Learn About the Emory MBA With Concentration in International Business

Learn About the Emory MBA With Concentration in International BusinessA sample Emory MBA with a concentration in International Business would be a great idea for a very good business opportunity. The program will allow you to take a comprehensive program, acquire a work experience in the program, get a co-op position or even full time job in an international company. By studying the program, you can also gain admission into top graduate schools as well as top business schools.Not many people know that the MBA degree has earned its place in the list of the most prestigious business degrees worldwide. Many companies that do not have a business school reputation are asking MBA students to become a part of their team. It is important to note that this program has made a name for itself in the business world as it has shown that it is not only a stepping stone to get high paying job but also for many to set up their own company.The option of working in the company as a consultant or a man ager is an option that many MBA students take to help them prepare themselves for an entry into a company. One should note that there are various steps that come into play for a person to become a consultant or a manager. It has been observed that while the managerial positions are highly sought after the work experience is relatively small. Thus if you study in the program that trains you to be a manager, you can build your credentials to help you secure a corporate management job.The MBA can also help you open up a job opportunity in a foreign country. It has been observed that in many of the newly emerging countries, they require skilled people to fill the various positions they are not producing. An MBA with International Business will enable you to improve your skills in the field and land a job in one of these countries.A student who has just completed the program will be prepared for an entry-level job position and will have his/her self-confidence to handle situations. The p rogram does not only train you to become a leader but also ensures that you are able to show your abilities on a wide variety of industries. There is the fact that companies in the United States are employing a lot of MBA students as a form of investment and they also hire as consultants or managers.This is because in many cases a person who has completed the program is not writing the program and therefore, needs to manage his/her time well. It is however, imperative that a student writes about himself as a potential employer as he should display that he has the potential to become a manager. The role of the writer is to show that a candidate has the potential to learn and have the capacity to take control of a company.One should also consider the fact that by writing a sample essay for an MBA program, the employer can get a closer look at the student's potential. For a better understanding of the MBA, a candidate will write about the right experiences of his/her life and in additi on mention any new experiences that he/she had recently.

To his coy mistress and Cousin Kate Essay Example

To his coy mistress and Cousin Kate Essay Andrew Marvell was a poet he was born in Yorkshire in the 17th century. He was a member of the metaphysical poets. Christina Rosseti was born in London on December 5th 1830. She was labeled a poet in the 19th century and was part of the pre-Raphelite Brotherhood. The tradition that to his coy mistress belongs to is of a carpe diem poem. The serious subject in this poem is we do not have forever. Cousin Kate is a poem about Love and relationship it is also an attack on Victorians attitude to women. To his coy mistress We will write a custom essay sample on To his coy mistress and Cousin Kate specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on To his coy mistress and Cousin Kate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on To his coy mistress and Cousin Kate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The narrator of this poem is the man who is trying to persuade his mistress to get into bed with him. The word Coy implies her shyness and sensitivity. The first stacge of hhis argument Had we is saying had we enough time the second but is saying we do not have enough time and the third now therefore is saying lets make love as otherwise our time will run out. Stanza 1 In the first stanza the narrator attacks his mistress for her coyness by saying had we but world enough time, this coyness lady were no crime he is saying that her being shy is a crime as they are not going to live forever and therefore should not be so shy. In the first stanza he quotes my vegetable love should grow this is an example of metaphysical conceit, he is saying that there is nothing wrong with sex its healthy and natural just like a vegetable. He then tries to persuade her by using flattery two hundred to adore each breast but thirty thousand to the rest this flatters and persuades her, this is also a hyperbole. Stanza 2 The narrators basic point in stanza 2 is we do not have all the time in the world. In lines 12-22 he says but at my back I always hear, times winged chariot hurrying near this means we do not have much time so lets not wait any longer, and the image of times winged chariot hurrying near is saying that time is going fast and coming nearer to our deaths. He uses images of death the graves a fine and private place he is trying to persuade her by saying your grave will be a quite place and it will be only you in the grave. Words in this stanza that suggest death and decay are marble vault, ashes , dust, grave. His lady would probably react to this in a negative way and want to get into bed with him more as she would not to die a virgin or single. The narrator uses this to frighten her into bed. The narrator says deserts of vast eternity which again frightens her. Stanza 3 In the third stanza he tells his mistress we should wait no longer as soon enough we will have no time left let us roll all our strength into one ball what he means by this is seize the day as we do not have forever. Words in this stanza that suggest a sense of urgency are now he repeats this to add effect because he wants her now, run and time devour he uses all these words to try and speed her up as they do not have forever. There are words in stanza 3 that again compliment her sits on thy skin like morning de hes complimenting her on her youthful complexion, but as the day goes on morning dew starts to disappear and maybe he is suggestion her looks and complexion will wear away during the years, this is creating a loving and peaceful atmosphere unlike the one in stanza 2. in stanza 3 the writer also talks about the iron gates of life through the iron gates of life the iron gates of life could mean he wants a child as the gates of life could be his mistresses womb, the writer is saying the can make the sun(time) run'(go faster) try enjoying themselves to do this. Rhyme scheme and rhythm The effect of using rhyming couplets is that they are a couple and the narrator could be using this to point it out. The whole poem is written in iambic tetrameter. The effect of the caesura in line 27 symbolizes the silence of her tomb when she is dead. The enjambment in the last but one line of the poem thus, though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run. Gives the sense of time striding on. Personal Response I think that Marvell has written this poem very well and cleverly with the use of enjambment etc, he also introduces the character to be a man who wants one thing sex, he shows the narrator