Friday, December 27, 2019

What Happens When Equality, Liberty, And Justice Are...

In consideration of the dawning of a new year, the unabashed continuation of White privilege and the unrepentant devaluation of Black lives, I inquisitively thought of Hughes’ questions in terms of liberty. What happens when equality, liberty, and justice are deferred? Not just deferred for you, but likewise deferred for your parents, and their parents, and their grandparents, and their grandparents’ grandparents — deferred now for your children and your children’s children. What happens when substantive and far-reaching gains for Blacks – socially, economically and politically are deferred? How about when access to quality education and quality health care equal to that of Whites is deferred? How much longer shall we wait for full equality? How many more generations - deferred liberty? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his letter from a Birmingham Jail, rationalized that the required engagement needed to fight for equality could not be placed on the back burner. To wait, he concluded, â€Å"has almost always meant ‘Never’.† â€Å"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor†, Dr. King advised, â€Å"it must be demanded by the oppressed.† What happens when â€Å"demanded by the oppressed† is deferred? Did righteous Black Power and Critical Resistance dry up like a raisin in the sun? Is the ongoing pernicious cycle of inequality in this country like a festering sore that runs deep in our skin; deep in our subconscious - discharging infected oozing matter day after day; monthShow MoreRelatedMontage Of A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes946 Words   |  4 Pagespoems within â€Å"Montage of a Dream Deferred† by Langston Hughes contain great meaning as well as emotion embedded within them. Whether they are 3 lines or 20 lines long, vivid images and explanations follow. The main focus of the series of poems are centralized on African Americans living in Harlem in the 20’s and on and their opposition from the rest. The motif in nearly all poems express discrimination, daily activities, and African American’s struggle for equality. Out of all poems, certain onesRead MoreEssay about A Raisin in the Sun1559 Words   |  7 Pagesfamily when Mama, the familys matriarch, receives a $10,000 life insurance settlement and spends a portion of it to buy a home in the restricted white neighborhood of Clybourne Park. However, Hansberry’s play not only highlighted the issue of housing segregation, but also foreshadowed the impending civil and women’s rights movements. Indeed, more than four years prior to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech in Washington, D.C., Hansberry asked her audience to consider â€Å"What happens toRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United StatesRead Mor eNational Security Outline Essay40741 Words   |  163 PagesTHE ROLE OF LAW (Tipson) Goal Clarification: What is National Security? -National Security - Possible Definitions (Difficult to define) -Safety from foreign coercion or intimidation -UN Charter Article 2(4) - prohibition against â€Å"the threat or use of force against the political independence or territorial integrity of any state† Analytical Tasks: How Americans Think About National Security -Identifying Values: What is at Stake? (What are we trying to protect) -Territory -TraditionalRead MoreBusiness Law I Summary34667 Words   |  139 PagesConstitutional law is concerned with the workings of the british constitution. It covers such matters as the position of the Crown, the composition and procedures of Parliament, the functioning of central and local government, citizenship and the civil liberties of individual citizens. 2. Administrative law has be developed to deal with the complaints of individuals against the decisions of the administering agency. 3. Criminal law * Private law is primarily concerned with the right and dutiesRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesISBN-10: 0-13-283487-1 1. Organizational behavior. I. Judge, Tim. II. Title. HD58.7.R62 2012 658.3—dc23 2011038674 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 10: 0-13-283487-1 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-283487-2 Brief Contents Preface xxii 1 2 Introduction 1 What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Individual 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Diversity in Organizations 39 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction 69 Emotions and Moods 97 Personality and Values 131 Perception and Individual Decision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation:Read MoreSources of Company Law48332 Words   |  194 Pageshowever, the law cannot protect creditors against limited companies that are not credit worthy. All it can do is to ensure that companies ‘disclose’ sufï ¬ cient information to enable alert creditors to look after themselves by making informed decisions when dealing with them. Core company law has been found in ‘the Companies Acts’, a constantly changing morass of legislation that has recently undergone the ï ¬ rst comprehensive reform ever attempted, culminating in a massive new statute, the CompaniesRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesfoundation gained from research and practice over the past decades. At the same time, we have fully incorporated important new and emerging developments that have changed what international managers are currently facing and likely to face in the coming years. Of special importance is that students of international management understand what will be expected of them from the range of stakeholders with whom they interact and the ways in which technology and social media change the nature of global connectionsRead More1000 Word Essay85965 Words   |  344 PagesAuthority .................. NCO History ........................................ NCOER / ERS ....................................... Promotions and Reductions .............................. Leaves and Passes .................................... Military Justice ................................ ...... Code of Conduct ..................................... Geneva Convention ................................... U.S. Constitution ..................................... Guard Duty ................................Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagessolution for courses in Principles of Management, Human Resources, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Steven Spielbergs Lincoln Essay - 840 Words

