Project Management Recommendation Paper Essay

According to Jacobs and Chase (2011), there are five different phases in which the Palomino will need to deliver: Project Conception and initiation: This project maintains medium amounts of risk for risk but this new line of products makes enhancements on past technologies helping reduce the thought of risk. Project Definition and Planning: Sticking to the produced production plan already in place and maintaining costs according to priorities and timelines in association to existing technology is critical. Project Launch or Execution: The project manager will be responsible for the above conceptions, initiations, and planning. Project performance and control: The above named â€Å"Project Manager† will be responsible for timely execution and lunch of product in 9 month production window through effective management techniques and leadership abilities. Project Close: At the completion of project and consumers are providing positive feedback on Palomino impact on their lives, a recap will be provided. This feedback will include notes on production process obstacles, success stories, and personal  feedback allowing for future organizational growth in innovation and creation. Through the table included below a break down on the costs associated with each project allow for you to see the project recommendation in quantitative figures. Risk Critical Path Cost Cost Per/Mo ROI Return Per/Mo Total Profit/ Per Month Juniper Low 6 Mos $325,000 $54,166.67 $250,000 2-3 yrs $20,833.33 (15.6 mos to B/E) $424,999.93 (20.4 mos @$20.833.33 Palomino Med 9 Mos $655,000 $72,777.78 $450,000 5 years $37,500 (17.46 mos to B/E) $1,595,250 (42.54 Mos @$37,000 Stargazer High ($450,000) +$125,000 =$535,000 $300K $550K $750K (5yrs) Tot:7 yrs The verdict on the Palomino project still gives Piper Industries Corporation some positive traction in developing a new line of widgets that have been formed off of existing technology. While the idea of continuing to spend on the new product line, Stargazer widgets comes with great reward, it is not without great risk. While sales and marketing teams have already had minor dialog with a few of your strategic customers, there are still far too many questions. Therefore proceed with the Palomino project and enjoy the deliverables projected including the growth of you widget line as well as the projected ROI of 5 years bringing great profitability over the 7 year projected life cycle. With the delivery of the Palomino project, Piper’s ability to move forward in developing new advancements on existing technology will give you greater insight into how further the Stargazer project further down the line. References: Jacobs, F.R., & Chase, R. (2011). Operations and Supply Chain Management (13th ed.). Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetid=1733965c-5941-4741- b1b3-2a6518a9897d&assetmetaid=564ca34f-cdef-4bba-9c2d-026be3a2b17f.

Hitler’s Foreign Policy

History – Hitler’s Foreign Policy The Revival of Germany January 1933 – Hitler becomes Chancellor Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims 1. Destroy Treaty of Versailles (Versailles had limited Germany’s armed forces, taken away her colonies, forced Germany to give land to her neighbours which meant there were Germans under foreign rule) and impose German control in Europe. This involved rearmament & the destruction of French alliance system. 2. Union of German-Speaking people > Hitler was an Austrian, he longed for Union 3. Getting â€Å"living Space† from â€Å"sub-human† Slavs USSR (according to Mein Kampf Hitler’s real enemy not the West) & Poland. He argued Germans were the master race who needed living space as Germany was overcrowded and lacked food and raw materials. APPEASEMENT Appeasement was the policy followed by the British and later by the French. Aim: avoiding war with aggressive powers such as Japan, Italy and Germany giving way to their demands provided these were not to unreasonable. Reasons: Political divisions in France: hard to take a strong stand & refused to go to war without British support as the French were ultra-cautious Fear of modern war: fear of the bomber (particularly after Guernica) â€Å"The Bomber will always get through† & terror of poison gas> heavy losses Treaty of Versailles: unfair > sympathetic > revise clauses >Anglo-German friendship > Germany would have no need to be aggressive. Fear of communism: threat greater than Hitler> Germany guarantee against communist expansion Need for a strong Germany: Economic co-operation between Britain and Germany would help recover Germany’s economy > decrease of violence in Germany Public Opinion: Government was supported by pacifist opinion. British economic crisis: couldn’t afford expenses for rearmament. Britain’s military shortcomings > economic crisis, Britain had not rearmed. From 1936-39 Britain rearmed to negotiate from a position of strength U. S. isolationism > no support Examples Rearmament -1933 Anglo-German naval plan – 1935 Hoare-laval 1935 Re-occupation of the Rhineland – 1936 Anschluss – 1938 Munich conference – 1938 Czechoslovakia – 1938 Results: Did not work > encouraged Hitler Allowed him to destroy Versailles Made Germany strong Disarmament Conference 1933 The League called for a conference to persuade its members to disarm. Hitler wanted to appear morally justified before starting to rearm. Complaining Germany was the only power to have disarmed, he suggested a general formula to be reached. When the others refused he withdrew Germany from the Conference & from the League, then started building up Germany’s munitions industries. Re-armament To fulfill his aims, which he could only achieve by conquering the land he wanted, he had to re-build Germany’s armed forces by defying Versailles. This was a popular policy as itappealed to: nationalist > angry at limitations imposed by the treaty workers > full employment industrialists > big profits Gamble:Germany’s armed forces were still weak Reactions: Britain:no intervention Britain didn’t want to get involve in European affairs > internal problems Britain didn’t want to spent money on rearmament > Great Depression France: no intervention put up â€Å"Mignot Line†: a series of heavily armed forts along the border with Germany. Italy: ready to take action †¢ 1934, Austrian Nazis tried to overthrow the Austrian government by killing the chancellor. To prevent Hitler from taking control of Austria, Mussolini placed army units in the border with Austria. Non-agression Pact 1934 Germany & Poland agreed to sign a ten year non-aggression pact, which was later broken by Germany in 1939. Germany: needed to buy time to build up armed forces. She had to appear reasonable, until she could dictate from a position of strength. The pact also weakened the entete. This was simply regarded as a temporary measure. Poland:lack of confidence in France (French turned down a suggestion of a preventive war) fear of losing the Polish corridor. Austria 1934 Aim: Union of Anschluss Actions: Austrian Chancellor (Mussolini’s protege) was shot dead by Austrian Nazis who occupied the radio station > Austrian government stops coup. Reaction: Mussolini moves forces to Austrian frontier. Result: Hitler was still weak so he denied German interest in conspiracy. Soviet Union enters the League 1934 The French Foreign Secretary managed to secure the Soviet Union’s entry to the League. This was another setback for Hitler. The Saar plebiscite 1935 End of French 15 year administration of Saar (coalfields, factories, railway centre) Plebiscite held > Saarland returned to Germany (inhabitants-German) Hitler regarded this as a victory against Versailles Introduction of Conscription 1935 After 2 years of secretly re-arming Hitler announced there would be compulsory military service for all men. By 1938 Germany’s armed forces were as good as France’s. Hitler justified himself arguing he was responding to the French increase in military service and British increase in airforce. Stresa Front 1935 Great powers took no military action. At Sresa Prime ministers of France, Britain & Italy joined to confirm Locarno. The League censured German rearmament. In May France & Russia signed pact for mutual assistance. Russia & Czechoslovakia signed another pact where it was understood that Soviet aid would follow French initiative. The Stresa Front was undermined by the Anglo-German naval treaty and the Abyssinian affair. Anglo-German naval plan 1935 British aim: limit German navy, the British argued that Hitler would rearm anyway and that a limit was better than no limit at all. Agreement: German limited to 35% of the tonnage of British fleet & 100% submarines. Results: o British approval of Germany’s right to rearm (disapproval of Versailles) > France and Italy were angered o Stresa front broken Reoccupation of Rhineland 1936 While the League was busy dealing with the Ethiopian affair, German troops reoccupied Rhineland defying Locarno treaties & treaty of Versailles Hitler tried to reassure France & Belgium with offers to sign peace pacts Gamble: German army was still weak > Enemies could have easily defeated them Generals were nervous & ready to withdraw at first sign of trouble Humiliating for Hitler and generals > coup d’etat Reaction: Britain & France distracted by Ethiopia Britain: sympathetic (believed Germans were only moving back to their own back garden > appeasement, they were impressed by Hitler’s 25-year peace offer. France: Didn’t mobilise. France wasn’t willing to take action without British support. France was divided, there had been riots. The French as the British were ready to see how Hitler would behave in the future. Results: Hitler was encouraged to take further gambles > he underestimated allies Hitler was popular > almost impossible to move against him Secure strategic position in any future war against France> Germany started building â€Å"Siegfried line† Possibility to attack weak countries > Poland Austria 1938 According to Mein Kampf the absorption of Austria was the Hitler’s first territorial revision of Versailles. Hitler was an Austrian and longed for this union. Hitler expected the Austrian Nazis to undermine the state and then call in the Germans. The Democracy had already ended and a type of clergical dictatorship had been established. Shuschnigg’s attempts: To maintain Austrian independence, Schuschnigg relied on Mussolini. He had attempted to placate the Germans with a pact in 1936. Austria announced her German character. Representatives of the national opposition entered the government and Nazis were released in exchange for no more conspiracies or illegal propaganda. When Schuschnigg discovered plans for an Austrian-Nazi coup d’etat he asked Von Papen to arrange a meeting with Hitler. Hitler’s demands – The meeting In February 1938 Hitler met Schuschnigg for a discussion about the relationship between their countries. After threatening Schuschnigg for several hours Hitler handed him a list of ten demands: Austrian Nazis should be reinstalled A leading Nazi Seyss-Inquart was to be made minister of the interior – key position that gave him control over the police Close economic and military relations were to be established Schuschnigg’s attempts to maintain peace: To prevent a Nazi take-over he organised a vote on the question of union with Germany Failure on winning international sympathy Britain: refused to give any conforting advice France : did not call up any reserves > lack of British support Italy: Mussolini was aware of where power laid, when he learned that Tyrolese would continue under Italian rule he decided not to intervene. He was not interested in Austria, Hitler promised to help Mussolini in any circumstances. Hitler’s reaction: He demanded the vote to be postponed & Schuschnigg to resign or the German army was to invade Austria. Schuschnigg resigned along with all government ministers except Seyss Seyss-Inquart became chancellor & invited the German army to occupy Austria Austrian Nazi opponents were arrested and the jews were deprived of civil rights A plebiscite was held & there was an official â€Å"yes† vote in facour of the Anschluss. Results: 1. Hitler took first step to create a big Germany 2. Germany was strengthened by the incorporation of Austria. Population: 7 million. Resources: iron, steel, magnetite. 3. Strategic benefits: Czechoslovakia >weaker, surrounded by German territory. Open door into the Balkans 4. Hitler’s Popularity increased. Opposition became more difficult 5. Relationships with Italy improved > Mussolini sided Germany 6. Jews were deprived of civil rights 7. France & Britain: delivered protest to German government > no arm Czechoslovakia 1938 Minorities in Czechoslovakia due to: Populations throughout Europe were mixed Sutelenland > montanious district which provided a strong frontier against Germany. Czech Crisis The 1930’s depression & rise to power of Nazis encouraged a German people’s army led by Henlein to demand for the Sudetenland to be transferred to Germany The Czechs mobilised part of their forces and the Russians told the French they would respect their 1935 agreement to protect Czechoslovakia. Hitler and the sudetenland Hitler instructed his generals to prepare for an invasion by 1st October Risks: Czechoslovakia was well-equipped for a war (large army,large air forceand industry. 2 Powerful allies: o France:unwilling to fight germany,the army wasn’t ready o USSR:great political problems + war with Japan Britain & France: asked Hitler to be reasonable, however encouraged president Benes to accept Henlein’s 8 points. He accepted. Chamberlain’s Aeroplane Diplomacy Chamberlain followed the policy of Appeasement when the Czech crisis began. When the Czech crisis deepened, Chamberlain was encouraged to fly to Germany and speak with Hitler personally. Berchtesgarten At Berchtesgarten when Hitler demanded the cession of the Sudetenland Chamberlain agreed to hand over areas of the Sudetenland with over 50% of German population. Then Chamberlain persuaded the Czechs and the French to agree. Godesburg Chamberlain flew to Germany and found Hitler wanted all of the Sudetenland and the Czechs to give land to Poland and Hungary. The British cabinet: refused to accept France called up reserves Czechoslovakia: had already ordered mobilisation Countries prepared for war The Munich Conference 1938 Reasons: Chamberlain didn’t like the prospect of war > unlikely to win support of empire + commonwealth He thought it was better to fight for a clearer cause and not a country which was so far away that most British had not hear of Britain’s air defences were still weak > Germany was producing a new aircraft Me-109 Britain needed time to prepare: time for factories to produce aircrafts in big numbers, develop radars, spitfires Britain was not likely to win Agreement: Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier met at Munich. Neither the Czechs nor the Soviets. They all agreed that the Czechs had to give the Sudetenland to Germany or they would have to fight Germany alone. Czechoslovakia accepted Results: Germany strengthen by surrender of mountain fortifications Czechs lost mountain fortifications > easier to attack > balance of power>Germany o Millions of Czechs o Industry > armaments o Raw materials Poland seized the Teschen district > coalmines & Hungary took land: they were encouraged to side Hitler Chamberlain > hero (short term) Soviet Union worried the west would do nothing to stop Hitler>they feared they would have to face the Germans alone Hitler’s ambitions increased>believed Britain and France wouldn’t stand up to him. Czechoslovakia Destroyed 1939 Hitler claimed the Czech government had lost control and that a civil war would break if Germany didn’t intervene Hitler bullied Hacha into inviting German troops to occupy the country > threat to bomb Prague After Hacha issued the invitation he used this as an excuse to justify his actions March 1939 – German troops marched into Prague Bohemia and Moravia > Protectorate of germany o Slovakia:remained independent > became a puppet state o Ruthenia > Hungary †¢ Britain & France protested but took no action as Germany had â€Å"technically† been invited into Czechoslovakia. The polish Guarantee Agreement : Britain gave Poland a guarantee to protect it from Germany. France later supported it. Reasons: The Polish corridor > Germany wanted it back (German inhabitants). Chamberlain realized Hitler couldn’t be stopped by appeasement > stronger measures were take to stop Hitler. Problem: Britain and France were geographically unable to defend Poland and succeed. Hitler’s reaction: ignore it > issued an order to invade Poland Germany and Italy 1934: enemies > Mussolini stopped Hitler from taking Austria 1935:Italy was angry with Britain and France > Ethiopia 1936: Rome Berlin axis > cooperate against communism o Fascists dictators Anti-comintern pact (Italy, Germany and Japan) >work against international communism 1938: Mussolini allowed Germany to take over Austria 939:italy invaded Albania to match the occupation of Prague The Pact of Steel 1939 Agreement:They would support each other in a war Mussolini’s request: materials Italy needed to help Germany > Italy was not prepared for a war Germany and the USSR Hitler:hated communism > wanted to take â€Å"lebesraum† from USSR. Hitler regarded the Soviets were his main enemies as stated in Mein Kampf Soviet Union: most hated the Nazis The Nazi-Soviet pact 1939 (Ribbentrop-Molotov) Agreement: -If Germany attacked Poland the USSR was to remain neutral Agreement: -Germany could occupy the western parts including Danzig and the Polish corridor – USSR entitled to occupy western parts: Baltic provinces Result: Germany was free to attack Poland > USSR only great power capable of defending Poland. USSR Reasons: 1. failure to reach an agreement with the west: †¢ Soviet Union was still backwards and needed time to develop. †¢ Anglo-French weakness > Stalin feared he would have to fight Germany alone. 2. British reluctance to ally: Churchill urged an alliance > only way to stop Hitler †¢ British Government was frightened if not more of Stalin than Hitler †¢ Conservatives hated communism > Nazis guard against spread of communism in Europe †¢ Soviet strength was underestimated > British believed purges had weakened the armed forces, officers had been killed †¢ Chamberlain’s reluctance > probably as the opposition wanted an allian ce †¢ British responses were slow and made by low-ranking officials in contrasts with Stalin’s quick responses to Birtish initiative, he took negotiations seriously. Eden’s offer to go on special mission > rejected 3. Fear of Japan: †¢ Clashes between soviets and Japanese increased > Japan was a threat to soviets who didn’t like the prospect of a was with 2 fronts. Stalin needed security in Europe 4. Attractiveness of German offer: †¢ Territory in eastern Poland (contained ethnic Russians, seized by Poland after the Russo-Polish war) > Buffer zone against Poland 5. Desire of a breathing space: †¢ Buy time to prepare defenes †¢ Get armed forces ready †¢ Industralize Russia †¢ Prepare for war Get effects of modernization through German reasons: 1. Prevent a war with 2 fronts 2. Desire to invade Poland Results: Germany was free to attack Poland: USSR only country geographically capable of defending Poland Events: -September 1:inva sion of Poland September 3:outbreak of war -Britain and France realised the necessity to stop Hitler > prevent expansion of Germany -The Czech guarantee was not honoured > couldn’t afford the same with Poland >affect international credibility -Corridor concession had been encouraged Support of British and commonwealth -British Factories were readu to build modern fighter planes Reasons for World War II Hiters ambitions(foreign policy): o Determined to acquire Sudetenland o Germany invaded Poland U. S isolationism: o U. S did not get involve in European affairs Appeasement: o Allowed Hitler to destroy Versailles o Encouraged him to believe countries would not stand up to him o A stronger Policy could have destroyed Hitler (e. g. Rhineland) Nazi-Soviet Pact o Freed Hitler from a two front war o Allowed Hitler to attack Poland