as a very manipulative clever man. I think the narrators argument is a good one as he has waited so long for his mistress to get in bed and he cannot wait any longer. Marvell makes the point about time and the brevity of human happiness very well. Cousin Kate I now intend to discuss Cousin Kate I will compare this poem to his coy mistress. This poem is a ballad. In the poem, we hear a voice of a woman whos husband has betrayed her for her cousin. In Victorian society the narrator of the poem was a fallen women a fallen woman is someone who has lost her reputation by having an illegitimate child it is a coincidence that Rosseti was a volunteer at one of these. The main theme of this poem is relationship and betrayal. Before the narrator was seduced she was a cottage maiden and fair and a very traditional woman. The lord seduced her by having a palace he lured me to his palace home he also seduced her with love. The word lured means baited towards something so the narrator is treating her as a bit of meat. The narrators tone or attitude in lines 5-8 are why did he have to find me to fill my heart with care why me i.e she is full of regret. Stanza 2 In stanza 2 the author uses a paradox to lead a shameless shameful life This brings up mixed feelings as she feels she hasnt done anything wrong but she feels ashamed as now she is a fallen woman and has been labeled by society and does not get the respect she deserves. In lines 5 to 6 in stanza 2 he wore me like a silken knot is a simile and it suggest that his love isnt going to last as it is going to fall apart like a silken knot as silk is virtually impossible to make a knot in. In line 8 in stanza 2 he uses a dove for effect who might have been a dove a dove symbolizes purity and he took away her purity the theme of birds is used throughout this poem also you had the stronger wing in stanza 4 Stanza 3 The lords choose Cousin Kate because she grew fairer than her and she was good and pure. The narrator then went to a refugee for fallen women we gather. In stanzas 4 and 5 the narrator is jealous of Cousin Kate as she is rich, pure and successful. In stanzas 4 and 5 contrasts between Cousin Kate and the narrator my love was true, your love was writ in sand what the narrator means by this is she genuinely loved the lord but Cousin Kate love was writ in sand and soon enough the tide will come in and wash away that love. In stanza 4 the narrator uses a bird image you had a stronger wing what the narrator means by this is Cousin Kate is stronger richer and mainly she is still pure. The narrator then mocks cousin Kate as the narrator has something she will never have the lords child My fair hair son, my shame. My pride this is a paradox, the narrator uses this all her shame is in her son as he is a illegitimate child but its her pride as Cousin Kate will never have him. In the last stanza the narrator says cling closer, closer yet this shows the narrator thinks she loves him and does not want to lose him. In the last 2 lines it says your father would give lands for one to wear his coronet the childs father wants to have and heir and his mother does not want him to steal him away from her but she must be having mixed feelings as she wants her son to be successful and wealthy. We can clearly see that in this poem fallen women are treated badly as they are called outcast thing. Comparisons In his coy mistress there is a message which says why wait as we do not have forever. In Cousin Kate badly the mother of illegitimate children get treated and its about relationships and betrayal. In both poems we hear 2 different voices in the first we hear a man desperate to get his lady into bed and in the second we hear about a woman who has been abandoned and betrayed by her own cousin. In the first poem the audience is his mistress as in the second it is cousin kate and her son and the reader. The narrators tone towards the audience is totally different as in his coy mistress he is getting frustrated and in Cousin Kate she is explaining to the reader then she is angry at Cousin Kate and then she boasts about her son and then she is calm speaking to her son again. In Cousin Kate from stanza 3 onwards the narrator is addressing herself towards Cousin Kate and then her son, In his coy mistress he is addressing his mistress. The lord choose Cousin Kate as she was fairer and more beautiful and had the stronger wing and the narrator we gather form the information got sent to a refugee for fallen woman. We gather from the information given to us that the narrator does not like Cousin Kate as if it was not for her she would still be pure and she feels she has been betrayed and cheated on by Cousin Kate. In stanza 4 of Cousin Kate Rosseti uses imagery of a bird you had the stronger wing this means that she was more stronger richer and stable than the narrator. I think that the first message comes along more strongly to me as you do not have forever in your life to achieve and accomplish tasks as in Cousin Kate you can move on from one man and if you do not make love before you die you cannot go back and change that. These two poems give us the impression that all men are after sex and the most beautiful women they can get as in his coy mistress he spends the whole poem talking about how much he wants her to make love with him and in Cousin Kate he married the Narrator thinking she was the most prettiest then she saw her cousin who was more beautiful and then went out with her. I think I like Cousin Kate more than his Coy mistress as in Cousin Kate there is more than one audience as in his coy mistress it drags on speaking to the same audience but in Cousin Kate it makes you want to read on as there are more audiences. Therefore I think that I prefer Cousin Kate

CEO Pay vs. Workers Pay essays

CEO Pay vs. Workers Pay essays Over the last decade, the pay increases of the CEOs have far outpaced the pay increases experienced by the common worker. This means, while the people who run the company are experiencing greater and greater amounts of wealth, the average worker has been experiencing a greater amount of debt. The average workers has pay rate which increases barely kept pace with inflation. The investigation will show the gap between CEOs and workers pay, why CEOs feel it is necessary to pay such salaries, and also what are the effects of such pays. The CEOs that dose not benefit the workers: The CEOs pay in America has been increasing to the point of extreme excess become multi millionaires, CEOs have many more luxuries and incentives running the company or the corporation not wanting. However the workers work harder and harder by longer hours, less benefits, and low pay. Know that there are some CEOs who are concerned for their workers. The media has shown us many CEOs who are in it solely to make a large amount of money as fast as they can, and have no concerns for those who work under them. The CEOs pay increases faster than the workers pay; one reason for the CEOs pay has become common practice to overly compensate the CEOs, regardless of their actual performance. Bigger corporations think of nothing giving bonuses for their CEOs pledge to their companies, the benefits and the other perks such as high stock, option granted loans, and luxury items written (Hightower, October 2001, ). Most CEOs have taking home about an average of 531 percent more pay than the average hourly worker makes. Chicago Times reported, It isnt right or fair to compare the Presidents and CEOs of a big corporation to hourly workers, because with the CEOs pay its coming from the global marketing for executives. Obscene CEOs pay affec...

