment purpose, student character as well as the problem being addressed be the guiding principles to the selection and choice of appropriate procedures and specific tools, as this will provide necessary information. After all these, consider whether some means of information gathering are much significant that others, this is based on the student nature, assessment problem and the situation. Then the counsellor is to align the available tools to fit within the budget, (Heber, 1961). In the third phase which is co9nsidered to being the analysis stage, is where in detail, the data is now analysed. It should be checked if the available data confirms with the assessment problem. There need also to be an identification of specific issues that might be contributing to the problem in question. On top of it all, the councillor needs to determine if more information is needed to solve the problem in hand, a part from the one having. After all these, the counsellor is supposed to analyse any hindrance that might occur during problem solving, and if more information can be found in the existing school records. In case of any further data collection, an individual with the capability of doing that within the shortest time is identified. In the fourth phase identified as solution and evaluation, the target of the intention need to be identified based on the available information. In this stage, the counsellor needs to identify the most appropriate types of interventions or programs in the surroundings. An available resource is a very important factor to consider while carrying out this intervention, so the counsellor has to determine the resources available, which will then control the type of intervention used. As an effect, the type of intervention will determine if data collection ought to be continuous. Last but not least, the counsellor decides on the means of assessment to be used when evaluating the effectiveness of the program or the intervention, (Myers Diener, 1995). Conclusion Social Skill Improvement System is among other assessment system that professionals interested in assessing social-emotional competences of both children and youngsters. The forms of SSIS are just an update of what initially was called social skill rating system. The SSIS ratings forms include cross-informant tools that are being used by teachers, parents, guardians, children as well as these in the adolescent stage. The scales of SSIOS-Rating scales has been used when assessing children with behavioural and interpersonal skills problems, screen for problem behaviours, and identify children encountering social behaviour risk and poor academic performances. The social skills scales are used when measuring positive social behaviours like cooperation and empathy, as well as respect, amongst others. The problem behaviour scale on the other hand, measures behaviours that usually interfere with positive social skills. They can be categorized under; internalizing skills, externalizing skill s, as well as the hyperactivity. Lastly, academic competence skills, on its part offers quick estimate of academic functioning. In future, the SSIS will be intended for children and adolescent. It will be used in the identification of social skills deficit, as well as deficits in school related in to select skills that ought to be targeted during training, as well as the social skills training success evaluation. It also be used to yield the knowledge of student strength s deficiencies. Last but not least, in future, the SSIS will be used in the social behaviour exhibited by youngsters, both children and the adolescence in a classroom setting.

How Off Site Construction Construction Essay

How Off Site Construction Construction Essay This dissertation will discuss the effect of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and particularly the Off-Site Construction (OSC), on the building sector today, and how these methods will contribute to help and resolve social, financial, and environmental difficulties that facing the UK. Off-site construction is an application of modern methods of construction MMC where building sector meets the industrial sector, or by other word, a fusion between building and manufacturing. Off-site construction is where any of building components, or even a whole building, manufactured in factories away from the actual site where the building will be sited, or simply is where the construction site is different from the building site. Off-site construction has different terms, terms like (prefabrication, off-site assembly, factory assembly, pre-assembly, off-site manufacture, etc.). The term off-site construction is generally used nowadays to any part of the construction process that takes place in factories. Off-site construction is not new, in the 20th century specifically in the post wartime, off-site construction (that time the term used probably was factory assembly or prefabrication construction) were needed to replace rapidly buildings which were destroyed or damaged during the war, But due to the lack of technology and modern production techniques, development in lightweights, high-strength materials, and new modern methods of construction that today is available, it gained unfortunately negative significance. The time of the wheelbarrow is finished, announced Jean Prouvà © in 1947, echoing Le Corbusier.We need usinà ©es maisons, homes produced in the factories Since then, a further sixty years have passed: the manufacturing industry has come with story of success of the mechanization, has enhanced electronics and grafting. Today industrial automation and manufactures from shoes to personal computers, and from planes to crackers, all now machine-made, in Seattle as a small village in China. The building construction is still the same. With very few exceptions, the building remains largely an object made by hand with traditional techniques. And the only construction industry still relies to logical and largely pre-industrial processes. With known effects: low productivity, forecast time and cost much more random, exposed to all levels of quality and possibilities and approximations of production conditions are vary widely, backward technologies and unskilled work. Why choose off-site construction now? What is so different from the traditional way of construction? Why is sustainability constantly being brought up? Before I examine these points, I have to mention some important facts that have already occurred. Since the beginning of the century, it is increasingly being talked about and discussed, the world and its climate changing. United Nations