Personal Values Developement Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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ZAPPOS another successful venture of AMAZON.COM Essay

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Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Communication - Essay Example the film’s running time of 87 is generous, considering the genre. This was a massive box office hit film generating more than $5 million on the first week of release. City Lights was the first Charles Chaplin’s first production after the technology in talking movies was first introduced. Nonetheless, the film did not the technology in its development, wisely so, since the sound equipment used would have trapped the film in sound sets and stages. Since the movie was built on the comedy genre, the actors staying up close to the equipment and this would not have produced the bouts of laughter an expectation, the audience relished. After watching the film, one must contend that the few sound used underscore the silent comedy without any overbearing the audience. In the opening scene, where the mayor unveils a civic statue only to find Charlie Chaplin on its arms enjoying slumber, the speech is shown by sounds sounding like shrills and screeches. Additionally, when Charlie Chaplin swallows the whistle and accidentally causes a concert to stop, followed by a scene in which he makes a call for cab to a stop and then another in which he surrounds himself with dogs. The first and the sequence of scenes as mentioned above, provide, perhaps the only moments when sounds is used. According to Gehring (12), the character, Little Tramp dwelt in the language understood all over the world then, pantomime. A part from these, music is only used in the film, when the synchronized score is used to aid with the movement of the comedy. The music a composition, partly by the director-Charlie Chaplin helped in alleviating the need for talkies The main character in the story, Tramp falls overhead with a blind flower-girl and pulled along by a drunken millionaire, and ends up doing a shift as a municipal manure sweeper and in the ends up winning the

Critically Evaluate the Claim That the Processes of Globalization Are Essay

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What does it take to become a successful leader in today's business Research Paper

What does it take to become a successful leader in today's business world - Research Paper Example An essential requirement for the business leader of today is to clearly understand major societal and environmental forces that shape business. Central in creation of value is knowing where and how to respond to societal demands in terms of the daily running of business. This calls for s strong sense of vision and emotional intelligence. The core of leadership in business still remains; leaders should be able to motivate employees, inspire and foster the spirit of teamwork among the people they lead so as to achieve common business goals. But the business environment has undergone tremendous changes in the past few decades presenting new management challenges to the business of today. They have to work in an environment with more challenges and expectations while leading teams in accomplishing the set business objectives. The implication of all these is that the modern business requires more than managers; people who can lead by vision and create the working environment in which the common vision is shared by everyone one involved. With the evolving purpose of the business leadership role, modern leaders must approach their work with a different perspective, lead change across & beyond the boundaries of business and effectively work in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in achieving the missions (Gitsham and W ackrill, 2012). A leader in the modern business world must keep up with developments in technology. Technological trends especially in business are evolving at the speed of lightning and this renders even a management tool that rocked the business world just in the past few years completely obsolete. Some leaders may face great challenges but keeping the pace would mean taking advantage of technological tools to the competitive benefit of the firm. The leader should be capable of utilizing tools such as social media and at the same time an environment in the firm where technology

