The Stiry about Misunderstanding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Stiry about Misunderstanding - Essay Example I headed towards an empty table, under a window. The sun shone iridescently through the window pane onto the table. I sat directly under the sunlight. The sunrays felt exhilarating, yet calming and peaceful. It's a good thing my daily moisturizer had sunscreen. If not, I would have been bleached by now. I sat there content, with my overflowing tray of food, sunshine, and solace, in the much larger sea of the noisy cafeteria. I was about to eat. Suddenly, he appeared. I hadn't noticed him come in. That was unlike me. I always notice him. He stood in front of me, with a tray overflowing with food as well. My stomach instantly began to churn as if small currents of electricity bounced around the insides of my intestines. The sound of his voice resounded in my ear. It was a voice that I was very familiar with. It was the first thing I noticed about him a few weeks ago, in class. He was invisible to me until I heard him speak. There was nothing special about his appearance. His style was unappealing. However, it was his voice that had its own presence. One day, the teacher had asked him a question in front of the rest of the class. When he spoke, my soul could hear, and opened like a flower, that absorbed each one of his words, as if they were rays of nourishing sunlight feeding my existence. His voice had a greatness that didn't ask for permission. He spoke with a confident indifference of how he was perceived, as if he were certain of his purpose and aware of the strength of his presence. His voice spoke to a part of me that I was unaware of. His strength and defiance represented everything that I wanted to be. I couldn't stop noticing him afterwards. In the cafeteria, as he stood in front of me with the tray of food in his hand, he took off his book bag, put it in the chair next to me, and sat down in the chair directly across from my seat. I wanted to run and hide. My body didn't understand basic functions anymore. I felt paralyzed, awkward. I looked at my plate; it was now a blurry painting of different colors without any smell. Unable to pick up my fork, I looked across the room, and then at different tables, and finally out the window, anywhere except at him. I took a sip of juice. It tasted like acid. I felt as if my hand shook. I quickly put the glass back down. I couldn't believe he was sitting here. Did he know that I had been watching him Had he noticed me too Was he following me Was he making an excuse to sit with me I wanted to say something but couldn't. How much longer was he going to sit here I wished he would hurry up and finish. Yet, at the same time, I wanted him to stay, at my table, sitting directly across from me, stuffing sausage in his mouth. But, what did he really want Why did he sit here What was he thinking My stomach gurgled with the electric currents that now crouched and kicked like a Russian Folk Dancer. He hungrily stuffed his face with several more Italian sausages, two strips of bacon, some scrambled eggs, and drank some orange juice. Then he looked up at me."So, what do you think of the teacher" he said, in between mouthfuls of

California Essay Example for Free

California Essay A couple of centuries ago California was distant wasteland with vast deserts and a long sandy coast, it seem unsuitable for living. Today it is a cultural hub of the United States and all its success can be attributed to the ethnic minorities that broke ground in California despite discrimination, violence, and imprisonment. California is unique in that it is one of the few place where industry (mining and lumber) came before agricultural. While the force which brought people to California was the Gold Rush in 1849, it was the lush fertile soil and moderate temperatures which kept people here. African Americans (Frankel 227 -240) In 1849 California was made a state. It was considered a free state which meant that slavery was prohibited. However, there were several â€Å"strings†, which effected African American civil rights, that went along with the title free state. After California became a state, one of the first actions by the state legislature was to deny black citizens the right to vote. Additionally they could not testify against a white person, they could not be formally educated, and they could not own land. Californias African American population was very politically active and held several meetings in the north in hopes of stimulating political change and freedom for black people in the state (1855-1865). The state of California also had a fugitive slave law. Which required slaves that were in California illegally to be given back to their owners. African Americans in the years leading up to the World War II were extremely active in the advance of mining, lumber, and agriculture. Black populations could be found everywhere in minor territory and many of the areas were named â€Å"Negro Bar, Negro Flat, and Nigger Ravin. these were obvious reminders of how their presence in these areas were not welcomed. This is a time in which African Americans had to use not just physical strength but intellect to protect what was rightfully theirs. Remember, African Americans could not testify in court. This means that if any white man should do them hard or steal from them, there was nothing that would be done. In many mines, blacks and whites, worked side by side. Many black men even owned their own mines that were extremely successful. Farming was the basis of Californias economy. When white Americans came to California and set up their experimental farms they targeted southern blacks for employment. They were a source of low waged labor and therefore African Americans were among the first farmers to work with the crops which have made California unique. In 1905 cotton fields were introduced to California. Blacks and Mexican immigrants exclusively worked these fields in Imperial County. The majority of these blacks had come from southern states and were not surprised by the racism that was presence in California. African Americans had to compete for jobs with Mexican immigrants. However, seasonal crop jobs were only a resting point for African American workers who wanted more. These contract jobs were only a means to help African American families move and establish themselves in California. Soon blacks moved forward becoming entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and farm owners. Black people opened business in towns that were flooded because of the gold rush. San Francisco was the hub of most African American businesses. These business flourished until the mining towns closed down and these areas where flooded with the white population who felt superior and opened competitive businesses. White patrons of black owned stores were force through societal rules to switch to white stores. Again, African Americans were told to go back to service oriented jobs. Systematic racism was back in full form by 1920s, restricting African Americans to specific living and working districts. However it is important to point out there African Americans migrated to California and settled areas which were deemed unsuitable for life. Once they prospered the whites would move in and push out the blacks. Based on this cyclic approach to development and grow California was created on the backs of talented and industrious black people who carved life into the deserts and wastelands that California originally was. Native Americans (Trafzer and Hyer 80- 91) In 1848 California became an official territory of the United States. Soon after gold was found and people from across the country came to California to become rich and have a better life. Most whites viewed Native Americans as a nuisance and on top of that as cheap labor they could exploit for their own gains. There was also a law against Native Americans testifying against whites. Between the years 1850 and 1863 could lend out â€Å"indians† who had been arrested. Essentially Native Americans were imprisoned and then used for free labor just like a slave. Ironic in that California was supposed to be a free state. Children were also kidnapped for labor because they were much easier to manipulate then adults. During 1850 through 1887 Indian Reservations were set up for the first time. The agreement that the Native Americans had with the government was they were allowed 7. million acres of land in California but just under 500k were given over to the Native Americans. Much of the reservations were infertile land that could not be farmed. It was not until after 1905 that Native Americans, specifically the next generation, wanted to take an active role in the decisions that effected them. Lost treaties were discovered which allowed Native Americans to claim land and rights that was theirs. These included the right to education, and citizenship. However, the United States government believed that because the Native Americans had not acted quickly enough those conditions were null and void. Essential the government said it was the Native Americans fault for not being pro-active when the treaties were originally drawn up (Heizer 232). It was the force labor or slavery of Native Americans which began Californias semi-feudal economy. Chinese Americans (Wyatt 50-100) The Chinese Americans living in California today have a long history of being residents of California. Some of them are from sixth generation Chinese Americans. Despite racial violent, restrictive legislation and almost no advancement opportunities, Chinese Americans have no just flourished but found a place in the California social landscape. Chinese immigrants came from China and move into San Francisco. There was a great deal of confusion over if Chinese immigrants could become citizens – some where allowed and some werent. Chinese immigrants who were not allowed to become citizens had no rights and therefore could not stake a claim during the Gold Rush. Many of the Chinese people reworked old mines because they could not have their own. In additional there was also a fee of $20 that foreign miners had to pay if they wanted to work a mine. The Chinese too were greeted with violet discrimination. In 1856, a group of white miners raced into the a Chinese American mining community destroying property and killing miners. Despite the violence and the inability to mine gold successfully, Chinese immigrants from work elsewhere – merchants, laborers, and laundrymen. Fishing was one of the industries which Chinese Americans helped promote. Early on there was almost no demand for shrimp in the states much of it was frozen and sent back to China. Soon there was a demand for shrimp in California and Chinese immigrants were pressured by the white competition to buy licenses, make Chinese techniques illegal, and several other things. Making it virtually impossible for Chinese fishermen to make a living fishing, while white fishermen thrived. Chinese immigrants were also the main workers in canneries. They open up and worked in the states first cigar shops and factories. Chinese Americans were also responsible for starting up the first wineries in California, and had the skills for growing and processing delicate crops like wheat, hops, apples, grapes, and pears. The Chinese also worked on the roads throughout California as well as the Central Pacific Railroad. There were several forms of legislation which subordinated the efforts of Chinese Americans in making new lives in California. On top of that the depression that occurred in 1870, was said to be caused directly from the cheap labor of Chinese workers. Following the depression there were several instances of racial violence which lead up to the anti-Chinese movement. This was done in attempt to squeeze Chinese run laundries out of business. It is clear that Chinese Americans played an important role in the growth of Californias economy and are responsible for the birth of the orange and grape crops that make California grape country . Japanese Americans (Chapman 31-42) The history of Japanese Americans in California and what they have contributed to Californias economy is often biased focusing heavily on the vast discrimination they suffered at the hands of the white majority. While their victimization is important it not more important then their vital contributions. Much of their reaction to the various forms of discrimination too the form of strikes, protests, and the constant fight against adversity to become successful in America. Japanese Americans were responsible for the establishment of the flower industry in California. They own, worked at, and grow almost all the flowers and plants sold in California in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They established still existed organizations including the Southern California Flower Market, the California Flower Market, Luck Produce, and the City Market in Los Angeles. Several Japanese business cater to agricultural workers supplying food, lodging, and general merchandise stores. They also helped the agricultural economy of California grow including grapes, fruit trees, strawberries, and several different strains of rice. Japanese Americans not only grew but also prepared and shipped produce across the state. It is clear that Japanese Americans were instrumental in pushing California semi feudal economy into the modern day capitalistic economy of California. Filipinos (Fehrenbacher 160 – 165) The history of Filipinos in California truly begins in 1848 when California annexed. During this time Filipinos found works as general laborers who were paid an extremely low wage. Often workers would have to travel farm to farm, as seasonal work came and went. Many Filipinos moved into larger cities in California but found little work because they were only skilled in agriculture. Due to discrimination and no education , Filipinos were pushed out of their unskilled labor jobs by the influx of immigrants from the Dust Bowl. This is one of the few instances were a ethnic group saw downward mobility in terms of work and then lifestyle. Filipinos have a rich history of being hat makers and tailors but in the hostile white dominating environment of late 1880s California, they existed no longer. Most Filipinos could only find work as ranch hands who were supervised by whites. While Filipinos males struggled in the economy of California, females flourished and were hired as domestics, farm laborers, laundresses, and cannery workers. As the job market for every ethnic group became smaller the white attitude toward Mexicans changed. Previously, Filipinos had been welcomed into the agricultural market as important components and contributors. But soon Mexicans were seem and treated like excess labor. Again Californias agricultural industry was built on the backs of these immigrants and when there was no more work for them, they were cast aside and considered (and it seems still considered economic liabilities).

