M4A2-Theory and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

M4A2-Theory and Development - Essay Example A particular cultural practice determines the kind of commodities consumed (Diller, 2011, p. 167). A firm must, therefore, undertake investigation to ensure segmentation is done to fit a particular niche based on a people’s culture. In so doing, a firm benefits as products will sell making it possible to expand production capacity with less inventory accumulation. A firm motivates by incorporating every group in its work force ranging from migrants, underrepresented to disables who are further rewarded based on performance at different levels and not fixed at a 100% performance evaluation (Bullen, LeFave, Selig, & Chittenden, 2010, p. 134). Employee’s promotions should also be fair based on inclusiveness as talents are not attached to disability as well as minority and hence top management should comprise all groups. A firm further ensures teamwork by including every lot in decision making process based on the principle of triangulation as ideas generated from different employees debated and harmonized to yield increased productivity and its associated sales (Hoffmann, 2007, p. 125). A motivated employee via being incorporated in decision making feels part of success and will further put all his effort to achieve given set goals. Cultural diversity has become an inevitable area for keenness for any success oriented firm. Many consumers show variations in terms of products needs deeply rooted in traditional cultures and traditions (Yajima, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry & Socio-economic Research Center, 2006, p. 124). Cross-cultural motivations of both employees and the consumers through promotions, inclusion in decision making process, top management as well as issuance of gifts to loyal customers has become a feature employed by multivendor Inc. to attract brightest talents in its labor force as well retention of customers who further

East Asian Civilizations Essay Example for Free

East Asian Civilizations Essay The East Asian countries are Taiwan, North and South Korea, Macau, Japan, and China. These countries experience peace and prosper economically throughout the civilization of Eastern Asia. Taiwan is an island off the southeast coast of China and the seat of the Chinese Nationalist government. It has rugged ranges of the Chungyang Mountains blanket the eastern two-thirds of the island. On the other hand, Korea is a divided country of eastern Asia. It occupies a peninsula, about 450 miles in length and between the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. Since 1945 Korea has been divided into two political units—the Democratic people’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). They are separated in by a demilitarized zone, about 2 ? miles in width, along the armistice line established in 1953 at the close of the Korean War while Macau was a Portuguese overseas territory on the south of China coast. It lies in the estuary of the Pearl River south of Canton (Guangzhou), China, and across the estuary from Hon Kong. Moreover, Japan is consists of for large islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku—and more than 3, 300 smaller ones, including the Ryukyu chain. Japan is bounded the north by the Sea of Okhotsk; on the east and south by the Pacific Ocean; on the southwest by the East China Sea; and on the west by the Sea of Japan while the People’s Republic of China situated on the offshore island of Taiwan. It is the third largest nation in the world and it is less than half the size of the Soviet Union, somewhat smaller than Canada, and slightly larger than the United States. For thousands of years they called their country Chung Kuo, which means middle Kingdom, or domain. The name reflects the traditional Chinese belief that China is the geographic and cultural center of the world, with all other nations on the periphery. Thesis Statement: This paper scrutinizes and establishes detailed information about the East Asian Civilizations in particular the countries under it. II. Discussion The improvement and development of East Asia will not be possible without the significant countries within this periphery. †¢ Taiwan Japan began Taiwan’s industrial development after gaining the island in the Sino-Japanese War, 1894-95. Since the early 1950’s, under Chinese Nationalist control, Taiwan has developed a strong, diversified economy, based mainly on manufacturing. Taiwan is one of the leading exporters of manufactured products in Asia. United States aid, large-scale foreign investment, and an abundant, well-educated labor force have played major roles in the island’s rapid industrialization (Kuo, 2003). Leading industries produce chemical and petroleum products, metal goods, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, clothing, and processed foods. Despite a decline in relative value, agriculture remains a vital sector of the economy. Farming is limited mainly to the western lowlands, where virtually all available land is devoted to crops. Most farms are small, averaging about thee acres each, and are family owned (Gold, 2006). The mild climate and extensive use of irrigation permit the growing of two or three crops a year. Rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, cassava, citrus fruit, bananas, and pineapples are among the main crops. The railway and highway systems, begun by the Japanese in the decades before World War II, are among the best in Asia. The chief seaports are Kaohsiung and Chilung. There are international airports near Taipei and Kaohsiung (Kuo, 2003). Foreign trade has grown enormously since the 1950’s. Among the main exports are clothing and textiles, television sets and other electronic consumer products, footwear, plywood, plastic items, and processed foods. Most of the trade is with the United States