Launch of P&G InsecKill Insecticide in the UK Essay

Launch of P&G InsecKill Insecticide in the UK - Essay Example Nonetheless, P&G intends to launch and market a new product in the United Kingdom, which it is manufacturing for the first time. P&G is a popular brand in the country for its high innovativeness, and a strategic position there, therefore, this is expected that â€Å"InsecKill† will receive a good reception. A research has been conducted on the target segment. This has mainly based on the information on consumer demographic distribution and spending behavior in the UK from the company, with regard to its other products sale in the UK market. Different strategies have been identified about how information about â€Å"InsecKill† will be disseminated in the target market. Direct marketing, public relations, sales promotion, and advertising are combined in to a single marketing mix to achieve this. Finally, reviews have been conducted on the customer, market, internal and external contexts. In addition, the objectives, strategies, and budget of this marketing plan have been outlined and are discussed. Furthermore, different tactics to ensure successful business experience in the UK have been identified, basing on the consumer research findings. Nonetheless, P&G will assess and review its marketing activities time to time, with regard to changing consumer behavior, for better results. Introduction Procter & Gamble (P&G) Company is a popular multinational company specializing in consumer goods. It produces a wide range of products, including household products, personal care products, cleaning agents, pet foods, among others. This company is highly innovative, thus the wide variety of products. In addition, P&G is known to develop new products in the market at a higher rate, compared to other companies. Overall, P&G is a high performer in the market, registering high profits each year (P&G 2012). P&G values its customers, and develops products that suit their needs. This is the reason for the wide range of brands the company produces. Market research is a crucial aspect for this company, as it is through this that the company identifies the needs of its customers (Rehtmeyer 2010). P&G has been successful in the consumer goods market. In this essay, it is assumed that P&G has developed a new product, which it needs to introduce in the United Kingdom (UK). This is a n insecticide named â€Å"InsecKill,† which is meant for household use to kill stubborn and harmful insects in homes. P&G

Gendered-Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gendered-Language - Essay Example This paper seeks to discuss aspects of gendered language. Through this, the paper will focus on sociolinguistic variations and the varying aspects employed during conversations. Sociolinguistics is the study of society and language. Sociolinguistics attempts to analyze the social factors which leading to the diversity of human languages, whereas many linguists concentrate on exploring unity under the diversity of human languages. In a nut shell, sociolinguists focus on the differences in languages and variation within a particular society language. As stated earlier, this paper will focus on the aspects of sociolinguistic variations in terms of gender based conversations. For instance, in the past few days when I was walking around, I heard two women chatting and discussing their issues. Naturally, I have never been interested in listening to them sharing their views but on this occasion, their subject attracted my attention. I listened keenly how they were praising their mode of presentation. The first woman was commenting on how her colleague had plaited her hair. â€Å"Jane! You look smart. Who plaited your hair? I like it! † The second woman laughed, showing a sense of appreciation. â€Å"My husband took me out over the weekend where I was plaited. Imagine am proud of him.† The first woman was so curious, â€Å"Do you mind giving me directions so that I may go too? I should be as cute as you look!† â€Å"Oh please, I am not sure of the place, but it was so far that you can’t make it alone. It cost me good money to achieve this. I doubt if can afford. Probably you can look for another salon within this town.† The other woman seemed to break the heart of her colleague so that she could not trace the salon. â€Å"No, I don’t care! I need the same even it means selling part of my other belongings.† The woman replied with a lot of determination. Their conversation continued but I didn’t bother to listen more (Li, 2002). On another occasion when I had gone for a ride to my nearest shopping centre, I engaged in a discussion with my friends who were shaving. At some point, they began discussing on the recent men hair styles. I was keen on the on their dialogue. â€Å"Martin, have you seen my friend’s hair style who arrived recently from abroad? The guy is smart!† One gentleman came up. â€Å"Yeah! But that style isn’t all that new. I’ve seen many people shave like him.† Jack replied with very cool voice. â€Å"In fact I don’t see any need of one straining to cope that style. It may cost you a lot for nothing, after all our nearest barb er shop can do it. You can save that money and do other things other than just shaving.† Most men in the discussion agreed on Jack’s opinion and all seem not to be interested on the topic again. They switched to discussing other issues (Chambers, 2003). From the set of the conversations, it is evident that women and men have different language of approach. Although they could have the same subject of discussion, women could approach differently as men could. In the instance above, women are seen to be admiring each other in the way they have dressed. One could realize how her colleague has plaited her hair and show admiration up to an extent of digging out where and how it can be done. Women are seen to invest much of their time on what the outsiders can see. Although the other woman wants to look beautiful as her fellow, it is clear that the first woman is possessive and wants to own the beauty alone. She tries all the impossibilities to ensure that the efforts

Effects of Late Procurement for Specialist Subcontractors

Effects of Late Procurement for Specialist Subcontractors 1.1. Overview This dissertation sets out to explore the various reasons why there are delays in the subcontractor procurement process in UK Construction Industry. The dissertation will be focusing on purely the private sector of the industry and determining what effects the late procurement can have on the project, both in terms of the commercial and programme implications. The procurement process in construction begins with the client tendering the project to the main contractors. This dissertation will not focus on this element of the procurement process and will in turn focus purely on the procurement of the specialist subcontractor trades. A specialist subcontractor is defined as a contractor appointed to carry out activities in the development of a built asset that involve specialist construction knowledge and skills, (Specialist Sub-contractor, 2016) The reason for this topic is due to the working environment in which the author current works, the author is a project manager in the glazing facade industry working on major projects in the UK construction industry. The issues surrounding late procurement has been disused both on sites and in the academic environment for many years and links have been made between the number of claims for delay and variations, and the pre-construction process (Mosey, 2009). Benefits of early procurement can include the ability to value engineer solutions, correct design co-ordination, review more sustainable solutions and many more. 1.2. Hypothesis The research will demonstrate that late procurement can harm more than the programme on a project, it will show that late procurement can affect the design and quality of the project. The evidence will also show the negative effects that late procurement can have on the BREAM status of a building/ project and sustainability. 