The Bottled Water Industry Essay examples -- Marketing Water Business

Markets Water is something that anyone around the world could get from the tap for free, but now it is all the rage for the beverage industry. Bottled water has become the industry's fastest growing segment, both in volume and profits. Due to the consumer's needs and wants for a healthier lifestyle, the beverage industry provides a necessary product to the consumers, which is bottled water. Water is essential and with the demand to participate in a healthy lifestyle, the water industry will be successfully profitable. The market size for this industry has been growing and will continue to grow in a rapid pace. Over the past ten years, bottled water has moved from being the preserve of a relatively small market into the U.S. mainstream, with sales of about $7.5 billion, and that's only for water in bottles of 1.5 liters or less (Durr). According to the International Bottle Water Association, Americans spend $5.6 billion in 2000 on bottled water. By 2005, Americans will consume 7.2 bil lion gallons of bottled water, up from about 5 billion gallons in 2000, the association reported. A factor that will continue to drive the bottled water market is foremost the desire to live a healthy lifestyle. Which leads to the concerns of contaminants found in the tap water. People will pay high prices for water, just to be ensured that it is safe to drink the water that they purchased. Drinking lots of water also prevents dehydration. According to the Bottled Water Web (www.bottledwaterweb.com), 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Most people know the health benefits of drinking water, which will drive the consumer to hit the water bottles more. At the same time, packaging in a portable plastic bottles and greater ... ...are looking for a beverage that combines rehydration with vitamins and minerals, and 75 percent said they would buy fortified water if available (Durr). According to Stephen Kay of the International Bottle Water Association in Alexandria, Va, People are demanding more from their foods and beverages, so, they're choosing water with added functions and attributes (Durr). With Americans focusing on fitness and a healthier lifestyle, companies are positioning these fortified water as something better than water. It's just like water but with better attributes, and provides more than what water does. Aquafina Essentials is touted as "enhanced water", and the label on Propel, a new product from Gatorade describes the clear beverage as "fitness water." While Propel is targeting towards athletes, Aquafina Essentials is targeting those who are very health conscious.

A synthesis and discussion of Robert T. Jimenez’s article “A delicate balance”

The challenge for every ESL class teacher is to build literacy, develop written expression ability and enhancing English language of students. The article describes effective reading instruction for ESL students based on observations conducted in various classrooms over a period of two years.The approach to the observation and the framework for analysis were based on (a) the research on second language learning and bilingual education, (b) the contemporary research base on effective literacy instruction, and (c) general principles of effective instruction for low-income students.The researchers integrated these three knowledge bases with what they observed in the classrooms and the result is a framework of constructs for effective instruction for language minority students. This construct consists of the following: challenge, involvement, involvement, success, scaffolding/cognitive strategies, mediation/feedback, collaborative/cooperative learning, techniques for second language acqu isition/sheltered English, and respect for cultural diversity.These constructs, according to the researchers, are useful when considering practices and strategies in teaching and promoting literacy among ESL students. For instance, knowledge on scaffolding when introducing new vocabulary to ESL students would increase retention and subsequent use of these new words.Instead of simply defining a word, the teacher could use several of the techniques mentioned in the article like focusing students’ attention on character clues and using these clues not just in understanding the new word but comprehension of the text, too. The variety would make vocabulary learning an enjoyable experience for students.Another example by which the research could be applied and make a difference in real-life teaching is the idea that the teacher should try to incorporate all areas of literacy instruction while using one text lesson. The article indicates that the teacher should crisscross the instru ctional landscape in a wide range of oral and written activities. This would ensure that students not only thoroughly practice their language and literacy skills, but keeping the focus on one text would increase the chance of retention.