and Japan. In addition, the great majority of the Taiwanese are descendants of 18th- and 19th-century immigrants from adjacent mainland provinces of southern China, particularly Fukien (Fujian). More recent arrivals—those who fled mainland China in 1949 and their descendants—form the most influential group on the island (Gold, 2006). Mandarin Chinese is the official language, but southern Chinese dialects are commonly used by most of the people. Education is free and compulsory for children aged 1 to 15. More than 96 percent of school-age children attend schools. †¢ Korea South. South Korea’s economy was largely agricultural at the time of the Korean War (1950-53), when much damage was inflicted on the nation. Reconstruction and recovery were rapid after the war, in part because of large amounts of economic aid from the United States and other nations. In the early 1960’s industry began to grow rapidly (Choi, 2003); by the mid-1980’s South Korea had become one of the world’s chief exporters of manufactured goods. The South Korean government played a major role in directing and developing the economy, particularly through central planning and direct and indirect control of many manufacturing industries and banking. Rapid industrial development was also aided by large investments of capital and technology from the United States and Japan and by an abundance of skilled, cheap labor (Lee, 2004). Although few in number, corporate conglomerates, called chaebols, produce most of the nation’s goods and services. Light manufacturing industries requiring much labor were the first to be developed, mainly during the 1960’s. Textiles, clothing, shoes, and similar consumer items were among the main goods produced (Lee, 2004). Priority shifted during the 1970’s to the development of heavier and more technically advanced industries. Since the early 1980’s increasing emphasis has been placed on developing high-technology industries, centering mainly on data-processing equipment, especially computers. Much military equipment is also produced. Seoul, Pusan, and Inchon are among the chief manufacturing centers. Only about 20 percent of South Korea is suitable for farming, and roughly one-fourth of the people are dependent on agriculture for their living. Farms average about 2 ? acres and are privately owned (Choi, 2003). Some farming is done by communes and cooperatives. Moreover, it has greatly expanded and improved its transportation facilities since the early 1960’s. Highways have replaced railways as the chief means of intercity transport. The railways are owned and operated by the government; many are electrified. Education is free and compulsory through six years of primary school, which beings at age six. It is followed by three years of middle school and then three years of high school (Lee, 2004). North. With the division of Korea after World War II North Korea acquired most of the mineral resources, hydroelectric dams, manufacturing plants, and industrial facilities developed during the Japanese occupation, 1910-45. Much damage was done during the Korean War, but it was quickly repaired with aid from the Soviet Union and other Communist nations (Choi, 2003). Under the North Korean Communists, all industry was nationalized, agriculture was collectivized, and the entire economy was rigidly planned. Growth was rapid during the early years, but slowed in the 1970’s. In the mid-1980’s North Korea’s total output of goods and services was roughly one-third to one-fourth that of South Korea’s. Soviet technical and financial aid has played a major role in the development of North Korea’s economy. About 20 percent of North Korea’s land is used for farming, and 40 percent of the people make their living in agriculture. All farming is done on collectives and state farms; private farming ended in the late 1950’s (Choi, 2003). Rice is the nation’s staple food and the most widely grown crop. Other crops include corn, wheat, barley, millet, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. Much progress has been made in increasing mechanization, in expanding the irrigated area, and in land reclamation, especially in coastal areas. Commercial fishing is a major activity, particularly along the east coast and in the Sea of Japan. Wonsan and Sinpo, on the east coast, are the chief fishing ports. Part of the catch is exported (Lee, 2004). Unlike South Korea, North Korea is relatively well endowed with minerals. Among the numerous minerals produced in substantial amounts are coal, mostly anthracite; iron and etc. Railways handle most of the intercity passenger, and freight traffic and are North Korea’s principal means of transport. Most of the railways are relatively new and are electrified (Choi, 2003). Pyongyang is served by a subway. Furthermore, education is free and compulsory through five years of primary school (which begins at age six), four years in of middle school, and two years of high school. †¢ Macau Macao (Macau) consists of the mainland city of Macao and two islands—Taipa and Coloane. Together they have an area about 6 square miles. Macao’s economy is based on light manufacturing. Most of Macao’s food and all of its fresh water are imported, primarily from China. About 99 percent of the people are Chinese; the rest are Portuguese or persons of Portuegese-Chinese descent (see â€Å"History of Macau†). Portuguese is the official language; the Cantonese dialect of Chinese is the prevailing tongue. Macao is the oldest European settlement on the Far East. It was established by Portuguese traders with China’s permission in 1557. Trade flourished, and until the early 1840’s Macao and Canton were the only Chinese ports open to European trade. The development of Hong Kong and other rival ports, beginning in the 1840’s, greatly reduced Macao’s importance. In 1887 China formally recognized Portugal’s sovereignty over the settlement (see