The movie illustrates the constant tension that exists among the core values of American democracy. In class we learned that the three core principles are majority rule, political freedom, and political equality. These American values often conflict with each other in practice. Although majority rule, political freedom, and political equality are often in conflict with one another none of these principles by itself is enough to make a government democratic. When these three principals are balanced democracy is created. The promise of democratic process is not efficiency, agreement, clarity, or speed. The fundamental promise of democracy as a process is that all citizens have the right to participate in the process of deciding who gets†¦show more content†¦Lincoln has to keep the news of peace a secret so that he can make sure that the bill passes. Another example is one time when one of the politicians is trying to postpone the voting by saying that a peace offer is being held hostage to its success, which is totally true. Lincoln reads the motion from the House and crafts a response. His advisor worries about the president making any false representations to Congress but Lincoln denies doing so and insists that they take his reply back to the Congress. The Democrats denounce this as a â€Å"lawyer’s dodge† but conservative Republicans accept the answer and the voting begins. In this scene it is obvious that the president is using him power to keep the peace offers a secret so that he can make sure that the amendment gets passed. In another scene when the Thirteenth Amendment has passed in the Senate but does not have sufficient backing in the House of Representatives Lincoln and his staff have to find the votes needed before it is too late. This requires the granting of many political favors to members of the Democratic Party. They hire three lobbyists to promote their cause by promising government jobs to Democratic members of the House who failed to win reelection. Here we learn about how influential lobbying can be because if they wouldn’t have done it then they would have never got enough votes to pass the amendment. Public opinion played an important role in the outcome of the passing of theShow MoreRelatedThe Views Of Abraham Lincoln1147 Words   |  5 PagesA more recent myth that has developed is the theory that Abraham Lincoln was homosexual. This myth came to light in 1999 when Larry Kramer, the founding member of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, made the statement that Lincoln was homosexual and backed up his statement with diary excerpts from Lincoln’s bunkmate’s Diary. The excerpts read: He often kisses me when I tease him, often to shut me up†¦ He would grab me in his long arms and hug and hug†¦ our Abe is like a school girl† (Steers 126). Kramer alsoRead MoreAnalysis Of Film The Filmmaking World1197 Words   |  5 Pagesjust by examining its cinematic language. For example, Steven Spielberg uses signature works in many of his films that allow viewers to categorize them as his own. Spielberg, a famous Hollywood style director, was born in Ohio. He kick ed off his Hollywood career after directing his low budget films Firelight and Amblin’. After he signed his contract with Universal Studios, the director went on to film record-breaking movies. A few of Spielberg’s movies include Jaws, Jurassic Park, and E.T. The ExtraRead MoreSteven Spielberg s Lincoln And The End Of The Civil War994 Words   |  4 PagesSteven Spielberg’s â€Å"Lincoln† (2012) The â€Å"Lincoln† started in January 1865. It was the second month since Abraham Lincoln’s reelection and the fourth year of the American Civil War. The â€Å"Lincoln† is a history of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy in dealing with the casualties in the Civil War battlefield and the debates over the passage of Thirteenth Amendment. In a nation divided by war and the eagerness of change, Lincoln strived for the end of the Civil War, the unity of the country and the abolishmentRead MoreMaking An Abraham Lincoln Movie901 Words   |  4 Pages Making an Abraham Lincoln movie can be very tricky and a difficult job. Everybody knows the story of Abraham Lincoln and knows the persona that President Lincoln can give out. Spielberg’s, Ford’s, and Griffith’s Lincoln all did very notable work. Griffith’s Lincoln in Birth of a Nation was a worthy performance by Henabery. Ford’s Young Mr. Lincoln was known as one great over all film. The scenes in the film were spot on and the Lincoln played by young Mr. Henry Fonda was the best in the businessRead MoreEssay about Steven Spielbergs Life and Accomplishments1187 Words   |  5 Pageshis films are well known and popular to this very day. He has received many winning awards for his movies, and was also nominated for best director. This director started at a young age, and has become one of the most talented directors today. Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 18, 1946. Spielberg lived in a family of six including him, and he was the eldest of his siblings. His sibling’s names are Anne, Sue, and Nancy. In his early years he was forced to do a lot of relocatingRead MoreA Brief Look at Steven Spielberg1726 Words   |  7 PagesSteven Allan Spielberg is known worldwide as a screenwriter, producer and one of Americas most successful filmmakers. His 20 highest-grossing films grossed 8.45 billion. He is a three-time winner of the Oscar Award, twice as the best director of the year. Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA), the son of a Jewish family engineer Arnold Spielberg and professional pianist Leah Adler (nee Posner).The mother had to give up the idea of her career for education of four childrenRead MoreWorld War II Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pagesworth more than their own? Amid the chaos and terror of those days in early June 1944, this remarkable story searches to find decency in the sheer madness of war. The release of Saving Private Ryan generated a massive hype due to Steven Spielberg having also directed that other Second World War opus, Schindlers List. Now that Hollywood has moved on and the fuss has subsided, its clear that an important movie remains. Much has been written and gasped about the openingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Lincoln 962 Words   |  4 Pages Actually, Steven Spielberg’s film named â€Å"Lincoln† starts during the time of the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln was requiring this war’s end. From the initial scene the cruelty of the war is clearly shown, mostly against African American soldiers. In fact, racial discrimination was a significant problem at that time and that was one of the biggest struggles of Abraham Lincoln, as he attempted to maintain the whole nation as one union. The film describes the situation occurred in the 1860sRead MoreLincoln by Steven Spielberg892 Words   |  4 PagesThe movie Lincoln by famous producer, Steven Spielberg, is a newer film based upon the life of Abraham Lincoln and his endeavor to pass the 13th amendment giving the right to free all slaves in their entirety. (1. How does this film relate the material to this course?) As we are currently going over the 19th century discussing slavery and the civil war, the movie deals directly with president Abraham Lincoln and his attempt to abolish slavery indefinitely through the act of the 13th amendment leadingRead MoreAnalysis Of Steven Spielberg s Lincoln1788 Words   |  8 Pagesbetween the North and South, which eventually led to the civil war. Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln takes place during the last four months of President Abraham Lincoln s life, which coincided with the end of the civil war, and, not coincidentally, the death of slavery in America. The chronology of events in Lincoln is accurate for the most part, but there are a few things that happened out of place. During a house debate Thaddeus Stevens is told by James Ashley to state that he does not believe in racial