ask for action on it. The world met in a summit in Copenhagen to discuss how they can resolve the raising temperature that might cause damages and risks to the global, and how to reduce energy and CO2 emission. Why I mentioned climate change and we are talking about off-site construction? The answer is surprisingly, buildings are responsible for about one third of global energy consumption and if we add the energy used for construction the amount can easily be increased to the half. All of this means that we need to build very efficient houses and in an efficient way, and thats can be achievable only by off-site construction. There is a severe accommodation shortage in the UK. The Government has announced plans for the construction of 200,000 new houses per year, but that target has never achieved yet. Off-site construction can help the accommodation industry to achieve that target where fast delivery is needed. Speedier delivery in construction is one of the potential advantages of off-site construction and research showed that it can reduce the time of construction process to the half because it takes place in a desirable condition away from the unpredictable weather that can affect and delay the process on-site. And research showed that it can reduce the time of construction process to the half because it takes place in a desirable condition away from the unpredictable weather, factory built accommodation. Offsite construction already features in the production of social accommodation.elderly.jpg Skill shortages in the UK construction industry are a severe problem. In 2001 the UK construction industry estimated it needed to train an extra 74,000 skilled workers every year for five years just to make up for the shortages of bricklayers, plumbers and electricians (Verbus System, 2006). In 2009, the chartered institute of building (CIOB) concluded a third research on skill shortages, and the result again showed that the construction industry is still suffering a skills shortage, which is likely to continue to be a challenge for the building sector. Off-site construction can play an important role to resolve this issue. The research showed, compared to more traditional techniques, off-site construction can reduce on-site labour requirements to less than a quarter. This result achieved from some work took place off-site. Off-site work involves different labour that is not under pressure as the on-site workforce. Off-site construction and modern methods of construction (MMC) can therefore make better use of scarce labour. 1.5 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE The dissertation consists of an introduction chapter, three main chapters and conclusion chapter; Chapter two discuss the advantages of off-site construction for the building sector, society, and the environment. The chapter also will discuss the conditions in order to gain the full advantages of off-site construction. Chapter three explain the types and forms of off-site construction, and where off-site construction takes place in the building and in the construction process. Off-site construction takes place in different areas of the building, so how off-site construction will incorporate with the mainstream construction process. Chapter four show and examine some of off-site construction case studies and in which type of building it takes place. CHAPTER TWO: ADVANTAGES OF OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION 2.1 INTRODUCTION Off-site construction, as I mentioned, is part of modern methods of construction (MMC) and is referred to as any of the components of the building built in a high quality controlled factories where they use advanced techniques to manufacture highly specialised doors, windows, stairs, wall panels, frame structure, and complete volumetric pods and then transport them to the location where it will be used and to be assembled on-site. Off-site construction has many advantages that are why nowadays there are more companies and contractors using this method rather than the traditional way of construction, even governments make more pressure to use this method to speed up housing delivery. Modern methods of construction can provide good quality homes with less on-site labour, in a shorter time, with at least the same building performance and at similar cost when compared to more established techniques. Off-site manufacturing and partnering processes increasingly play a part in solving todays problem of moving towards a sustainable housing industry. The advantages of off-site construction can be classified into two types; Business advantages, social environmental advantages Modern construction methods can produce important benefits for housing authorities and developers, not the least of which is the reduced emphasis on on-site activity. This is particularly important in a time of increasing demands on an already stretched labour force. As with any new way of doing things there are risks, but these can be mitigated through good project planning and management (Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, 2005). 2.2 ADVANTAGES Less time in construction process, cost predictability, higher quality,helping the society and the environment, resolving skilled labour shortage, reduce health safety risks,and helping the business the economy. These are key advantages of off-site construction. 2.2.1 Reduced construction time Business advantages give a huge encouragement to the contractors and designers to use more off-site construction components with their design and building processes. The greater speed of manufacturing and on-site assembling is an important factor for business gain. Earlier the delivery of the building means earlier the return of the investment. Modular construction for example, that is an off-site construction, is up to 40-60% quicker than traditional building methods. The predictability of the delivery also is very important for the financial calculation of the business in terms of cost and revenue. The manufacturing process of the components in quality controlled factories is nearly accurately estimated as well as the delivery to the site and the assembly operation. 