1.3. Null Hypothesis Late procurement has no effect on the project in any way. 1.4. Aims To explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry To determine what classes as late procurement and understand the main and most common reasons for late procurements To evaluate what are the benefits to late and early procurement in terms of the key project requirements; Time Quality Cost. BREAM/Sustainability An additional aim to the dissertation, if sufficient time and resources are available. What can be done to improve the procurement processes 1.5. Objectives Read up on the various different procurement methods and strategies and understand which are relevant to the UK construction industry. Interview 4 to 5 individuals from different sectors of the UK construction industry. Speak to various levels of the construction industry project delivery team to understand the effects they believe early and late procurement can have on the industry. Questionnaires will be sent out to the following parties. Main Contractor Project Directors * Main Contractor Senior Procurement managers Main Contractor Senior Quantity Surveyors Main Contractor Project Managers / Package Managers * Main Contractor Site Managers Main Contractor Design Managers Architects * Specialist Sub-Contract Directors* Specialist Sub-Contract Project Managers* * Indicates the various project members which interviews will be completed with. 2.1. Introduction The initial literature review will explore the various documents which have been reviewed against each aim. This will highlight where there is a vast amount of literature available and where alternative options have had to be used, as set out in the objectives previously. A literature review (also called literature research study or literature survey) groups relevant ideas and evidence from secondary sources into a logical flow, addressing significance and understanding. (Laycock, Howarth, Watson, 2016) 2.2. The various stages of the procurement process Before the procurement process can be understood the term procurement needs to be understood. Dr Denise Bower stated that procurement is the term used to describe the overarching process of the identification, selection and acquisition of civil engineering services and materials, their transport, the execution or implementation; and subsequent project performance. (Bower, 2003). As in any project, there are various elements which need to be procured, in construction these different elements tend to be larger and require sub-contractors to be procured on various different contracts to manage the design, supply and installation of the various elements. The acquisition of the various trade will be linked to the programme, the type of procurement and contract which is being used. One of the first thing which must be created is the Project Execution Plan (PEP), the PEP sets out how the project which has been defined in the strategic brief will be procured (Morledge Smith, 2013). The PEP is directly linked to the procurement approach which can be dictated by the constraints of the project or by the client. As mentioned, the procurement process is directly linked to the programme, for both on and off site. The programme as a whole is linked to the construction process which is stipulated by British Standards BS 6079-1:2010, which is titled, Project management. Principles and guidelines for the management of projects. There are various different stages to the construction process and this is clearly depicted in Figure 1. Figure 1typical stages of a Construction Project (Harris McCaffer, 2013) The British Standard for procurement policies, strategies and procedures are under BS 8532:2011. This document provides the backbone for the procurement division in the UK construction industry. The document states that it gives recommendations and guidance on the development within a public or private sector organization of policies, strategies and procedures for the procurement of construction in the built environment. (British Standards Institution, 2011). Figure 2 portrays a decision structure for which forms of procurement should be used, the structure highlights the main frequently used forms of procurement in the construction sector. Figure 2 Identifying the Procurement process (British Standards Institution, 2011) 2.3. What classes as late procurement Late procurement in its simplest terms can be explained as when the procurement process chosen does not leave enough time to complete the programme to meet all three demands of the performance triangle as shown in Figure 3. Majority of specialist subcontractors packages are design and build. This means that if there is a delay in the procurement process it is the offsite period which is effected as the end date on a construction project rarely moves, unless the delay is due to the client. Figure 3 The Performance triangle Cost, Performance/Quality, time A Design and Build contract is a single source approach in the sense that, generally, the eventual contractor takes on single-point responsibility to develop the entire design and deliver the works according to the clients requirement (Bower, 2003). A reduced design period makes design coordination between the different trades, especially in the specialist works, where the original intent by the clients architect may not adhere to CDM and building regulation. Late procurement in complex projects could be classed as a lot earlier than in the more standard buildings. A complex project can be classed as a project where it is not a standard structure or a repeated building such a chain hotel etc. Banwells report from 1964 stated that specialist consultants, some of whom may infact also be specialist contractor, should be brought in at the earliest stage as full members of a design team (Banwell, 1964). Obviously the precise period when procurement can be classed as early and when it can be classed as late is debateable and will come down to a commercial decision from the main contractor. 