An Introduction to Socioeconomic Status

An Introduction to Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic status (SES) is a term used by sociologists, economists, and other social scientists to describe the class standing of an individual  or group. It is measured by a number of factors, including income, occupation, and education, and it can have either a positive or negative impact on a persons life.   Who Uses SES? Socioeconomic data is gathered and analyzed by a wide range of organizations and institutions. Federal, state, and local governments all use such data to determine everything from tax rates to political representation. The U.S. Census is one of the best-known means of collecting SES data. Nongovernmental organizations and institutions like the Pew Research Center also collect and analyze such data, as do private companies like Google. But in general, when SES is discussed, its in the context of social science. Primary Factors There are three main factors that social scientists use to calculate socioeconomic status: Income: This is how much a person earns, including wages and salaries, as well as other forms of income such as investments and savings. The definition of income is sometimes expanded to include inherited wealth and intangible assets as well.Education: A persons level of education has a direct impact on their earning ability, with higher earning power leading to more educational opportunities that in turn increase future income potential.Occupation: This factor is more difficult to assess because of its subjective nature. White-collar professions that require a high degree of skilled training, such as physicians or lawyers, tend to require more education and thus return more income than many blue-collar jobs. This data is used to determine the level of ones SES, usually classified as low, middle, and high. But a persons true socioeconomic status doesnt necessarily reflect how a person sees him or herself. Although most Americans would describe themselves as middle class, regardless of their actual income, data from the Pew Research Center shows that only about half of all Americans are truly middle class. Impact The SES of an individual or group can have a profound influence on peoples lives. Researchers have pinpointed several factors that can be affected, including: Physical health: Communities with low socioeconomic status in the U.S. have higher rates of infant mortality, obesity, and cardiovascular health issues.  Mental health: Along with poor physical health, communities with low SES report more cases of depression, suicide, drug abuse, behavioral and developmental issues.General health and welfare: Along with the impact on an individuals well being, socioeconomic status can also have an impact on communities, including rates of crime and poverty. Oftentimes, communities of racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. feel the effects of low socioeconomic status most directly. People who have physical or mental disabilities, as well as the elderly, are also particularly vulnerable populations. Resources and Further Reading Children, Youth, Families and Socioeconomic Status.  American Psychological Association. Accessed 22 Nov. 2017. Fry, Richard, and Kochhar, Rakesh. Are You in the American Middle Class? Find Out with Our Income Calculator. PewResearch.org. 11 May 2016. Tepper, Fabien. What is Your Social Class? Take Our Quiz to Find Out! The Christian Science Monitor. 17 Oct. 2013.

The Root of Ethnic Discrimination at Wounded Knee essays

The Root of Ethnic Discrimination at Wounded Knee essays In December of 1890, some 300 Lakota Indians, led by Chief Spotted Elk, took up an encampment in the area we now know as Wounded Knee, South Dakota. While they were resting, a larger group of U.S. soldiers surrounded the Indians. A single shot was fired from the soldiers, sparking a string of unprecedented fire from the troops. When the rain of ammunition ceased, over 300 Lakota Indians laid dead from gunfire, cannon fire or manual butchering from the soldiers. For four days, the dead laid where they were, frozen in the cold winter snow and air. The soldiers came back on that fourth day and loaded the dead in wagons and hauled them to mass graves. Following this incident, 27 Congressional Medals of Honor for bravery were awarded to several of the soldiers who participated in the massacre at Wounded Knee. Eighty-three years later, on February 27, 1973, a large group of armed Native Americans reclaimed Wounded Knee in the name of the Lakota Nation. For the first time in over a century, those Oglala Sioux ruled themselves, free from government intervention. The federal government found out about the militant movement and surrounded the group of Native Americans at Wounded Knee. Forces inside Wounded Knee demanded an investigation into misuse of tribal funds, as well as an investigation into the BIA and the Department of the Interior regarding their handling of the affairs of the Oglala Sioux tribe. The warriors also demanded an investigation into the 371 treaties between the Native Nations and government, all of which had been broken by the U.S. The warriors held fast to these demands and refused to lay down arms until they were met. In turn, the government cut off the electricity to Wounded Knee and attempted to keep all food supplies from entering the area. For the rest of the winte r, the men and women inside lived on minimal resources, while they fought back and forth with the feds. Heavy gunfire was issued between the two sides dai...