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Construction Of Building Materials Malaysia -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Construction Of Building Materials Malaysia? Answer: Introducation The project considers the building of a nursery. This nursery will be built using a green building concept. This building is located in Shah Alam in Malaysia. A green building is made by considering the nature and the surrounding of the site which will make up the nursery. This will also help in preserving the nature and the surroundings of the building. The construction of such project will also not cause any environmental impacts (Kibert, 2016). A green building is defined by any such buildings or infrastructure which helps in preserving the energy around. This involves preserving the energy in case of the constructional process as well as the setting up process. As a result, for the entire life cycle of the project, a green building does not have any impact on its surrounding. The construction industry is a massive industry which involves the constant collection of raw materials which will help in meeting the demands of the people in an efficient manner. The procurement of raw material is usually a process which is defined the collection of mass materials for helping in building and development (Zuo Zhao, 2014). The construction activities on a worldwide level are assumed to be 3 billion tonnes for every year of development. The most important part of a green building is the nature of the material that is used for constructing it. Although, there is a variable controversy regarding the nature of the material, there materials are always considered to be renewable in nature. This is mainly done to reduce the environmental impact as renewable materials can be decomposed and does not pose a threat to the environment (Huang et al., 2015). In addition, the materials used are also considered to reduce the need for any maintenance and overhead charges. This helps in conserving the status and the impact of the building that is supposed to be built. Moreover, this also helps tending to the life and health of the people who will be occupying the building. This also helps in reducing the need for constant replacement of these materials which in turn will add to the economic profitability of the building. The major features of the green building is the reduced harmful gaseous emissions, reusable and reducible content s, less amount of toxic discharges, renewable materials and longevity or durability in life cycle. There are various types of green building materials whose selection is based on the type of building to be developed. The first material is the clay brick which is defined by their uses in cobwork. They can be extensively used for building walls with reduced load bearing capacities. It can also help in constructing lumber-frames (Alias et al., 2015). Another constructing material is the hemp block. These blocks are made from the fibers of the hemp plant which are then mixed with lime and sand. This is also considered to be a green building material. There are many other building block materials like aerated clay blocks, cob block and extruded earth block. After selecting the proper building block, the selection of green finishes is required. The green finishing materials are considered to be lime-based. The stuccos and the lime-based are considered to be a greener consideration than gypsum based or cement based finishes. This is mainly because the carbon dioxide emissions from these materials are then absorbed by the lime mortars. In addition, lime is considered to be biodegradable and recyclable. There are two different types of lime finishes. They are the non-hydraulic lime and the hydraulic lime. The non-hydraulic lime does not harden underwater and is made by heating pure limestone to a very high temperature so that quicklime is produced (Wei, Ramalho Mandin, 2015). This is then mixed with rain water which results in the formation of lime putty. This lime putty is then allowed to mature for a number of months after which, it is then mixed with sand for creating mortars. Similarly, the hydraulic lime is made by heating up a less p ure form of limestone which usually consists of impurities like clay. Another material to be considered is the building boards. The eco-friendly material is made from biodegradable products. These products decompose and do not lead to any impacts in the environment. Contrary to drywalls which have greater disposal problems, the eco-friendly products does not cause any amount of pollutions (Ye et al., 2015). The first board material is the clay board whose primary component is clay. This is made by bounding hessian and reed together. The next type of board material is the straw board which can be used for effective flooring. The construction of a green building is usually made by considering the reusing of the products such that economic scalability is achieved and environmental impacts are reduced. The construction of the buildings is also made in this way such that the demolition of any surfaces can be done in inert manner (Council, 2014). The deconstruction of any green building releases a lot of principal waste like woods or clay. These materials are recycled and also a portion of the building is considered for deconstructing. There are various advantages and disadvantages of using green buildings which is the reason for its use in a global manner. Advantages The first advantage is in the cost of the materials and the building. The green buildings are usually made from renewable resources. The construction of green buildings costs the same as compared to traditional buildings (King, 2017). However, the materials used for construction are much more durable. As a result, the need for spending in case of maintenance of the building is reduced. Although, there is a need for maintaining the green buildings is considered similar to the conventional buildings. But, in case of the green buildings, the need for maintain it is reduced