2.4. The positive effects early procurement can have on a project The discussion over the benefits of early procurement / contractor involvement has been discussed for over 50 years, Banwell report 1964. In 1998 the Egan report was publish and this was the turning point for the construction industry as he recommended a radical rethink, it was this report which lead to the creation of the Construction Industry Council (CIC). The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the representative forum for the professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in the construction industry. (Construction Industry Council 2017, 2017) David Mosey looked into this subject in a great deal, he stated that, a procurement model which omits contactor and specialist design contributions can increase risk and can result in poor communications between team members, unnecessary delays to progress of the project and the creation of incorrect information that leads to claims and disputes. (Mosey, 2009). This outlook is in line with many other academics, the JCT CE guide also states that, It is important that contractors and any key specialists are engaged early, ideally at a stage when the proposed design is not complete so that it is possible for the contractor and key specialists to consider ways in which the design can be made easier to build and maintain (JCT CE Guide, 2006). Design consultants are also in favour of this approach, the CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) interviewed John Hayward, director of Mott MacDonald in 1998. He was quoted as stating Our preferred approach, particularly on more complex projects, is to select the contractor who will construct the project at concept stage. The primary objective is optimise buildability and thus improve delivery against time and cost criteria, (CIRIA, 1998). By engaging contractors and specialist contractors at an early stage allows the creation of improved details which follow the build sequence as well as reduce build costs on site for re visits etc. The early involvement approach reduces the focus on the client. The design and built contract relies on the client expressing a clear performance brief at the outset and leaving the main contactor to determine its own means to complete the project in line with the required cost, time an quality parameters. (Mosey, 2009). The client would normally employ their own design team, architects etc, to generate this clear brief, by engaging a core team of specialist contractors this brief can be specifics and accurtate regarding specifications and details. This will reduce and remove some of the off-site time once a contractor is appointed as the brief should be transparent to both to contractor and the subcontractors tendering for the various packages. 3.1. Introduction This chapter will discuss and evaluate the proposed methods which will be undertaken in the research of the dissertation. The different research methods have been carefully chosen by the author based on the title and topic environment. 3.2. Research Paradigms A paradigm, in business, is a model of something, or a very clear and typical example of something (Cambridge Dictionary, 2017). Even though paradigms have increased through the raise in social media, there are still mainly two, Positivism and Anti-positivism. The third paradigm which will be considered in this research is critical theory. (Dr. Nirod K. Dash, June 2005) Positivism, in philosophy, adheres to the view that only factual knowledge gained through observation, including measurement, is trustworthy. (Dudovskiy, Positivism Research Philosophy, 2017) This is a very scientific approach and relies on fact and data rather than thoughts and opinions. Anti-Positivism can also be referred to as interpretive sociology or interpretivist. This is when the researcher interprets the elements of the study and uses their own thoughts, opinions and believes in order to arrive at a conclusion. This method of study usually focus on meaning and may employ multiple methods in order to reflect different aspects of the issue. (Dudovskiy, Interpretivism (interpretivist) Research Philosophy, 2017) Critical theory suggests action research methods to explore the current field knowledge. This is generally used to solve problems immediately. This form of research will form from the back of the interviews when interviewing site level members of the project team. Table 4 The three research paradigms and the various methods (Dr. Nirod K. Dash, June 2005) Research paradigms Research approach Research methods Examples Positivism Quantitative Surveys: Questionnaires longitudinal, cross-sectional, correlational; experimental, Survey of procurement managers into the percentage of late procured packages per major project. Anti-positivism Qualitative Biographical; Phenomenological; Ethnographical; case study Reviewing the literature which is already been written. Completing interviews with different sectors an interpreting their responses. Critical theory Critical and action-oriented Ideology critique; action research In field questionnaires and interviews 3.3. Data Collection Various different types of data will be collected from the different research methods that have been proposed above. These different methods where chosen in order to gain an increased understanding of the industry as a whole, not just from an academic or site level. The different methods will also allow a large amount of different data to be collected, analysed and reviewed. Positivism research will lead to primary data through the surveys and questionnaires. 3.4. Methods 3.4.1. Objective 1 In order to explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry the author will complete an extensive literature review. This review will examine the data from research which has been complete by other academics, this will secondary data. Secondary data will be reviewed as this will provide an alternative opinion on the current and past industry. A wide range of opinions will be critical when reviewing the primary data which will be collected from interviews and questionnaires The emphasis of this objective is also to evaluate how much change has happened in the procurement practise to see if the role of a specialist subcontract has been considered when developing the process. In order to understand this the interview with the Main Contractor Procurement leaders will help explain from a practical level whether the theory mentioned in the literature review is completed in the field. The only issue with this method of research is that the academic literature may be one sided or based on past practice and not reflective of the current UK construction industry. 3.4.2. Objective 2 Determining what classes as late procurement and understanding the main and most common reasons for late procurements will be achieved through primary data, the data will be collected by different members of the UK construction industry completing interviews. In order to achieve a rounded and diverse set of responses the author will also aim to interview difference companies in the same sector. The interview questions will be created following an extensive literature review and a review of the questionnaires. The interview questions will contain the same core questions for each sector in order to achieve a broad understanding of the different opinions of late procurement. There will be different role specific questions which will be directed towards the environment that each interviewee works in. 3.4.3. Objective 3 Exploring the perception of late/early procurement and what effects it has on the construction industry will be the hardest objective to complete. The author will create various surveys aimed at different disciplines to understand the different effects and issues caused by the delay in procurement. The questionnaires for the procurement team will try to gain an understanding into the procurement procedure they follow and whether it is by personal choice, company procedure or effected by time critical