2.2.2 Cost Predictability Cost-effectiveness is an important factor to show the difference between the off-site construction method and the conventional one. Approximately, around 80% of the construction costs are fixed within the first 20% of the design process. The graph below highlights the potential for cost reduction and alternatively the resistance to the cost of change during the project life. As the project progresses, the opportunities for implementing variation or change reduce and the consequent costs associated with these variations rise substantially, Where off-site production techniques are to be used, these should be introduced early in the process. While off-site construction has tended in the past to be more expensive than brick block, now is being reduced to the same level due to the innovation of more techniques and to the variety of the components, and these bringing even greater economies. 2.2.3 Superior Quality Off-site manufacture for building components significantly improves the quality and the efficiency of the building due to high standard of quality control and test. Buildings exceed requirements on sound and thermal insulation levels, so this means that are more sustainable. 2.2.4 Help the society and the environment Off-site construction has also can help the society and the environment. Millions of affordable homes are required to meet growing demand, and there is increasing pressure to further improve efficiency and sustainability performance during construction and throughout the lifetime of the buildings. Off-site construction is environmentally friendly if it is planned well from the early stages of design and by integrating all the supply chain together. Less energy is generally required to develop the modules or off-site manufactured components. With improved process control ,buildings are pre-engineered each exactly the same and so can be adapted for ease of tiling and this should lead to reduced levels of waste on site of up to 70% and subsequent costs. In addition, with improved control of materials flow, raw materials can be recycled rather than skipped as often happens on site. The advantage of using OSC methods related to the reduction of waste to landfill are that the material usage in the factory is reduced up to 90% by the  careful design and procurement of materials, reducing the  amount of waste generated  both on-site and off-site. Offsite manufacturing was identified as a key potential method for promoting sustainability within the construction industry. Sustainability is increased as sound and thermal insulation are improved. Reduced time on site means less disruption to neighbouring residents or businesses. 2.2.5Reducing reliance on skilled labour While there is a significant shortage of housing in the UK, and the government plans to build more accommodation houses, there is another problem facing to achieve these plans as well the building industry a whole which is the skills shortages bricklayers, plumbers and electricians. Off-site construction helps to build more houses by reducing reliance on increasingly scarce skilled labour by reducing the number of labour where semi-skilled factory labour can be used during the construction of modules. 2.2.6 Improve Health and safety Health and safety issue also give off-site construction an advantage, it has been proven to be a safer method of construction because there are fewer components involved than traditional methods and there is no need for high quantity of labour on-site for the assembly process. 2.2.7 Business integration and economy development Off-site construction helps to integrate the supply chain. When executed effectively, the off-site construction process involves key manufacturers and suppliers early in the feasibility and design stages of the project. This ensures that the specialist skills and knowledge of these key suppliers are embedded within the project and can influence the design and construction phases of the project. Where appropriate these key suppliers should be given ownership of the design and involved fully in the execution of delivery, storage and movements of materials and components. CHAPTER THREE: OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION! WHERE IT TAKES PLACE? 3.1Forms of off-site construction Off-site construction can take a number of forms. The form and extent of acceptance within the projects will depend on:the type of project: Is there a large proportion of duplication or replication? for example; in hotels and hostels, the type of client: Is the client a one-off or repeat client?, and the relationships and the arrangements between the project members. Off-site buildings and components systems range from small bolt-together sections to virtually complete buildings. Systems can be categorised as: Sub-assemblies Frames Panels (open or closed) Volumetric system Hybrids system 3.1.1 Sub-assemblies Sub-assemblies are the most traditional and widely used system in off-site manufacturing which is being used for many generations. Thistype of off-site construction can include elements using different type of materials such as concrete beams, block floors, and foundations. Prefabricated foundation systems can consist of precast, post-tensioned, concrete beams. Prefabricated beam installation in progress on piles. The beams can be omittedand modular structures can be installed to span directly onto piles and pile caps Photograph courtesy of Van Elle An additional examples for sub- assemblies systems are the glass reinforced plastic for chimneys, steel for curtain walling, and timber stairs. 3.1.2 Frames Framed structures, which are pre-assembled in factories, supply the structural support to buildings and are not something new feature in construction. Lightweight pre-assembled frames which can be delivered promptly to the site, speeding up the construction times for the main structural elements. The benefit of pre-assembled framed structures, that can help of reducing site cutting and the inaccuracies that can arise from it.Untitled-1.jpg Insulated steel frame building system Photograph courtesy of Fusion An example of framed structure is the steel frame module. Steel works in off-site construction are taking the most important part of the factory controlled construction due to the characteristics of the steel itself that can be shaped and moulded in any form; the result is light strong steel modules structures. The UK construction market is one of the most steel intensive in the world, with steel proving to be the material of choice for UK architects and structural engineers in the multi-storey building market. The 2007 Market Shares Survey figures show steel construction consistently takes in excess of 70 per cent over double the market share compared to when the survey was first carried out in the early 1980s.(Housebuilder Developer. 