Current Recession Impacts on the Construction Industry Dissertation

Current Recession Impacts on the Construction Industry - Dissertation Example This resulted in reduction of the average disposable income. The overall negative implications were on the demands of products and goods. The economic cycle was disturbed. One of the most affected sectors by this recession was constructions and engineering sector. Globally the construction industry was at its peak in 2008, when the recession hit it. At this time, the demands of houses and infrastructure were increasing and there was consistent flow of funds within the sector. The demands of housing and new infrastructures and the flow of funds within the construction sector changed (Barrell and Kirby). The reduction in the expected flow of funds and unavailability of the predicted clients reduced the profitability and chances of survival for may construction companies across the world (Property Wire). Research Background According Jakovljevic the construction industry has a worth of nearly $5 trillion globally in terms of total output. This sector is one of the sectors providing high est employment. As per the estimation, there are nearly 100 million people employed in this sector at various levels of jobs. At the same time, contribution of the construction sector to the Global GDP is nearly 10%. This figure is considerably higher than the estimated annual spending in 2008. According to Zeiss (2008) the US$ 2.3 Trillion was the estimated spending of the Global Construction Industry. Global construction industry reached to the peak before recession. PropertyWire (2009) argues that the recession of 2008 was the hardest hit on this sector in last 60 years. Construction industry as such operates in highly complex business environment. The business environment is characterised by high regulations, coordination of various authorities, departments and skill sets, impact of the changing climatic and weather conditions on the construction process, lagging productivity or other issues linked with workforce (Bosch and Phillips). The recession at one hand reduced the dispos able income of the consumers by salary cuts and loss of jobs; on the other hand, this reduced the funds flow in the construction sector. All the intermediaries like equipment suppliers of the construction sector, transport companies, intermediaries and others have experienced the repercussions of the recession. The business environment of the construction sector became more pessimistic. However by the mid of 2009, the impact of recession was reduced and industry started being optimistic again. This was revealed in a global survey conducted by KPMG that by the end of 2009, the Global construction industry started expecting positive growth. This was an important survey that covered more than two-third construction companies of the globe and from the 30 different countries. The study reported that the majority of the construction companies were having positive growth or consistent business performance. However it was evident in the study that the companies working on the long term proj ects have minor impact of recession as compared to the companies who were expecting returns at the shorter duration (Molly). The recession resulted in reducing

Human Resource Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Resource Management - Research Paper Example With the advances in knowledge and technology in the past few decades, more companies are resorting to digitalization of their systems and services. Employees who are able to understand the new systems quickly are maintained while the rest are laid off or relocated. This paper seeks to review the current trend of integrating learning and development into a wider strategy in organizations in the United States. Introduction There have been several trends that have emerged recently in the training and development of employees in various institutions and organizations in the United States. Innovative training technologies have been utilized in some major companies to educate and train their workers, while ensuring they are accountable for the required programs they are supposed to undertake. In human resources, departments which are tasked with recruitment, hiring, and catering for career developments of employees (Bones, 2006), require training programs to address issues among their emp loyees such as performance, behavior or conduct issues. Human resources training and development enhances communication in the workplace and it improves the performance and overall morale of workers. This gives the company a great and continuous advantage to their competitors. A training program thus entails assessing the need that an organization has, designing the necessary material to address the need, developing relevant training exercises and presentations and implementing the program with an evaluation of the results for success. Literature Review The emergence of change and advancement of technology and expectation have led to many challenges to organizations around the globe and major trends in the organizations in the United States have been adopted such as the hiring and employment trend (Bones, 2006). Due to small company budgets, managers are resorting to cheap labor by opting to employ non graduates over graduates. They are reducing the amount of human labor in their co mpanies and implementing digital systems to offer services to their clients more efficiently. Several factors determine the decision by managers to resort to these trends in an organization such as the cost implications of a training program, the ineffectiveness of initial training programs and lack of commitment of employees among others. The role of line managers in coaching and development In many