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Management - Essay Example Surely, large companies have never been the greatest evil of the society. Nevertheless, their influence over people’s behavior (buying habits), government regulations and even environment has risen drastically in the latest decades due to the expansion of globalization processes. For that reason the level of social responsibility each company overtakes in the contemporary business environment is now greatly influencing both the society and the company’s success. The given paper will present Alcoa, a manufacturer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina combine (Alcoa Inc. 2011), as an example of a company that tries to ensure that it is not only a good manufacturer of its products, but also a positive and contributing member of the world society. The goal of this paper is to outline the company’s achievements with regards to fulfilling social needs within society, as well as defining areas that need improvement. We will also analyse how Alcoa’ s social activities impact the society and stakeholders. Alcoa Inc. Today Alcoa is an international organization with its main headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 31 headquarters all over the world. The history of the company started in 1886, when Charles Martin Hall, a student at that time, started working of developing a commercially aluminum extracting process (The spark of innovation (1886-1920) 2011). In the search for investment for the research Charles made contacts with several entrepreneurs who helped him with the money and, finally, created a company named The Pittsburg Reduction Company. in 1907 the name was changed to Aluminum Company of America. It was only 1999 when the firm was renamed to Alcoa. These days Alcoa operates internationally and participates in all the major aspects of the business: developing technology, performing mining, refining, smelting, fabricating, and recycling of aluminum. The major business practices of the organization are Make to Use, Eliminate Waste, People Linchpin the System and ABS and Cost Savings. The Make to Use concept involves avoiding overproduction while manufacturing with the account of customers. Alcoa tends to create good working environments for its employees and is continuously working of improving its business processes for the purpose of increased savings at all the stages of operation (Inside the Alcoa Business System (ABS) 2011). The vision statement of Alcoa claims that the company works in a safe manner in order to protect and promote â€Å"the health and well-being of the individual and the environment† (Vision & Values 2011). Identifying Stakeholders Business can be conducted in different ways. So the question here is how much the organization influences various stakeholders of its. If the company in some way enriches the lives of the stakeholders, then the company can claim that it is socially responsible (Freeman, Velamuri and Moriarty 2006). At the same time, it cannot be said t hat the only stakeholders here are the direct consumers and shareholders of the company. As Marc Triebwasser (1998) points out, free market and competition are just the games that global elite and large companies play. Being large and powerful, they have plenty of tools for keeping and maintaining their current status. Among such tools are government campaign contributions, lobbying, and captured regulatory agencies (Triebwasser, 1998). Furthermore, a

Business management Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business management - Personal Statement Example Currently, I am studying business studies at college and I believe that this will give me fundamental knowledge that will be of great help on my enrolment for a degree course in business management. Additionally, I have been working for Wallis at Debenhams for three years now, which has enabled me to become dynamic and resourceful with interpersonal and negotiation skills, an outstanding team player, open minded and excellent in networking. I have also acquired analytical, managerial and leadership skills among others. I believe that pursuing this course will give me the chance to sharpen these skills further and increase my knowledge in business management. Moreover, some of my hobbies including travelling and reading magazines especially business-related ones help me explore diverse business ventures, boost my interest in business management in addition to keeping me up to date with current affairs in business world. I have no misgivings that this exposure to the field of business will greatly influence my performance in my degree course. My request for a chance to pursue business management is based on my passion to delve into the world of business where I aspire to own and manage my own business. I am looking forward to excel in my degree program and thereafter pursue a Masters degree in business management. My willingness to learn together with my open mind, determination, attention to details as well as my strong will to deliver quality and relevant results will be important assets as I study. With the training and support that I will get from my tutors, I will certainly perform well. I kindly hope that you will consider my application and give me the opportunity to do what I love doing most: serving humanity as a business

Separation of Powers Within the United Kingdom Constitution Essay

Separation of Powers Within the United Kingdom Constitution - Essay Example The English government has three branches which include: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The U.K is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the executive head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Additionally, the Executive includes cabinet ministers, civil service, the police and the armed forces. The Executive formulates and implements government laws. The legislature, formally the â€Å"Queen in Parliament† is responsible for making laws. The judiciary is supposed to be free from parliament and the executive and is responsible for resolving conflicts between institutions of the state, individuals and the state and individuals, immune from criticism. Separation of powers, strengthened by the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty is highly emphasized in the English Constitution. There would be no liberty if the same man or the same body exercised those three powers. The powers of the three arms of government generally overlap. The British Constitution does not strictly separate the powers. This is mainly due to the complexity and the interrelated nature of the functions of the state. A solid example of overlap between the three branches is the position of Lord Chancellor who is a member of the Cabinet, the head of the judiciary and also chairs the House of Lords when they sit as a legislature. The Constitutional Reform is currently reforming this role to highlight SOP. However, some argue that such a position acts as a bridge between the executive and the judiciary. ... However, some argue that such a position acts as a bridge between the executive and the judiciary. The executive and legislature have great connections in exercise of their powers. According to Bagehot (1867) that relationship is the â€Å"efficient secret of the English Constitution.† Overlaps are evident as seen when ministers sit in parliament and perform legislative functions; and the executive tends to control MPs to vote in a certain way. The government is usually made up of the party with the majority of seats in the House of Commons, which means that the executive has great control on legislative decisions. The Prime Minister, cabinet and bureaucracy determine the legislative agenda and the cabinet. Also, many judicial officers such as the Attorney General and the Lord Chancellor are appointed by the government. The executive generally dominates especially in cases where the government has a firm majority in the House of Commons to the extent that it is assured of winn ing major votes in the House. In Britain, a government of national majority coalition draws its political leadership in dominant control of authoritative decision making; and national public policy. The legislature may interfere in executive roles when government loses a vote of confidence and through Acts of parliament which may affect executive decisions. There is an overlap between the Judiciary and the Executive in that the Lord Chancellor who is the head of Judiciary also sits in the cabinet. In this case a member of the Judiciary finds himself in the cabinet. Again the Lord Chancellor chairs the House of Lords when they sit as legislature. In this instance a person who heads the Judiciary also chairs the proceedings of the legislature. There is