2008). The Steel Construction Institute has carried out a study of different construction projects using various levels of off-site steel construction technologies in busy urban sites. The goal of the study was to recognize the benefits of off-site construction relating to the reduction of the disruption caused to local residents by the construction operations. The study also aimed to quantify these benefits in terms of the reduction in dust, noise, vehicle circulation and the impact of site-generated waste on the environment. 3.1.3 Panels Panels are two dimensional frame that consist both the structural and the infill element, are sealed together on site. Example of panels are pre-assembled floor, wall, and roof panels. Using the right sealants are very important to gain the benefit of off-site manufactured panels in order to stand up the frames rapidly. The simplest form of off-site manufactured panel system is lightweight infill panels that are fixed to the structural frame, where the most complex form are the prefabricated sandwich panels which consist of both, the structural element, internal and external finishes. 3.1.4 Volumetric System Volumetric system is the frame and panel systems, and when the building is assembled and built from a series of volumetric steel or timber modules, connected together to form a room or groups of rooms to form complete structure. Modular construction is also a term used to refer the volumetric assemblies. While the foundations are being prepared under factory conditions, the modules are manufactured and finished (or partially finished) off-site, under factory conditions, then transported to the building site and assembled and connected to the foundations, then added the exterior cladding and the roof. Modular construction is more sustainable than traditional techniques because of the minimum foundations that required and because it is built under factory conditions, the modules are in better quality and defects are minimized. Modular construction uses the same techniques from the industrial sector but the result does not look like mass production product. Sophisticated modules and panels can be produced and can be easily customised by the clients requirements, and with new advanced techniques finishes: cladding and roofing, give the building its natural skin that suites the surrounding. 3.1.5 Hybrids System Plant rooms Plant room is a room or space in a building dedicated to the mechanical and electrical equipments and then they need an intensive labour. If plant rooms built off-site where there is cheaper labour, this can be more economically. Other advantage of plant rooms built in factory is if a project in time difficulties, always the installation of the services is squeezed, so using modular plant rooms certainly will help to avoid this problem. Using system-engineering principles, the resulting prototype has been developed principally for use in the construction of two and seven storey residential developments. It is a hybrid of frame and infill panels, the prototype enables construction in stick form, panels or 3D volumetric units, and works on the principle of a frame and infill system. The mainframe is hot-rolled steel and typically uses regular or square hollow sections with a width of 100mm for both columns and beams to provide a standard interface that can be in filled with floor and non-load bearing wall panels to complete the building. The prototype is based on currently available main components, which can be connected in a variety of ways to suit the individual project to allow flexibility in the level of work carried out off-site. Connections include innovative bolt connections to allow complete demountability, location systems and welded connections, all of which can be used in isolation or as part of a combined system. Bathrooms Pods Bathroom construction process can use Off-site construction technology, which in compare to the traditional way, would normally be carried out on-site. If we remove the construction process of the bathrooms to a controlled factory environment, bathrooms will become more ecological, functional, and with lower building costs. Bathrooms that we call them smart will also become more common with highly environmentally toilets and showers systems and with more advanced technology like tapes with sensors. The quality of bathrooms pods is far superior to the traditional on-site construction, more stylish, with high quality materials, and better for the environment in terms of a lower carbon footprint, lower levels of waste and reduced transportation of components. Bathroom pods are a very economically solution when it integrate with the whole construction process in large quantities such as; student accommodations, hotels, hostels, hospitals, and prisons.3.jpg Walker Modular CHAPTER FOUR: CASE STUDIES 4.1 British Land Ropemaker site, London Ropemaker is a commercial building for British Land, one of the UKs largest Real Estate Investment Trust. It is built in an eminent site in London. The 21 storey and three basement levels has 55,000 square metres net lettable space. The high profile building has impressive green certifications achievement including a BREEAM excellent rating. The development has been realised using off-site construction technologies in a large number of parts in the building. This study aimed to evaluate two products manufactured off-site; a modular walling system Podwall from Swift Horseman, and Technik flooring system supplied by Grants LTD. The research aimed to compare in deep analysis off-site construction techniques products to the traditional way of construction in terms of; waste on-site and off-site, resources needed on site, efficiency and productivity, cost, environmental impact analysis and end of life assessment, health and safety, and installation time. Features of the Podwall system (Swift Horsman. 2010) A flexible modular walling system incorporating finishes and services. All elements manufactured off site in a controlled environment. Innovative fit out solution providing high quality female, male, and disabled toilet units throughout the development. PODWALL research results Performance breakdown (man hours on site) Podwall saved approximately 40% to programme. Each floor at Ropemaker had an 11 week programme to install the Podwall (3 blocks per floor one ladies, one gentlemen and one disabled toilet), which would be equivalent to 15 ½ weeks for traditional fit out. Podwall waste Because the Podwall is manufactured off-site the waste on site is reduced. The largest proportion of waste generated is in the packaging, which ensures the product is protected between factory and site. Across the Ropemaker site a total of approximately 213m3 of waste was produced for all Podwall washrooms. Given the low levels of waste observed during the monitoring of the Podwall, traditional waste would considerably exceed the Podwall waste volumes. The percentage of materials recycled from Ropemaker frequently exceeds 85%. At Ropemaker the Podwall washroom package has a value of approximately  £6m, with 54 toilet blocks being delivered across 1969m2 The main differences in cost between the Podwall and the traditional system are in services installation and cubicles. This is because services are integrated off site into the walls and cubicles for the Podwall which explains the greater cost of these elements, whereas with traditional build the cost of installing services on site is higher. The traditional costs do not account for indirect costs such as the increased cost of waste and removal thereof and the increased programme time to install the traditional product. 