organizations, the training and development activities are increasingly declining due to the high cost of training programs. This decrease could be reflected due to small training budgets or no faith in the value that training employees bring to the organization. If the management of an organization invests in a training program and the results of the program have little or no success on the intended business benefits then they would be hesitant to implement the program a second time. Organizations that are small and have a small number of employees are more likely to lag behind on trai ning the workers probably due to budget constraints. Managements in these organizations opt to minimize on human labor or they employ people with minimal skills to save on salary costs. They pay more attention on equipping the managers who the business depend on to lead it more effectively and focus less on coaching the other employees. Organizations with a high number of employees, more than ten thousand, and charitable organizations are also more likely to lag

Reflection In Personal And Professional Development Nursing Essay

Reflection In Personal And Professional Development Nursing Essay Continuing education is perceived here as a process that helps to improve the lives of individuals, to clarify their thoughts and personal reflection on what they are doing and act as engaged citizens in a process of social transformation. In this research, the content of continuing education is mainly based on the experiences of the actors in education and this education must take place in the school where teachers work (Ghaye, Lillyman, 2010). It has been emphasized Cordingley (2003): that knowledge is multiple for teachers as part of a research it has been identified in three types: the knowledge of teacher educators (those who teach), the knowledge of a teachers students (those who are taught) and knowledge built by members of both groups when interacting during class. The research adds that each individual constructs his knowledge through experiences and teachers construct their professional knowledge so through their daily practice and experiences which they are subjected. Two main perspectives emerge writings on the concept of professional development (Cordingley, 2003): Developmental Perspective Professional development is associated with progression in the teaching profession. Particularly, Fessler and Christensen (1992) identify the following stages of progression: initial training, entry into the profession, strengthening skills, enthusiasm, frustration, stability, withdrawal and leaving the profession. Professionalizing Perspective Professional development is associated with learning, generally perceived as both process and product. According to Day Antoniou and Kyriakides (2011) professional development is achieved through learning experiences natural conscious and planned. The authors noted a conceptual shift in several writings between the concept of professional development and the training continues. According to them, the training means more interventions can promote the development of teaching and learning. Professional Development and Learning The professional learning begins from the beginning of the initial training and continues until the end of the professional career. This learning is a process of professional development. Among health care professional development is linked to successful treatment outcomes and the patients experience of care (Frankel, et al, 2011). In education improving teaching skills and developing professionally, the teacher contributes to learning and student success entrusted. Professional development is linked to innovation: Professional development can bring about changes in the school environment and fosters a culture of innovation among teachers. Currently, changes to concern mainly student learning and ways to promote it. To better adapt their practices to the needs of students, teachers must be innovative and take into account the results of research in teaching (Stanovich, 2000) Training offered in academia is often too fragmented and training does not adequately consider the social complexity. In the statistics of a globalized world, is qualifying Often Understood (quantitatively) as efficacy, or efficiency of the educational worker, Malthus is disregarding the professional teacher as a human being who is situated in a local school culture. Consequently, the programs and activities from the materialized Which policies (Such as continuing education) end up Being vertical actions (discontinuous), with little consideration of the real needs of teachers and interest) (Stanovich, 2000). Criticism by teachers on training received to date indicates that: The course received were too short and no continuity between them (isolated activities); The course proved sometimes too theoretical and had little to do with daily practice; The course does not take into account the needs and interests of teachers (topics chosen by the researchers and academic staff); The course does not take into account the cultural and political progress; The course does not allow forming a critical opinion (ideas imposed); The courses were sometimes offered in locations far from the school where teachers work (hard to get there, means having a lot of time and spending money). The course does not take into account the reality of the school and the various contexts that can meet: The relationship between universities and teachers is fragile (critical universities that do not prepare enough teachers for the reality of school and critical schools that are not prepared enough students for graduate studies). Some administrative practices rely on quantity rather than quality regarding training. Indeed, in recent years, offering