A Critique of Theoretical Models

In How to help people change, Dr. Jay Adams (1986) does not present a model of counseling per se. Instead, he provides an analysis, better yet and interpretation 2 Timothy 3:16. The interpretation is presented definitively as the sole method of acceptable counseling from a Christian and biblical context. One major flaw in his work is the underlying theological presupposition that only Christian people utilizing the framework he outlines can offer a process for counseling that results in what he calls acceptable change. Another unreasonable position held by Adams is the idea that change is only acceptable if it is â€Å"toward God† (p. 6).While this is certainly true in regards to salvation and the biblical directive to be a living sacrifice before God (NASB, Romans 12:1), even Jesus acknowledged that both the righteous and the unrighteous live under some measure of God’s grace and benefit (Matthew 5:45). It is unsustainable to hold a position that unredeemed persons are not able to observe God’s purpose and design in humanity and offer some level of help, in the context of counseling, even if it is not totally in alignment with God’s Word. I admire Adams stance and value on Scripture.In his book, he presents a view of the Bible that is an essential inhabitant of the Judeo-Christian worldview and value system. Nevertheless, he does not allow for elements of God’s truth to be discovered or evaluated from a perspective outside of the pages of Scripture. Adams says that â€Å"if it is a truth that is necessary to counseling, it will be found already in a purer form in the Bible† (p. 39). Honestly, one nearly has to reject intellectual credibility to formulate this type of statement because the Bible simply does not address a lot of issues tackled in the therapeutic sessions today.I wonder what would be Adam’s solution for a client’s disorderly and unrestrained sexual addictive behavior. The first solution woul d be to direct them to the Bible verses that as a Christian, they already know. Another solution would be to remind them that they should be reading the Bible and praying more than ever. In reality, if neither of those approaches work, then the nouthetic counseling approach would conclude that a person is one whom God has turned over to their own â€Å"degrading passions† (NASB, Romans 1: 26) thus breaking fellowship with them.Logically, one could see and would reason that sexual addictive behavior is rooted in an intimacy disorder, therefore once that is understood, biblical principles and theological understandings should under-gird the counselor’s approach to helping a counselee work towards healthy healing with the dilemma. According to Adams (1986), â€Å"†¦people must first hear the gospel, believe, and be saved† (p. 12). Seriously, this cannot be the first step in a counseling model. I believe that it would be a desired goal and that it could even be the best.Conversely, the counselor must meet a person where he or she is in life. Furthermore, it may be that a therapeutic relationship of trust must be built before the counselor even has an opportunity to introduce the idea of a relationship with Christ. In addition, even though it sounds unspiritual to say, the counselor must accept that some people are able to adjust and live well as non-Christian persons. They may not end up going to Heaven, but we cannot deny that some non-Christians live seemingly fulfilled lives.Dr. William Backus and Marie Chapian (2000) offer a good biblically based cognitive-behavior resource for dealing with feeling based concerns where cognitive awareness exists or is readily accessible in their book Telling Yourself the Truth. In addition, this writing provides a good dialogue about a Christian perspective concerning a person’s self-worth. However, there are some basic flaws in the model of Christian counseling as presented by Backus and Chapi an.It is not acceptable to present the concept of â€Å"attitude† as if it only involves cognition (p. 16). In addition, Backus and Chapian offers a very simplistic understanding regarding triggers. It is doubtful that a counselor who works with persons involved in addictive behavior and sexual brokenness concerns would agree with Backus and Chapian’s etiology of self-hate. The most troublesome aspect of this model is their idea that â€Å"misbeliefs are the direct cause of emotional turmoil and maladaptive behavior† (p. 17).This statement alone demonstrates that Backus and Chapian do not understand developmental processes and that their perception concerning the impending impact of childhood experiences is feeble, at best. It is almost an absurdity to conclude that the primordial mental representations, including feelings, which are the basis for the characterological development of a person, language and socialization, are â€Å"caused by what we tell ourselv es about our circumstances† (p. 17). Even with such flaws, it is agreed that Backus and Chapian’s model is useful in a cognitive-behavioral context concerning many adult concerns.In positioning their model of counseling as more appropriate than secular methods, Backus and Chapian state that â€Å"many excellent scientific investigations have demonstrated that it is entirely unnecessary to uncover the childhood antecedents of current behaviors in order to change them† (p. 25). However, there was no citation or reference provided to document existence of such scientific studies. Consistent with Adams, Backus and Chapian ascribe to the theological position that â€Å"Jesus taught that the truth has freeing power† (p. 181).However, Jesus actually said, â€Å"You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free† (NASB, John 8:32). While Jesus was referring to His spoken word, it is also important to remember that according to John 1:1, Jesus is the Word and the context of John 8:32 presents Jesus as the light of the world. Both writings overemphasize the importance of the Word of God to the point of minimizing the importance of a relationship with Jesus. Backus and Chapian’s model, as does Adams’ models, fall short in a range of areas with scores of rationales.One area where the two counseling models are inadequate is in working with trauma-based concerns. There is no consideration for fear-based trauma memories resulting in cynical planning which bypasses cognitive function. Further there is no consideration in either counseling model for understanding concerns where the etiology of a problem is rooted in an attachment disorder. Of course cognitive-behavioral methods are appropriate in dealing with such concerns. However, it is inadequate to conclude that the sole method of treating attachment pathology is a focused effort towards changing one’s thinking process.It is interesting that neither Adams nor Ba ckus attempted to provide a framework for personality organization when presenting their counseling model. Rather, they both expend a great deal of effort in standing against the writings and views of others. It would be desirable that evangelical authors would stop writing about what everyone in the Psychology field is doing wrong. Instead, it would be helpful to develop a theory or model of personality and counseling that all Christian persons could work towards maturing and developing.It seems wasteful to continue presenting emotionally charged views against others at the expense of building our own Christian understandings. References Adams, J. E. (1986). How to help people change: The four-step biblical process. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Backus, W. & Chapian, M. (2000). Telling yourself the truth: Find your way out of depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and other common problems by applying the principles of misbelieve therapy. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.

Write Your Dissertation Like an Expert!

Write Your Dissertation Like an Expert! Dissertations: What You Have to Know Dissertations are a stressful and tough task to do. But they are manageable, just like other types of academic writing. So stop stressing out. Your committee will feel the insecurity like a shark, and you have to convince them you’ve written an awesome work. But how to do that? These tips may help. You should write strongly and confidently. Use active constructions and reword the sentences to avoid excessive passive voice usage. Also, it is often recommended to stay away from vague wordings. You should place words like ‘mostly’, ‘probably’, etc. with caution. However, do not be arrogant. Write in a respectful tone. Write inside-out. You might find it helpful to write your dissertation inside-out starting from the chapters that hold the main part of you research and then framing them with the sections like introductions and the list of sources. Add abstract. An abstract is a valuable piece of writing. It is a short summary of your work which can give the reader a basic idea of what your dissertation is about. What else to remember You have to make sure you place all the parts of your writing as they are required to be. Most of the dissertations include an introduction, several body chapters, an abstract and other parts. There are other options, as well. Also, it is important to plan your time as you write. This will allow you to make it without a rush and devote as much attention as needed to every stage of work. You have an awesome chance to reach high quality of writing, so do not waste it due to poor time management. The more you read on dissertations, the better your result will be, so do your research before you prepare to work. You have all it takes to make an amazing work, and we believe you can reach the highest results, so time to get ready for it! Go deliberate about your writing preferences and the things you’d like to deliver to the public. Do you know what time it is? It’s time to write an awesome dissertation and present it in order to get a degree you’ve been dreaming of! We hope you do it. Concentrate, plan, and get down to writing.