â€Å"History of Macau†). Since the Communists gained control of China in 1949, the official position of the Chinese government has been that Macao is a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. In 1976 Portugal granted Macao internal self-government. In 1987 Portugal agreed to transfer the administration of Macao to China in 1999(see â€Å"History of Macau†). At present, Macao is one of the finest places to visit with its flourishing economy. †¢ Japan Japan is one of the world’s leading industrial nations, ranking behind only the United States and Soviet Union. During the 1960’s and the earl 1970’s, Japan gross national product (GNP) grew at the phenomenal average rate of about 11 percent a year—more than twice that of the United States. The worst postwar slump came in the mid-1970’s (Hane, 2001), when worldwide recession brought high levels of unemployment and inflation and a sharp decline in economic growth. Most of Japan’s postwar economic growth has been due to keen corporate management, a well-educated, industrious labor force, high levels of savings and investment, intensive promotion of industrial development, and vigorous foreign trade. Government has also been a decisive factor. Its influence is powerful and widespread, though exercised mainly through informal, cooperative arrangements with business (Hall, 2004). Giant conglomerates, many of which are interlocked in manufacturing, finance, and trade, are of prime importance in the economy. Coexisting with them are many small and medium-sized firms. Government ownership of industry and business is negligible, limited mainly to transportation and communication services (Hall, 2004). There has been little foreign investment in Japan because of numerous governmental restrictions. Of increasing concern to the Japanese are the environmental and social consequences of the nation’s industrial expansion. In some areas, water and air pollution is severe and increasing rapidly. Japanese culture is partly of Chinese origin and partly indigenous, for the Japanese adapted and did not merely imitate the culture of the mainland. Since the middle of the 19th century, Japan has been influenced more by the culture of Western countries than by that of its neighbors (Hane, 2001). Adoption of many Western ways produced sharp contrasts between the new and the old. Buildings and clothing, for example, are now seen in both traditional and Western styles. In addition, in Japan the family is a traditional and strong institution. It has a formal structure with authority vested in the male head of the family. The wife is expected to be subservient. Children learn discipline and their respective roles in the family at an early age. Japanese homes are noted for their simplicity. Nearly all are built of wood. In many hones, paper-covered wooden frames, called shoji, are used for windows and doors (Hane, 2001). Being light and easily moved, they allow much of the house to be opened to the landscaped gardens. Additionally, six years of elementary education and three of lower secondary schools are free and compulsory for children 6 to 15 years of age. At the three-year upper secondary schools, tuition is charged. Education in Japan is highly competitive, and admission to upper secondary school and to college is determined by rigorous entrance examinations. As a result, many Japanese children spend their after-school hours attending jukas, â€Å"cram† schools that specialize in preparing students for entrance examinations and other school tests (Hall, 2004). †¢ China When the Communists came to power in 1949, China’s economy was backward and suffering from nay years of war and civil strife. Agriculture was disrupted and producing at a low level. Modern factories, then located in only few places, lay idle or in ruins. Since the Communist take-over, agriculture has been reorganized and production increased, and modern industry has been greatly expanded. New mineral resources have been discovered, production of electric power increased, and transportation improved. In general, China’s development has been guided by five-year plans, patterned originally after those used in the Soviet Union (Gernet, 2002). Since the 1970’s, however, the centralization of economic decision-making has lessened and greater use has been made of profit incentives and private enterprise to stimulate production. Although accomplishments have been considerable, development has not been continuous. Many setbacks have occurred and much remains to be done in order to raise the relatively low standard of living. Political conflicts among China’s leaders have caused some of the worst setbacks (Barnett, 2006). On the other hand, a modern transportation system is one of the goals of China, and much has been done to build new facilities and modernize old ones. Though greatly improved, transportation is still poorly developed in all but a few areas. Railways are the chief means of long-distance transportation. Trackage is concentrated primarily in Manchuria and on the North China Plain, the two most economically advanced parts of the country. Moreover, elementary education, depending on the program being pursued, lasts five or six years. Lower secondary lasts three years (Gernet, 2002); thus, upper secondary education, depending upon the school, two or three years. China has an extensive adult-learning program, particularly to teach literacy. IV. Conclusion In conclusion, these countries comprise the East Asian civilizations contributed much to the entire world. Although each county faced a lot of turmoil and crises due to invasion of other nations yet these countries made its way to surmount every trial and had survived to its crises. In addition, the civilizations of these nations proved that East Asian countries can make it to the top as they strive hard for the betterment of their economy and for the benefits of its own people.