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The Psychological Dangers of Unemployment Essay Example for Free

The Psychological Dangers of Unemployment Essay Work is inexplicably bound to human existence. Since the dawn of time, human beings had to live by the sweat of their brows in order to ensure their survival. The advent of technology did not change this reality – the former only diversified work, as well as made it faster and more convenient. So closely linked is work to human existence that entire schools of thought were actually built around this association. The Prussian philosopher and political economist Karl Marx (1818-1883), for instance, argued that an individual’s identity was based on what he or she did for a living (Sayers 39). A person’s occupation supposedly reflected his or her faculties. The loss of work would therefore have an adverse effect on all aspects of a person’s life. In his article The Consequences – Undoing Sanity (2006) Louis Uchitelle argued that unemployment translates to more than just the loss of an occupation. 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It is therefore not unusual for the average American to hold two or three jobs at the same time. Most Americans were first exposed to work through part-time jobs during their teenage years. Globalization, however, shattered the aforementioned ideals. Eager to cut down on operational expenses, many US enterprises resorted to downsizing. Minor operations, such as telemarketing and customer assistance, were transferred to Third World countries. For these companies, downsizing made good business sense – the Third World was a source of cheap but highly-skilled labor. But the American workers did not share the same belief. For them, downsizing meant the closure of firms and massive layoffs. Employees who faithfully served a company for many years suddenly found themselves out of work. Worse, they were unable to find a new job. Simply put, downsizing spelled poverty – decreased household expenditures, searching for a cheaper place to live, selling of properties that took many years to obtain just to make ends meet. Numerous studies have already been conducted on the damaging effects of joblessness, particularly on unemployment brought about by layoffs – decrease in family cohesion, a rise in the divorce rate, the unwinding of communities and guilty feelings among employees who dodged a layoff. But Uchitelle pointed out that the layoff in itself is already a very damaging blow (Uchitelle 301). Most employees who have been laid off often attribute their misfortune to their â€Å"mediocre† performance as workers (Uchitelle 301) – they were fired probably because they always reported late for work, they called in sick even if they really were not, their employers were not satisfied at their outputs, etc. Others, meanwhile, convince themselves that it is the company who has the problem and not them (Uchitelle 301). They may rationalize that the company is having financial trouble, hence the need to reduce the number of hands that it had to pay. Or maybe layoffs were simply commonplace, given the dismal state of the economy. Despite these elaborate justifications, the feelings of diminishment would still surface (Uchitelle 301). How come they were fired, while their co-workers were not? This sense of diminishment, in turn, has very destructive psychological effects. Despite encouragement from friends and family members, those who have been laid off may no longer feel any enthusiasm about pursuing a new job. This lack of interest has two sources – low self-esteem and the fear of failure (Uchitelle 302). A person who lost his or her job because of a layoff may feel that he or she is too incompetent for any kind of work. Such self-pity, consecutively, generates the fear that they will end up getting fired from the next job that they will avail themselves of. Layoffs can be more psychologically damaging for men, who are still traditionally expected to become the breadwinners of their respective families. One of Uchitelle’s respondents, Stacey Brown, was very much distressed over the negative personality changes in her husband, Erin, after he was laid off from his job as a mechanic in United Airlines. Prior to the layoff, Erin was a hardworking, ambitious man who was devoted to his job and had many future plans for his family (Uchitelle 299). But according to Stacey, he was unable to pick up his life after he became unemployed. She believed that â€Å"the layoff destroyed (her husband’s) self-esteem† (Uchitelle 299). Since Erin lost his job, he no longer had the self-confidence to look for a new job or pursue any other endeavor. His wife had to prod him into applying for a job as a technical specialist in a Rolls-Royce engine plant in Indianapolis. Erin, however, did not get hired. Stacey sensed that this incident made him averse to work of any kind (Uchitelle 303). For one, he described the plant’s human resources manager in a resentful and insulting manner. According to Erin, â€Å"I was well-qualified and I went through a lot of effort to get (the job)†¦and it turns out the guy who was doing the hiring had not bothered to understand the nature of the job he was in charge of filling† (Uchitelle 303). In addition, he was no longer interested in fulfilling his former plans of opening his own business. In order to lift his spirits after getting laid off, Stacey insisted on purchasing a rundown three-bedroom house located near their residence (Uchitelle 300). She hoped that in buying the house, she would be able to help him fulfill his dream of renovating and reselling rundown houses (Uchitelle 300). It proved to be a false hope. Although Erin started construction work on the house, he completed only the exterior part. Despite his excuses such as having to take care of their son, Kyle, Stacey knew the real reason behind his inability to finish reconstructing the house – he was afraid of another failure. According to Stacey, â€Å"(He) did not want to take the risk of actually finishing the (house) and then somehow (losing it like his former occupation)† (Uchitelle 304). No amount of support and understanding from Stacey helped Erin. Although he had just completed a two-evening-a-week course in air condition repair, he did so for the wrong reasons. â€Å"I know that I will be overqualified for the next position that I take,† Erin said (Uchitelle 305). Simply put, the layoff made him feel that he was too incompetent for any gainful employment. Thus, he contented himself with low-paying, dead-end jobs, such as air condition repair. Aversion towards work is another common response among those who experienced a layoff. Getting fired despite dedication to a particular job and or company may make them disillusioned with the point of working for a living (Barling, Kelloway and Frone 291). For them, working no longer makes any sense – they would probably get fired anyway. Losing a job is indeed very tragic, as the absence of livelihood would definitely spell poverty for a person or a family. But the tragedy associated with a layoff is even worse. An employee who gets laid off from work ends up losing not only his or her economic security, but also his or her self-esteem. He or she would most likely think that his or her incompetence led to the loss of his or her job. But wallowing in self-pity will not get anyone anywhere. After a period of mourning over loss, an individual will have no other choice but to move on with his or her life. Time, after all, never waited for anyone.Furthermore, a person who is down has no other way to go to but up. Works Cited Barling, Julian, E. Kevin Kelloway, and Michael Robert Frone. Handbook of Work Stress. London: SAGE, 2004. Sayers, Sean. Marxism and Human Nature. New York: Routledge, 1998. Seguin, Robert. Around Quitting Time: Work and Middle-Class Fantasy in American Fiction. Durham: Duke University Press, 2001. Uchitelle, Louis. The Disposable American: Layoffs and Their Consequences. New York: Knopf, 2006.