requirements. The questionnaires will be sent to colleagues in the authors working environment which will then be passed on to their colleagues, this is referred to as snowball sampling. This method has many benefits including; Reaching members of the construction industry in high positions which would have been previously unachievable. Saving time, as other people are sending the questionnaire around the various other individuals No large scale pre planning required, the author will just have to speak to the various key members about the request. However, there are also some disadvantages to this technique; Lack of control over who takes part in the survey Sampling bias as the initial subjects will pass the questionnaire onto their close colleague who may be in similar positions or have the similar options. (Explorable, 2017) 3.5. Research model The model displayed below highlights the various stages which will be completed during the research stage of the project. The first 3 stages have already been completed, along with the definition of the aims. The next stage is to complete the objectives and then review and analyse the data collected. Figure 4 A flow chart depicting the dissertation process 3.6. Gantt chart displaying target project dates Table 6, Gantt chart displaying the target dissertation timeline In summary the author has shown that there has been previous research into the proposed topic, however this research has been into the various procurement strategies and the benefits of early contractor involvement. There has not been much research into the effects of late procurement or the reasons for late procurement. This is where data from the interviews and questionnaires will be harnessed. The methodology clearly portrays that the results from the questionnaire and literature review will be used to create the interview questions. This method will allow any gaps in information to be capture in the interviews, it will also allow some of the more challenging questions to be clearly answered by the interviewee. The main challenge that the author will face is participation with members of the industry for the questionnaires and interviews. The benefit of working in the industry and on major construction site is that the author will have personal links to various members on the industry, this should aid in the response rate. References Banwell. (1964). Banwell Report The Placing and Management of Contacts for building and Civil Engineering Work. London: HMSO. Bower, D. D. (2003). Management of Procurement. London: Thomas Yelford Publishing. British Standards Institution. (2011). BS 8534:2011 Construction procurement policies, strategies and procedures. BSI Standards Publications. Cambridge Dictionary. (2017, March 01). Paradigm. Retrieved from Cambridge Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/paradigm CIRIA. (1998). Selecting Contractors by Value. London: Construction Industry Research and Information Association. Construction Industry Council 2017. (2017, March 7). Retrieved from Construction Industry Council: http://cic.org.uk/ Dr. Nirod K. Dash, I. (June 2005). Module: Selection of the Research Paradigm and Methodology. Manchester Meropolitan University. Dudovskiy, J. (2017, Feb 28). Interpretivism (interpretivist) Research Philosophy. Retrieved from Research Methodology: http://research-methodology.net/research-philosophy/interpretivism/ Dudovskiy, J. (2017, March 01). Positivism Research Philosophy. Retrieved from Research Methodology: http://research-methodology.net/research-philosophy/positivism/ Explorable. (2017, March 05). Snowball Sampling. Retrieved from Explorable: https://explorable.com/snowball-sampling Harris, F., McCaffer, R. (2013). Modern Construction Management. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. JCT CE Guide. (2006). JCT Constructing Excellence Contract Guide. London: Sweet Maxwell. Laycock, E., Howarth, T., Watson, P. (2016). The Journey to Dissertation Success. Oxon: Routledge. Morledge, R., Smith, A. (2013). Building Procurment. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Mosey, D. (2009). Early Contractor Involvement in Building Procurement- Contracts, Partnering and Project Managment. Wiley Blackwell. Specialist Sub-contractor. (2016, Jan 21). Retrieved from Designing Building Wiki: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_contractor Please find attached at the end of the report the following documents 6.1 Research Ethics Checklist for Students (Page 19 to 25) 6.2 Participant Information Document (Page 26 to 27) 6.3 Participant Consent Form (Page 28 to 29) RESEARCH ETHICS  CHECKLIST FOR STUDENTS (SHUREC7) This form is designed to help students and their supervisors to complete an ethical scrutiny of proposed research. The SHU ResearchEthicsPolicy should be consulted before completing the form. Answering the questions below will help you decide whether your proposed research requires ethical review by a Designated Research Ethics Working Group. The final responsibility for ensuring that ethical research practices are followed rests with the supervisor for student research. Note that students and staff are responsible for making suitable arrangements for keeping data secure and, if relevant, for keeping the identity of participants anonymous. They are also responsible for following SHU guidelines about data encryption and research data management. The form also enables the University and Faculty to keep a record confirming that research conducted has been subjected to ethical scrutiny. For student projects, the form may be completed by the student and the supervisor and/or module leader (as applicable). In all cases, it should be counter-signed by the supervisor and/or module leader, and kept as a record showing that ethical scrutiny has occurred. Students should retain a copy for inclusion in their research projects, and staff should keep a copy in the student file. Please note if it may be necessary to conduct a health and safety risk assessment for the proposed research. Further information can be obtained from the Faculty Safety Co-ordinator. General  Details Name of student Katherine Louise Walter Course or qualification (student) MSc Construction Project Managements Title of proposed research The effects of late procurement for specialist subcontractors in the Uk Construction Industry Proposed start date January 2017 Proposed end date October 2017 Brief outline of research to include, rationale aims (250-500 words). This dissertation sets out to explore the various reasons why there are delays in the subcontractor procurement process in UK Construction industry. The dissertation will be focusing on purely the private sector of the industry and determining what effects the late procurement can have on the project, both in terms of the commercial and program implications. The main aims of the dissertation are; 1.To explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry 2.To determine what classes as late procurement and understand the main and most common reasons for late procurements 3.To evaluate what are the major effects on late procurement and do they aid or hamper the three key feature of a successful project a) Time b) Quality c) Cost. d) BREAM/Sustainability 4.What can be done to improve the procurement processes Where data is collected from individuals, outline the nature of data, details of anonymisation, storage and disposal procedures if required (250-500 words). Data will be collected from individuals in the construction sector via interviews and questionnaires. The nature of the data will be both opinions and facts. The opinions will be taken from various sectors of the construction industry in order to gain a wide range of data. The questionnaires will also be sent to various different employees for different companies. This approach will try to avoid results being effected by one companies practice. The data received from the questionnaires will then be used to generate questions for interviews. These interviews will try to focus down into some of the trends displayed in the questionnaires. The interview will also ask questions about the company procedures as well as the individuals thoughts and opinions on how the system could be improved. 1.  Health  Related Research Involving  the  NHS  or  Social Care/Community  Care  or  the  Criminal Justice  Service  or  with research  participants  unable  to  provide  informed  consent Questi