Hardys Use Of Nature English Literature Essay

Hardys Use Of Nature English Literature Essay Throughout the novel, Hardy uses various aspects of nature in different ways in order to help tell the story. In Tess of the DUrbervilles, Hardy has written it so that Tesss life simply gets worse and worse until her death at the end. Nature does not help her, with Hardy portraying it as being unsympathetic, uncaring, and unforgiving. Hardy uses seasons, and setting of location in the novel to portray the passing of time; phases in Tesss life and new emotions associated with these new phases. At the start of the novel in chapters I and II, the location is set in Marlott, where the character of Tess lives. It is the spring, in May; Marlott is described by Hardy as though being almost flawless, as a fertile and sheltered tract of country. This description is used to portray early on, the purity and sexual innocence of Tess which will be degraded throughout the novel When Tess travels to visit Alec, Hardy transforms her surroundings, making The Slopes appear out of place and unnatural. This gives the reader a sense of uncertainty about what is about to happen to Tess. This is shown as Hardy writes how the house is of the same rich crimson colour that formed such a contrast with the evergreens of the lodge This colour, crimson, is evidently very out of place in a green forest setting. Tess also says I thought we were an old family; but this is all new! This shows her naivety and her own worry for the situation she is about to encounter. Also, she is surrounded by Druidical mistletoe while at The Slopes. This relates to how people are often seduced under mistletoe, therefore foreshadowing how she is going to be seduced there later by Alec in the autumn. At the start of phase the third, Hardy writes about Tesss finding of work in Talbothays dairy in the summer. He describes this setting in a more positive way, because this is a happy time for Tess, as she meets Angel. Talbothays is described as the verdant plain so well watered by the river Var or Froom. Verdant makes it seem as though it is a green, healthy and luxurious place which is the impression that Hardy is trying to set in. Hardy begins to describe normal things in a more sexual way, to reflect what is going to happen in Talbothays. For example, ..the milk oozed forth and fell in drops to the ground. In complete contrast to Talbothays, in chapter XLII, Hardy describes Flintcombe-Ash as a barren land, and it is now winter. Tess is now very miserable and lonely. This pathetic fallacy is made to help us feel sorry for Tesss now considerably less fortunate circumstances. Here the air was dry and cold à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ hedges mercilessly plashed down. The use of the word mercilessly describes how everything around Tess appears to be against her, including nature. Hardy specifically expresses this in chapter XIV, that bastard gift of shameless Nature who respects not the civil law.This describes how nature does not care that she was raped, unlike the civil law, which would. Hardy uses animal imagery within the novel to perhaps foreshadow the hidden themes and to metaphorically represent Tess. For example, in chapter IX Tess goes to work for Mrs DUrberville in her poultry house. This means that right at this point of the novel, we are already associating her with an animal which is trapped in captivity. Mrs dUrberville asks Tess, Can you whistle?' She cannot, so Alec has to teach her. For birds in the wild, whistling is a way of a bird trying to attract or seduce a mate, therefore the fact that Alec has to teach Tess to whistle means that his seducing has already started. On the other hand, the fact that Tess cannot whistle yet may also be implying that she is too young and not ready for sex. In the novel, Hardy has written it so it is as though Tess is accompanied by birds frequently, and so reflects her similarities to the animal about how she is trapped like a bird in a cage, and cannot escape her fate at the end of the novel. This is perhaps subtly foreshadowed in chapter XIX. Tess, like a fascinated bird, could not leave the spot. This implies that she cannot control the fact that she is listening to Angels music, and the fact that she will be trapped by fate is inevitable. Birds also appear at various points in the novel. For example, in chapter XLI, when Tess finds some injured birds. Her first thought was to put the still-living birds out of their torture she broke the necks of as many as she could find. This act perhaps foreshadows her own death which is inescapable. On the other hand, it may also be interpreted as though Tess can feel the birds pain, so kills them to put them out of their misery; as she has experienced similar pain that they have. They have be en hurt by causes beyond their control like Tesss rape. In the novel, Hardy uses weather, among other aspects of nature in a way that will reflect the storys events. For example, when Tess is first raped by Alec in chapter XI, The Chase is surrounded by a thick fog. Alec says, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦owing to this fog, which so disguises everythingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It is made to seem as though the fog, and therefore nature itself is uncaring. It is made to seem as though nature cares not for common morals, but only for itself, as it is happy for Tess to become pregnant, caring not that it is through rape. Hardy also personifies nature, for example at the start of chapter XXIII, The hot weather of July had crept upon themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the use of the word crept is effective as it describes how quickly time has passed for her, and how such unexpected events have happened so quickly. Hardy effectively uses pathetic fallacy within the novel in order to portray certain events to help the reader to empathise with the character of Tess. The best example of this is in chapter XIV when Tess is trying to baptise her baby before she knows it will die. Darkness is often associated with sad feelings and thoughts. Chapter XIV contains very sad and discomforting themes so Hardy uses dark colours and night time to help increase the atmosphere. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦shone in the gloom surrounding her. As the story goes on, the character of Tess matures, and it is as though nature around her also matures and changes accordingly to how she does. This is shown effectively in chapter XX. In this chapter, the development of Tess and Angels love is described, and this is reflected in Hardys description of nature in the first few lines. The season developed and matured. Another years instalment of flowers, leaves, nightingales took up their positions where only a year ago others had stood in their place The use of the word instalment portrays how the life of nature, and also Tess works in cycles, and each generation of nature is somewhat unimportant, only coming in instalments. Unimportance and insignificance is a common theme throughout the novel. This is also depicted in chapter XI when Tess is raped. Already at that hour some sons of the forest were stirring and striking lights It is as though nature is uncaring and goes on as normal around the awful events that are happening at the same time. In the novel, nature is meant to come across as being amoral and uncaring. This is most reflected in the passage about her baby Sorrow being a bastard gift from nature, which does not care as to how it came about, in contrast to the law which would have punished Alec. But also, nature is portrayed as though it doesnt judge Tess for what has happened, thus also meaning it does not judge Alec.