4.2 Case Study: Bewdley High School and Sixth Form, Worcestershire This case study involves a school and sixth form building based in Bewdley, Worcestershire. A new building which can meet the needs and expectations of this school is to be proposed, designed and implemented. The requirements are said to be a building which offers flexibility for the school and its occupiers as well as being a low-energy solution. The changing needs of the school means space needs to be provided to accommodate the new influx of around 360 pupils. Yorkon manufacturers, who are based in the city of York, have created a two-storey high building at their off-site location. Due to the nature of the build taking place away at York as an off-site project, the building only took a mere 22 weeks to put together compared to an on-site project which would take longer. This new building has become a project now boasting a title as not only one of the most sustainable modular buildings within the UK, but offers heating via biomass fuel and holds a complex passive and low energy ventilation system. The building comprises of 60 steel-framed modules and has clear internal spans measuring up to 12m for space planning flexibility within. The parts were brought in using cranes and windows and partitions were put into place. The effectiveness of pre-installing the windows and partitions off-site show the efficiency and speed of this new phenomenon. It is a desired and sought after concept to still incorporate off-site construction into the regular and more traditional building techniques. The fact the building has integrated off-site technology into its production whilst still being themed around a conventional and traditional design for a drama and dance studio, ultimately shows the two somewhat diverse approaches to construction working in harmony together. The building comprises a 12 classroom facility which may accommodate the schools Modern Languages, Humanities as well as English Departments. Furthermore, a designated creative-area is also catered for within the design concept as well as an area for an administrative centre. Its design features boast central-heating fuelled by biomass fuel thus being environmentally friendly by minimising harmful carbon emissions. Not only this, but the new building can offer all timber cladding from sources that are confirmed sustainable, a highly-glazed activity studio offering a plentiful amount of natural light and an appealing bespoke roof structure thats pleasing to the eye. Looking further into the buildings design concept in offering a complex passive ventilation system, we can see that the clever idea of well-ventilated rooms provide a more comforting area for study and teaching. This additional air-flow is thus providing better concentration and performance for all those working within the new building. This is achieved through something recognised as passive air-stacking. The sensors installed are there to monitor levels of both carbon dioxide as well as temperature. This enables fresher air to be drawn in accordingly when detected as too low. This is fed diagonally over radiators which prevent the possibility of unwelcome cold draughts. Any stale air from the room is passed out from the room via high capacity discharge terminals found on the roof. This ultimately creates a continuous regulation of new air flow replacing older air providing optimum air composition levels in each room. Professionals working at Yorkon have expressed their views in using off-site construction in this project amongst others. They voiced that the main decision to go for off-site production was speed in completing the project which was highly important in making sure the facility would be ready on time for the new quantity of pupils to be joining the school. Furthermore, Yorkon is keen to be recognised as a reputable name in supplying superior quality along with an eye for sophisticated and precise detail in the designs and bringing revolutionary new techniques to building which can change attitudes towards regular modular construction. This is all despite any challenging timescale. Yorkonis adamant their team has provided the required building which can boast quality, bespoke elements and flexibility along with highly favoured low energy, environmentally friendly and speedy results. (The new building has provided us with spacious accommodation and room sizes that are appropriate for our learning and teaching needs. It is visually pleasing from the outside and fits in well with the locality. Our students have been impressed with the design of the building and it has helped to develop a strong sense of pride in our school and working environment. The modular approach is a very good method of construction for schools as it limits the disruption to learning because of the speed of assembly. The building will be easy to expand and the design is sufficiently flexible to meet the changing needs of our students and curriculum development.-Julie Reilly, Head Teacher and Sixth Form centre.) 