3 Tips for Writing Stellar UNC Chapel Hill Supplement Essays

3 Tips for Writing Stellar UNC Chapel Hill Supplement Essays SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re applying for admission to UNC Chapel Hill, you’ll have to write a total of three essays as part of your application. Your UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays are a great way to tell the admissions committee more about yourself while also showing your interest in UNC and your dedication to your education. In this article, we’ll break down what the UNC essay prompts are, what you should talk about in each, and offer tips for writing great UNC supplemental essays. What Are the UNC Essay Prompts? UNC Chapel Hill uses the Common Application for its admissions process. As a first-year applicant, you’ll be required to write a total of three essays: one Common Application essay and two UNC-specific essays. The UNC supplemental essays are two 250-500 word essays that respond to UNC-specific questions. There are a total of four UNC supplemental essays to choose from; you get to pick whichever two you would like to answer. Here are the four UNC essay prompts: Tell us about a peer who has made a difference in your life. What do you hope will change about the place where you live? What is one thing that we don’t know about you that you want us to know? What about your background, or what perspective, belief, or experience, will help you contribute to the education of your classmates at UNC? In the next section, we’ll talk about how to answer each of the UNC supplemental essays. UNC Supplemental Essays, Analyzed Each of the four UNC essay prompts asks you to share about something in your life that the admissions committee wouldn’t know from reading the rest of your application. The key to writing great UNC supplemental essays is to be personal and specific. Let’s take a look at what the admissions committee wants to know in each prompt. Tell us about a peer who has made a difference in your life. This prompt wants to know about the lessons you’ve learned from your peers - friends, classmates, teammates, etc. Basically, people who are your contemporaries. Don’t talk about a teacher, coach, or other adult - the prompt specifically states that you should talk about someone who is your age. The key to this prompt is to be specific about the lessons you’ve learned from your peer. This UNC essay isn’t the place to talk about how awesome your friend is or how much fun you have together - unless there’s a lesson built in, like that you can always persevere in the face of extreme obstacles. The story you choose to share doesn’t have to be hugely transcendent or impressive - all you need to do is speak honestly about how this person has influenced your life, even if the lessons learned seem small. What do you hope will change about the place where you live? While this prompt may seem serious, it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to do in-depth research into the changes in laws in your neighborhood, but you do need to pick a change that has personal meaning for you. For instance, maybe you and your neighbors don’t know each other well and you’d like to have a greater feeling of community with the people you live near. That reason has nothing to do with legislation, but would have a big impact on your life. Show how and why those changes would affect you. The reasons you give will help the admissions committee get a better understanding of who you are a person. What is one thing that we don’t know about you that you want us to know? The possibilities for this prompt are endless! You can really talk about anything here - from your love of cooking to your passion for creating enamel pins to the flag football games you always play with your cousins at family reunions. For this prompt, pick something specific. It’s better to focus on one aspect of your personality rather than writing a big list of qualities. Go deep on one thing, rather than barely scratching the surface on a number of characteristics. Make sure that whatever you choose to highlight isn’t talked about anywhere else on your application. This prompt is your chance to tell the admissions committee something they don’t know about you - don’t waste it! What about your background, or what perspective, belief, or experience, will help you contribute to the education of your classmates at UNC? This prompt is a pretty standard diversity prompt which seeks to get a better understanding about your identity and perspective. The committee isn’t looking for you to demonstrate any particular qualities or understanding of identity, but it is looking for you to be authentic. Don’t say anything about yourself that is an exaggeration or isn’t true. If you don’t feel that your perspective or beliefs are all that unique, or if you don’t have a lot to say about either, it’s probably best to go with a different prompt. 3 Tips For Mastering Your UNC Essays Hoping to write two amazing UNC supplemental essays? Follow these key tips to do so! #1: Use Your Own Voice The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond what’s featured in other parts of your application. Your admissions essays are your chance to become more than just a collection of statistics - to really come alive for your application readers. Make sure that the person you’re presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don’t just write what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you’re not - it will be really easy for the committee to tell you’re lying. If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will at best diminish its effectiveness and at worst make the admissions committee think twice on accepting you. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think UNC wants you to be. #2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases When writing your UNC essays, don’t use cliches or overused quotes or phrases. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world.† You can write something more original than that! Each of the UNC essays asks you something specific about your experience or background. Your essay should be 100% you - you don’t want the admissions committee to think, â€Å"Anyone could have written this essay.† #3: Check Your Work Your UNC essays should be the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your UNC Chapel Hill application, edit and proofread your essays. Run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit and ask someone else to read your essays. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven’t missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be. Final Thoughts Your UNC supplemental essays are your chance to show the admissions committee what makes you special and different from the other tens of thousands of students applying for admission at UNC. In your essays, make sure you are authentic, well-spoken, and polished so you give the admissions committee the best possible understanding of who you are as a person. What’s Next? Need more help with your scholarship search?Read our expert guide on how to find college scholarships. Need help writing your Common App essay?Our tips will show you how to write a Common App essay guaranteed to make you stand out from other applicants! How does UNC's selectivity compare with those of other top colleges? Get the answer in our guide to the most selective schools in the nation! Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

John Bell Hood in the Civil War

John Bell Hood in the Civil War Early Life Career: John Bell Hood was born either June 1 or 29, 1831, to Dr. John W. Hood and Theodosia French Hood at Owingsville, KY. Though his father did not wish a military career for his son, Hood was inspired by his grandfather, Lucas Hood, who, in 1794, had fought with Major General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers during the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795). Obtaining an appointment to West Point from his uncle, Representative Richard French, he entered school in 1849. An average student, he was nearly expelled by Superintendent Colonel Robert E. Lee for an unauthorized visit to a local tavern. In the same class as Philip H. Sheridan, James B. McPherson, and John Schofield, Hood also received instruction from future adversary George H. Thomas.   Nicknamed Sam and ranked 44th of 52, Hood graduated in 1853, and was assigned to the 4th US Infantry in California. Following peaceful duty on the West Coast, he was reunited with Lee in 1855, as part of Colonel Albert Sidney Johnstons 2nd US Cavalry in Texas. Adopting the struck in the hand by a Comanche arrow near Devils River, TX during a routine patrol from Fort Mason. The following year, Hood received a promotion to first lieutenant. Three years later, he was assigned to West Point as Chief Instructor of Cavalry. Concerned about the growing tensions between the states, Hood requested to remain with the 2nd Cavalry. This was granted by the US Army Adjutant General, Colonel Samuel Cooper, and he stayed in Texas. Early Campaigns of the Civil War: With the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, Hood immediately resigned from the US Army. Enlisting in the Confederate Army at Montgomery, AL, he quickly moved through the ranks. Ordered to Virginia to serve with Brigadier General John B. Magruders cavalry, Hood earned early fame for a skirmish near Newport News on July 12, 1861. As his native Kentucky remained in the Union, Hood elected to represent his adopted state of Texas and on September 30, 1861, was appointed as colonel of the 4th Texas Infantry. After a brief period in this post, he was given command of the Texas Brigade on February 20, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general the following month. Assigned to General Joseph E. Johnstons Army of Northern Virginia, Hoods men were in reserve at Seven Pines in late May as Confederate forces worked to halt Major General George McClellans advance up the Peninsula. In the fighting, Johnston was wounded and replaced by Lee. Taking a more aggressive approach, Lee soon commenced an offensive against the Union troops outside Richmond. During the resulting Seven Days Battles in late June, Hood established himself as a daring, aggressive commander who led from the front. Serving under Major General Thomas Stonewall Jackson, the highlight of Hoods performance during the fighting was a decisive charge by his men at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27. With the defeat of McClellan on the Peninsula, Hood was promoted and given command of a division under Major General James Longstreet. Taking parting the Northern Virginia Campaign, he further developed his reputation as a gifted leader of assault troops at the Second Battle of Manassas in late August. In the course of the battle, Hood and his men played a key role in Longstreets decisive attack on Major General John Popes left flank and the defeat of Union forces. The Antietam Campaign: In the wake of the battle, Hood became involved in a dispute over captured ambulances with Brigadier General Nathan G. Shanks Evans. Reluctantly placed under arrest by Longstreet, Hood was ordered to leave the army. This was countered by Lee who allowed Hood to travel with the troops as they began the invasion of Maryland. Just prior to the Battle of South Mountain, Lee returned Hood to his post after the Texas Brigade marched by chanting Give us Hood! At no point did Hood ever apologize for his conduct in the dispute with Evans. In the battle on September 14, Hood held the line at Turners Gap and covered the armys retreat to Sharpsburg. Three days later at the Battle of Antietam, Hoods division raced to the relief of Jacksons troops on the Confederate left flank. Putting in a brilliant performance, his men prevented the collapse of the Confederate left and succeeded in driving back Major General Joseph Hookers I Corps. Attacking with ferocity, the division suffered over 60% casualties in the fighting. For Hoods efforts, Jackson recommended that he be elevated to major general. Lee concurred and Hood was promoted on October 10. That December, Hood and his division were present at the Battle of Fredericksburg but saw little fighting on their front. With the arrival of spring, Hood missed the Battle of Chancellorsville as Longstreets First Corps had been detached for duty around Suffolk, VA. Gettysburg: Following the triumph at Chancellorsville, Longstreet rejoined Lee as Confederate forces again moved north. With the Battle of Gettysburg raging on July 1, 1863, Hoods division reached the battlefield late in the day. The next day, Longstreet was ordered to attack up the Emmitsburg Road and strike the Union left flank. Hood opposed the plan as it meant his troops would have to assault a boulder-strewn area known as the Devils Den. Requesting permission to move to the right to attack the Union rear, he was refused. As the advance started around 4:00 PM, Hood was badly wounded in his left arm by shrapnel. Taken from the field, Hoods arm was saved, but it remained disabled for the remainder of his life. Command of the division passed to Brigadier General Evander M. Law whose efforts to dislodge Union forces on Little Round Top failed. Chickamauga: After recuperating in Richmond, Hood was able to rejoin his men on September 18 as Longstreets corps was shifted west to aid General Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee. Reporting for duty on the eve of the Battle of Chickamauga, Hood directed a series of attacks on the first day before overseeing a key assault which exploited a gap in the Union line on September 20.   This advance drove much of the Union army from the field and provided the Confederacy with one of its few signature victories in the Western Theater. In the fighting, Hood was badly wounded in the right thigh which required the leg to be subsequently amputated a few inches below the hip. For his bravery, he was promoted to lieutenant general effective that date. The Atlanta Campaign: Returning to Richmond to recover, Hood befriended Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In the spring of 1864, Hood was given command of a corps in Johnstons Army of Tennessee. Tasked with defending Atlanta from Major General William T. Sherman, Johnston conducted a defensive campaign which included frequent retreats. Angered by his superiors approach, the aggressive Hood wrote several critical letters to Davis expressing his displeasure. The Confederate president, unhappy with Johnstons lack of initiative, replaced him with Hood on July 17. Given the temporary rank of general, Hood was only thirty-three and became the youngest army commander of the war. Defeated on July 20 at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, Hood launched a series of offensive battles in an attempt to push back Sherman. Unsuccessful in each attempt, Hoods strategy only served to weaken his already out-numbered army. With no other options, Hood was compelled to abandon Atlanta on September 2. The Tennessee Campaign: As Sherman prepared for his March to the Sea, Hood and Davis planned a campaign to defeat the Union general. In this, Hood sought to move north against Shermans supply lines in Tennessee forcing him to follow. Hood then hoped to defeat Sherman before marching north to recruit men and join Lee in the siege lines at Petersburg, VA. Aware of Hoods operations to the west, Sherman dispatched Thomas Army of the Cumberland and Schofields Army of the Ohio to protect Nashville while he moved towards Savannah. Crossing into Tennessee on November 22, Hoods campaign was beset with command and communication issues. After failing to trap part of Schofields command at Spring Hill, he fought the Battle of Franklin on November 30. Assaulting a fortified Union position without artillery support, his army was badly mauled and six generals killed. Unwilling to admit defeat, he pressed on to Nashville and was routed by Thomas on December 15-16. Retreating with the remnants of his army, he resigned on January 23, 1865. Later Life: In the final days of the war, Hood was dispatched to Texas by Davis with the goal of raising a new army. Learning of Davis capture and the surrender of Texas, Hood surrendered to Union forces at Natchez, MS on May 31. After the war, Hood settled in New Orleans where he worked in insurance and as a cotton broker. Marrying, he fathered eleven children before his death from yellow fever on August 30, 1879. A gifted brigade and division commander, Hoods performance dropped as he was promoted to higher commands. Though renowned for his early successes and ferocious attacks, his failures around Atlanta and in Tennessee permanently damaged his reputation as a commander. Selected Sources Civil War Home: John Bell HoodNorth Georgia: John Bell Hood