College - Is it Worth it? :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

College - Is it Worth it? Right now in our society a college education is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. We are practically raised and conditioned to believe that one needs higher education in order to succeed in life. There is a saying that says "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance." But as technology is constantly advancing and computers are running almost anything, is a college education really necessary? There are people whom have never set foot in a college and are doing better than people who have their master's degree. There are views from both sides that contain a valid argument. The main reason why people go to college is not because they want to but because they have to. Most high school seniors are pressured by their guidance counselors and parents to go to college because it is "the right thing to do." In the essay that Caroline Bird wrote "College is a Waste of Time and Money", she states that students go to college because " . . . Mother wanted them to go, or some other reason entirely irrelevant to the course of studies for which college is supposedly organized." (481) The student may have different ideas about what he or she wants to do in life, but because they think that these "mentors" know what is best for them, they probably end up doing something they do not want to do, resulting in being miserable and resentful. Let's face it, going to college is socially prestigious. Most people go to college only for the title of being called a college student. " For some young people, it is a graceful way to get away from home and become independent without losing the financial support of their parents." (Bird 484) They do not want to be looked down upon so they do what would look best in the eyes of society. It is practically beat into our heads that in order to be a productive citizen of society, you should have some sort of college education. Being a college student is perhaps a more respectable role than being, for example, a janitor or a garbage man because of the negative connotations such jobs receive.

Facilitating the Project Lifecycle the Skills & Tools to Accelerate Progress for Project Managers, Facilitators, and Six Sigma Project Teams Essay