for a long time and hence, it is termed profitable for owning a green building. The next advantage is the efficiency in resources. As the green buildings are made by considering the energy on the surroundings, the efficiency is increased a lot. These buildings have efficiency in water usages. The rainwater is collected and is reused so that the wastage of water is reduced. Efficiency in energy is another point which adds as the advantage to the concept of green buildings. These buildings have developed energy conversion devices which help in storing the natural energy (Preller et al., 2017). This natural energy is obtained from the sun and wind. The solar energy and the wind energy are efficient in meeting the energy demands of the buildings. It also reduces the cost of energy consumption as compared to traditional buildings. Moreover, the materials used in case of the green buildings also trap the sun and wind that is available freely in the atmosphere. This helps in improving the air quality of the indoor atmosphere which in turn reduces the energy consumption s needed for doing so. Disadvantages There are various disadvantages to green buildings as well. The first location of the building is termed as the first disadvantage to it. As a green building always require the need for sunlight, it cannot be made in places where the suns rays are scarce (Zuo et al., 2017). Moreover, in cloudy areas, it cannot be built as they are mainly dependent on sunlight for energy requirements. Ventilation is the next disadvantage of the green buildings. Due to this, the buildings cannot be located in any hot areas. Moreover, the availability of materials is another concern which is considered before construction. Thus, it can be concluded that green buildings are an effective choice for addressing the economy and scalability parameters. These buildings are effective in utilizing the natural energy and the resources available which is always reused and recycled. This helps in reducing the environmental impacts and also helps in making the environment a clean place. However, there are various disadvantages which are to be considered before the construction of a green building. The construction industry is a massive production industry which is taking the space in the market economy. Due to this, there are various technologies that are being used for the construction of buildings. The first building technology is the unbreakable material uses. This is mainly done by using polymer nanotrusses. These materials are made by considering two-photon lithography. These technological materials were then coated in any kind of ceramics or metals which form a nanotruss comprised of nanotrusses. This constructional material couples the structural characteristics by including the flaw-tolerance features in their structures (Jamaludin et al., 2017). The technology involving this construction is trying to scale the size of the material in increasing from millimeters to letter sizes. This type of materials has high tensile strength which is used in making a great constructional material. The next technological material is the self-cleaning material. For tending to the application of glass type coatings, a new technology is made which resists moisture even after being exposed to scratches. This technology is termed as the self-cleaning finishes which are also used in cases of repellent coatings (Cevallos et al., 2017). This type of technology is achieved by making substances from titanium dioxide nanoparticles. This helps in reflecting water and oil from the surfaces and in turn reduces the dirt from the structures. As a result, the finished product becomes more durable. This coating is applied in cases of 2- centimeters square surface areas. Wave benders are another type of technology which is used in a global scale. This type of technology helps in the development of elastic wave guides. In this technology, the mechanical waves that travel through the structures are always subjected to any events or shock. This is the main reason for the underlying structures to break in cases of seismic events. In case of the wave bender technology, these mechanical waves do not cause any types of alterations to the structures. This increases the durability in case of the seismic events (Esa, Halog Rigamonti, 2017). By causing a redirection of the mechanical waves which carries massive energy around very important structures or buildings through a passage of meta-material cloaks, a lot of civilian lives can be saved long with common properties from various disastrous events. Durable concrete is the last material which is applied in the construction industry. This is mainly achieved by adding cellulose nanocrystals to concrete. These nanocrystals are mainly obtained from wood fibers. These concrete materials are much more effective in comparison than the traditional concrete materials in terms of impact, strength, flexibility and resistance. When the nanocrystals are applied to construction materials like concrete, the reduction of the environmental footprint of a structure is achieved. This is done by requiring less material for achieving a similar kind of effect (Mohammad, Ani Rakmat, 2017). The nanocrystal additive can be extracted as a byproduct of industrial agriculture, paper production and bio energy. This type of technological advancement also helps in acquiring water to it which does not impact its density or weight in any way. The building materials are the key elements which are considered in case of any types of building related practices. The building materials are mainly used for the construction of an effective technological advancement in the construction sector. The technological method that has been discussed in this question can be applied in a global basis. The technology of unbreakable materials involving nanotrusses cannot be made in Malaysia. However, this technology can be achieved by using various other materials which are now under process in Malaysia. However, there are greater uses of this type of materials. They are mainly used to increase the durability and strength of the material considered. In addition, this also helps in addressing to the tensile strength of the structure to be performed. The technology of self-cleaning materials is also another innovation that is applied in a global scale. In Malaysia, this type of technology is being used effectively which is leading to the formation of an efficient building (Esa, Halog Rigamonti, 2017). This type of technology is used for removing the pollutions from the buildings. As customer reviews are effective for making a brand in the market, the need for using self-cleaning materials are thus adopted in buildings. This type of technology helps in removing dirt and water from the building surface. This in turn helps in increase g the durability of the