Cerebravascular Disorder of Stroke Research Paper

Cerebravascular Disorder of Stroke - Research Paper Example As the report stresses  Stroke is defined as per the World Health Organization to be a clinical syndrome consisting of â€Å"rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (at times global) disturbance of cerebral function, lasting for more than 24 hours leading to death with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin†. There are two primary forms of stroke which are ischemic and hemorrhagic.  In an ischemic stroke the blood vessel gets blocked generally by a blood clot that results in a region of the brain to be deprived in oxygen and cause it to stop functioning. Ischemic strokes have resulted for 80% of all the known cases of strokes. A hemorrhagic stroke takes place if a blood vessel which carries oxygen and other nutrients to the brain bursts causing blood to spill into the brain. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a form of stroke attack which symptoms and signs get resolve within 24 hours.This discussion highlights that  Stroke attack leads to mainly limi tations in the functionalities of its victim. These can be in the form of motor skills, cognitive deformities, sensory skills as well as emotional issues. Motor skill can include the inability of the stroke victim to move from one place to another.  The memory and sensory levels of the victim are also impaired. These victims need continuous support and care from the people. The stroke victims face problems with their physical and cognitive and sensory skills.

Medical Ethics and the Law (UK) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Medical Ethics and the Law (UK) - Essay Example According to the report findings there are also some cases wherein the patients are not able to make theirown personal decision.   In the case of Major Tom, he was critically injured at the time the plane crashes and was unconscious at the time the proposed operation was delivered by Mr. Botch.   In this case, Mr. Botch was responsible in balancing his duty of care with regards to autonomy  or the practice of informed consent; as well as the practice of non-maleficence, beneficence  and justice.This essay stresses that the capability of the patient to give consent on a specific care or treatment should always be considered by the health care professionals unless there is are clinical evidences that can prove that the patient will never be able to be mentally capable of deciding for himself.   As a general rule, the patient have the legal right to either agree or disagree with the health care professionals’ proposed medical treatment based on the patients’ own set of values and/or religious beliefs.  It is but ethical for Mr. Botch to respect the personal decision of Major Tom with regards to whether he would go through the lung surgery or not.  Health care professionals should also practice the law of confidentiality. It is generally unethical for health care professionals to talk about or disclose the health condition of the patient to other people regardless of whether the mode of communication is verbal or in written.

Management of Malnutrition Among Adult Patients Essay

Management of Malnutrition Among Adult Patients - Essay Example But a healthful diet can prevent many illnesses. In fact, WHO estimates that up to 40percent of cancer cases could be prevented by better eating habits and by exercise. However, with the existence of different illnesses in the society and the different therapies that are needed to be given to the patients in hospitals and even in homecare, malnutrition becomes an unavoidable matter. To prove this particular matter, the following diagram shall make an indicative implication as to how malnutrition actually affects the aged patients who need to undergo certain medications that require lesser solid food intake. It has been observed that there is at least 15% annual increase in the measure of patients being involved in issues of malnutrition. The diagram that follows herein simply pertain to the record garnered from the year 2005; with the years fast progressing, one could just imagine how much the estimated diagram presentations have actually increased in rate measurements as to how much more are naturally included in the record of malnourished patients in different hospitals around the world. From the diagram presented above, it could be observed that the rate of the patients undergoing the situation of malnutrition during medication are naturally expected to result to high mortality rate among the said particular population considered in the situation. No matter, even though malnutrition among patients undergoing certain medical therapies cou... situation could not be dealt with systematically so as to bring back the health and enthusiasm of the said individuals for the right nutrition that they actually need. Hence, to be able to support the said needed improvement in the health situation of the primary patients to be treated by the process to be proposed herein, a presentation of the major indicative factors to consider in the process shall be discussed herein. Program Title: Dietary Nutrition Therapy (1) Objective: To assist adult patients in their struggle for better nourishment. These patients are noted to have special health cases that require constant care especially with regards nutritional intake. (2) Mission: To make sure that adults undergoing special health treatments are given the right nutrition even when they are under a certain medication treatments that require less or no solid food intake at all. (3) Particular health cases to be considered for dietary nutrition therapy are as follows: Stroke Cancer Oesphageal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Huntington's Disease Heart failure Parkinson's Disease Tuberculosis These are only a few among the qualified health cases that could be assisted through the dietary nutrition therapy procedures. There are still other health failures that could be supported through the utilization of the said dietary therapy. It should also be noted that the dietary nutrition therapy is strongly suggested o be taken by those who are not supposed to eat for weeks or days due to some other medication therapies they need to take. NOTES TO CONSIDER: (a) The measure of malnutrition in a patient should be well examined by the attending doctor. (b) The parallelism of the medication with the suggested dietary assistance program therapy noted herein should be well