Education Essay Example for Free

Education Essay â€Å"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth†- Unknown Schools have been used as an avenue to encourage social control from many centuries ago whether it was for the betterment of our forefathers or to merely control them. They reinforce and transform young minds with the tools necessary to survive in this changing world and thus, prepare them for global independence. As a result, education has become critical since our system has been built upon the concept of the enlightened citizen, that is, an individual in touch with its cultural heritage who possess a working knowledge of the factors that make up the human ecosystem; an individual who understand the law, rights and responsibilities, possess the attitudes of fair play and co-operation and quality in the character and work of self and others. (Hartoonian, 1985) The instrument in building an enlightened citizen and thus prepare future leaders, is the curriculum. Hence, the curriculum ought to be tailored to produce citizens who recognize themselves as â€Å"Trinbagonians† and not individuals who see themselves as distant citizens of Africa, India or England. In this regard, leaders in politics, classroom, education, as well as businesses, should see themselves as leaders of â€Å"Trinbagonians† and not as â€Å"tribal† representatives. If we encourage constant talks of ethnic imbalance, then we will make race a defining issue of being a â€Å"Trinbagonian† Did our forefathers make race a defining issue when they fought for freedom and liberation from colonialism? Dr. Eric Williams and Dr. Rudranath Capildeo both petitioned for full internal self-government for all the peoples regardless of race, religion and ethnicity. Unfortunately, politicians today are prepared to clearly pass the blame of ethnicity and cultural imbalances from one party to another, rather than come up with solutions on how to deal with the issue at hand. Isn’t it part of their civic duty to govern the country without encouraging citizens to be subjected to any form of discrimination or inequality? Rather than pass the blame, all citizens, including our leaders should work towards obtaining a cohesive society; one which has developed satisfactory ways of coping with ethnic and cultural diversity and other strains in an open and democratic manner. This means taking action to reduce inequalities and restore equity so that these various divisions remain manageable and do not grow so as to threaten the stability of society (The European Committee for Social Cohesion). As a result, schools can foster the development of students’ cultural identity via citizenship education. Citizenship education evolves cohesion richness because the curriculum encourages, listens to and acts on student voice; focuses on authentic issues that are actionable and a curriculum that is learner led; supports the importance of playing an active part in democracy and develops skills of enquiry and communication. Therefore, school activities should encourage multiculturalism rather than ethnocentrism because ethnocentrism is viewed as lacking acceptance of cultural diversity and intolerance for outgroups (Berry Kalin, 1995). By exploring one’s history and sharing cultural traditions, beliefs and values, students can become more tolerant of diversity. As schools provide a safe and positive environment for all students regardless of their diversity, they also promote a sense of cohesiveness in the community. Trinidad and Tobago is referred sometimes as a pluralistic society because of its diversity in cultures, ethnicity and religion. From an early age of globalization, representatives from metropolitan governments, entrepreneurs, farmers, and workers arrived to this land in search of economic benefits for their homelands. As trade became insufficiently profitable, the Africans and East Indians were brought to this land as slaves and indentured labourers, respectively. The fact that these different groups came from different geographical origins and under different circumstances, arose a multitude of social and ethnic differences to which the colonializers used as a game to divide and rule. The majority of our ancestors were African and East Indian descendants and so could have been considered as â€Å"transience† in that they were either forced or tricked into being here. As such, they rallied together to fight for freedom and liberation and thus, out of Independence and Republicism, a nation was born. We acquired our symbols of nationhood and forged towards protecting and promoting our democracy. According to Dr. Eric Williams, democracy means recognition of the rights of others; equality of opportunity for all in education, in the public service, and in private employment; freedom of worship for all and the subordination of right of any race to the overriding right of the human race. Although we were a democratic nation, the effects of colonialism were still clearly pervasive in our government system, our education system and even in our social lifestyles. However, the cultural traits of the Spanish, English and French were incorporated with the African and other immigrants’ cultures to form one distinct culture, creolization; a combination of customs, cuisine, language and traditions that have marked the sociocultural development of this nation but, our leaders once again are to blame for the lack of promoting this cultural identity. According to sociologists, children learn what they live. Through the evolution of technology like better and cheaper communication, faster trade from all over the world and all the other commodities that the internet provides, our children are exposed to new cultures and thus, is being reinforced into the thinking of everything foreign is better. As a result, our Caribbean lifestyles have changed drastically for example, preferences of eating habits, dress, music and other social activities which have led to poor nutrition and communicable diseases; and so too, our cultural identity. Are our children exposed to their culture on a regular basis? Are programmes sharing our national heritage, our local music, our dance and traditions, readily available? How are our young ones going to become aware of their true identity if there are few opportunities for them to experience it? How do we develop and foster our cultural identity? To begin with, most of the inhabitants of Trinidad and Tobago are citizens by birth so, legally, they are Trinbagonians. As children begin to develop a sense of identity as individuals and as members of groups from their earliest interactions with others, one of the most basic types of identity is ethnic identity, which entails an awareness of one’s membership in a social group that has a common culture (Trumbull et al. , 2001). An identity is important for people’s sense of self and how they relate to others. For our citizens to feel a sense of commitment to the land they were born and thus promote a cohesive society, citizenship education can be an effective tool because it improves students’ attitude and loyalty towards their country as well as critical thinking skills which are crucial for social and economic transformation (Howe, G. D. Marshall, D. D. , UNESCO 1999). It helps them become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities (UNESCO, 2003). Schools are seen as the best avenue to foster the development of one’s identity. They are a primary agent of socialization. It is here children develop trust, independence, the tendency to take initiative, the sense of competence and ambition, decisions about who one is, build relationships with others, make decisions about future generations and reflections on one’s life; in keeping with Erikson’s stages of development. The Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago has adopted a philosophy based on the beliefs that every child has an inherent right to an education regardless their cultural background and that every child has the ability to learn and should be provided for his/her holistic development. Secondly, that the ethical and moral concerns are central to human development and survival and thirdly, fundamental constructs such as â€Å"decency,† â€Å"justice,† â€Å"respect,† â€Å"kindness,† â€Å"equality, â€Å"love,† â€Å"honesty,† and â€Å"sensitivity,† are major determinants of the survival of our multicultural society (Ministry Of Education Policy Paper, 1993 2003) thus, reinforcing citizenship and multiculturalism. Therefore, school activities should encourage multiculturalism rather than ethnocentrism because ethnocentrism is viewed as lacking acceptance of cultural diversity and intolerance for outgroups (Berry Kalin, 1995). Multicultural education was developed to promote structural equity and cultural pluralism. It is an opportunity because a society that learns to live with diversity is likely to achieve faster rates of economic growth and social development- if only by avoiding ethnic conflict (Smith, A. ). Educators must understand how factors of diversity can assist in enhancing learning and development of the children in their classroom because all schools have classrooms that comprises of students from multicultural backgrounds. According to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the development of a child is influenced by his interrelations with the multiple environmental contexts in which he lives and grows. This can play a part in shaping their cultural background as well as affect their behaviour and academic performance. As a result, educators’ behavioural instructions and differentiated techniques, appropriate teaching materials and adequate support and partnership among the school’s community should be effectively organized to meet the learning needs and abilities of very student and thus make their educational experiences the best possible. Schools can implement citizenship education in their curriculum and provide real life experiences to teach students how to exercise their rights and responsibilities. Provide programmes that seek to develop good character through honesty, integrity, self-discipline and hard work. Allow them to participate in activities that will allow the m to resolve conflicts nonviolently, use their talents wisely, participate in community-building activities, and build respect for themselves and others. Students can also participate in programmes that focus on how government and other institutions work and the importance of planning. They are encouraged to critically analyze and understand the interplay of social, economic and political forces in order to improve society. Identify and discuss citizens who have significantly contributed to their society and also encourage students to participate in activities to represent their school. A teacher’s job is to provide an effective learning environment for their students. As such, creating an environment by promoting diversity through the decoration in the classroom can create a sense of belonging and prevent discrimination. Posters used should offer different cultural perspectives and include people of different ages and races. Literature and other resources should carefully be selected so as to foster diversity and be relevant to students’ needs. Teachers should also set an example by making positive remarks, respect all students’ feelings and encourage students to be respectful to one another. In addition, using differentiated instructions to cater to the needs of all learners can promote inclusion. Planning teaching/learning instructions to be more constructive so as to engage students in active learning experiences and make learning meaningful and enjoyable can also promote multiculturalism in the classroom. One way is through the use of technology because in my class, students eagerly engage in learning when ICT is used. Another is the use of personnel (student/parents) to share cultural experiences, for example, the Hindus can share their experiences in celebrating Divali with the class for example, I teacher at a Roman Catholic school and there was a time when the Hindu parents organized a programme for the school to sanitize them on the festival. Students and teachers were invited to wear East Indian gabs and tudents were taught the names of familiar things in Hindi. It was an enjoyable experience for most of us. By encouraging other students to share their cultural beliefs and practices, students become aware of their differences as well as similarities and thus become more appreciative and tolerant. From a Vygotskian perspective†¦a major role of schooling is to create social contexts for the mastery of and conscious awareness in the use of†¦cultural tools (Trumbull et al. 2001). Celebrating students’ achievements can motivate and foster their self-esteem. As such, schools should promote achievement day and open-day so parents can see their children work and progress made in school. This also deepens the relationship between the school and parents because in educating a child, it takes cooperation and involvement from educators, parents, families, and the community. As research has shown, the greater the family and community involvement in schools, the greater the students’ achievement (Niemiec, R. Sikorski, M. , Walberg, 1999) will be. Educators must also ensure that the measures used to assess students’ performance and progress is fair and just and caters for every learner’s ability. Through the use of performance assessments and continuous assessments like projects and journals, students are able to reflect on their work and make improvements and thus, take charge of their learning. Leaders must be able to represent the needs o f all whenever they hold any position of authority. The proper management of activities in a school is the responsibility of individual principals as curriculum leaders in their school. Therefore, he/she must manage their school in a fair and democratic manner so as to ensure social justice and equity and make students, teachers and parents comfortable and safe. When citizens understand their democratic rights, they will be able to act in government fairly and responsibly. They will demonstrate true patriotism and loyalty as they show belief in the people that they serve. As our country continues to exhibit great diversity, the need for understanding and accepting the differences among all people has never been more important (Gomez, Rey A. , 1991). Through education, children can learn to accept others, become accustomed to the idea that there are many lifestyles, languages, cultures, and points of view and develop a sense of being citizens of a nation. Additionally, education for social cohesion is possible once it is practiced in schools; both in the classrooms and at the managerial and organizational level, and projected on the surrounding communities. Teachers must consider childrens cultural identities and be aware of their own biases. It is tempting to deny our prejudices and claim that we find all children equally appealing. Teachers and parents need to acknowledge the fact that we, like our children, are inevitably influenced by the stereotypes and one-sided view of society that exists in our schools and the media. Not only must we recognize those biases, but we must change the attitude they represent by accepting all children as we receive them (Gomez, Rey A. 1991). Thus, when our children grow up and hold any position of authority, they will act in a more responsible manner and promote democracy. It was through the exposure of all the cultures from our forefathers, whether they were imposed on them or freely practiced, a unique culture was formed. â€Å"We have learnt to live together rather than merely side- by- side. † (Laughlin, N. ) For that reason, we should work more on appreciating this culture and assisting ou r fellow Caribbean brothers and sisters in building one region.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rebranding