The Study Habits of Adult College Students Essay Example for Free

The Study Habits of Adult College Students Essay Abstract: The study habits of adult college students over age 25 were compared to a group of younger students at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. The younger students were matched with the older groups on four characteristics: sex, major field of study, semester credit load, and class standing. All 56 participants were undergraduate students (sophomores or juniors) who were registered for the fall 1982 term. The participants kept running records of their study habits, patterns, and difficulties for an academic year. In general, older and younger students showed similar patterns in terms of how much they studied, what activities were engaged in while studying, the time distribution, and places for studying. There was some evidence that older students studied slightly more per credit hour than did younger students. While the total numbers of difficulties encountered in studying were about the same for both groups, the character of the difficulties was noticeably different. Both older and younger students reacted very favorably to having a mixture of the age groups in their classes. Recommendations for working with adult students and suggestions for further study are offered. Appendices include interview schedules and a study log form. (Author/SW) INTRODUCTION It is an understatement to say that the standard of education in Nigeria has fallen. However, it has been realized that students who possess adequate mental abilities sometimes do not perform well in their academic work either because they do not know how to study effectively or they do not use the most effective method of studying. Many questions have been raised by teachers, parents and students themselves on why students perform so poorly academically. Even the state government has shown some concern over this in recent times by introducing low costs books for both primary and secondary schools. Although this was meant to create the desire to study by students, it has not helped the situation much because, students do not read these books. Many of the students complained of lack of time and conducive environment for study, others who try to study complained of lack of understanding. There is no doubt that these complains evidently point to one fact. That is, lack of effective study habits. It is this problem, the researcher wishes to investigate as it appears to be one of the root causes of the dwelling standard of our educational system today. Research questions: * What proportion of junior secondary school students possess good study habit than those in senior secondary school? * Will male students in junior secondary schools perform better than female students in senior secondary schools? Hypothesis: The following conjectural statements were postulated for this study: * There is no significant difference in the study habits of junior and senior secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. * There is no significant difference in the study habits of male and female students in junior and senior secondary schools in Egor, Local Government Area of Edo State. * There is no significant difference in the academic performance of male students in the junior secondary schools and female students in Senior Secondary Schools. LITERATURE REVIEW Psychologists as welt as layman have attempted some definitions of the word study. To some of them, study means hard work and is usually associated with school work. To others, study is applicable to other situations in life other than academic work. Mace (2002) pointed out that study is a systematic acquisition of knowledge and an understanding of facts and principles that calls for retention and application. Kelly (1998) stated that study is the application of ones mental capacity to the acquisition, understanding and organization of knowledge; it often involves some form of formal learning. Crow and Crow in Okorodudu (2000) explained that study is a program of subject matter mastery. It involves hard work. However, study involves the individuals thinking, feeling, personality, social interaction, physical activities and health rather than men learning of fact on the thought system for the purpose of recall when asked. For those who belong to the school of thought that study is not only applicable to academic work, Olatubosun in Oladele (2000) explained that a teacher is studying when he examines the results of an experiment, a lawyer when he prepares his case, a salesman when he learns about his product and a citizen when he tries to understand the issues in an upcoming election. Studies require time spent in a deliberate attempt to learn. It should be differentiated from simple leisure to reading. Thomas and Robinson (1990) emphasized that the learner needs to use a systematic discipline and purposive approach to study. Effective study consists of a conscious sequential series of inter-related steps and processes. Okorodudu (1995) asserted that, study involves the total of all behavioral patterns (addition, verbal, psychomotor, emotional) determined purpose and enforced practices that the individual adapts in order to learn and achieve competence.