Raymond carver's cathedral Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Raymond carver's cathedral - Essay Example Life is so mysterious he thought as the two men discussed over the issues with his boss oblivious of the relationship between the blind man and the wife. Ali sprang into action when he was ordered to get a heavy paper and a pen to draw a cathedral. Ali was fond of paintings and had even bought two or more paintings for his girlfriend during her birthdays. Ali came back carrying the piece of paper he thought would be good for drawing. At the moment, he was the only audience to the art making process. Ali watched in amazement as his boss and the blind man drew the cathedral on the paper. The wife joined a minute later and they watched together as the two men drew the cathedral with their eyes closed. By the time the two men were done with the drawing, Ali could not help realizing the true nature of humanity. According to Ali, this was the most defining moment, which defined the true meaning of sight versus

Social analysis of urban experience and sustainable tourism Essay

Social analysis of urban experience and sustainable tourism - Essay Example Urbanization in itself is a complex subject and has experienced a lot of social, environmental, commercial and geographical changes in the process of its evolution. Rapidly increasing population and globalised trade policies enforced the states to strengthen their industrial power.Consequently it led to the concentration of country population towards the industrial hubs shaping in big cities with dense population resulting in over exploitation; a major cause, threatening global biodiversity. (Wilcove, Rothstein, Dubow and Losos 1998). The urbanization had often faced anti - urban expressions from contemporary social-theorists. Besides the luxurious life, urbanization erased the originality of the indigenous and traditional system leading to social malfunctioning. It is estimated that a quarter of the endangered vertebrates in the United States of America and half of the endangered mammals is attributed to overexploitation (Primack 2002). 2. Urbanization and Society The process of urb anization deserves credit for its role in initiating Meritocracy ( Kamolnick 2005). Michael Young defined the term as; the rise of the meritocracy favors intelligence, aptitude and merit above all (Young 1958). The increase in the industries, created a large number of job opportunities lowering unemployment. Along with that the concept of capitalism has played a key role in urbanization and development of sophisticated technology in the world. However, these good sides of the urbanization carry equally dangerous ill-effects in the society and environment which is harmful to social system and nature. There is an extreme necessity of the sustainable development, mostly giving emphasis on sustainable tourism. As Pattullo and Orely (2009) asserts, the number of tourist trips in the year 2007 was some 900 million. And by 2020, it is expected to reach 1.6 billion making tourism $8 trillion industry employing 1 of 10 world workers. Simultaneously, such a huge increase in the number of tourists has resulted in some adverse ill-effects in the urban life experience, such as: 1. Cities are filled with mismanaged crowd resulting in over population. 2. Uncontrolled noise and air pollution due to huge nu mber of vehicles in the cities challenging public health in cities. 3. Increase in unmanageable garbage resulting in a dirty city environment. 4. Increase in prostitution and drug dealing, so to fulfill the demand of the tourists. 5. Cultural and ethical values in city life have been endangered due to its frequent exposure to foreign population. 6. Increase in security problems in cites, due to unaccountability of tourists giving easy entry to the terrorists and other criminals. As a result of the above mentioned factors, the urban life has changed into a suffocated one. However, to maintain the economic conditions, people are forced to stay back; otherwise they would have been seeking for peaceful options to live their life. Let us take, India as an example: In 1986, the first known case of HIV was diagnosed. Later that year, sex workers began showing signs of this deadly disease. It is learned that these foreigners were the ones responsible for the first infections (aidsindia 2011 ). At the end of 2009, India had 2.39 million people living with HIV (Times 2010). 3. Urbanization and sustainable development We have already discussed the environmental issues which are serious concern for many countries as urbanization is rooted all over the world. The only need is to construct the urban areas into habitable and sustainable cities. For this, we need to identify the urban problems and its solutions to reform it and also find out the ways to prepare the cities for sustainable tourism. To achieve such aims, there are some key-points to follow: To teach the people about garbage management. To provide more attention to conservation of natural resources. Preferring Eco friendly industries and machines that function without disturbing ecosystem. 4. Role of institutions and

Criminal justice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Criminal justice - Assignment Example This paper focuses on the shortcomings of the present criminal justice system of United States and presents some recommendations simultaneously. The United States criminal justice system has been a matter of concern for many legal experts due to the issue of ethnic and racial biasness. Racial discrimination and suppression of African Americans is no new happening in United States. In fact, United States has been in focus due to the same. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system still has the germs of this discrimination. Despite the fact, that African Americans just form a small minority in the country their chances of imprisonment are eight times higher than White Americans. Moreover, chances of imprisonment of Asian Americans are three times higher than White Americans. Official reports reveal that during a two year time period in Maryland, more than 70 percent cars stopped for searching were of Black people. Moreover, police did not find anything at all in 90 percent of those searches (Cole & Smith, 2007). Moreover, many states officials accept that for investigation and arrests, their first targets are always blacks and other ethnic minorities. Not only this discrimination is on the ground level but also at the higher levels of system since these minorities have a higher chance of getting higher fines and punishments for minor crimes. Since majority of the officials in this present system have germs of discrimination, an independent review committee can solve the problem to some extent. That committee would have legal experts from all minorities and would listen to review petition of individuals who think that they were discriminated on basis of race. Even if this system would not be able to provide 100 percent accuracy and non-biasness but still it would, give a hope and message to the minorities of the United States that the government wants to ensure a legal and fair trail system (Cook, 2001). The primary method of

Social analysis of urban experience and sustainable tourism Essay

Social analysis of urban experience and sustainable tourism - Essay Example Urbanization in itself is a complex subject and has experienced a lot of social, environmental, commercial and geographical changes in the process of its evolution. Rapidly increasing population and globalised trade policies enforced the states to strengthen their industrial power.Consequently it led to the concentration of country population towards the industrial hubs shaping in big cities with dense population resulting in over exploitation; a major cause, threatening global biodiversity. (Wilcove, Rothstein, Dubow and Losos 1998). The urbanization had often faced anti - urban expressions from contemporary social-theorists. Besides the luxurious life, urbanization erased the originality of the indigenous and traditional system leading to social malfunctioning. It is estimated that a quarter of the endangered vertebrates in the United States of America and half of the endangered mammals is attributed to overexploitation (Primack 2002). 2. Urbanization and Society The process of urb anization deserves credit for its role in initiating Meritocracy ( Kamolnick 2005). Michael Young defined the term as; the rise of the meritocracy favors intelligence, aptitude and merit above all (Young 1958). The increase in the industries, created a large number of job opportunities lowering unemployment. Along with that the concept of capitalism has played a key role in urbanization and development of sophisticated technology in the world. However, these good sides of the urbanization carry equally dangerous ill-effects in the society and environment which is harmful to social system and nature. There is an extreme necessity of the sustainable development, mostly giving emphasis on sustainable tourism. As Pattullo and Orely (2009) asserts, the number of tourist trips in the year 2007 was some 900 million. And by 2020, it is expected to reach 1.6 billion making tourism $8 trillion industry employing 1 of 10 world workers. Simultaneously, such a huge increase in the number of tourists has resulted in some adverse ill-effects in the urban life experience, such as: 1. Cities are filled with mismanaged crowd resulting in over population. 2. Uncontrolled noise and air pollution due to huge nu mber of vehicles in the cities challenging public health in cities. 3. Increase in unmanageable garbage resulting in a dirty city environment. 4. Increase in prostitution and drug dealing, so to fulfill the demand of the tourists. 5. Cultural and ethical values in city life have been endangered due to its frequent exposure to foreign population. 6. Increase in security problems in cites, due to unaccountability of tourists giving easy entry to the terrorists and other criminals. As a result of the above mentioned factors, the urban life has changed into a suffocated one. However, to maintain the economic conditions, people are forced to stay back; otherwise they would have been seeking for peaceful options to live their life. Let us take, India as an example: In 1986, the first known case of HIV was diagnosed. Later that year, sex workers began showing signs of this deadly disease. It is learned that these foreigners were the ones responsible for the first infections (aidsindia 2011 ). At the end of 2009, India had 2.39 million people living with HIV (Times 2010). 3. Urbanization and sustainable development We have already discussed the environmental issues which are serious concern for many countries as urbanization is rooted all over the world. The only need is to construct the urban areas into habitable and sustainable cities. For this, we need to identify the urban problems and its solutions to reform it and also find out the ways to prepare the cities for sustainable tourism. To achieve such aims, there are some key-points to follow: To teach the people about garbage management. To provide more attention to conservation of natural resources. Preferring Eco friendly industries and machines that function without disturbing ecosystem. 4. Role of institutions and