4.3 Case Study-Emergency Assessment Unit, University Hospital of North Tees. In this case study we are looking at the new revolutionary building which was designed to fulfil the needs of Interserve Project Services/North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The building will be located at the University Hospital of North Tees. The purpose-designed and built Emergency Assessment Unit has been required in order to reduce waiting times for much demanded emergency treatment. This is something the Government has planned as to drive down waiting times for patients. The amount of beds are needed to be increased at the Stockton site as well as the site needing to be able to provide a service to those needing emergency surgical care, based centrally on location rather than some distance away. The unit has promised to feature up-to-date emergency care and include specialist staff who can deal quickly and efficiently with a high number of patients thus increasing patient turnover. The solution to these needs was met through a  £2.8m Procure 21 project which was awarded to Yorkon manufacturers, based in York, by Interserve Project Services. Off-site construction and the installing of a 42-bed Emergency Assessment Unit was the aim for the new building as its production. The building included 42 steel-framed modules manufactured off-site at York and installed on-site in as little as a few days. Disruption was therefore limited and patients could rest unaware of any commotion. The 1,710m square single storey extension to the pre-existing department was astonishingly and impressively erected in just over six months from beginning to end. The building also can boast a full range of modern well-equipped facilities for any acute medical emergencies. Features are listed as including four-bed wards, single en-suite bedrooms, an isolation ward, high-dependency beds, consulting rooms, ward managers office, waiting area, Quiet room, staff changing facilities and rest room and also an interview room. Incorporated into the design were roof lights to increase any natural light in the centre of the unit and furthermore holds latest technology equipment. The installation of workstations are readily available and can be used at a patients bedside. This building proudly boasts to be one of the first units in the country to offer an electronic information board too. Looking to the comments of professionals working within the construction of this new high-tech building, we can see the positive influence of off-site technology in providing rapid, quality solutions to much needy clients

drugs in sports :: essays research papers fc

From the beginning of time sports have been around. It is the competition that everyone loves. The feeling of winning makes many people do anything to achieve it. Even if this means one must cheat to win. Cheating is monitored in professional sports by the use of referees or umpires. With the discovery of many â€Å"nutritional† supplements, many new forms of cheating have arisen that cannot be monitored on the field. Many players used and still use steroids to enhance their muscles so they are stronger during game play. Many random drug tests have been instituted to cut the number of people using steroids down. There are many other supplements that basically do the same thing as steroids that these players use. More and more are becoming illegal in professional sports. And people still use them. Illegal drugs to enhance one’s performance are illegal, therefore when people use them they are cheating. They have created an unfair advantage for themselves illegally. These people using these drugs should be banned from their sport. Professional sports players get paid to play a sport. What more could they want? It is every kids dream. It they cannot play with out cheating they should not have the privilidge of playing at all. There have been many cases in professional sports where athletes have been caught for using illegal drugs that enhance their performance. Often players even use illegal drugs that have no benefit on their performance. These drugs are illegal to everyone, but it seems that when professional athletes get caught using them they don’t get as harsh of a punishment as an average person because of their fame. Steve Howe received seven lifetime suspensions from Major League Baseball. For some reason that does not appear to be possible. If an average person was caught doing so they would be in jail. It is disappointing to see professional athletes receive special treatment because of their fame. They have a good profession; why would they risk it by using drugs?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Essay -- Medica

After her death in 1951, for six decades, Henrietta Lacks did not exist in the eyes of the society, but her cells did. How? Well, the answer is quite simple. HeLa Cells are the first immortal human cells. These cells never die and multiply every twenty-four hours. After spending 10 years to perfect her first book, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot essentially captured the life, the death, and aftermath of Henrietta Lacks’ life. With controversial issues regarding science, ethics, race, and class Skloot takes us on an extraordinary journey. From the â€Å"colored† ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s to stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells, from Henrietta’s small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia to East Baltimore, where her children and grandchildren live and struggle with the legacy of her cells, Skloot remarkably shows the story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experi mentation on African Americans along with the issue of bioethics, and legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. The most intriguing aspect of this story is how is it that HeLa cells were used to develop the polio vaccine, uncover secrets of cancer, viruses’, and the effects of the atomic bomb, and help lead to important advancements for vitro fertilization, cloning, and genes mapping, yet, her five children are not even covered by medical insurance. Can’t the family sue for a profit? This question has been asked multiple times and in various forms, but the answer remains controversial. As Skloot addresses in her book, many lawyers point out that the family â€Å"cannot sue over the cells being taken†¦[but] they could attempt to stop HeLa research through a law... ... May 2010. Moreno, Jonathan D. "Lessons Learned A Half-Century of Experimenting on Humans." The Humanist Sept. 1999: 9. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010. "Nazi Neighbour; Nathan Gasch Moved to the US to Escape His Holocaust Memories but Six Decades on He Discovered the Man Next Door Was an SS Guard. at the Camp Where He Had Been a Prisoner." The Mirror (London, England) 6 Oct. 2007: 31. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010. "S. Fla. Hospital Called 'Most Dangerous' - Health News Story - WPLG Miami." Just News | Miami News, Fort Lauderdale News, Florida News, Weather | WPLG Local 10. Local 10 News, 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 27 May 2010. . Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown, 2010. Print. Williams, Patricia J. "State of Denial." The Nation 13 Oct. 2003: 10. Questia. Web. 31 May 2010.