Problems That Dry Lining Companies Frequently Encounter Construction Essay

Problems That Dry Lining Companies Frequently Encounter Construction Essay When the air barrier consists of plasterboard dry lining, dry lining companies have to omit the out of sight, out of mind approach that may have been implemented prior to the amended Building Regulation of Part L. Any defects in the construction of a liner wall subsequently show up in the pressure test. An air leakage audit is then required to identify the air leakage paths if the building fails the specified airtightness requirement. (www.mcconsultingengineers.ie) Generally the problem experienced by dry lining contractors is the interface junctions between two different elements, e.g. where the dry liner wall meets a column or a concrete wall. Problems may arise due to insufficient detailing, incompatibility of materials, lack of co-ordination between trades, etc. (www.bath.ac.uk) Remedial works to the air barrier may be very expensive, disruptive and prolonged for the dry lining contractor. Remedial sealing is therefore extremely problematic for the contractor. A way in which to enhance the air barrier is to ensure that subsequent trades do not compromise the air barrier. The air barrier may be compromised by another contractor accidentally damaging it or deliberately penetrating it in order to complete their work to programme of works. It is vital that the damage caused to the barrier be repaired immediately. (www.mcconsultingengineers.ie) Voids created in the walls for air ducts or piped services significantly reduce the probability of the room achieving its required airtight specification. A room with several penetrations is less likely to achieve a greater airtight value than a room with fewer penetrations, since service penetrations in and out of a building contribute as a major source of air leaks. (www.seda2.org) It is common for design drawings for dry lining contractors to contain little or no information on the location of the primary air barrier or airtightness issues. This ultimately results in those involved in constructing the air barrier for the building not being aware of the location, its purpose, the importance of maintaining continuity of the air barrier, nor areas of the construction where particular attention to detail is required to ensure airtightness. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) A problem experienced by dry lining contractors is that the designers do not specify exactly where the airtight layer is on the drawing. The designer does not identify the airtight envelope on drawings for the contractor. Consequently on site the airtight envelope is not labelled, therefore other contractors are not aware of its location. The lack of awareness amoung contractors and designers is detrimental, e.g. if an operative needs to drill a hole through a dry liner wall or ceiling to thread pipes or cables through they are not aware that the penetration must be resealed afterwards. It is important that such penetrations are managed in a more controlled manner than they currently are from the dry lining contractors perspective. (www.bath.ac.uk) If joints are unavoidable then design-in a seal. This may be difficult for dry lining contractors as the method chosen to seal joints depends on the size of the gap between components, the amount of likely movement, the practicalities of application and the need for weather / air tightness. (www.mcconsultingengineers.ie) All buildings move to a greater or lesser extent depending on its use and this movement has to be accommodated in the design from the outset. This is troublesome for contractors as movement or expansion joints will need to address airtightness as well as movement. Not all joints do so, so careful deliberation is required during the design stage. (www.mcconsultingengineers.ie) Dry lining contractors are faced with a multiple of complex details for the external airtight envelope. Complex solutions to airtightness are likely to be more prone to poor execution and potentially to greater vulnerability to differential movement, failure of sealants, and dislocation of components etc. (www.environ.ie) (www.seda2.org) Due to a lack of information on the commercial sector, the author had to resort to the residential sector, as the basics are similar. One of the main air leakage paths within the UK dwellings is plasterboard dry lining (Stephen, 1998 2000). Problems arise with plasterboard dry lining when air can freely move into the gap between the plasterboard and the masonry wall, especially where plasterboard is fixed to the wall using adhesive dabs. The air gap between the plasterboard sheet and the masonry wall then act as a plenum, effectively interconnecting all of the leakage paths within the dwelling. (Johnston, Shenton, Bell, Wingfield, 2004:17) Figure 1 Discontinuous ribbons of adhesive used to seal plasterboard dry lining. (Johnston, Shenton, Bell, Wingfield, 2004:17) Service penetrations are known to be a significant route for air leakage (see Stephen 1998 2000). The report on Robust Construction Details (DEFRA, 2001) states that particular care on site should be paid to service penetrations and all service penetrations should be sealed with expanding foam or other suitable sealant, whether in the wall [Dry liner wall], ground floor, intermediate floor or ceilingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Observations from site illustrate that little attempt has been made to seal the majority of service penetrations through walls, ground floors, intermediate floors and ceilings, and where attempts at sealing have been made, the penetrations are generally inadequately sealed and inappropriate sealants have been used to seal gaps around the service penetrations. (Johnston, Shenton, Bell, Wingfield, 2004:19) Figure 2 Diagram illustrating sealing of service penetrations [Source: DEFRA, 2001] Site Supervision and Workmanship A major factor that influences air leakage is the level and quality of site supervision and workmanship during the construction of a building. Similar types of buildings with similar details may have very different air leakage rates. As a result workmanship is often citied as the primary reason why airtightness standards are not achieved in the construction sector. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) From the authors personal experience during industrial placement all aspects of dry lining work needs to be inspected as work proceeds. It is extremely complex to inspect the airtight barrier on the building once work is complete on site, as it is generally covered by internal fixtures and finishes. Great awareness and concentration is required on inspection, to ensure that the air barrier is not defective in any way, paying particular care to parts that will be hidden on completion. (www.mcconsultingengineers.ie) Once awarded the contract and the air barrier consists of plasterboard dry lining, it is the dry lining contractors responsibility that the airtight barrier is achieved. A problem faced by contractors is that the employees are not aware as to their contribution and responsibilities for the overall airtightness. (www.seda2.org) Consequently the issue of good or bad workmanship in general is a key factor with air tightness. This is what makes the supervision and inspection for the dry lining contractors more difficult to control. (www.seda2.org) Due to a lack of information in the commercial sector regarding dry lining contractors site supervision and workmanship, the author resorted to the residential sector, as the fundamentals are similar. Stamford Brook is a development of around 700 cavity masonry dwellings being constructed on part of the National Trusts Dunham Massey Estate near Altrincham in Cheshire. At Stamford Brook an example of a perceived workmanship problem was the maintenance of a continuous ribbon of plaster adhesive around the perimeter of the plasterboard dry lining. It was observed that with very careful attention to detail and enough time allocated, a significant reduction in the level of air leakage was attained using plasterboard on dabs. (Miles-Shenton, Wingfield Bell) (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Another conclusion from Stamford Brook was that it was impossible to divorce workmanship, not only from design but also from other issues of construction management such as training, communication and quality control. It was clear that many operatives were eager to carry out a high-quality job but that, as far as airtightness was concerned, it was complicated for them to be clear about what they had to do or who was responsible for achieving an airtight envelope. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Quality on site It is of paramount importance that all parties involved on the project from client, contractor and consultants to all site staff and operatives and off site suppliers understand the concepts of air tightness and how they are involved in playing a vital role to that aspect of construction. It only takes a minute section of the dry lining wall of the building to be permeable to ensure a failure to comply. This ultimately results in the remedial works which are costly for the contractor not to mention the impact it may have on the building programme as a whole with time delays. Therefore it is essential that an endeavour is put into practice to educate the staff and that all the staff works a team. Issues of thermal bridging, continuity of insulation and the correct construction of designed details need to be addressed to ensure that airtightness is achieved. (www.hrsservices.co.uk) Although airtightness testing is carried out a few weeks prior to practical completion of a project, it is vital that the dry lining contractor has a quality system in place so that remedial works are not necessary. Dry lining contractors should also try to obtain the airtightness test at a time where the barrier is complete and when remedial works are relatively simple to perform. The airtight test generally consists of two tests, once when the air barrier is complete and one prior to the handover stage. (www.seda2.org) Airtightness testing is generally carried out a few weeks prior to practical completion of a project. The airtight test generally consists of two tests, one when the air barrier is complete and the other prior to the handover stage. It is best practice that the dry lining contractors strive to achieve the required air permeability rate first time round. They then can improve that rate by addressing issues in the audit that is likely to accompany it. Dry lining contractors should also try to obtain the airtightness test at a time where the barrier is complete and when remedial works are relatively simple to perform. If for instance the air barrier is not complete but the main contractor is adamant of having an air leakage test. The incomplete barrier would have to be temporary sealed with an impermeable material; this is a timely and complex procedure. The result of the test may also prove to be an unfair reflection of the dry lining contractors work to date and the location of the le aks may be more difficult to locate. (www.hrsservices.co.uk) Quality Policies Dry lining contractors have not implement an enhanced strategic quality policy in order to succeed in maintaining airtight construction. Quality of workmanship and adequate construction of details are the main issues affecting companies to date. With the stringent Building Regulation in place, increased emphasis on quality policies have to be adhered to. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) High-quality workmanship is obviously significant, but workmanship unfortunately always appears to be of poor quality due to the context in which the staff has to work. Stamford Brook studies have shown that Buildability of designs, lack of detailed design, lack of specific training and the lack of a general quality control procedure underlies many workmanship problems. If careful attention to detail and adequate time allocated, the method of airtight construction can increase dramatically. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Some issues that the quality policy may incorporate to enhance it are an improved management strategy, communication and quality control. Operatives are generally eager to construct to the required specification of detail but short cuts are taken in-order to complete the task in the required time. Operatives are not aware that they are responsible for the achieving the airtight envelope, and that the common trend of the past of cutting corners is not acceptable in the current practice of the industry. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Management On going review of the design is very important. The project management do not ensure that details of all design changes involving elements of the external envelope are distributed throughout the design, procurement and construction teams. This may have consequently effects for dry lining companies. (www.environ.ie) Not all project programmes reflects dry lining contractors required sequence for effective formation of the air barrier and insulation installation. Some trades are not permitted access to form not only the part of the insulation layer or air barrier for which they are responsible, but also to ensure that continuity is achieved between their works and that of other contractors. (www.environ.ie) An Air Tight milestone is not always included when compiling the programme. This puts immense pressure on dry lining contractors if the air barrier is fails the air tightness test. Ignorance of this date prevents management to schedule thorough envelope pre-test inspections and test dates in advance of the final product. (www.environ.ie) Once the air barrier consists of plasterboard dry lining, it is the dry lining contractors principal liability to deliver the air tightness performance overall and the most likely task on any but the smallest jobs will be the co-ordination between management. The contractor must be clear that he carries responsibility for the overall air tightness and in turn must ensure that all personnel and operatives are clear about the extent of their responsibilities. Experience suggests that the best performance has been achieved by contractors who employ a dedicated individual / team to carry responsibility for air tightness, to inspect the works and instruct as required. (www.seda2.org) The issues of air tightness are closely linked to issues of good or bad workmanship in general for contractors. This can make the issue more sensitive and more difficult to control. Even simple buildings are immensely complex and so the most important aspect of all is the creation of an overall culture of careful, tidy, accurate and airtight construction, something which can not be simply forced through a performance specification. (www.seda2.org) Communication Every year defects in the UK construction industry cost at least  £1 billion to rebuild or repair. A number of the defects are the result of poor communication, for example, an inadequately detailed drawing, operatives being given the incorrect instructions or technical information not being available. Improvement in communication should result in an increase in the quality of the build and a reduction in the level of defect occurrence. (projects.bre.co.uk) Studies at Stamford Brook have emphasised the critical nature of communication and the potential impact it may have on airtight construction. It is vital that there is an improvement in flows of information both upwards and downwards in the formal management structure in companys, an example of this may be operatives reporting an incorrect drawing to the site office and the site office will contact the main contractors office, where the incorrect detail can be rectified. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Frequently at Stamford Brook and many other sites observed throughout the UK, design information was not available, not at a sufficient level of detail, confusing, complex or just not referred to by operatives. This lack of information tended to lead to a rather diffused process as operatives followed their instinct rather than using detailed design information, which ironically was not present. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Also there did not appear to be any particular well developed mechanism for feed back of information on air tightness performance and specification. It was not clear how the design and construction lessons were being absorbed for use in making vital improvements to processes or actual designs. This can be linked with the necessity for a clearly defined quality control process, for without such a process there can be no definition of problems, identification of their causes or framing of solutions. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Majority of personnel and operatives involved in the procurement and construction of the building fabric are not aware nor understand the necessity for insulation continuity and airtightness. The lack of awareness associated with these issues, results in components being engineered out of the design for cost savings. (www.environ.ie) Awareness is not raised at key stages during a project, for example, briefing procurement offices and site tool-box talks. As a result parties can not clearly identify where and how insulation continuity and the air barrier are to be maintained. Operatives directly involved in constructing the insulation and air barrier do not draw attention to difficulties experienced on site or request direction. This lack of communication is likely to have detrimental effects on construction. (www.environ.ie) Operatives not directly involved in the building fabric are not entirely aware of the importance of insulation continuity, the air barrier and the flagging up of any breaches through these lines of defence. They do not remedy potential thermal bridges or air leakage routes brought about by their own activities, or to seek help from other trades, depending on the nature of the breach. (www.environ.ie) Quality Control Quality control is critically important to a successful construction project and should be adhered to throughout a project from conception and design to construction and installation. Inspection during construction will prevent costly repairs after the project is completed For construction projects, quality control means making sure things are done according to plans, specifications and permit requirements (Satterfield, 2005:1) Many dry lining contractors have no system in place for monitoring the quality of their processes and products. Experience illustrates those contractors without Quality Assurance (QA) hinders them to check for insulation continuity and air tightness. An effective QA control is that insulation continuity and air tightness are considered during all design changes and material substitutions affecting the external envelope. An ill-formed design change may jeopardise the final performance of the building envelope. The lack of a QA process in a company indicates that they do not inspect finished works especially the building envelope. This in turn prevents management to inspect that all works are properly constructed prior to being covered over. (www.environ.ie) Construction quality can have a significant impact on air tightness. An overwhelming conclusion from the Stamford Brook Field Trial and from general observation of the UK house building industry as a whole is that quality control processes are extremely diffuse with a number of actors playing similar but different roles which are almost always carried out in isolation. It is perhaps not surprising that with no clear air tightness quality control process in place, sequencing is often out of the phase and known errors tend to be repeated time and time again. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Another quality control issue observed at Stamford Brook that can lead to air tightness concern for contractors is the different tolerances that were constructed to by different trades. Items and components that are manufactured off site to high tolerances are often fitted into structures built by trades that are not operating to the same degree of precision. As a result, performance and workmanship issues can occur when construction is outside these tolerances. (www.leedsmet.ac.uk) Quality control is not a primary objective for all the members of a dry lining company. Managers do not take responsibility for maintaining and improving quality control. Employee participation in quality control is not sought after nor rewarded, for example the introduction of new ideas. Consequently, quality improvement is not served as a catalyst for improved productivity. (pmbook.ce.cmu.edu/13)