               One of the most important aspects to put into consideration when taking up a project is project risk management. A project risk is an event / condition, which is uncertain that, upon it occurrence brings either a positive or a negative impact on the project. A positive manager should consider this as one of the ten knowledge areas where competence is highly regarded. Risk management is critical, especially to organizations working I multi-project environments and the maturity for risk is high. A wide range of risks is apparent when working in projects involving construction among other engineering work. These risks are mostly attributed to government policy, diversity in stakeholders’ aspirations and the challenges of adding multiple projects. For a good risk management process, there must be a clear statement and understanding of roles and responsibilities, proper skills on technical analysis and the prevailing organizational factors should support th e project. Project risk management involves identifying, assessing and prioritizing of risks: and thereafter putting resources to use in order to reduce, monitor and control those risks that could affect the project negatively and increase realizing of opportunities. This report seeks to outline the knowledge acquired on management of risk in projects. Discussion               All organizations exist for their own different purposes, and that of public engineering organizations in the construction business, the purpose is to deliver a service, which brings a beneficial result in the public/ stakeholders interest. Decisions to pump resources into investments on capital infrastructure are prompted by needs that are meant to enhance the achievement of the major purpose. According to Flanagan and Norman (1993), the benefits of efficient risk management are evident especially in projects involving capital infrastructure because they are dynamic in nature and bring positive cost implications from the construction related decisions. Risk management should be taken as an intrinsic part of capital infrastructure investment decisions mainly because, as project ventures get more elaborate, the role of risk management is exemplified. In regard to this realization, some countries have enacted government policies on constructors emphasizing on th e need to incorporate risk management in capital infrastructure schemes. Risk is therefore, in many occasions, viewed as a condition or event whose occurrence will have adverse effects on the project and may hinder the attainment of set objectives. Hence, risk management relates decisions to such probable harmful effects.                  This philosophical approach to risk management enables the process to be broken down into four fundamental sub-processes. These involve identification, analysis, response and monitoring. The former step of identification is the most critical step because it has the biggest effect on decisions emanating from the process of risk management. Reviewing risk management, in his article, Williams (1995), notes that there is little structured work in publication about typical risks. According to Chapman (1998), as much as risk identification is critical on the risk assessment and response phases, very little empirical evidence is available at this early phase. The heavier task in risk management remains in the analysis and response to the risk, yet the reasoning stands that unless the risks are identified, they cannot be analyzed and responded to.                  For most engineers, the need to have a set out program is critical for it provides an umbrella under which all current projects fall so that an outcome can be delivered massively in general, and greater than the total sum of all others. A program is usually temporary, and flexible; created to direct and oversee the implementation of a set of related projects and activities for the deliverance of beneficial outcomes that relate to the organization’s strategic objectives. Several projects are undertaken under this umbrella. This explicitly differentiates between program management outcomes and project management outputs. However, there is a link between projects and strategy through the program. Risk management is becoming an increasingly important process due to external pressures in existence. However, good risk management is seen as a critical attribute of organizational success in the field of engineering. The assumption that programs are merely extensions of projects should cease to exist because many will tend to reflect program risk management to project risk management (Allan, 2008). Program management is a broad extension of the varied, yet related, projects.                  On projects, it is important to define one or more objective functions like capital expenditure and completion time to represent it to measure the probability of achieving the set targets. Risk management then goes on to model the project’s objectives against the projects variables like costs and the quantity of inputs. These variables are usually uncertain as time goes on, hence the uncertainty of a hundred percent achievement of the objectives set. The most ideal situation would be identifying and characterizing the variables in advance providing that they will remain unchanged by time. This would make it easy to estimate the possible risks and the consequent variance of the project’s objective(s). However, not all project variables can be identified as new variables might surface as the project goes on while the probability of occurrence of the initial variables may vary. The impacts of the initial variables, both positive and negative, m ay change too hence making risk management even more hard (Drummond, 1999).                     Certainty and uncertainty of realizing a project’s objectives are measurable, only ideally. The possibility of a project not breaking even could be considered as a representative of the whole project, and then used in turn to evaluate against variable and try and reduce the risks involved as well as become a basis for decision-making. Some projects may proceed normally in a stable environment, hence making the uncertainty high at the time it is conceptualized. Pro-active planning and making prudent decisions will see the uncertainty reduce. However, uncertainty in complex projects within a changing environment will not necessarily reduce/ diminish as time goes by Chapman (1998). It is necessary to keep on checking on the project’s variables and re-evaluating of the objective function’s status to facilitate adjustments in the project’s strategies. Uncertainty surrounds many parts of a project; hence early resolution of vari ables may not be possible always. Variables change over time leading to exposure to new threats and risks along the way. This fact should not be refuted and a lot of work is required in the planning evaluating phases, where most of the critical work is done. In spite of all the uncertainty and complexity surrounding risk management and project management, it is important to seek methods of improving the project’s base value (Drummond, 1999).                  Conceptualization, planning, and implementation of a project is a complex process that requires management based on set strategic objectives, which vary from time to time. The objectives should be integrative and holistic in the sense that it caters for social, political, environmental, and community aspects. Traditionally, planning in project management should form the basis of planning, alongside other functions of project management including; human resource, time, scope, integration, quality and procurement. These should be the fundamental factors f consideration along each phase. A variety of guidebooks, protocols and codes of practice in the engineering field have been made available for use in risk management in project management. In the United Kingdom, the ‘Orange book’ is a framework that is set to offer guidance on basic risk management concepts and as a resource for developing risk management processes and implementing them I the public sector. It is also aimed at using a risk based decision-making on investment. There have been many more publications and publications aimed at dictating hoe risk management should look like. These guidelines have offered a basis upon which projects are appraised and their investment viability tested. This has enhanced the process and shifted its reception and perception from project risk management to a risk management strategic level (Melton, 2011).                  In engineering and construction professions, program management and project management came to existence due to the changing procurement environment. In the United Kingdom, procurement of infrastructural assets was done in a sequential manner, which involved a clear differentiation in the project life cycle phases. Currently there are three major procurement systems, that is; prime contracting, Design and Build procurement and Private Finance Initiative. These methods were because of the need to adopt integrative and collaborative project delivery methods. The procurement systems have features like framework agreements, the use of specifications that are output based, and more importantly, emphasis on the lifelong value of the structures (Shehu and Akintoye, 2009). The office of Government Commerce has facilitated the change in construction procurement in the public sector too. The agency’s main agenda is to ensure that policies are followed and en hancing promotion of the best performance practices. These systems ensure that the project undertaken are of high quality and are in regard to the set policies and guidelines. These sanctions in the public works and construction sector have acted as strategic risk management tools for they ensure quality assurance as well as proper quality management.                  Project management should incorporate the use of a strategy-based management approach. This will facilitate the integration of planning, risk management and decision-making hence ensuring real time real time realization of an optimum of the project’s strategic objective against its variables. The project’s promoters are not always the investors. Investors are not always actively involved in the management of the project, but invest resources into the project hoping to get dividends. The promoters’ objective, on the other hand, is to deliver a facility that will ensure a long term balanced and financially viable business entity. The project is therefore a compromise between the attainment of investors’ interests and that of the community. Project development should be based on a set of strategic objectives, which stamp the project as a business and entwining project decisions to strategic business decisions. Amid all risks, the project should be planned proactively with regards to its variables and with a focus on the life cycle objective functions (Westland, 2007).                  The life cycle objective functions are functions such as: financially related functions- such as the project’s net worth, satisfaction of customers- those affected by aspects such as safety, project utility, operability, and quality, lastly, due diligence must be adhered to- that is, statutory concerns and policies should be observed especially when the project is located in highly populated areas or is adjacent or near ecological systems deemed to be sensitive (Janet & Tammy, 2005). This factor also goes hand in hand with the ethical code that is supposed to guide the execution of projects. Proactive planning of the project ensures that project uncertainty is minimized in real time. Effective risk management ensures that there is typical conceptualization of projects and their subsequent implementation using strategic objectives. It also ensures any further variables are assessed and managed accordingly to optimize the project’s strategic o utcome, that which of a business entity. Since projects are subjected to changes in objectives and variables due to external factors, it is important to incorporate a continuous risk management process that involves continuous risk and uncertainty management process conducted in real time to bring value to the project manager. Strategies made from risk analysis should be seen as a basis upon which decisions are made going forward. Objectives of the life cycle should be used as the vessel for analysis. Reflective assessment                  Engaging in exhaustive personal research and involvement of the same with groups has incapacitated adequately with sufficient knowledge on managing projects as an engineer. I have come to evolve from a mediocre project manager, thinking that technicalities were all I needed, to a project under-taker equipped with the relevant skills. Undertaking projects with my group and alone was not like undertaking them with my professor. Comparing personal projects and those done in groups, with those guided by the professor, flaws are clear to point out. In my first group project, our then project leader, whose name I will not disclose for discretion purposes, was too impulsive at times and objectives were not achieved as expected because of poor decision-making, even on the most obvious issues. The project resulted in high costs in execution unlike what had been anticipated and took longer. However, it is from the mistakes that my group and I learnt the importance of risk management in project management as an important tool to facilitate proactive planning, rather than responding to results. Another lesson learnt from that experience was the need to incorporate continuous analysis as a way of implementing risk management to ensure real time solutions. However, it is through solving these and other hurdles that the learning process in the field has been enhanced and increased my knowledge. The short yet detailed experience coupled with the many articles and critiques I have encountered have inspired me to get to want to explore more on the field by undertaking and managing more projects to experience more than I have. By initiating and overseeing projects as well as assuming responsibility for achievement of objectives and integration will boost my intuition and judgment on decision-making for future projects and for professional expertise. I know trying to venture into projects of high magnitude is a risk, but the ability to tackle the risk itself is way beyond the risk management of the process and a success would ultimately mean victory on both ends. References Allan, N., Davis, J., 2006. Strategic risks — thinking about them differently. Proceedings of ICE 159 Drummond H 1999. Are we any closer to the end Escalation and the case of Taurus? International Journal of Project Management Flanagan, R., & Norman, G. (1996). Risk management and construction. Oxford [u.a.], Blackwell Science.Means, J. A., & Adams, T. (2005). Facilitating the Project Lifecycle the Skills & Tools to Accelerate Progress for Project Managers, Facilitators, and Six Sigma Project Teams. Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons. http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=9130. Melton, T. (2008). Real project planning developing a project delivery strategy. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann. Shehu, Z., Akintove, A., 2010. Major challenges to the successful implementation and practice of programme management in the construction environment: a critical analysis. International journal of project management Westland, J. (2007). The project management life cycle: a complete step-by-step methodology for initiating, planning, executing & closing a project successfully. Williams, T., 1995. A classified bibliography of recent research relating to project risk management. European Journal of Operational Research Source document