Advantages and Disadvantages of Rebranding Introduction Brand identity awareness as we understand it now appeared in the 19th century with the introduction of packaged goods. As soon as products were no longer produced by local manufacturer the need for the brand image occurred. Mass production has a wider market orientation and often cheaper price. But competition with local products which were already familiar to consumers was impossible without differentiation and strong appealing image. Many brands image was intentionally created to simulate local farmers products and therefore appear as something familiar to the potential customer. Perfect illustrations provide such known brands as Uncle Bens rice and Kelloggs breakfast cereal, till now they have an image of home-made products. And from this contemporary branding originated: manufacturers with the help of advertising started to associate other kinds of brand values, such as youthfulness, fun, luxury, honesty, quality assurance, source or ownership, and producers responsibility. They learned how to differentiate and to create emotional bonding with the help of identity signs. Recent environmental trends are forcing top managers to give even greater and greater attention to brand identity to guarantee competitive advantage. For every business the key to success is the right brand identity which should present a positive image of the company and set the stage for a strong reputation. Temporal (2002) stated The brand is the foundation of the business. Weak brand can tear up the foundation. Therefore the creation of strong brand identity is crucial for companies to encourage positive attitudes and provide an important competitive advantage. The corporate name and logo are two essential components of the corporate identity construct; they are the symbols of brand. Furthermore, they are the most pervasive elements in corporate and brand communications, and play a main role in the communication of the desired positioning strategy. The right logo and clear visual identity are critical for any companys success. Though a brand can have an old-fashioned logo, even the minor change can jeopardize its appeal to loyal customers. In the advertising history there are a lot of examples of rebranding which gone wrong. Wheeler (2009) in her book brings an example of Kelloggs corn flakes which wanted slightly change the name of cereals from Coco Pops to Choco Pops in 1999. The result was deplorable and its customer base strongly resisted. If the brand image is strong, a sudden change could alienate customers. On the other hand, successful rebrand can help the company or a product to reach unprecedented market position. In the 1950s nobody knew a widespread and popular fruit called kiwi, because it was called the Chinese gooseberry and was not popular at all. American importers decided that it needed a makeover. Fruit is imported from New Zealand, so they decided to rename it kiwifruit to honour the flightless national bird of New Zealand. With the new name market position improved dramatically. The importance of the right name and appropriate professionally designed logo hardly can be underestimated. If brand symbols were not created well in the beginning it is never too late to do a rebrand. Though changing these symbols is controversial and requires enormous physical, financial and psychological investments. Rebranding has become a real trend in the last decades, with some companies rebranding several times. There are plenty of successful and unsuccessful examples of rebranding which was done for all possible reasons from attempt to rebrand itself to desire to shed the company negative image. Obviously, the risks of changing the established brand identity are high and benefits are not guaranteed. With a new identity it is normally very difficult to estimate actual monetary benefits. However, there are numerous examples of companies changing names and logos, rebranding, and creating new identities for a variety of reasons, all with successful results. The aim of this study is therefore to give an answer to the following research question: Why evolution of brand identity is better than revolution? and When revolution is necessity? The paper is a secondary research and is based on information from books and specialized magazines, also in electronic form. It is structured in order to provide a clear and systematic understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and causes of changing the established brand identity. Brand identity Brand image and brand identityÂÂ   Difference between brand identity and image is not obvious and often confused. According to Collins dictionary brand image is the attributes of a brand as perceived by potential and actual customers. Therefore brand image is mostly visual oriented and dealing with such issues as logo design, name, tagline, corporate colours and fonts. On the contrary brand identity refers to the core attributes of a brand itself, its philosophy and its values. Brand identity is so-called brand personality a marvellous aggregate which form the uniqueness of brand; it is an individuality which singles out the brand. Brand identity is the facade of the company or organisation and should be an accurate representation of it. On the other hand it is the total proposition and promises that a company makes to consumers. But the press and the competition can also influence brand identity. To establish and maintain distinguishable identity every aspect of a business has to be taken into consideration. Aaker (2004) mentioned in his works that companies have to make substantial efforts to make sure that what customers perceive the company in desired way. A well-built image works for the company, bringing an individual, memorable identity which fits perfectly with the companys aims and strategies. A strong brand identity always brings a company above its competitors all by itself. Though development of such a strong brand takes time and financial inputs it is a worthy investment. (Aaker, pp 183-185) Different levels of identity change When companies decide to undertake corporate identity changes, they are usually redeveloping the visual image in terms of logo and corporate design. Such efforts do not normally involve a change in brand values so that the brand itself, its personality and core values remains the same. Unfortunately, very often this fallacy led companies to believe that the visual changes itself will change the brand identity. But changes to signage or logo design do not necessarily change the perception of consumer. Certain characteristics like the indefinable associations with this brand or consumer perception of quality and service are deep-rooted into the brand identity and cannot be changed that easily. As it is important for any brand to maintain a modern look even surface changes of the visual image are positive and the visual identity needs to change over time. But entire change of the image can provoke consumer concerns about changes in brand values or possible ownership. If there is an appealing for consumers strong brand identity then extensive changes may destroy emotional attachments. People are always afraid to notice sudden unjustified changes in the behaviour of other people. Same negative reaction is unavoidable when the accustomed brands which customer prefer exhibit similar sudden changes. Alternatively, if the goal is to significantly improve the standing of the brand, then corporate identity changes can be accompanied by considerable changes to all the related issues like organizational culture or service standards. Normal completion of such changes will improve consumers perception of the company and its services. Consequently the changes will, over the longer term, have a corresponding positive effect on brand image. Brand symbols: logo and company name The role of the logo Confident branding and a well-built branding strategy uses design to communicate a message that appeals to the target audience a message that creates confidence in the brand quality while differentiating it between the competitors. In the branding strategy the importance of the logo as a component in reflecting a brand can hardly be overestimated. If the logo does not to qualify than a new brand strategy and a new logo should be considered. A logo as an important part of brand marketing can say many things about a company. A logo can make the perception of the company either negative or positive. The mission of the logo is to effectively brand the company. Therefore logo can be considered a god one if it is correctly represents the values and goals of the company. Though branding is not come to a simple logo design. The logo is only one piece of the branding strategy. But nevertheless logo is a powerful symbol that can provide consumers with instant brand recognition of the business and the services or products that company offer. Good logo has to arose strong associations with the brand identity and be entirely based on a brand strategy. Without the strategy behind it a logo can put across the wrong message and in return weaken the brand identity. Consistent brand message implemented in well designed logo helps to increase consumer recognition. A logo represents business, illuminates it, is able to promote core values and draw focus from competitors. Being attractive, easy to read and memorable a logo establishes a familiarity among other brands and makes a differentiation. A logo is absolutely essential for both small and large businesses. Any business would be are faceless and forgettable without a logo. A professionally made logo can catch the attention of potential clients and invite their interest in a company. A logo is kind of business special mark. When customers visit a store, use products or even receive official emails, a logo becomes a business personal signature. It informs new customers about targets and values of the company and greets old customers with remembrance. Nowadays in competitive market environment logo plays the main role in differentiation one product from another. A logo helps people positively recognise the business as being professional, credible and authentic. A logo should be well-executed and look great, also it should be truthful in what it communicates and not be exaggerative or deceptive, to show that a business is credible. And most importantly, a logo should represent the brand identity values confidently to invite trust from customers and being authentic. Brand design To describe the visual design elements of a brand experience, such as aÂÂ  graphic logo designÂÂ  and the most significant sides of a brand a term brand design is used. Professional designers can develop a brand design in a way to connect the company with its customers, to create the right image, and communicate the right information about product benefits. The brands effect on buyers preferences and continued loyalty are the keys. (Shimp (2003), p. 136) The main goal of branding is to make product or service emotionally appealing for consumers. Brand design is concerning with designing the consumers familiarity with the brand. Consequently it is important to communicate to the customers anÂÂ  imageÂÂ  of the company, products and services that is value oriented. Then again the brand unique value is constitutes of the level of consumers awareness. With every new experience to the brand, customers repeatedly pick up on the brands benefits and qualities. Logo and name design A logo design is critical for the brand identity as it has a role of a symbol of the product. Without brand identity and consequently logo design it would be almost impossible to sell products or services. The truth is, people normally buy not only the products and services, but they also buy a promise, reputation and identity. All mentioned above qualities the logo design should represent. Any logo design consists of two key elements: the logos text (company name) and the graphic or picture that accompanies it. The look of a companys name conveys meaning and is as significant as picture. Different fonts convey different meanings and emotions to the potential customer and using the right font is vital. However logo design images frequently become the key recognition component of any companys marketing promotions. In order to have right brand positioning and the strength brand a corporate logo or product logo should be well designed. An image should be simple and bold, making it easy to see at a glance and should work well with the company name. A strong, balanced image with no little extras that confuse its look would be appropriate for any company. Additionally it is always important to make sure that logo looks good in black and white, as well as in colour. The logo should not be just nice, but it should communicate certain values which are important for the company. The logo design has to communicate the nature of the business clearly and has graphic imagery that looks appropriate for the business. Corporations are moved in new and different directions by internal and external factors. Thus with the lapse of time logos can lose their meaning. Many famous companies have successfully introduced a new logo or re-positioned existing ones. Different kinds of design The most widely used font-based design focuses primarily on text and typeface but can incorporate other elements as well. The logos of IBM, Microsoft and Sony, for instance, use type treatments with a twist that makes them distinctive. This type is best suited for companies whose name effectively describes what they do and can convey the message without graphical elements. The subtype of a font-based design is usage of monograms and anagrams. The letter(s) represent a symbol of the company and are often used when initials translate graphically better than the actual name. This type is a wholly typographically oriented, usually involving initials or abbreviations. This design type is preferable when communication funds are limited and should be focused on name recognition. Also when the company name is already reasonably distinctive and when the goal is to associate products with the company more clearly and directly than a symbol permits. Using a monogram is possible only if a company is big enough to afford teaching the public what the monogram means. Another well known type consists of a simple but strong graphic symbol, an emblem on a product. The symbol is often abstract, complements an aspect of a business or service and represents a company by association. The logos of Nike or Apple are like this. Also there are plenty of company logo designs that literally illustrate what a company does, such as when a house-painting company uses an illustration of a brush in its logo. This type is worth using when the company name is too long, too generic, doesnt translate well globally, or has no personality. As well as a monogram it can be costly and difficult to create public awareness for the symbol type. Small businesses with limited marketing budgets often use a combination of a symbol with words. Combination can be loose or integral and the elements can be used together or separately. A well designed combined logotype can effectively communicate what a company does as well as reflect the company personality. Since combined logo communicate the idea behind easily, less marketing is required for the logo to be effective. Therefore, combined logos are the most cost effective type of logo design available. Distinctive tag line Solis (2010) describes a tag line as an amusing or memorable phrase designed to catch attention in an advertisement. (Solis (2010), p.247) A tag line normally consists of three to seven words phrase that accompanies the logo. It expresses the