Campus Security †Research paper Essay

Campus security is an ever-growing concern throughout the United States. Parents want their children to be safe while continuing their education away from home and students want to feel and be safe while living on campus. The University of Maryland at College Park has had a constant battle with campus security as incidences have increased on and around campus. The University of Maryland is located between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, a â€Å"hotspot†, concentrated with high levels of criminal activity. In 2002 there were 17 sex offenses, 9 robberies, 12 aggravated assaults, 140 burglaries, 86 motor vehicle thefts, 136 drug related arrests, and 9 illegal weapons possession arrests on Maryland’s campus (UMD Crime Statistics). These statistics represent only on campus incidents and have varied tremendously over the past three years. Statistics would be much higher if they included areas around campus. Variations over the years can be attributed to increase in police presence, as well as many security precautions implemented over the past years. Universities have taken many precautions to battle crime on and around campus. â€Å"One of the newest techno-trends on American college and university campuses is tipping campus police to illicit activity by filling out online forms posted on the department’s World Wide Web page† (Campus Crimes†¦). Colleges such as Duke University, the University of Georgia, and MIT have already implemented such programs and have been very successful (Campus Crimes†¦). Narcotics activity and burglaries have seen significant reductions. Students and criminals participating in illicit activities now have to be fearful of other peers who may â€Å"rat† on them. There are, however, downsides to such tactics. False accusations could become a problem. So far, of the 100 universities already using such technology â€Å"90 percent of the information received over the university’s campus police Web site has been ‘significant'† (Campus Crimes†¦). In efforts to reduce students walking alone at night, many universities have implemented night ride programs (Safety and Security). These are curb-to-curb security services, where a campus shuttle bus transports students from one location to another. The University of Maryland offers such a service called N.I.T.E. Ride. N.I.T.E. Ride runs from 5:30pm to 7:30am during fall and spring semesters (Safety and Security). This program combined with the universities safety escort services provides students with opportunities to avoid harmful situations (Safety and Security). However, although many schools offer such programs, they do not allow enough funding to fully equip such safety programs. Many students are unable to get through to the operator, thus end up walking home alone. More shuttles and operators are needed during peek hours, such as weekends and Thursdays. The N.I.T.E. Ride program is an effective means to avoid harmful situations when the program is fully funded. Otherwise, students tend to walk home alone and put themselves in harms way. The University of Maryland also offers an excellent bus system. Students, instead of walking alone at night, can seek the safety of the bus (Policies, Programs, Services). The University of Maryland’s Circuit and Courtyard Express provide safe and dependable rides to various key locations on campus. Not only are students protected from crime, but also are encouraged to ride the bus instead of driving home under the influence. The bus system has dramatically decreased rapes and robberies. Having an alternative ride home also lowers student’s fear of crime by lowering at risk situations. Maryland has also placed blue light emergency phones around campus (Safety and Security). â€Å"Emergency phones provide a direct line to the police throughout the campus both inside and outside many academic buildings and residence halls. These phones are either yellow or encased within a blue cylindrical column and are marked Emergency. Frequently they have blue lights overhead making their locations easier to find. Individuals may contact campus police directly and without charge by activating the phone. This notifies an emergency dispatcher, via a computer, of the caller’s exact location† (Policies, Programs, Services). These phones are used to deter potential victimizations as well as provide a means for communication in  case of an emergency (Safety and Security). The emergency phones may not lower crime rates, but they do lower student’s fear of crime. The installation of video surveillance is another means to combat crime on campus. Throughout the nation universities have been installing cameras to record and monitor specific areas. The University of Maryland initiated this effort in 1996 by installing dozens of cameras in parking lots, garages, high traffic pedestrian areas, isolated areas, and by ATM machines (Schultz). Although the effects of video surveillance to reduce crime have not been established, fear of crime by students has dropped. Cameras are very effective in aiding police dispatchers about crime scenes but rarely catch crimes in action (Schultz). Some students feel that funds would be better spent on police surveillance (Schultz). These students believe criminals will just wear masks or commit crimes where there are no cameras (Schultz). Video surveillance can also be used to aid in criminal investigations. By placing cameras at the entrances and exits to campuses and buildings, police can record license plates as well as faces later used for identification. Although video surveillance may be a useful tool for law enforcement, it is still extremely controversial. Many students feel