continuing education has increased in various institutions such as universities and professional associations, but it is not always a guarantee of quality. Role of Reflection in Quality Care Reflective practice is about care professionals and their work. Reflective practice is about learning from experience. The role of reflection is highly important for the quality of care, without knowledge of different aspects care professionals cannot claim to be capable enough to perform their task to perfection or precision. It is about signifying what care professionals do and why they do it. The series makes an important statement about the kinds of knowledge which care professionals generate through reflection. Reflective practice does not disconnect theory and practice rather it bridges the gaps between values and actions while regarding and operating with evidence. Briefly, reflection is knowledge which is about and for the improvement of self, the team and the context of healthcare (Mamede, et al., 2012).following factor are highlighting the importance of reflection in quality of care (Mamede, et al., 2012): Reflection is with no apologetic attitude though not exclusively practical in kind. Reflection is intrinsically domestic and closely associated to the real clinical work framework of the practitioner. Reflection is created and owned by practitioners themselves. Reflection is frequently prepared overtly and collaboratively, not confidentially and just individually. To inquire existing practice reflection can be used hence, to assist the development of a critical posture towards healthcare. Reflection is useful or good enough to enable health care professionals to make more sense of their opinion and actions. To the development of an enquiring posture reflection play a vital role which is a significant constituent in being able to assert that health care professionals are enduring learners. Thus Reflection above all, is appreciative. Reflective practitioners expand their work systematically and rigorously (Mamede, et al., 2012). Model of Reflection Miss June, 32 yrs old was admitted in A E with car accident causing her to lose blood. She was accompanied by her friend and was conscious during her arrival. However, her health deteriorates and doctor suggested giving her unit of blood. Miss June refused to receive a blood transfusion by saying it is against her religion. The mentor tried to convince Miss June to receive a bag of blood, since her health was deteriorating with time. But Miss June refused it. To deal with this ethical dilemma and save her life nursing management should get all the facts of patient besides the above case scenario, these facts include a record of heart rate, her respiratory rate and her blood pressure (BP) (Hupston, Fleur, 2008). In the precise cases of the nursing professions, it is advised that the professional to recognize, respect and perform actions that will protect the persons right to make a decision about their health, cure, and well-being, turning them excused from any kind of unfairness (Gardiner, 2003). It also compels them to execute or contribute to health care without the approval of the patient or their legal envoy, apart from in cases of looming risk of death (Volbrecht, 2002). Hence, any diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic intervention is required to be voted on the bioethics principles of malfeasance, non-malfeasance, beneficence, and autonomy and it can only be conducted with the permission of involving person, based on sufficient information (American Nurses Association, 2001). Evaluate Alternative Actions The need for blood transfusions in this case certainly has created an ethical dilemma for the healthcare team, because this procedure involves the collision of two fundamental rights: the basic right of life and the right of denial due to faith and religious values. Decision and Test The nursing management decides to tackle the situation in three steps. In first step with the help of evidence they begin to convince Miss June that blood transfusion for health care purpose particularly in life threatening condition is altogether different from eating blood. Nursing management should make Miss June realize that her original belief about abstaining from the blood intake is right however, its not applicable in this scenario. (Migden, Braen, 1998). However, even if the patient is still not convinced it cannot be forced on her to change her belief otherwise. Her care giver quickly moves to the second line of action and propose to her that she can have a transfusion by means of alternative hemotherapies (Hupston, Fleur, 2008). However, if Miss June even refuse to have an infusion of blood transfusion, isolated figurative elements (red blood Cells, leukocytes or platelets) there is an apparent clash between the fundamental right of life and the fundamental right to freedo m of belief and conscience. This situation requires health care giver professional to make a decision in favour of the pervasiveness of the Miss Junes dignity as the boundary and bottom for her other rights. Act and Reflect On the Outcome When blood transfusion is essential but there is no consensual decision between patient and physician the apparent outcomes are the need of altering the law that forced the health care provider to take a decision that is not in the interest of a patients health. Another important outcome reflection is that the critical scenarios like this dilemma in the case of Miss June should be taught in nursing curriculum so that they can prepare themselves for the situations like this. Hospital library should make the evidences prepared to tackle the situation like this which requires some religious knowledge and information to convince the patients and their family.