building. This also helps in getting more customer satisfaction and is thus being used in many cloudy areas. Wave bending materials are the third innovative technology which is also being used in cases of the high-rise buildings in Malaysia. This helps in adding to the durability of the structures and to the life cycle of it (Isnin et al., 2018). In addition, as the mechanical waves do not find a straight path in this type of technology, the probability of crumbling down of the structure in case of any kind of seismic events are reduced. This is the main reason for the increasing customer satisfaction and also is the main reason for the acceptance of this type of technology. The durable concrete material technology is another feature which is also adopted in Malaysia. As the structures are mainly comprised of long and high rise buildings, the need for making them stronger is applied. This is applied in the structures of Malaysia. In addition, this is also used for making secondary structures as well (Mohammad, Ani Rakmat, 2017). The physical structures are sometimes comprised of changes due to addition of extra featured structures on top of the physical structures. These are termed as secondary structures which are mainly comprised of new types of materials that make up the structure. The durability and the high tensile strength from the addition of effective concrete materials are the main reason for these innovations. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of effective construction materials helps in addressing to the strength of any types of buildings. This also helps in making the structures more effective in meeting the expectations of the brand concerned. Due to the innovations of these types of technologies in the market, various construction companies will be interested in this case and will also help in raising the brand value respectively. In addition, as the quality of the products is increased, the satisfaction levels of the customers will also be increased. Thus, the materials to be used are to be effectively selected by the company such that the required outcome is always met. References Alias, A., Mohamed, M., Yusoff, H., Amini, M. H. M., Aziz, M. A., Rizman, Z. I. (2015). The enhancement of heat transfer of wood (Neobalanocarpus Heimii, Shorea Sp, Instia Palembanica Miq) of bio-composite materi als for green building in Malaysia. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 10(1), 357-369. Alias, A., Mohamed, M., Yusoff, H., Amini, M. H. M., Aziz, M. A., Rizman, Z. I. (2015). The enhancement of heat transfer of wood (Neobalanocarpus Heimii, Shorea Sp, Instia Palembani Council, U. G. B. (2014). LEED v4 Rating Systems: Building Design and Construction. Esa, M. R., Halog, A., Rigamonti, L. (2017). Developing strategies for managing construction and demolition wastes in Malaysia based on the concept of circular economy. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 19(3), 1144-1154. Esa, M. R., Halog, A., Rigamonti, L. (2017). Strategies for minimizing construction and demolition wastes in Malaysia. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 120, 219-229. Huang, K. T., Huang, W. P., Lin, T. P., Hwang, R. L. (2015). Implementation of green building specification credits for better thermal conditions in naturally ventilated school buildings. Building and Environment, 86, 141-150. Isnin, Z., Ramli, R., Hashim, A. E., Ali, I. M. (2018). Are house alterations sustainable?. Journal of Asian Behavioural Studies, 3(6), 29-38. Jamaludin, A. H., Karim, N. A., Noor, R. N. H. R. M., Othman, N., Malik, S. A. (2017, August). Preliminary study on enhancing waste management best practice model in Malaysia construction industry. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 1875, No. 1, p. 030008). AIP Publishing. Cevallos, O. A., Jaramillo, D., vila, C., Aldaz, X. (2017). Production and quality levels of construction materials in Andean regions: A case study of Chimborazo, Ecuador. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 22(1), 115-136. Kibert, C. J. (2016). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. John Wiley Sons. Zuo, J., Zhao, Z. Y. (2014). Green building researchcurrent status and future agenda: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 30, 271-281. King, A. (2017). All's well in green buildings. Building Connection, (Winter 2017), 38. Mohammad, N., Ani, A. I. C., Rakmat, R. A. O. (2017). Causes and effects of variation orders in the construction of terrace housing projects: A case study in the State of Selangor, Malaysia. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 6(1), 226-232. Pa, N. N. A. N., Ibrahim, M. H. W., Ghani, A. H. A., Ali, A. Z. M., Arshad, M. F. (2017). Compressive Strength of Construction Materials Containing Agricultural Crop Wastes: A Review. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol. 103, p. 01018). EDP Sciences. Preller, B., Affolderbach, J., Schulz, C., Fastenrath, S., Braun, B. (2017). Interactive knowledge generation in urban green building transitions. The Professional Geographer, 69(2), 214-224. Zuo, J., Pullen, S., Rameezdeen, R., Bennetts, H., Wang, Y., Mao, G., ... Duan, H. (2017). Green building evaluation from a life-cycle perspective in Australia: A critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 70, 358-368. Salih, M. A., Elinor, T. E., Mohamed, A. H. (2017). Evaluation of low cost cage construction materials in el-Rahad Lake northern Kordofan-Sudan. Wei, W., Ramalho, O., Mandin, C. (2015). Indoor air quality requirements in green building certifications. Building and Environment, 92, 10-19. Ye, L., Cheng, Z., Wang, Q., Lin, H., Lin, C., Liu, B. (2015). Developments of green building standards in China. Renewable Energy, 73, 115-122.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization

The Executive summary The CEO of the organization asked me to submit a report with recommendations on how my department could solve a number of problems within the organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The objective of this report, therefore, is to articulate the problems affecting the performance of the organization and devise ways of solving them in order to get the organization back on performance excellence. My team employed a number of methods in the study. We used observation methods, camera surveillance, interviews and discussion. We identified the following problems: increased customer complaints, poor data entry and record keeping, generational groupings among the Baby Boomers, generation Y and X, dissatisfaction among the employees, stress among the employees, poor communication in the organization, high att rition rates in generation Y and X and a general lack of motivation among the employees. After a careful study of the origin of these problems, we decided on a few changes that, if implemented, would remedy the