that surveillance is an infringement on privacy. It can be scary that â€Å"big brother† knows when and where you are at all times. Universities around the globe have offered several programs to students in order to educate and prevent students from placing themselves in at-risk situations. The University of Maryland offers many programs to prevent victimization. One huge program sweeping the nation is Rape Aggression Defense (RAD). RAD is the â€Å"fastest growing and largest women’s self-defense program in the country. This program has structured, consistent curriculum, of easy-to-teach, easy-to-learn techniques that have realistic and practical application† (Policies, Programs, Services). The University also provides personal security presentations as well as sexual assault awareness programs. Services to victims are offered through campus as well as Prince George’s Hospital. The Victim Advocate is a service that â€Å"provides support and referral to victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and partner violence† (Policies, Programs, Services). Prince George’s Hospital  will treat victims of sexual assault and rape as well as provide information, counseling, and companionship (Policies, Programs, Services). There is always a trained nurse on hand that is capable of collecting evidence for future prosecutions (Policies, Programs, Services). Students also should be aware of date rape drugs (Fitzgerald). Never leave glasses unattended and always attend parties in groups (Fitzgerald). Policing is always a vital part to campus safety. The University police provide numerous services to students. Emergency responses to crimes are quickly answered and acted upon (Policies, Programs, Services). Officers provide foot patrol, as well as patrol with marked and unmarked police cars, motorcycles, and bicycles (Policies, Programs, Services). The campus police also relay crime data to the state, FBI, as well as other police agencies (Policies, Programs, Services). Relaying information is an important tool in compiling information to develop the UCR and other crime fighting statistics. The University also has a Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) that â€Å"is responsible for criminal investigations, criminal intelligence, crime analysis, and victim/witness assistance coordination† (Policies, Programs, Services). Over 100 student police aids help campus police in providing a safe environment (Policies, Programs, Services). â€Å"Student Police Aids are non-sworn, unarmed student employees who work part-time for the department. They are provided training and equipment, and act as additional eyes and ears for campus police† (Policies, Programs, Services). Student police Aids are responsible for special event security as well as security around campus (Policies, Programs, Services). These aids have designated foot and bicycle patrols in parking garages and various high-risk areas around campus (Policies, Programs, Services). Aids are also stationed at entrances and exits of campus during late hours. As cars drive onto campus, students record and question inc-coming visitors. These actions deter criminals as well as car thieves. Their license plate numbers are written down and they must have a legitimate destination or student identification in order to gain access to the campus. Awareness is possibly the best solution to crime prevention. â€Å"In 1990, Congress passed the Campus and Securities Act† (Safety by the Numbers). This act requires that any university receiving federal funding to â€Å"disclose campus crime statistics and provide students with information about the schools safety policies† (Safety by the Numbers). By disclosing information, students and parents become aware of any possible crime problem. Students, consequently, can take preventive measures to ensure their safety. Potential students might also elect to go to schools with safer campuses. This places additional pressure on federally funded universities to tighten their campus security. Universities that acquire a reputation as being unsafe often lose student enrollment. â€Å"The 1998 amendments to the Campus Security Act added more categories of crime statistics that schools must disclose. Arson and manslaughter have been added to the list of offenses, which already included murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor-vehicle theft† (Safety by the Numbers). Schools, however, are not currently required to disclose crimes that occur near campus. Often, statistics are distorted and under-represent true crime (Safety by the Numbers). The key to protection in your dorm room and in an off-campus housing is vigilantism. Always be aware of your surroundings and lock your door at night. Most campuses have installed swipe cards at all entrances, hallways, doorways, and elevators to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the building. These swipe cards provide much needed security. In order to gain access someone must let you into the building. â€Å"Additionally, doors with card readers are also equipped with prop monitors that cause a horn to sound in the event a door is propped open or not securely closed and latched† (Policies, Programs, Services). Having RA’s on duty in lobbies of all buildings deters suspicious and unwanted visitors. These RAs can report any shady activity as well as provide emergency assistance. There are numerous ways universities and colleges can combat crime and upgrade campus security. Through online tipping, night ride programs, adequate bus systems, emergency phones, video surveillance, prevention, rape, and victimization programs, policing, awareness, and swipe cards  schools can provide increased campus security.