Virginia Scharffs Femininity and the Electric Car :: Technology Automobiles Essays

Virginia Scharff's "Femininity and the Electric Car" In "Femininity and the Electric Car," Virginia Scharff examines the electric car, its history, and the targeted customers at which it was aimed. Five hundred electric cars were produced by the Pope Manufacturing Company in 1897. According to Scharff, this was after Colonel Albert A. Pope, the president of that company, decided not to concentrate "on noisy or smelly gasoline-powered cars, but instead, on clean, quiet electric vehicles." ("Femininity and the Electric Car" p.75) The Pope Manufacturing Company clearly targeted women as customers. This is evident in their advertising strategy. For example, Scharff says, "As Pope suggested in a 1903 advertisement for the Pope-Waverly electric model ‘electrics†¦will appeal to anyone interested in an absolutely noiseless, odorless, clean and stylish rig that is always ready and that, mile for mile, can be operated at less cost than any other type of motor car.’ Lest this message escape those it was intended to attract, the text accompanied a picture of a delighted woman driver piloting a a similar female passenger." (p.75) With such blatant advertising can be clearl y seen that the electric car was targeted at women. Later advertisements which were also directed at women contained Victorian language. According to Scharff, this separate spheres ideology "vastly oversimplified both human relations and social forces." Scharff then gave an example of a man who is stereotypically rugged seeking shelter from the rain and of women who are stereotypically soft-spoken yelling at their children to illustrate this oversimplification. The main reasons why electric cars were targeted at women was basically because of the misconception that women lacked the ability to drive well and should drive slower, safer cars rather than faster, more powerful gasoline-powered cars. It was also assumed that women should just use a car as a means of transportation for chores and other errands that were associated with short distances, so that the electric car’s lack of range wouldn’t bother women. Perhaps husbands liked the restricted range that their wives would have because maybe they didn’t trust them enough to go on longer trips. In this manner of using the electric car nearly exclusively for chores, the technology seemed more oppressive to women rather than liberating. In addition to a limited range, Scharff mentions a number of other disadvantages that the electric car had. It was more expensive than a gasoline-powered car. It was difficult to drive on bumpy roads and was unable to climb steep hills. Virginia Scharff's Femininity and the Electric Car :: Technology Automobiles Essays Virginia Scharff's "Femininity and the Electric Car" In "Femininity and the Electric Car," Virginia Scharff examines the electric car, its history, and the targeted customers at which it was aimed. Five hundred electric cars were produced by the Pope Manufacturing Company in 1897. According to Scharff, this was after Colonel Albert A. Pope, the president of that company, decided not to concentrate "on noisy or smelly gasoline-powered cars, but instead, on clean, quiet electric vehicles." ("Femininity and the Electric Car" p.75) The Pope Manufacturing Company clearly targeted women as customers. This is evident in their advertising strategy. For example, Scharff says, "As Pope suggested in a 1903 advertisement for the Pope-Waverly electric model ‘electrics†¦will appeal to anyone interested in an absolutely noiseless, odorless, clean and stylish rig that is always ready and that, mile for mile, can be operated at less cost than any other type of motor car.’ Lest this message escape those it was intended to attract, the text accompanied a picture of a delighted woman driver piloting a a similar female passenger." (p.75) With such blatant advertising can be clearl y seen that the electric car was targeted at women. Later advertisements which were also directed at women contained Victorian language. According to Scharff, this separate spheres ideology "vastly oversimplified both human relations and social forces." Scharff then gave an example of a man who is stereotypically rugged seeking shelter from the rain and of women who are stereotypically soft-spoken yelling at their children to illustrate this oversimplification. The main reasons why electric cars were targeted at women was basically because of the misconception that women lacked the ability to drive well and should drive slower, safer cars rather than faster, more powerful gasoline-powered cars. It was also assumed that women should just use a car as a means of transportation for chores and other errands that were associated with short distances, so that the electric car’s lack of range wouldn’t bother women. Perhaps husbands liked the restricted range that their wives would have because maybe they didn’t trust them enough to go on longer trips. In this manner of using the electric car nearly exclusively for chores, the technology seemed more oppressive to women rather than liberating. In addition to a limited range, Scharff mentions a number of other disadvantages that the electric car had. It was more expensive than a gasoline-powered car. It was difficult to drive on bumpy roads and was unable to climb steep hills.