companys most important benefits and on the other hand what a company wants to communicate to customers about its work. Despite the effortlessly appearance of some great tag lines, creating and refining one takes a lot of time and hard work, just like designing a great logo. However the benefits of taking the time to craft a great tag line are indisputable. Main quality index of a great tag lines is it stickiness in to the consumers memory. Let us examine the example of Hallmark greeting cards tag line. When you care enough to send the very best, appeals to the human desire to be viewed as having good taste and an enjoyment for luxury. With this tag line Hallmark positioned itself as the choice for quality. Company was founded by J. C. Hall, so the name Hallmark was a natural. Hallmark was an official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths at one of its assay offices on gold, silver, or platinum (since 1975) articles to guarantee purity, date of manufacture. (Collins Dictionary)Therefore it was also brilliant from a marketing perspective because the word itself means a mark of authenticity or excellence. The name attaches the image of quality to a product in the best possible way. The tag line makes the most of the image with words that stick in the mind. Creating a fine logo and distinctive tag line are significant for a brand identity as they provide the right image of the company and give it capability to be memorable enough. Therefore these are also critical qualities for the competitive capacity. Change of brand symbols In the dynamic environment of the recent decades the very idea of changing brand symbols name and logo is a prevalent phenomenon in every given area of business. Redesign in most of the cases is caused by the emotional apprehension of top management. The company logo design seems to become obsolete or doesnt have the same advertising appeal that it did a few years ago. Other common reason for redesign can be narrow circumstances, time and/or budget deficit in which logo was created. To conclude, the decision of the company logo redesign is one of the most doubtful decisions any company can make due to enormous risks involved. Changing an established name or logo requires judicious approach to a problems, carefulness and consideration. A correctly executed logo redesign can positively impact the company brand and therefore help to achieve a competitive posture in the market. Even most important corporations sometimes change their brand identity and logo design. When changes in market focus are occurred the need of logo redesign often became inevitable. Because company needs a logo that is more conforming to new circumstances and more appropriate for a new demographics. Logo redesign can help to achieve current business goals. Decision to change logo should be deliberate and scrupulous as it includes numerous issues. First of all there are different levels of changes possible: a makeover (a new design) and a repair. Repair Logo repair is suitable in case the logo just need a little simplification, or perhaps a more technically proficient rendering. This is the least difficult case and the most frequent as the modern technologies require new technical specifications. For example logo design should be easily reproduced on web colours. Also stationery and letterhead design can be unfoundedly expensive to reproduce if the colours are not suitable. In addition too complicated logo with small details also can be problematic. A logo repair involves a re-rendering of the artwork so that a new improved logo become versatile and more adaptable and can be used in a range of a media. Also not the least of the factors logo repair allows for slow integration into the branding material brochures, cards and signs. After the logo has been re-rendered into new editable format, the various design components can be improved, such as colours and fonts. Brand symbols gradual change Paul Temporal (2002) discusses few examples of the companies which are not going to change their logos anytime soon. As they already have spent tremendous sums of money to get their logos into the public eye. For instance it is definitely not the design that makes the Nike logo swoosh impressive, but the recognition factor. This logo was created by Caroline Davidson in 1971 for only $35, yet its still a strong, memorable logo, effective even without colour and easily scalable. It represents the wing of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike and is perfect for a sporting apparel business. However, Nike is still trying to make their image more amusing. The Nike font style has been transformed many times, in an attempt to keep up with changes in taste and design sensibility. The Microsoft Windows logo also went through number of insignificant design changes. Introduced in 1995 the first logo was extremely simple just a graphic representation of a flying window. Afterwards the Windows icon had become much more refined: 3D, glowing and with a new font. It still remained in the same design family as the transformation was not beyond recognition, but became glossy and modern. Apple was the first computer firm which did not use its name as its corporate identity, even the word Macintosh is the name of an apple variety. The idea of selling a computer under the name and image of an apple was conceived by Steve Jobs and his colleagues. Apple computers also developed their Apple icon from a rainbow-striped version to a solid and much classier modern icon in the late nineties. The Apple icon has remained pretty stable over the years, but its treatment has changed on several occasions in order to maintain the logos strength while adapting to the corporations current marketing focus. Makeover Brand symbols makeover is a creation of a new image and new attributes for the brand image. Logos are main symbols of a companys brand identify and are fundamental to consumer recognition. Decision to make a logo redesign has its risks and rewards. According to Aaker a company logo can be maintained for up to 20 years serving as an enduring symbol of a company impact and existence. (Aaker (2004), pp 112-127) However a company can decide to change its logo for several significant reasons which include changing customer and industry trends or changes in the companys business focus and market strategy. Also a merger and acquisition is a frequent reason for logo makeover, as new logo should represent new merged company. The process of changing an already established logo should be approached carefully, it is important to define whether there is a need for a completely new logo or a significant makeover of the already existing logo. The risks involved in changing the current logo include first of all potential losses in brand equity that has been built after lots of hard work and significant financial investment over the years. Also customers brand loyalty can be affected. Current clients used to seeing previous logo in company marketing collaterals like envelopes, business cards and letterheads may not immediately connect with the new logo. Logo makeover is a risky and difficult step which can be performed only once. Since the first time it can be interpreted and justified as an improvement. Any more changes can unfavourably affect the company. The reputation would be affected, and the company would look unsure of its identity, its future and its consumer environment. On the other hand a well executed logo makeover can help a company project a new image as a forward thinking company and achieve new visions of possibilities. The benefits of a logo redesign or significant makeover could include repositioning of the companys brand in the mind of customers and reflection of the company new business focus or direction. While a logo makeover gives the impression of relatively painless process, it includes a total renovation of the brand identity. Though represents a considerable costs, risks and disturbance to the marketing effectiveness. Logo makeover can significantly shape company brand identify and relationship with already existing customers. Despite all the risks and potential expenses a successful logo makeover can bring a great profit to the company. Change of brand identity Brand identity assessment The starting point of any brand identity transformation is careful appraisal and defining target market and unique selling position of the company. Afterwards these findings will facilitate the development of new brand identity. Brand identity include everything from customer perception and experience to quality, brand look and design, to customer care, retail and website, and even the tone and voice of communications. Defining corporate identity is often difficult, and the clues to what factors shape identity vary widely among industries and firms. To be ready for change at any time, managers must be more aware of how key stakeholders, such as employees, customers, investors and the community, view the companys identity. Change, when necessary, should then be structured so that it does not run counter to this perceived view. Effective rebrands are based on a detailed analysis of every activity in the company including objectives, target markets, budget and resources, timeframe, known and unknown parameters, approval structure and stakeholders. Opposition to change in a brand identity is inevitable in most of the cases. Therefore managements task is to identify potential opposition and find ways to neutralize it. It is often useful to start the process of rebranding with discussion involving all the employees of the main idea behind the companys business, what its customers need and what they will need in the future. Sometimes a research can be helpful to determine the potential as well as current situation. When the idea is defined a model that will best represent that idea should be considered. Only after these steps are successfully implemented new visual identity, actual logo and all other new imagery can be created. Lofty aims of rebranding Value of the brand can be hardly overestimated and all the companies are striving to possess this intangible value. Therefore as temporal progress is going further some companies may find it necessary to revise their brand identity in order to have an up-to-date image, to be relevant and appealing to potential and actual consumers and the changing market situation. Lambkin and Muzellec (2006) studied more than 150 rebranding examples and formulate a hypothesis that regardless of reasons it invoke, rebranding aims at appealing, regaining, transferring and/or recreating the corporate brand equity. The aim of rebranding is therefore always a vast improvement of the brand image, though not always reachable. Rebranding can mean a variety of different things, from simple change of the company name to more deep changes of the brand identity policy such as change of logo and colour palette. Rebranding is relevantly easy if the changes are intentionally small to ensure continuity with the past, but also to reposition the company as contemporary. Difficult case is a complete rebranding which means change of the brand image in order to reposition the established brand in the market. Rebranding is always made in attempt of reposition the brand in the market and minds of consumers when brand identity is not anymore appealing, current brand positioning is not valid for the target market anymore, or target market changes. Sometimes companies make rebranding to distance themselves from certain negative connotations of the previous branding. For example if the brand has a controversial image, a repositioning is required to improve the flawed reputation. However the main reason for a rebranding is to communicate a new message for a company. The goal of rebranding is to renovate brand image and differentiate situation for stakeholders and market position. Far from just a change of visual identity, rebranding should be part of an overall brand strategy for a product or service. (Lambkin, Muzellec (2006), p. 2) Brand image is one of the most precious assets, and that value is a culmination of many years investment and commitment. Deep understanding of initial brand values and thorough research are required for the rebranding undertaking because of the huge impact on a company position that rebranding or even change of a logo can invoke. Launch of the new brand identity should be also made in a delicate and systematic manner in order to avoid pushing away old customers, while aiming to attract new one. Establishing trust and emotional bounds based on careful strategy are critical in the rebranding process. Appropriate rebranding strategy, consistent product or service quality, sensible pricing and effective distribution will help to rebuilt brand awareness and create associations in customer memory after rebrand implementation. Rebranding is expensive and involves a quantity of risks. Necessity to explain to loyal customers the reasons of rebranding and its benefits has to be anticipated. This is an expensive and not one hundred per cent successful undertaking. A company normally decide to undertake rebranding with all its cost, efforts and risks only if there are very good reasons for it. Reasons for brand identity change Though rebranding is always an earnest undertaking reasons for it can be sometimes ridiculous or unfounded. A company might want to transfer already existing identity into a new name, identity policy or positioning for a number of reasons, in order to respond to external or internal concerns. The most common reason is attempt to stay modern, signal a change in direction, focus, attitude or strategy, if a company has a feeling that the brand image has become old-fashioned. In a fast-changing environment it can be useful to change because of globalisation, declining profitability or consumer indifference. The other reason is differentiation from competitors and willingness to overcome them. Gaining bad press or bad events experience would normally promote a corporate identity change. Also the launch of new businesses that are significantly different from the traditional one can be a reason. However big companies very often have so-called rebranding cycles in order to stay current with the times or set themselves ahead of the competition. (Temporal (2002), pp 112-117) Companies also utilize rebranding as an effective marketing tool to hide discomposure of the past and to shed negative connotations that could potentially affect profitability. The attraction of new customers Ambition to target a new market is a most common reason for rebranding. A good example of such attempt can be Cadillac which in recent times designed a range of new cars to provide a trendy, youthful look to their brand image.ÂÂ   A lot of companies nowadays want to appear modern and progressive. A practice of changing company logo and name in attempt to attract new customers became one of the most common and widespread in recent decades. The name for a product sometimes doesnt sound good and the logo can be obsolete or inappropriate for the marketing strategy. However logo or brand symbols redesign in order to make company current or fashionable is the worst possible solution. There is always a high risk that change of the logo will alienate customers instead of attracting new one. Recent rebranding of the Pepsi logo which was made in attempt to attract new customers is perfect example of how unsuccessful it can be. Made by Arnell Group the Pepsi rebranding took three year and cost approximately $1 billion. Pepsi wanted to make a complete packaging and marketing rebranding of its soft drinks. The white stripe on the new logo supposed to be smiles, but all the efforts were barren, consumer