Authority Power Politics

Authority/Power/Politics Authority What is Authority The word authority derives from the Latin word auctoritas meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence or commands which originate from an auctor, indicating that authority originates from a master, leader or author. Essentially authority is imposed by superiors upon inferiors either by force of arms (structural authority) or by force of argument (sapiential authority). Usually authority has components of both compulsion and persuasion. For this reason, as used in Roman law authority is differentiated into potestas (legal or military power) and imperium (persuasive political rank or standing). Weber on Authority Max Weber in his sociological work has identified and distinguished three types of authority. Weber defined authority as the chance of commands being obeyed by a specifiable group of people. Legitimate authority is that which is recognized as legitimate and justified by both the ruler and the ruled. Weber divided legitimate authority into three types: The first type discussed by Weber is Rational-legal authority. It is that form of authority which depends for its legitimacy on formal rules and established laws of the state, which are usually written down and are often very complex. The power of the rational legal authority is mentioned in the constitution. Modern societies depend on legal-rational authority. Government officials are the best example of this form of authority, which is prevalent all over the world. The second type of authority is Traditional authority, which derives from long-established customs, habits and social structures. When power passes from one generation to another, then it is known as traditional authority. The right of hereditary monarchs to rule furnishes an obvious example. The Tudor dynasty in England and the ruling families of Mewar, in Rajasthan (India) are some examples of traditional authority. The third form of authority is Charismatic authority. Here, the charisma of the individual or the leader plays an important role. Charismatic authority is that authority which is derived from â€Å"the gift of grace† or when the leader claims that his authority is derived from a â€Å"higher power† (e. . God or natural law or rights) or â€Å"inspiration†, that is superior to both the validity of traditional and rational-legal authority and followers accept this and are willing to follow this higher or inspired authority, in the place of the authority that they have hitherto been following. Some of the most prominent examples of charismatic authority can be politicians or lead ers, who come from a movie or entertainment background. These people become successful, because they use their grace and charm to get more votes during elections. Examples in this regard can be NT Rama Rao, a matinee idol, who went on to become one of the most powerful Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh. History has witnessed several social movements or revolutions, against a system of traditional or legal-rational authority, which are usually started by Charismatic authorities. What distinguishes authority, from coercion, force and power on the one hand and leadership, persuasion and influence on the other hand, is legitimacy. Superiors feel that they have a right to issue commands; subordinates perceive an obligation to obey. Social scientists agree that authority is but one of several resources available, to incumbents in formal positions. For example, a Head of State is dependent upon a similar nesting of authority. His legitimacy must be acknowledged, not just by citizens, but by those who control other valued resources: his immediate staff, his cabinet, military leaders and in the long run, the administration and political apparatus of the entire society. Power What is Power Power is a measure of an entity's ability to control the environment around itself, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power, perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings. Often, the study of power in a society is referred to as politics. Sources of Power Power may be held through: Delegated authority (for example in the democratic process) Social class (material wealth can equal power) Personal or group charisma Ascribed power (acting on perceived or assumed abilities, whether these bear testing or not) Expertise (Ability, Skills) Persuasion (direct, indirect, or subliminal) Knowledge (granted or withheld, shared or kept secret) Celebrity Force (violence, military might, coercion). Moral persuasion (including religion) Operation of group dynamics (such as public relations) Social influence of tradition (compare ascribed power) In relationships; domination/submissiveness Politics What is Politics Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in other group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. It consists of â€Å"social relations involving authority or power† and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Politics at Workplace Politics – the other face of the creative, innovative and manipulative and human mind, which always seeks power, recognition and authority. So how can there be no politics at the place where hundreds and thousands of human minds are spending most part of their day and there’s a constant struggle for power and recognition. Yes, double standards, secrecy, camps, demoting others and/or self promotion, in short – politics is all over the workplace. No organisation is and will be completely free from the politics. Office politics refers to the use and manipulation of situations, power and people to secure their position, gain from the situation, let others down or even increase their own power, image and status within the organisation. The results or the benefits can be tangible or intangible, depending upon the situation. Politics at workplace is a game can be played equally well by a single player or teams together, can result in the interest and benefit of the organisation or go against it, can benefit those who don’t play or can throw them out of the organisation. It is a double edged sword which can either create a happy, dynamic and improved environment at the workplace or can destroy it. Politics at workplace is often hard to resist and be away from. It