situation in the organization. The high rate of bureaucracy in the organization needs to be scrapped and replaced with a more liberal model which gives the employees and customers a priority over the organization. The rigid system of operation will also be neutralized with a more flexible approach than the existing one. Communication within the organization also needs to be improved, with the employees being involved in the decision making process. Communication among the employees will also be encouraged in order to avoid the existing stereotypes and suspicion. Motivation strategies will be instituted, with more concern given to employee needs and satisfaction. Non-cash incentives will be issued as rewards for good performance to employees and all employees will be treated f airly. Introduction Background: Our organization has been experiencing problems among the employees for some time now. This seems to have adversely affected its overall performance. This is reflected by the feedback we receive form our customers and the government. The employees have demarcated themselves into generational groups, each of which acts with suspicion of the other. This has bred a culture of hatred among the senior, middle and young employees, thus, the lack of effectiveness in the organization’s performance. The organization is highly bureaucratic and employees operate under rigid rules and procedures. This system breeds a system of controls and hierarchy which is detrimental to effective execution of tasks within the organization.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These have led to lack of motivation among the employees, almost grounding the organization ’s performance (Barrows and Powers, 2008). This creates the need to come up with mechanisms that will help contain the situation. Aims and scope: This report undertakes to investigate the reasons for the poor performance of the employees and organization in general. The report also recommends ways by which the problem can be dealt with and possibly eliminated. It will study into details the generational demarcations and the effect they have on employee performance. It will also take a critical look at the concept of bureaucracy and possibly recommend better procedures within the organization that will reduce the amount of bureaucracy (Galbraith, 1977) and (Schermerhorn et al, 2011). Discussion Data entry and record keeping There has been a rising concern by the government about poor service delivery of the organization to the public. This has led to a partial cut in funding of the organization by the government. Government auditors have been complaining of poor, untimely and inaccurate data entry into the books of the organization. My team investigated this matter by observing the accountants found out that they are largely to blame for the menace. The head accountant, who is a Baby Boomer, is quite aged and of poor health. Most of the time, he is away from work due to health complications. However, he cannot delegate his responsibilities to his assistants of generation X and Y. This is because he believes that they are not as qualified to handle the task and that they are not serious at work. The organization’s strict bureaucratic procedures also cannot allow these duties to be relegated to someone else apart from himself. There are some forms that have to await the government auditor’s signature for days and even weeks. All the work has to be piled up awaiting his return to office in order to be done. This explains the untimely entry of data. Another observation we made was that the conduct of the junior accountant staff is wanting. My t eam, in disguise, found out that the junior accountants, all belonging to generation Y, did not take their work seriously and with the caution it deserves. They listened to radio and engaged the social media during work. In one of the incidents, he gave my â€Å"man† a receipt with the wrong figure and did not realize to rectify this error.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Generation Y This is the generation of persons born between the 1970s and early 2000. This generation is generally characterized by increased use of and familiarity with the communication technology, media, digital technology and neoliberal approach to almost everything (Strauss and Howe, 1991) This explains why, in our observation, most of the younger staff broke most rules within the organization code of conduct. They seemed to be always at loggerh eads with the Baby Boomers arguing about the right thing to do in every circumstance. This explains the sharp division between the Baby Boomers and the generation Y. When interviewed about the sluggish nature of their working, the generation Y confessed that they did not find the organization objectives and mission fulfilling to their individual desire of growth and a feeling of self worth (Martin and Tulgan, 2001). Most of them were in the look out for other jobs and were willing and eager to leave immediately another job opportunity came up. They also said that the staff was biased against them. The much older employees and management were pointed out as the most biased. They treated them unfairly and did not give them a chance to explore their capabilities. They also found out that work in the organization was boring, applying same procedures quite repetitive, no creativity was allowed and there were strict timelines and reprimands by their superiors over petty mistakes. The empl oyees also spent most of their times in ‘exciting’ activities like listening to music and chatting in the social media as a way of eliminating the boredom. Generation X This is the generation born after the Baby Boomers from the early 1960s to 1980. They are defined as a group of people without identity, who face an uncertain, ill defined and hostile future. The older generations view generation x as reactive people who are more focused to money than anything else (Stephey, 2008). These employees, when interviewed, expressed concern that the management did not factor in their needs. Most of them were parents and needed time to be with their families. They left work for home earlier than the rest and were never willing to work overtime. Because of this, many fell out with the management for neglecting their duties and showing no real concern for responsibility at work.