Differences in Language and Gender Essay examples -- Papers Research C

Differences in Language and Gender There are many differences in language between male and female. This is why we sometimes do not understand the opposite sex. These differences can be lexical, phonological, grammatical or conversational. There have been many studies into gender and conversational behaviour one of which answers the most common question of who talks the most this was conducted by Fishman '90. He found that in mixed sex conversation, men talk twice as much as women. Although this cannot be generalised to all males and females as many people do not follow the trends. Women are more supportive in their behaviour in conversation. They ask more questions, give more feedback, pay more compliments, start up different topics and they try to bring others into the conversation. On the contrary, men interrupt, express disagreement, ignore other people and don't like to follow other people's new topics. This shows that women are more cooperative and men are competitive in conversation. Zimmerman and...

The Loss of a Life Partner Essay -- Relationships Grief Death Love Ess

The Loss of a Life Partner Introduction Feelings of loss are very personal because only the person involved in the loss knows what is significant to them. People commonly associate certain losses with strong feelings of grief. The solitude is always agonizing, especially for someone who has never lived alone. Many people lose their spouses each year. Because the modern society has few mourning rituals other than the memorial service, they may find themselves alone and disconsolate just when they are most in need of comfort. Different Kinds of Loss Loss of one’s partner can be due to various reasons including:  · Death of a partner/Bereavement  · Serious or dilapidating illness of a loved one If you—or your loved one—has become sick or injured, expect a number of physical, emotional and financial changes in your life. Coping with these changes can be very difficbrt, even overwhelming at times, but the following strategies may help:  · Relationship breakup/Separation Relationship breakup. This involves losing a partner from a problematic relationship. Although it might seem easier to lose a partner when the relationship has been difficult or unsatisfying, the feelings of dissatisfaction can make the survivor vulnerable to guilt and second thoughts. When he/she remembers the best times of the relationship, self-blame can convince the individual that if he/she had done things differently, they could have had good times. The grief then can be colored easily by regret and guilt. If the survivor's friends and family are aware of the difficulties in the relationship, they may expect the person to quickly move on and they may not support her process of grieving. We have a cultural prohibition about speaking ill of the dead. Because of this prohibition, the survivor may find no opportunity to talk about the different aspects of her experience because only the positive aspects are acceptable. Also, if she wants to begin a new relationship, she may have difficulty cultivating a positive identity as a partner because of the negative experiences with her lost partner. Bereavement Bereavement triggers a normal, natural, healthy process that often leaves the victim/bereaved partner feeling far from normal, natural and healthy. Indeed it can leave you feeling quite mad, suicidal, or even like harming others. Feeling like it for a period of time is one... ...u can. Something as simple as a home-cooked casserole or cookies is not only helpful, but it also lets people know that you care about them.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Help a bereaved person to make plans for getting through special occasions such as the first Christmas without his or her spouse. The anniversary of a loss, either a death or divorce, is an especially sad time.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Do not try to minimize grief  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Talk about your own losses There's no question about it that loss is a necessary and painful part of life. But perhaps what matters most is that there are ways in which those who love you can help you say good-bye, and deal with loss. It is very difficult to think about what do when you are experiencing a loss, or want to help someone else who is. Often, even trying to make sense of loss is a daunting task for a person to do alone. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fisher, Bruce. Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends. Impact Publishers, 1990. Kilne, S. Nathan, MD. From Sad to Glad. G. P Putnam’s Sons. Toronto. 1994 Shaw, Eva. What to do when a Love One Dies: A Practical and Compassionate Guide to Dealing with Death on Life’s Terms. Dickens Press, California. 1994