Compensation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Compensation - Case Study Example Majority of accountants are bachelor’s degree holders while product managers are masters graduates. Moreover, most managers have a higher experience of between 10-15 years while accountants have only an average experience of 2-5 and 5-10 years. Stock options are offered by firms as means of compensation for lower salaries. Given the above mentioned jobs, companies do not include stock options as benefits on top of the salaries offered. This is because the salaries offered by the organizations are high enough for the professions. The job descriptions vary for the different professions. Accountant III is responsible for preparation of balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and preparation of other financial reports in the organization. Other tasks include analysis of business trends for costs, revenues, obligations and commitments. The financial analyst is responsible for compiling necessary financial information for an organization. Some of the important information includes preparation of analyses of revenues and expenses projections, reports and presentations to the firm. He/she is also required to prepare financial reports of organizations including forecasting and reconciliation of internal accounts. Product manager in a bank is on the contrary responsible for marketing products of the bank and ensuring that the bank makes profits. These job descriptions are what I expected and once I attain the required credentials, I would apply for the job (Dundon & Rollinson, 2007). The comparison of the compensation at salary.com for the professions with local/regional compensation reveals that the compensation offered by the local career office are lower than the compensation offered by salary.com. The reason for this could be due to lower responsibilities for jobs at the regional level, demotions, working in small companies compared to large multinationals and jobs being offered at the

Educational management and lifelong learning Essay Example for Free

Educational management and lifelong learning Essay The models of theory which have been introduced into the educational sector are many, and while they have distinct names and functions, several have the tendency of overlapping with others. Six major models are presented here, in the orders of formal, collegial, political, subjective, ambiguity and cultural (Bush, 2003). These models complex constructs that are characterized and grouped into these clusters based on their relationships to different factors within the institution in which they are identified. Classification of these models is based on their agreement in such areas as the goals of the organization, their relationship to the dynamic of structure, as well as their orientation regarding an institution’s interaction with its environment (2003). Adult or lifelong learners are proliferating within today’s educational system and the posture of an institution’s management has the capacity to influence the experience of these types of students. Lifelong learners have needs and concerns that diverge from that of traditional students and the ability of teachers, administrators and principals (or deans) to cater to these non-traditional needs depends not only on their willingness to do so, but also on the type of managerial model that is present within the educational institution. The following paper discusses the principles of each of these managerial theories of education and relates each to the experience of the lifelong learner. Formal Models The formal models of theories of educational leadership and management emphasize the elements of educational institutions that might be considered official or structural (Bush, 2003). These models are based on the hierarchical envisioning of organizations and on the idea that the objectives pursued and achieved by managers are done using rational means. The form or structure of the organizations endows the organizational or departmental heads with their authority based on the positions to which they have been assigned. The formal model comprises five basic models, all of which to some degree contain the following seven features. The first feature is the tendency toward a systemic view of organizations, with each element of the system possessing an identifiable and demonstrable link with the other. Within an educational organization, this is represented by the different departments and elements (professors, secretaries, teachers and students) that make up these departments. The prominence of a given structure within the organization is another feature that defines such formal models. The flow of this structure is usually identifiable through organized patterns, and the usual pattern within educational organizations—that of hierarchy—defines the third feature. This hierarchy of the different departments as well as the order of authority possessed by the members within each defines this structure. Teachers are, for example, subordinate to heads of department, who are in turn subordinate to principals, and so forth (Bush, 2003). The formal models also render schools as organizations that seek out goals, and these official objectives are usually adopted by those who subscribe to the organization (Beare, Caldwell, Millikan, 1989). The rationality of the processes that define managerial decisions within schools is also a feature adopted by the models within the locus of formal theories. Such decisions often involve the consideration of all alternatives before selecting the most feasible and profitable. Within these formal models, the authority granted to leaders and managers is considered to derive from the positions they hold. Therefore, their authority is only tenable as long as they remain within their position. Finally, formal models emphasize the role of the body that sponsors the organization (sponsoring body). This necessitates that the educational institution be accountable to this sponsoring body, which usually takes the form of governments. Formal Models and the Lifelong Learner Within the arena of lifelong learning, the normative and prescriptive nature of these theories possesses strengths and weaknesses. While the systemic and hierarchical nature of the models allow for adult learners to understand and follow the chain of command, the fact that students are often placed at the bottom of this chain proves problematic for the adult learner. A more collaborative and egalitarian setting would be more appropriate for an adult learner, as he or she is likely to possess authority in other areas of life and would be uncomfortable merely being submissive within this educational setting. Furthermore, since adult learners are more apt to take responsibility for their learning, their inclusion in the decision-making processes would be curtailed in a very rigidly structured model of education. The problems identified with the formal model address some of the issues that involve lifelong learners (Bush, 2003). The power distribution and structure denies the important role of the individual in making and influencing decisions. Adult learners are often consulted about programs that they are interested in pursuing, and often chart their own paths in the achievement of goals. Therefore, the goal-oriented nature of the formal model, while technically substantiated where lifelong learners are concerned, gives little acknowledgement to the relative autonomy of this type of student in formulating and achieving these goals. Much of the lifelong learning and continuing studies which takes place within this age does so via the internet. Within such an educational environment, the systemic and hierarchical nature of educational management is vastly altered. Classes are no longer taught by teachers in a teacher-student hierarchy. Rather, students involved in teaching themselves via materials merely uploaded by â€Å"teachers† or professors. Therefore, the idea that the power available within this organization resides at the top of the pyramid again is faulted. Also, the structure of the organization does appear to change into a more egalitarian one in order to accommodate the more responsible adult learner.