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This makes the employees feel that the management does not understand their needs. This has led to a negative attitude among these employees with the management. This has contributed to poor work relations and the entire performance of the organization. Baby Boomers This is the generation of persons born in the post war period of between 1946 and 1964. These come with privileges since most of them are brought up in the period when there is great affluence. They regard themselves as a special generation that values traditions and rules. This generation sharply contrasts generation Y who does not value traditions, and would be better off doing new things and applying new techniques at work. Because of this, the two groups seem to be in perpetual conflict with each other. The Boomers do not approve of most things that the generation Y does. They feel that they are lazy, spending most of their work time on activities that distract them from work. This, to them, is unethical of work and should not be allowed. The generation Y, on the other hand, feels that the Boomers do not like them, and are out to make their life at work difficult. Observations carried out in the study found Boomers and generation Y in consistent conflict and confrontations. At meetings, Boomers opposed almost all of generation Y suggestions, rubbishing them as childish. The Boomers are the only group that upheld the concept of bureaucracy, therefore, perceived by generations X and Y as frustrating their efforts at work and as responsible for the poor performance of the organization. Stress This was found to be a common feature for all employees. They are generally dissatisfied with the organization. While people in generation Y want a place where they can explore their talents further and exhibit their expertise, generation X want a place where the management can understand and provide for their needs, giving them ample time to tend to their families. The Boomers are fine with the organization procedures. However, they have a problem with their fellow employees, who they feel are antagonistic to work procedures, therefore, jeopardizing the performance of the organization. The management is facing a hard time while coordinating these employees who have divergent views and ideas about working. The generation X and Y view management as hostile towards them and not understanding their needs. Communication Communication in the organization is lacking. Most of the instances when employees talk, there is always confrontation and blame game. According to Fletcher and Major (2006), teams report greater team work and success rates at work when they work and communicate face to face. The media richness theory points out that communication in the work place increases the degree of effectiveness in the organization (Daft and Lengel, 1986.) In this organization, effective communication is lacking. Therefore, a lot of misunderstanding occurs among employees and with the management. This explains the high number of conflicts witnessed in the organization, with some employees not talking to each other t all (May and Mumby, 2005). The employees also feel left out in the decision making process. They are alienated in the formulation of work procedures. Their consent and suggestions for working procedures and suggestions for effective changes is never sought by management. Instead, rules of operation are imposed on them and they are expected to adjust and accommodate the rules and changes without opposition (Suh, 1999). Customer complaints This organization has for a long time maintained an effective customer feedback program. For some time now, we have been receiving negative feedback from our customers concerning the organization’s service delivery and customer care. Surveillance cameras were secretly put in places where employees interacted directly with customers. What we observed was a number of cases where the employees were rude to the customers. Some emp loyees take longer to attend to customers, while others engage in gossip with other employees or using their mobile phones. Some even get to the extent of sending the customers to the next available teller while they do nothing. It was noted that the employees discriminated against some customers. This was based on sex and looks. Most of our employees are women. They treated women customers rudely compared to the male customers. At the same time, customers who seemed highly sophisticated in terms of looks and dress were treated better than others. Conclusion This organization has been adversely affected by the bureaucratic mode of operation. Operations are carried out in a strictly rigid framework. When one component of the process is lacking, the whole process becomes paralyzed and nothing can be done to continue the process of operations. Another factor that is detrimental to the operations of the organization is the problem of communication. There is a general lack of communicati on among the workers and with the management. There is no instituted mechanism of solving conflicts among the employees and with management. Employees are also not able to freely express themselves, as they are not included in the decision making process or consulted on work procedures. They are treated as passive actors. Another problem within the organization is the problem of groupings and factions. The employees are divided into three distinct groups: the Baby Boomers, the Generation X and Y. These groups have demarcated themselves, with each group feeling superior to the others and downplaying the role the others play in the organization. This has led to a proliferation of conflicts among the employees and a lack of unity in achieving the organization goals. The final and most important factor lacking in the organization is motivation. The employees lack motivation and the reason to work well and effectively. They come to work late and only perform what they have to, without pu tting extra effort to do well or even better. The management seems to be lacking the right strategies to tackle these problems. It has remained hard on the employees without attempting to change their approach towards their needs, applying the right motivational strategies and understanding their needs. Recommendation After a careful analysis of these problems and reference to scholarly material, we came up with the following recommendations of what needs to be done in order to remedy the situation and get the organization back on performance excellence. Our recommendations were arrived at bearing in mind that there is a moratorium on employing of additional staff. Therefore, they are geared towards finding viable solutions that will work with the existing employees without laying any one of them off. Bureaucracy Customers view bureaucratic organizations as not aimed at satisfying their needs. The employees attribute this inefficiency to the idea that all policy is similar for all c ustomers. This organization is unresponsive to customers’ individual needs and situations. The policies of the organization are solely designed to benefit the organization and not the customers. It does not admit the mistakes it does, rather shifting the blame onto the customer. The organization is slow to innovativeness and reluctant to change, as dictated by time and events. They view the organizations