Value Management And Value Engineering Study Report

This Value Management and Value Engineering (VM/VE) Study Report summarizes the benefits of various proposals for a strategic level Value Management process followed by Value Engineering Study in order to obtain a better Value for Money (VFM) for any projects. This report is prepared specially for our Client M/s. SBEinnovations Ltd for the construction of the Mixed-Use Recreation and Commercial Centre Project. Value Management and Value Engineering is a technique on any projects that can be delivered in the most economical way. Normally, Value Management processes are carried out before Value Engineering Study to determine how it can add value to the Client business by a delivery of a project which is carried out during the initial Client brief of a project. It is an integral part of any projects. Whereas Value Engineering is a technical study on a selected design for its technical viability and cost studies which is carried out during detailed design stage. United Project Management (UPM) believes that VM and VE have the greatest influence and impact at the strategy and design stage respectively. It requires reliable and appropriate cost data, design information, ideas, past experience and uses brain-storming workshops by our team of experts under the direction of the Project Manager. Value Management is a continuous process from inception to completion. The purpose of conducting the Value Management workshop is to set up an effective partnership agreement which should seek to achieve the scope and benefits of the project with respect of time, cost and quality. The benefits of Value Management contribute towards this project especially since the project is still in its early stages. Some of the concepts through which SBEinnovations Ltd can obtain value for money (VFM) are mentioned below; 1. Reduced Learning Curve 2. Improved communications and decision procedures 3. Improved quality and programming This report also includes a recommendation on Value Engineering Study conducted before the completed design stage and construction activities. Issues targeted during VE study include: 1. Design Optimization 2. Selection of Procurement Route 3. Cost, Quality and Time 4. Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) Study 5. Stakeholders Coordination 1. Introduction This report explains how Value Management and Value Engineering studies can contribute value to the Client before commencement of a project. The report summarises the key principles of Value Management and Value Engineering in the context of construction project of mixed-use recreation and commercial centre for SBEInnovations Ltd. This report is prepared for SBEinnovations Ltd on their request for proposals for a strategic level Value Management and Value Engineering studies. The aim of Value Management Study is to assess the project requirement in terms of functionally and efficiency of achieving the requirements. Prime consideration needs to be given to the importance of Time, Cost, Quality, Safety and Client's satisfaction. The specific issues to be evaluated at the VM Study are divided into two categories. 1. Strategic Issues (which will be considered in Value Management) 2. Tactical Issues (which will be considered in Value Engineering) 3.1 Strategic Issues 1. The following are considered as project strategic issues: 1. Project Drivers 2. Project Type 3. Size and Location 4. Procurement 5. Initial Cost Estimate 6. Esteem 7. Politics 8. Organisational Management 9. Change Management 3.2 Tactical Issues The following are considered as project strategic issues: 1. Design 2. Structure of the Project Organisation 3. Detail of accessibility and planning procedure 4. Time and Quality: 5. Outline Specification 6. Coordination 2. Value Management Study This is the first process where carefully selected team members from various parties get together to discuss various aims, objectives, constraints and risk associated with the Project in order to formulate Client objective of the need of such project. Value management usually incorporates a series of workshops, interviews and reviews involving diversified teams members through whom the project requirements are evaluated against the means and methods of achieving them. VM process will be dependent on the procurement route selected for the project. VM and VE Studies are very important for successful delivery of any project. Failure to carry out these studies will cause problems at subsequent design and construction stages causing cost overruns, project delays, claims etc. Value Management can help to avoid or minimize these problems. At the outset of a project, Value Management provides an exceptionally powerful way of exploring the client’s needs in-depth by addressing inconsistencies and expressing these in a language that all parties, whether technically informed or new to the construction industry, can understand. The Value Management process works top-down, starting with needs and strategic goals and focusing on root causes, not symptoms. An early consensus is developed between the key stakeholders about the need for the project or service, the scope, deliverables, key functions and risks, in the context of the wider business objectives. Opportunities for innovation are explored and the most cost effective means of implementation developed, consistent with desired time and quality requirements. VM considers the whole project rather than components and the process are underpinned by consensus. A typical Value Management Study has the following characteristics: 1. A systematic, staged approach 2. Clear definition of objectives and scope at the outset – focus on the customer requirements 3. Consideration of the organizational environment – internal and external influences 4. Multi-disciplinary team effort – positive human dynamics 5. Function Analysis System Technique 6. A workshop format with a structured job plan that separates creativity from evaluation and development. 7. Effective use of methods and tools – independent facilitation 2.1 Early Application of Value Management and its benefits The design is still at the very early stage. The Client has not yet committed with any design teams for project design. The client aims to innovate with creativity and to enhance the health, wellbeing and quality of life of its citizens. It is very important to get a feedback of its citizens of the Client intentions for such a project, because the clients’ and the citizens’ aim and objectives are totally different and conflicting ones. Therefore it is recommended that Value Management study at such early stage is carried out involving the all parties who have interest on the projects so that later in the projects the problems and risk will be minimized to a greater extent. As such the following benefits can be expected by applying Value Management to this specific project. 1. It defines what both the client and the citizens of the local area mean by value, and provide the basis for making decisions, throughout the project, on the basis of value. It provides a means for optimising the balance between private developer and public sector local authority having different aims and objectives out of the project. 1. It provides the basis for clear briefs that reflect the client’s priorities and expectations, expressed in a language that all can understand. This improves communication between both stakeholders so that each of them can understand and respect other’s constraints and requirements. 1. It ensures that the project is the most cost-effective way of delivering the business benefits and provides a basis for refining the business case. It addresses both the monetary and the non-monetary benefits. 1. It supports good design through improved communications, mutual learning and enhanced team-working, leading to better technical solutions with enhanced performance and quality, where it matters. 1. It provides a way of measuring value, taking into account nonmonetary benefits and demonstrating that value for money has been achieved. Project Objectives: In a construction project objectives shall be clearly defined. In clearly defining the project objectives value management plays a vital role and it is the starting point of value management in a project. Client Function, Activities and Stakeholders: Value management plays crucial role in ascertaining the client functions, requirements, stakeholder needs, briefing, gathering information pertaining to the project. Project Size and Location: In deciding the project size and location both value management and value engineering will be applied as value management will focus on the location, political situation, environment and others will focus, whereas value engineering will focus on the type of foundation to be used is suitable for the soil conditions, floor area index on the area and other design issues. Budget: It is a crucial in a construction project and the main purpose of the value management is to gain the maximum value for the money and for that budget is important and also careful budgeting is crucial for the success of the project, here value management will be applied. Procurement Option: In deciding the contract for the project the best procurement option is to be chosen, it depends on the scope of the project, requirements, budget and other external factors. To choose the best procurement option value management and value engineering both plays a vita role. Design and built option value management plays a vital role, value engineer plays a vital role in other types of procurement options as designs are being verified in this option. Design Change and Variation: happens during the course of the project, value engineering plays a lead role. In the design changes and variations as the changes will have an impact on the original design to be checked? The proposed changes can be accommodated or not also to be checked, also the cost impact, constructability and other design related parameters to be verified. Organization Structure: Many discrepancies arise due to unorganized organization structure, due to that construction and project gets delayed. Value management is employed, during the initial stages itself giving the requirements for organization and key personnel and appropriate accounting provision will be given in the costing. All the above will be applied in value management. Quality Control, Health, Safety and Environmental Issues: are crucial in project success, here both value management and engineering will be applied as quality cannot be compromised and design team will clearly indicate the minimum quality requirements and also HSE issues cannot be compromised it is a combination of both the above. The following graph illustrates the potential cost savings possible against time when VM is applied in a project. It is clear the when VM is applied at the early stage of a project, the saving will be far less to adopt the changes proposed by the Value Management since the design is yet not commenced and hence it is easy to incorporate any kind of design change proposal due to VM process. Fig 1: Cost Impact of Making Changes Over Time 2.2 Development of Value Management within project scenario: UPM suggests the budget should be equally divided among the different elements of the project. Some suggestions provided by UPM are: 1. Sports Centre Proper design management should be applied for the construction of Seating/Scoring or/and Spectator Seating arrangements. 2. Culture recreational centre Public community should be comfortable with different recreational centres. Their satisfaction is the primary goal to be achieved. 3. Hotels Lighting is a large cost item. The impact it has on energy and guest experience influence to a great extent the operation and spacing cost. 4. Shopping malls Primary objective here is to obtain maximum customer satisfaction keeping returns in mind. Quality should be maintained throughout the lifecycle of the project. 5. Parking space The financial cost for parking space depends on three factors: Total number of parking space required, ‘opportunity cost’ of parking land and cost per parking land available. Careful planning and brainstorming helps to obtain maximum value for land. 6. Food court Proper economical and environmental friendly techniques could be arranged for waste disposal. 7. Cinema Multiplex Natural Ventilation could be installed thereby reducing the cost and power consumption. Value Management Team Selection and Value Management Workshop VM is undertaken as a series stakeholder workshops held at key stages during the development of the project. Value Management Team forms an important aspect in decision making process. It is a flexible, team-based activity, planned and directed by an independent VM facilitator and driven by consensus. Team selection for the Value Management workshop is very critical to success to ensure that the full range of influences are properly addressed by people with the right balance of knowledge, skills, experience and judgment. Where particular stakeholders are not able to take part, or it is not politic to involve them, specific team members should be tasked as champions of those stakeholder interests. As such, the team should include the following participants: 1. Project Sponsor The Project Sponsor is responsible for endorsement of the study objectives. They are responsible for monitoring outcomes, action plans, client’s vision, timeframe, values and constraints. 2. Value Management Coordinator Usually, a client representative may designate this post. Before the workshop is developed, a number of activities need to be decided upon: 1. Developing brief for Facilitator 2. Identifying the Scope of Work 3. Engaging the Facilitator 4. Organizing the schedule for the workshop 5. Date and Venue confirmation 6. Arrangement of objectives of study 7. Selection and invitation of participants 8. Preparation of agenda These roles and the corresponding tasks may vary depending on nature of Value Management topic, the organizations involved and the scale to which Value Management activities undertaken by the parties. 3. Value Management Facilitator He initiates their evaluation at the beginning of the pre-workshop process, helping the client towards clearly defining the aim, assumptions and viewpoints of each stakeholder. The facilitator should specialise in assisting the process by providing support and advice to the sponsor. During Pre-workshop stage, the facilitator focus should be more towards process than content. The facilitator manages time, determines appropriate progress, manages the group, promotes collaboration within the group, and seeks agreement or a method of understanding between teammates at key stages. However, the facilitator should maintain client confidentiality and ensure every member contributes equally to the achievement of value. 4. Project Manager The Project Manager should be included within the workshop because he/she acts as a reference and as a team catalyst for continued action. 5. Stakeholders They should be included in the team as they give a clear cut idea about the objectives, needs and constraints. 6. Technical Experts SBEinnovations Ltd. members who have specialist skills in a particular area are to attend the workshop. Their responsibilities include providing advice and suggestions in the specialist area for which they are invited. 7. Relevant compliance agency Value Management briefing papers should be forwarded to relevant compliance agencies so that they can be affirmed that the steps followed are as per ‘Practice Guidance’. Though, it is not compulsory that their presence should be essential at the workshop. Value Management Workshop and Agenda Following are the three components of a VM Workshop: 1. Job Plan 2. Functions and Functionality 3. Multi-Disciplinary Team The VM Job plan of the workshop will have the following 5 phases 1. Information Phase 2. Creativity Phase 3. Evaluation Phase 4. Development Phase 5. Presentation and Reporting Phase All of the above phases will be covered in 3 weeks workshop as described below. TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES USED IN VM STUDY There are number of tools and techniques which can be used in VM study. However, the following are recommended by UPM. 1. Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) Diagram: It is a graphical representation of logical relationship of functions that need to be performed and how they are linked together into HOW-WHY logical connections to deliver the project. HOW and WHY questions are asked to develop the logic of a function. While defining any function, we ask HOW that particular function can contribute towards developing a more standardized and specific approach. This method of questioning and thinking is referred and summarized from left to right. To solve the problem to a higher level, we ask WHY that particular function is performed. This process of logic is read from right to left. 1. Risk Analysis Risk analysis is a financial tool used to identify risks that can potentially affect the project. The analysis looks at the costs involved, time constraints and other variables that may negatively affect the outcome. As a tool, risk analysis helps managers make decisions and find alternatives. 1. SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym that stands for â€Å"strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats,† which is precisely what the SWOT analysis aims to identify. The SWOT helps management see the company's strengths and weaknesses on paper as well as the potential opportunities and threats looming in the industry. Management can then find ways to maximize the company's strengths in order to capitalize on opportunities while minimizing potential threats and weaknesses. 6. VALUE ENGINEERING STUDY Value Engineering is a subset of Value Management. Once the Client is decided on the project, then before the detailed design will commence, the Value Engineering study will be carried out. 6.1 Recommended timing for VALUE ENGINEERING study: In order to expect the greatest return from this project, SBEinnovations Ltd. is suggested to include value engineering exercise during the early design stage and before 60% of the design commitment is reached. Value Engineering workshop should be carried out during the schematic design stage and the detailed design stage. If the Value Engineering occurs later it probably will be seen as a cost cutting exercise but it will be undertaken under a hostile climate that will prevent SBEinnovations from achieving the desired requirements and objectives of  £9M. 6.2 Recommended VE Team The number of participants should be a minimum of five and a maximum of ten. Although more members could participate, we recommend that a larger group may cause difficulties in one-to-one communication. Participants should involve: 1. Project Managers from SBEinnovations Ltd.: These Project Managers help to define the procurement routes and contract administration in the most effective way by putting to use their skills earned by experience. 2. Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers: While conducting brainstorm sections, Comments and views from Engineers, Architects and Quantity Surveyors are valid for active participation. 3. Value Engineering Facilitator: The facilitator should be someone apart from the project manager, the chief design engineer, or the client. The VE facilitator will guide the discussion to confirm and approve, but not to criticize the project approaches and details. 6.3 Value Engineering Workshops VE workshops are concerned with the detailed technical appraisal of alternative solutions proposed by the project team to meet the client’s requirements. Duration for VE workshop will be normally longer than that of VM Workshop. One of the following approaches could be used by SBEinnovations Ltd towards achieving a successful Workshop session: 1. Mini Workshops: A value engineer should join the design team at the briefing stage and be promoted as the facilitator throughout the project. Two mini-workshops should be organized following the job plan format and then reviewed at about 20% and 40% design completion. 2. The two-day workshop: All members of the team focus on issues in an intense and focused way. 6.4 Elements of the Scheme for VE study: Design Optimization As long as the bid documents and the process to detail design are open enough to allow for adjustment of the design, then a buildable design will rise. Design ideas for mixed use commercial and recreational centre should be developed during Value Engineering workshops keeping in mind the constructability and purpose for which it serves. This should include health, safety and security of the local community. Procurement Route The suitable Procurement route should be studied identified and applied by SBEinnovations Ltd. taking into consideration the pros and cons of that particular procurement route and its benefits to the client and the employer. Quality, Time and Cost Maximum return can only be achieved through proper quality, time and cost management. Value Engineering study team should be keen to attain maximum Value for Money (VFM) by proper planning and scheduling of works to ensure cost lies within  £ 9M within the stipulated time frame. Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) Study OBS review would be done during the VE workshop which helps to identify roles and responsibilities. Stakeholders Coordination Coordination should be justified during VE studies so as to dissolve any interference between Stakeholders. Part 2 – Risk Management Essay Risk Management in Infrastructure Projects Introduction All large projects face risks. Project risk is an activity, event or action which tends to cause a negative impact on the planned goals of project scope, quality, performance, execution time or cost. Inevitably, risks and uncertainties are substantially inherent in infrastructure projects. Problematically, many infrastructure projects could not have achieved project goals satisfactorily. Therefore, it is very important for the identification and treatment of these project risks. Project risks always contribute to the poor performance leading to cost and time over run. Their major reason is the occurrence of external and internal project risks and uncertainties throughout project stages from planning, bidding, contracting to construction. This essay intends to provide a useful insight into the inherent risk into infrastructure projects, and will discuss about the management of these risks. The essay will also enable the reader to understand and application of the key concepts and techniques used in management of risk in infrastructure projects. For the purpose of this essay, Railway Projects in the MENA region is considered. History has shown that railways have always been central to any country’s growth ambitions. Thus it comes as no surprise that the GCC countries have embraced railway networks as their best hope for expanding and consolidating future economic growth. By providing a low cost alternative to shipping and air, the GCC member states allow for increased trade and thus further economic prosperity. As a result of this increased focus, it’s no surprise to find that railway networks account for nine of the ten biggest infrastructure projects in the Middle East. With ambitious plans to produce a GCC wide network within the next decade, the countries are working to develop their own interior networks in preparation. The following Table shows a list of top 10 infrastructure projects (ongoing and planned) in the MENA area.