compels and makes you compete. Although a part of all the organisations across the world, the politics at workplace has taken the more advanced and dangerous form in India, where the people staying away from it are being seen as a threat. Office politics has made employees good actors, hiding the facts and even true self from their own colleagues and organisation and being hypocrites for their reasons. Grey side of the issue Every workplace has conflicts, but how the employees and the organisation tackle it goes a long way in ensuring the success of the employees as well as the organisation. Politics at workplace is complex, and can turn the organisation into an ugly and nasty battlefield. Most often, the power is the bone of contention. The powerful employee can take advantage of the situations and manipulate things. The employees can take the things to them at a personal level. This, in turn, can harm their personal and professional lives. Playing on other people’s emotions to make things work for them, people have stooped to such levels where they have put their own morals and conscious aside. But the organisation feels the brunt of the continuous politics at workplace when it starts effecting the overall performance, efficiency and productivity of the organisation. This is mainly due to the considerable amount of time spent on the politics and thinking about the strategies and the moves, rather than the job and the work. Ultimately, this can lead to losses for the organisation and even the loss of jobs for the employees. Workplace Politics: A necessary evil Again, the question arises about the employees who do not become a part to this politics at their workplace. Experts say that giving up to the politics without being a part of it and fighting it, especially when it is unfair, is not advisable either. Sometimes, the politics becomes the necessary evil simply for self defense. As often, the people staying away are taken as a threat and become the victim of the workplace politics and are eliminated. As it has become unavoidable to avoid the politics at today’s workplace, it has become necessary for every employee to: connect to people, try to identify the source of power, bserve and be aware of the happenings around, people’s strengths and weaknesses and their emotional intelligence. Avoiding politics at workplace Although it is practically impossible to make your workplace free from the politics, but the organisation and the employees can follow certain ethics for themselves to make their workplace healthier: Avoid distor ting or manipulating the truth and the facts. Be yourself. Don’t have different faces to suit different people and different situations. Be fair in your dealings. Take decisions based on other’s performance and not on the basis of your relations with them. Be flexible, approachable and accessible to others. Rigidity can isolate you. Communicate – Lack of proper communication is the root cause of most of the problems. Therefore, ensure a timely and open communication system. Hiding information, rumors or distorted information can aggravate the situation and problem. Proper communication will also help to combat the effect of gossip. Have a broader perspective. Don’t work to satisfy your ego every time. Give a fair chance to everyone to put forward their thoughts. Last but not the least; be clear in your conscious. Don’t compromise on your morals and ethics and, don’t hesitate to apologize if you realize that you are wrong. It would be right to conclude that being a part of the interpersonal relations, politics at workplace is prevalent everywhere, and is unavoidable in most cases. But it’s more important to play the game right. Know the rules, stay true to yourself, don’t harm someone personally or his/her career, don’t take grudges home. Try to create a win-win situation for yourself, others and the organisation. Politics at workplace – can be good or bad – depends on how people take it and make it! Don't confuse authority, power, and politics If you work in an organization, you need a clear understanding of three closely related concepts–authority, power, and politics. Unfortunately, for many employees these concepts often confuse, frustrate, or elicit anxiety or indifference. The traditional concept of organization is built upon the principle that someone has the â€Å"right† to command someone else, whose duty is to obey the command. This â€Å"right† is bestowed by the formal organization, and we call it authority. It is important to note that â€Å"right to command† does not connote the â€Å"capacity to command. Most of us would be making a mistake if we were to equate right and capacity–i. e. , authority and power. This is especially true in a professional environment. We must always be careful to undergird our right to command with the appropriate power, the capability to secure dominance of one's values or goals, if we want to develop and maintain highly effective organizations. Even though it may be socially unacceptable to admit that one aspires to power or worries about power relationships, we must recognize that power and politics enter into every organizational decision. Positive power. However, concern about power and politics does not mean that a person is committed to such Machiavellian tactics as â€Å"doing unto others before they do unto you. † Power has a positive side as well. Organizations could not function without some kind of power relationships. The positive side is characterized by a concern for group goals and their achievement. Leaders enjoy the greatest overall influence when they help their followers feel powerful and accomplish greatness on their own. The direction of communications, their frequency, and their content reveals a great deal about the power relationships within an organization. It is as simple as who talks to whom about what. Office politics. The process by which power is exercised and sometimes acquired is called politics. In politics, contesting forces compete for favorable outcomes on decisions involving who gets what and how. Political activity is usually stronger where there are no prescribed routine answers or no stated policy. It also centers around the interpretation of existing policies and those situations involving value judgments. Any organization that attempts to totally reduce these arenas of political activity by instituting rules, regulations, and policies from the top would quickly strangle in its own red tape. Political processes form the dynamic that enables the formal organization to function. In a sense, power and politics act as the lubricant that enables the interdependent parts of the organization to operate smoothly together. When we pretend that power and politics don't exist, we greatly reduce the ability of an organization to get things done, especially when innovation and change are involved, because they abandon procedures we have always followed. Since power and political processes are a fact of life in all organizations, we must develop and use the appropriate skills to achieve the organization's goals. Managers must avoid working in isolation and instead as part of the flow of social forces. They must understand that a managerial position is not self-perpetuating. References Don't confuse authority, power, and politics, By Ted Gautschi, Consultant, Wellesley Hills, MA — Design News, May 4, 1997