products and services as inferior. Employees in such organizations are not enthusiastic about working in the organizations. They are not friendly and do not care much whether the customer is satisfied or not. In the organization, departments and employees do not cooperate to get the job done. The executives strive more for personal advancement and power. Promotions are made based on politics rather than merit. Information is hoarded and used as a basis for power. Mostly, the responsibility for failure is denied and the blame shifted to others, especially the junior employees. Bureaucracy is generally detrimental to organization’s effectiveness. It weakens employee morale and divides people within the organization setting each against the other. This misdirects their energy into conflict with one another and destructive competition that does not work to achieve the mission statement. Because of these inherent problems associated with bureaucratic model, we recommend that the model be scrapped and replaced with a more flexible and liberal model of operation. Employees should be allowed some freedom at work. They should be left to work without thorough supervision and compulsion by the supervisors. Procedures should be neutralized and simplified to allow for more relegation of duties and responsibilities. The clear cut demarcations between employee ranks should also be neutralized so that all employees feel equal and important to the organization despite their rank. Communication Most executives will agree that communication is an essential part for the success of the organization. Information should be clearly communicated to enhance role clarity for the employees. The problem of role clarity leads to stress, tension, anxiety, dissatisfaction, lack of job interest and lack of job innovation. In most bureaucratic organizations, information tends to flow downwards. It is unusual for information to take another route, like from the subordinate to the superior. Unfortunately, this organization falls under this framework, characterized with a rigidity of information flow. According to Leavitt (1958), one way communication is faster than two way communication channel. However, the latter is more accurate than the former and should be adopted. Differences in the organization should be taken seriously by allowing the other to speak openly and accept the possibility that the other’s perspective may override your own. I would therefore recommend that, the organization’s management introduces a system of openness in the pr ocess of decision making that involves all the employees, either wholly or in representation. Debates about various implementations should be carried out freely, with no intimidation or victimization of criticism. Among the workers, healthy communication should be encouraged and gossip discouraged. Workshops and seminars to enlighten the employees on the strength of diversity should be organized by the management. Through this, the employees will learn to appreciate one another and compliment each other. Motivation One of the roles of the manager is to get employees to do their job well. Rather than use of coercion, he should motivate employees to perform their duties voluntarily. An understanding and appreciation of human nature is vital to the process of motivation. Various theories like the theory Y by Douglas McGregor, two factor motivation hygiene theories by Fredrick Herzberg, Abraham Maslow’s theory Z hierarchy of needs and Elton Mayo’s experiments can be used. These theories generally posit that human beings should be treated with dignity and respect of all forms at workplace. Motivated employees are more productive and innovative. The inverse is true. As a result, I would recommend the following measures by management as a motivational strategy for the employees: The employees should be reinforced positively with high expectations of them by the management and customers. This way, they will feel self worth and motivated to uphold the high expectations. Discipline and punishment should be applied effectively, and by no means should it be applied in excess or unfairly, or used to coerce the employees. All employees must be treated fairly, without favoritism and discrimination on generation group or sex. Employee needs also need to be factored in at work and be met. Individual needs should be addressed with individual concern and given the right attention. Work related goals should be set, which when met, the employees are rewarded. The rew ards may not necessarily be financial but they could be holidays or trips (March and Simon, 1958). Theory Y In general, we recommend an approach of theory Y to the management of the organization. Employees are people who are ambitious and exercise self-control. They enjoy their physical and mental work. The management should support them on this basis. The organization should let them use their creativity in problem solving by applying their talents. They should develop trust among the employees by communicating freely with subordinates. Decision making should be done with the involvement of both the subordinates and their seniors. Reference List Barrows, C. W. and Powers, T., 2008. Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry. Hoboken: John Willey and Sons. Daft, R. L. and Lengel, R. H., 1986. Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and Structural Design. Management Science, 32(5), 23-57. Fletcher, T. D., and Major, D. A., 2006. The Effects of Communicatio n Modality on Performance and Self-ratings of Team Work Components. Journal of computer mediated communication, 11(2), 15-18, article 9. Galbraith, J., 1977. Organization Design. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Leavitt, H., 1958. Managerial Psychology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press March, J. G. and Simon, H. A., 1958. Organizations. New York: Wiley. May, S. and Mumby, D. K., 2005. Engaging Organizational Communication Theory and Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Schermerhorn, J., Davidson, P., Poole, D., Simon, A., Woods, P., and Chau, S. L., 2011. Management Foundations and Applications-value pack. New York: Wiley. Stephey, M. J., 2008. Gen-x: The Ignored Generation time? New York: Wiley. Strauss, W. and Howe, N., 1991. Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584-2069. New York: William Morrow and Company. Suh, K. S., 1999. Impact of Communication Medium on Task Performance and Satisfaction: an Examination of Media-Richness Theory. New York: Cengage Learning. Tul gan, B and Martin, C. A. (2001). Managing Generation Y: Global citizens born in the  late seventies and early eighties. Harvard: New York Times. This report on The Poor Performance of the Employees and Organization was written and submitted by user Kimberly Kent to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.