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere Book Review

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere Book Review In Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana, Armani Curtis, a young African-American girl living in the Ninth Ward district of New Orleans, is completely uprooted from her world when Hurricane Katrina rips through her neighborhood. In her search to be reunited with family members, she discovers personal strengths and the real meaning of community. The publisher lists the book for ages 10 and older. Summary of the Story Its late August 2005 and 9-year-old Armani Curtis, looking forward to her birthday weekend, cannot wait to join the double digits club. Nothing, not even the persistent rumors of a storm, can burst Armani’s excitement until she notices her parents’ apprehension. Focusing on her celebration, Armani is disappointed when the other members of her family, including her beloved MeMaw, seem preoccupied with threats of a dangerous storm. When her older brother Georgie tells her the next door neighbors are evacuating, she makes him promise not to tell her parents until after her birthday. Despite their worries and a stormy black sky, Armani’s parents celebrate her tenth birthday with a Bar-B-Q, a delicious buttercream cake with blue frosting, and a brand new puppy which she promptly names Cricket. The celebration is cut short when a neighbor bursts into the backyard telling everyone it’s too late to evacuate and to prepare for a major storm.   Powerful winds begin to blow shattering windows and panic ensue when Georgie notices a rapidly approaching wave of water rolling over everything in its path and heading towards their home. The levee protecting their Ninth Ward neighborhood has broken and there is nowhere to go. The family flees to the attic to save their lives, but their nightmare is just beginning. Trapped in the attic with the floodwaters rising, Armani’s asthmatic baby brother is gasping for air while there are only a few bottles of water between them.  Their crisis grows more distressing as Armani’s brother and then her father, jump into the fast-moving floodwater to capture her birthday puppy. Stranded, the family of refugees must wait for rescue while worrying about the outcome of those family members who jumped into the water. Once on dry land, Armani is left to watch over the younger kids while her mom searches desperately for a clinic to help the sickly baby. Armani realizes it is up to her to keep her small group together amidst the crisis around her. In the process, she discovers how to trust, how to survive, and how to nurture hope in the face of great despair. Author Julie T. Lamana Julie Lamana knows first-hand the destruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina. In 2005 Lamana worked as a literacy aide in a Louisiana school. In the aftermath of the hurricane, she helped displaced children and found in her experiences the seeds to write a story. As a child growing up in a military family, Lamana moved many times and found it difficult to create lasting relationships and thus found comfort in books. Now retired from education, she spends her time writing and is currently at work on her next middle-grade book. Lamana and her family Lamana live in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana.   Recommendation and Review For readers who like survival stories, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere is a fearsome read. Real life scenarios based on Julie Lamana’s personal experiences dealing with Hurricane Katrina create the story foundation for those uncertain first few days in the Ninth Ward district of New Orleans, Louisiana.  These experiences provided material for an authentic, emotional story for readers who value accurate detail and realistic characters. The character of Armani Curtis transforms from a self-centered, judgmental child, to a conscientious young girl who learns to accept and trust others. Despite many warnings of the approaching storm, Armani is determined to not let anything take away from her special occasion. Lamana deliberately highlights Armani’s self-centered character (pretty typical of her age) so readers can clearly identify the great emotional changes the hurricane brings about forcing Armani to put aside her childish ways in order to make independent and protective decisions about her younger siblings. Within a matter of days, Armani’s childhood vanishes.  Fear and distrust color her every action, but over time Armani begins to allow others to help her rebuild trust. Like a gathering storm, this story starts out at a leisurely pace gradually building in intensity. A typical day of riding the bus, dealing with bullies, and sitting on the front porch swing with her beloved MeMaw slowly moves into whispered rumors of a gathering storm. Television newscasts, neighbors’ midnight evacuations, and an ever-changing colorful sky take Armani and her family from a birthday celebration to a fight for survival.   A Gentle Warning for Parents Julie Lamana has personal experience with Hurricane Katrina and she witnessed the devastating physical, social, and mental effects of the hurricane. Hence, she gives readers an authentic story where a very young girl must deal with death, disease, and despair. While not graphic in detail, there is no sugarcoating about the dead bodies floating in the water, the mass looting, or desperate â€Å"crazies† that Armani meets as she struggles to make sense of the chaos around her. A worthy book to understand how a natural disaster affects a community and a family, I highly recommend Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere. Be sure to have a box of tissues close by. (Chronicle Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781452124568)