A Character’s Role Essay

In a world focused on elevators one wonders, what would it mean if one were to take the stairs? The Intuitionist, by Colson Whitehead, deals with the exploration of Lila Mae Watson, a black female intuitionist, who undergoes a quest to reveal what Intuitionism is all about. As a result of her quest, the connection between James Fulton, the creator of Intuitionism and Lila Mae Watson’s role as character is revealed. Lila M. Watson, the protagonist of this novel, endures a number of experiences as the first black elevator intuitionist. An accident occurs with an elevator which she was in charge of. From then on the story introduces Lila Mae’s quest for answers. Lila Mae’s life goes into detail about how fragments of her life have been shattered with grief, and racism above all. During her exam about elevators in college, she was answering flawlessly with details and precisions at the professor’s questions. The last question had nothing to do with elevators, just a reckoning to her; so that she knows that there are only twelve colored inspectors and they most of them are not even working, by making her know that even though she answered swiftly she didn’t know everything: â€Å"So you don’t know everything; that will be all Miss Watson. † (p 53) Within the story she goes into a subtle exploration of her own identity, race, and duty as a person in her position. This leads into the elusive quest for â€Å"the black box† and ultimately James’s Watson’s â€Å"Perfect elevator† But this quest of hers intertwines with the experiences of James Fulton. This intricate character deals with the many hardships that Lila Mae dealt with during her youth, only with the slight fact that he dealt with these issues with his inner self. Fulton’s secretive and deceiving nature is the actual cause of all the events that take place. James is actually a black man with light skin, who does not feel comfortable letting the world know that he is black because of his status. â€Å"Fulton’s hatred of himself and his lie of whiteness†(p 239). Although he’s not to blame because in the world they live in it is not as easy being a person of color. â€Å"There was no hope for him as a colored man because the white world will not let a colored man rise. â€Å"(p 240) For this very reason he decides to play the role of a white man. At early age he knew he would be confused for a white person, so he used this trait to achieve his greatness in life. Overtime Fulton became godly to people, because of his knowledge about elevators and what he had to write about them. â€Å"Every Tuesday James Fulton†¦. stood in the downstairs drawing room and lectured on the intricacies of his science† (p 54). One does not realize that this intuitionism is created as a joke. A joke that is taken seriously and soon evolves into the world itself. Both Fulton and Watson are two figures who struggle for one cause only. To achieve their goal in life, for Watson it is to find and reveal the perfect elevator into the world, and for Fulton it is to create and implement this perfect elevator into the world. As two black figures in a white-ruled society it is their socialistic duty to fulfill their goals and be aware that this achievement is critical for their community. Lila M. Watson is forced to go on a journey that is composed of events that will prove her innocence about the incident, discover the perfect elevator, and like Fulton, take an important position in society. She sees herself as a person who has a duty to fill Fulton’s shoes. In the other hand Fulton’s lies and secrets are what form the entire story. After having developed intuitionism for that long, he realized he needs a successor, who will deal with society. But it is Intuitionism that must be kept important until the world is ready for the perfect elevator. Fulton does not publish his work for this very reason. Like Lila Mae’s duty of finding his perfect elevator, it is his to create it. But little do we know that this perfect elevator is nothing more then what he has created as a mockery of the world he lives in. It consist of a perfect world where there exists no racial constrains. Fulton is a man who creates a perfect society in his mind and puts it in paper, but never reveals it. Lila Mae discovers this but she knows that even though she’s been living in a world of lies, it is her duty to preserve this knowledge until the world becomes a place like Fulton metaphorically described in his books. This the story that deals with one’s accomplishment to fool the world and in the meantime while everyone is fascinated by his accomplishments and fake works, he devotes his life to creating a blueprint to a better world for existence.

Why do men and women have such different experiences of health?