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Essay -- Papers

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley In Priestley's play An Inspector Calls, the two main characters, Arthur Birling and the Inspector, both show certain features of real people but, in particular the Inspector seems to be representative of political and social issues that were relevant in 1912. What seems like a simple detective thriller, with an inspector asking questions and the other characters answering them in order to find the person responsible for the suicide of Eva Smith (alias Daisy Renton), gradually develops into a complex investigation of political stances, of capitalism and socialism. To answer this question fully, we have to consider many different aspects of Mr Birling and the Inspector's characters. We need to look at the views they express, but we also need to look at their interaction with other characters before we can fully decide whether they have a rounded personality and can thus be considered to be real people or whether they merely represent social and political concepts. We also need to consider the time the play was set in, the events, the setting and the ritual associated with it. In An Inspector Calls many different issues are brought up about social attitudes and political views, but the most important has to be responsibility. In this particular context, Birling and the Inspector clearly have to be seen as representatives of two opposing definitions of responsibility. While Birling sees it as "a man has to make his own way, has to look after himself and his family", thus excluding responsibility for anybody else, the Inspector represents the idea of social responsibility in a society where t... ...a Smith to commit suicide. The Inspector never forgives nor punishes but just tries to warn the Birlings of their doings so that they can say the right things to the real Inspector, and to know what they have all done. I believe that Priestley has meant to not go into detail on the Inspectors feelings and beliefs, as this almost adds a sought of mystery around the Inspectors character, it mainly gets you thinking towards the end, is the Inspector real or are the Birlings just hallucinating, or could the Inspector be a ghost or a Goole which his last name could represent (Inspector Goole). But the question was can the Inspector represent a real person, to a certain extent yes, but not as fully as Mr Birlings character can, so in my opinion he is not a very good representative of real people in the era of the play.

Rustlers of Panther Gap :: Essays Papers

Rustlers of Panther Gap The Rustlers of Panther Gap by Gilbert Morris is a Story of a boy who is determined to help his Indian Friends. The kids at school treat Hawk and Robin Leatherwood rotten, just because they’re â€Å"Indians.† When the Buck brothers stand up for their friends, they Become a target, too. What’s even worse, someone is Cutting down Mr. Leatherwood’s valuable black walnut Trees and making off with wood! The sheriff and his deputies say they’re doing all They can, but they keep coming up empty-handed. Finally, the Bucks have had enough! Somebody’s got to Catch the no-good, rotten, sneaky thief, and they figure It might as well be them! So Jake hatches a scheme. All Barney has to do is use Joe’s newest invention-the Amazing flying Solarcycle-to play detective from the Air! About a week after they had a plan and decided on what they were going to do, more trouble comes along. A couple of no good boys (the Dursley’s) start to interrupt their plans by ruining their Solarcycle and starting fights with Barney and Jake. But that won’t stop them, they decide to take off anyway. One evening after Barney had taken off with the Solarcycle and had cruised around above the trees for about an hour or so, Barney spotted something, he couldn’t really get a good view so he decided to move in for a closer look. That was all he needed! He spotted the criminals, it was the S******, Barney was shocked! Right when he was about to turn around a bullet ripped through the Solarcycles wing. It was too late; the Solarcycle was spinning dangerously towards the ground. He hit the ground and was knocked out. The next

Real Estate Agent Essay -- miscellaneous

Real Estate Agent Buying or selling a house or an apartment is one of the biggest decisions of a person’s life. And when selling or establishing a price for real estate, people seek out real estate agents to do the dirty work. A real estate agent has to convince a prospective homeowner that he or she is trustworthy and knowledgeable. In many ways, the agent acts as a counselor to individuals and families about to embark on a huge commitment. Real estate agents have a thorough knowledge or real estate market in their community. They know which neighborhoods will best fit their client’s needs and budgets. Real estate agents are generally independent sales employees who provide their services to licensed brokers on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from property sold through the firm, by the agents. They are familiar with local zoning and tax laws, and know where to obtain financing. A good real estate agent is informed about things like schools, tax rates, public transportation systems, and should be aware of going mortgage rates. To be eligible to become a real estate agent, he or she must first be a high school graduate, be at least 18 years of age, and pass a written test. In every state real estate agents must obtain a state license to sell and rent properties. Over 1,000 universities, colleges, and junior colleges offer courses in real estate. Many local real estate associations sponsor courses covering...