Types of Nouns - Parts of Speech for ESL

Types of Nouns - Parts of Speech for ESL One of the most important types of words in English are nouns. Nouns are a part of speech that indicate people, things, objects, concepts, etc. There are seven types of nouns in English. Abstract Nouns Abstract nouns are nouns that refer to concepts, ideas, and emotions, Abstract nouns are nouns that you cannot touch, are not made of materials, but play an important role in life. Here are some examples of common abstract nouns: successdepressionlovehateangerpowerimportancetolerance Tom has had a lot of success this past year.Many people prefer to let love inspire them rather than hate.Jack has little tolerance for people who waste his time.The desire for power has ruined many good people. Collective Nouns Collective nouns refer to groups of various types. Collective nouns are most commonly used with groups of animals. Collective nouns can be used in both the singular and plural form, although collective nouns tend to be used in the singular. Here are some common collective nouns referring to groups of animals: herdlitterpackswarmhive The herd of cattle moved to a new field to graze.Be careful! Theres a hive of bees someone near here. Collective nouns are also commonly used for names of institutions and groups within institutions such as academic, business, and governmental organizations. departmentfirmpartystaffteam Staff will meet at ten-thirty tomorrow morning.The sales department met its goals last quarter. Common Nouns Common nouns refer to categories of things in general, never to specific examples. In other words, when speaking about education in general someone might refer to university in a general sense. I think Tom should go to university to study science. In this case, university is a common noun. On the other hand, when university is used as part of a name it becomes part of a proper noun (see below). Meredith decided to go to the University of Oregon. Note that common nouns that are used as the part of a name and become proper nouns are always capitalized. Here are some common nouns that are often used as common nouns and parts of names: universitycollegeschoolinstitutedepartmentstate There are a number of states which are in financial difficulty.I think you need to go to college. Concrete Nouns Concrete nouns refer to things that you can touch, taste, feel, and see. There are actual things that we interact with on a daily basis. Concrete nouns can be both countable and uncountable. Here are some typical concrete nouns: Countable Concrete Nouns orangedeskbookcarhouse Uncountable Concrete Nouns ricewaterpastawhiskey There are three oranges on the table.I need some water. Im thirsty!My friend has just bought a new car.Can we have rice for dinner? The opposite of concrete nouns are abstract nouns that do not refer to things we touch, but to things we think, ideas we have, and emotions we feel. Pronouns Pronouns refer to people or things. There are a number of pronoun forms depending on how the pronouns are used. Here are the subject pronouns: Iyouhesheitweyouthey He lives in New York.They like pizza. There are many different forms of pronouns including subject, object, possessive, and demonstrative pronouns. Proper Nouns Proper nouns are the names of people, things, institutions, and nations. Proper nouns are always capitalized. Here are some examples of common proper nouns: CanadaUniversity of CaliforniaTomAlice Tom lives in Kansas.Id love to visit Canada next year. Uncountable Nouns/Mass Nouns/Non-Count Nouns Uncountable nouns are also referred to as mass nouns or non-count nouns. Uncountable nouns can be both concrete and abstract nouns and are always used in the singular form because they cannot be counted. Here are some common uncountable nouns: ricelovetimeweatherfurniture Were having lovely weather this week.We need to get some new furniture for our home. Uncountable nouns can generally do not take a definite or indefinite article depending on usage. Noun Types Quiz Decide whether the following nouns in italics are abstract, collective, proper, common, or concrete nouns.   There are two books on that table.  That pack of students are on their way to classes.I grew up in Canada.  She went to university in Alabama.  Youll find that success can lead to pain as well as pleasure.The team chose Barney as their leader.  Have you ever tried straight whiskey?I dont think hes in politics for power.Lets make some pasta for dinner.  Be careful! There is a swarm of bees over there. Answers books - concrete noun  pack - collective nounCanada - proper noununiversity - common nounsuccess - abstract nounteam - collective nounwhiskey - concrete noun (uncountable)power - abstract nounpasta - concrete noun (uncountable)swarm - collective noun