In looking at the question â€Å"Why do men and women have such different experiences of health†, I am going to look into topics such as Biological differences, Gender responsibilities, and Sociological explanations. The diversity in male and females health begins from puberty, usually around the age of ten to fifteen in both sexes. Young women begin their menstrual cycle at an average age of thirteen, so it is acceptable to say that they are aware of their Physical self early on in life, women are more likely to visit their doctor as a result of menstruation, and are also encouraged by their friends, family and the Media to seek medical advice when they have a concern about their sexual health, which would lead to Routine visits for smear tests, or contraceptive advice. Conversely young men would not usually bother to go to the doctor possibly for the reason that they do not want to cause a fuss, or even their peers dismiss their ailment, with comments similar to â€Å"be a man†. Another biological factor is connected to differences in physical make-up other than biological function. This view is based on different genetic features; for example women are generally smaller and so men are generally considered to be stronger. This view is, however fraught with inconsistencies because of the variations that obviously exist in physical attributes among men and women. It also ignores social and cultural factors that are vital to any appreciation of gender. Our ideas in society tend to construct gender differences in health problems, there appears to be some evidence that men take more risks than women such as dangerous sports, Violent activities and hazardous occupations. Although women tend to consult doctors more often statistics suggest they have more ill health, this could be because women in their socially produced gender roles are seen as more acceptable to show weakness and seek medical help and also if they are going to the doctor they are more likely to be diagnosed, possibly if men visited the doctor more often there would be a change in that statistic. In childbirth, reproduction, and mental health, women are more likely to be given prescriptions for anti-depressants or tranquillisers, men however are more likely to have alcohol problems, a more socially acceptable response to stress than it is for women, although statistics indicate that women are catching up with men in the drinking stakes. A woman's role is often looking after everyone in the family so she tends to carry an added burden of stress with an attitude of having to soldier on with her responsibilities so she may be prone to physical and mental disorders. Victims of social and economic circumstances women tend to suffer from what is known as â€Å"housewife syndrome† the isolation and constant decision making involved in housework are very stressful as is the responsibility of looking after young children and managing a job, and of course we must not forget single mums they have the extra stress of either being on benefits and trying to feed themselves and their children as healthily as they can, or being the only wage earner trying to do the same with very little time to relax which is a contributing factor towards stress not forgetting, men are single parents as well and do suffer from the same financial factors as single mothers. In addition there are certain illnesses that women suffer from because of their biology such as post-natal depression, and the menopause, because women tend to live longer they are more likely to suffer from degenerative disorders like arthritis and senile dementia. And an alarming 21% of women suffer from some form of disability. Men are more at risk from Coronary heart disease and there is an increase in men only disorders such as Prostate, Testicular, and Bowel cancer. Gender social roles are becoming less important, girls are doing better than boys at school, they are more career minded than ever, the emphasis is on fending for themselves, its almost as if they don't need men. So where does that leave men? There is substantial evidence that more and more men live alone, there is an increase in the rates of mental illness, suicide, and even eating disorders. Present day mobility, lack of roots, weakened family structure and increased pressure to succeed have all been suggested as playing a part in the growing trend toward high suicide rates in young men. There are more emotional support networks aimed at women, leaving men feeling isolated, although the last five years has seen a boom in men's magazines such as FHM, Loaded and Maxim. These magazines investigate a large number of health issues concerning men, and they incorporate relevant medical information such as home examination of their testicals in a jocular light hearted way, they also contain contact numbers and advice lines, which must be a reasurance for men. The artefact theory suggests that the use of surveys for statistics is inaccurate because it fails to take into consideration the clinical iceberg where it is unknown how many people suffer illness as they don't always report it, also most health care happens in the home, usually women treating symptoms by self care. In the case of postal surveys not everyone will respond and generally women fill in the forms for other family members. It is also unreliable because the figures relate to males of working age and not females, or older and younger people also statistics change all the time. However a survey carried out in 1992 showed that there were major gender differences in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relating to health. These figures come from surveys like the General Household Survey (GHS) which is a continuous survey based on a small sample of the population resident in private households in the UK, included in this survey are questions on fertility, housing, health, employment and education.