Valuation at acquisition (operational assets) Essay

Valuation at acquisition (operational assets) - Essay Example Tangible operational assets generally include assets that may be covered under the broad category of ‘Property Plant and Equipment’ like land and buildings, machineries and equipments, vehicles, and others. Such assets may be acquired by purchase or gift, or the entity may construct its own assets. Regardless of the method of acquisition, decisions need to be made as to which costs should be capitalized and which cost which should be expensed with. In addition the amounts at which such assets should be capitalize is not clear. Intangible assets have the main characteristic is that they lack physical substance. It is generally difficult to estimate the value of intangibles and there is high degree of uncertainty regarding the length of time over which they will provide revenue or future benefits to the entity. â€Å"In general, the value of an intangible asset lies in its future use, and can be estimated from the incremental profits that such use will through off.†(Farok J. Contractor,2001, page 10)1 The initial accounting for intangibles is largely dependent on whether they are purchased or developed internally. Intangible assets include patents, goodwill, copyrights, trademarks, franchises, organizational costs and others. The general rule to capitalized costs is that the purchase price of an asset and all costs incurred in preparing the asset for its intended use are capitalized as part of cost of the asset. Let us examine the capitalization aspect under both tangible (Property Plant and Equipment) and intangible assets Cost of Land that needed to be capitalized is all the expenditure on its acquisition that is incurred for getting it ready for its intended use. Such costs are purchase price and the closing costs like legal fees, fee of the attorney and registration charges. Some time an old structure exists on land being acquired. Then costs of demolishing such structure and also the expenditure relating to clearing, filling, and

Advantages and disadvantages of having hackers or other systems Essay

Advantages and disadvantages of having hackers or other systems intruders as your IT security guardians - Essay Example ‘Hacker’ is very commonly used term in computer technology and refers to wickedness, deceitful individual who is intended to steal some kind of information or data and burglarizes the business or personal computers. Despite the fact that there are some benefits of engaging a hacker as a member of corporation’s information technology staff since a corporation that upholds a corporate website and domestic network is capable to take advantage of the experiences built by the hacker. In other words, it can be said that all the hackers are not bad a number of them get through the network safety in an effort to teach various users (Marsh, 2011). This paper is also about the assessment of some of the main aspects regarding the varied nature of hackers. The basic aim of this research is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having hackers or other systems intruders as our business IT security guardians. What do hackers know that you (or your other IT people) don't know? Computer hackers have been using the weaknesses of any corporate network or else communication systems that are exposed to them, in computer networks. Though the reason can be that number of people using internet for some reason have been rising more and more every year, this outlines that a hacker can well be among one of them. As a matter of this realism, numerous unofficial groups of hackers explicitly have shown information, on, how they go about contravention effectively into some corporate computer systems (ISA, 2005). For the assessment of a hacker that is engaged for good intention will typically concentrate on how technology could be utilized to improve business production while illicit hackers pay their significant concentration on how technology is competent to be perverted as well as controlled (Purewire, Inc., 2010) and (Kelton, 2010). As the subsequent production of IT networking, the wireless 802.11 standard LANs are as well the novel playing fields for hackers . However, the security actions such as effectual encryptions and validation for standard wireless LANs are yet mounting; on the other hand, hackers have access to the user-friendly tools that are able to open more and more complicated attacks that are very dangerous to the information resources of the organizations. In this scenario, a number of enterprises make the blunder of considering that they do not need to agonize regarding wireless safety if they are operating non-mission decisive systems by means of non-susceptible data and information all through their wireless communication LANs. Though, a small number of networks function as isles of computerization. The majority of them make their connection with the enterprise backbone at a number of points, and hackers are capable to utilize the wireless LAN like a start point to the whole network. Therefore, each entrance indicating that network is supposed to be protected. During the summer time of year 2002, a trade chain was stat ed to be operating its typical wireless LAN with no some structure of encryption. The seller replied through stating that its wireless LAN simply managed its inventory function, consequently encryption was not desirable. Though, the open links invites hackers to watch about on the network to probably acquire access into secret client records or else sensitive business details plus information (AirDefense, Inc. , 2003) and (Kelton, 2010). Policies should IT security consultants be allowed to break in pursuit of security threats or threateners? There are two types of hackers. First type is known as White hat and other is Black hat. White hat hackers are those persons who are hired for positive purposes and for the effective management of business as well as corporate operations whereas the black hat hackers are opposite in nature. White