Construction Industry Benchmark Report

Construction Industry Benchmark Report Construction Industry Benchmark The Review of the UK Construction Industry Benchmark Reports The first and foremost major report that reviewed the performance of the UK construction industry was enacted in 1929 and several other reports had followed suite up till the present time (Cain, 2003). Due to the multitudes of problems plaguing the UK construction industry, the UK government had at different times assembled teams of expert to bestow a panacea and impeccable modus operandi on the UK construction industry. Consequently, the UK government keeps reviewing each reports year after years for an up to date solutions for the UK construction industry by learning from the limitations of each report and re-examining the non-conforming of the industry to the findings and recommendations of the reports. Cain (2003) notes that the inspiration behind all the reports were the client concerns about the impact on their commercial performance of the inefficiency and waste in the UK construction industry. This chapter presents the review of various benchmark reports and initiatives of the UK government and construction industry as a response and panacea to the problems and imbroglio prevalent in the UK construction industry. Fragmentation, inefficiency and adversarialism had led to unnecessary high construction cost and poor functionality (Cain, 2003). Preceding chapters have elucidated on these problems and succinctly explored the benchmark reports in emphasizing the need for the UK construction industry to shift from its adversarial position and embrace a more integrated approach. The reports also charged the construction client to embrace co-operation and teamwork for an enhanced relationship among the supply chain members. This chapter reviews different reports that had shaped and are still shaping the direction of the UK construction industry. The recommendations of the reports which are regarded as a universal remedy for the adversarial make up of the UK construction industry are well highlighted. The BDB initiative will be left out since it has been discussed in earlier chapters. Major reports will be dilated more upon such as the Latham report, Egan Report and the Strategic Forum for Construction (SFC) report. CONSTRUCTING THE TEAM (The Latham Report of 1994) One of the earliest reports was Alfred Bossom Reaching for the Skies report of 1934 and different other reports such as Simon report of 1944 and Barnwell report of 1967 came afterwards before the Latham report of 1994 (Cain, 2003). In 1994, Sir Michael Latham report came into being with audacious recommendations to provide panacea to the quandary besmirching the UK construction industry. The Latham report vital message was that the client should be at the core of the construction process (NAO, 2001). It recommended more standardised construction contracts, better guidance on best practice and legislative changes to simplify dispute resolution (NAO, 2001). Cain (2003) notes that various reports before the Latham report all failed to have any impacts on the performance of the UK construction industry because of the industry continued sightlessness to its shortcomings. The UK construction industry had long been fraught with adversarial relationships, process fragmentation and ineffective planning. The continued reliance on the aforementioned failings had made the UK construction industry to still be enmeshed in its precarious state. It was however surmised by Cain in 2003 that the Latham report came as a catalyst in dissuading the construction clients from their unfavoured disposition and charged them to lead the reform movement. The Latham report Constructing the Team wished-for an understandable action plan with timescales, scheduled people to implement its recommendations and consequently sought the views of contractors and key private and public sector clients (NAO, 2001). It charged both the private construction client and the UK government that its recommendations implementation onus is on them and recommended that the latter should commit itself to becoming a best practice client (NAO, 2001). The Latham report identified inefficiencies which indicated the need for partnering and collaboration among the players in the construction industry. Teamwork was also identified and the report acted as a precursor for more initiatives. The Latham report led to the creation of the Construction Industry Board (CIB). Government benchmark reports and initiatives such as the Levene Efficiency Scrutiny report of 1995; the Egan report Rethinking Construction of 1998; the National Audit Office (NAO) report Modernising Construction of 2001; the SFC report; Accelerating Change of 2002; the Guide to the Construction Best Practice Programme (CBPP) of 1998; The Construction Client Charter; and The Movement for Innovation (M4i) were all designed to move the UK construction industry in the right direction. In its conclusion it affirms that if all its recommendations were put into practice, the potential for the achievement of efficiency savings of 30 per cent over five years in total construction costs is highly discernible and realizable (NAO, 2001). While the whole of this chapter is devoted to the review of the key UK construction industry benchmark reports, this section succinctly outline the key recommendations of the Latham report of 1994. As earlier noted at the beginning of the chapter, the first key recommendation of the Latham report is the need for the construction client to accept the onus of the reforms in the UK construction industry. It specifically emphasized that government being one of the biggest procurer of projects should commit itself and be acknowledged as a best practice client. It charged government to improve the training of its workforce for the achievement of the industrys goal of value for money and establish benchmarking arrangements to provide pressure for continuing improvements in performance. The report also noted that the private sector construction client is the biggest procurer of project and they thus need a unison voice to effect changes and improve standards. It was noticed that there was no single focus for the private sector construction client and a need was however identified. The setting up of an organisation called the Construction Clients Forum was recommended to represent the private sector client and provide influential voice, with responsibility for promoting forward thinking on key issues. The creation of the organisation was considered a priority. The report recommended that the Construction Sponsorship Directorate of the Department of the Environment be designated by Ministers as the lead Department for the implementation of the reports recommendations. Secondly, adjudication was acknowledged as the impeccable way of dispute resolution which must be introduced within all the Standard Forms of Contract and be underpinned by legislation. It emphasized that the impeccable solution is the avoidance of disputes. However, dispute can still abound despite concerted efforts of prevention. The report reckons that if procurement and tendering procedures are improved therefore there will be reduction in the causes of conflict. Mediation/conciliation was also acknowledged as another route of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Thirdly, the report recommended that the CIC should provide a guide to briefing that would assist the clients. It was also recommended that it should be part of the contractual process that the client should approve the design brief by signing it off. Also it was recommended that DOE should coordinate and publish a Construction Strategy Code of Practice (CSCP) to inform and advise the client. The CSCP should be legible and decipherable and circulated through all the government agencies. Fourthly, the report recommends the inclusion of detailed advice in the CSCP to all public clients on the specific requirements for selective tendering of EU directives. NJCC code of procedure was recommended as the focal point for the numbers of tenders for single stage tendering. It advised that clients that are subject to EU regulation must do away with open tendering procedures. It also advocated that client that procures their project through design and build approach should proceed by the following tender routes (1) On a single stage basis, not more than three firms should be invited with one other name in reserve (2) When a project is of complex nature and substantial, a two stage tender should be employed subject to EU considerations (3) When it is envisaged that ground investigation cost would be incurred by tenderers, they should be allowed to pool such cost by the retainment of single firm of consultants acting on behalf of them all (4) It should be made known in advance w hen a very large and expensive scheme is to be undertaken that a reasonable proportion of expense incurred by unsuccessful tenderers will be paid back to them (5) Based on quality and price basis assurance should be sought from the contractors that their own professional consultants will be retained. It recommends the creation of a more standardisation and effectual forms of contract, which tackle matters of simplicity, justice, roles and responsibilities, risks allocation, dispute resolution and payment (NAO, 2001). Fifthly, partnering was advocated by Latham for fostering long term relationship. It emphasizes that competitive tendering process should be used in seeking the partnering arrangement for a specific period of time. The partnering arrangement should be based on mutually agreed and measurable targets for productivity improvements. Training was however not well considered by the Latham review but it advised that the issue should be examined as a matter of urgency by the industry and the government. It also recommends that the industry should move away from the established structure that the industry handles contracts and works with designers and equal opportunity should be given greater consideration. It recommends the creation of a single central public sector register of consultants and contractors (NAO, 2001). This has led to the creation of ConstructionLine which is a central qualification database of contractors and consultants run by a public/private partnership with a Government steering group (NAO, 2001). Lastly, the report notes that the industry has invested little in research and development and that the DOE should take urgent step and involves clients in its research strategy programme which should be properly monitored. It also recommends the acceptance of 30% real cost reduction by minister and the industry. It recommends that clear definition should be given to the roles and responsibilities of the project manager. RETHINKING CONSTRUCTION (The Egan Report of 1998) In 1998, the Sir John Egan report came into being. The Sir John Egans construction task force presented it to the then deputy prime minister. The former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott commissioned the report in July, 1998 with the central message that the UK construction industry and its client can jointly act to improve their performance by applying best practices to improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided by the industry to its clients (AZoBuild, 2008; Construction Excellence, 2006). Cain (2003) notes that the basic distinction of the Egan report in comparison with other reports is its insistence on the extraction of best practice in supply chain management from other sector. It was commissioned as part of the Governments effort to improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided by the industry to its clients. The Egan report advocates the creation of a Movement for Change which would be a vibrant, motivating and non-institutionalised body of people who are an advocate of the upliftment of the UK construction industry (AZoBuild, 2008). It was also noticed that the report acted as a harbinger for cultural changes with outcomes such as the launch of M4i in November 1998 (AZoBuild, 2008). The report also emphasize that the industry needs to improve on their activities but it however believe the industry is capable of doing that (AZoBuild, 2008). Several demonstration projects were undertaken to exemplify the innovations advocated by the report which to public astonishment exceeded the reports targets in productivity, profits, defects and reduced accidents (AZoBuild, 2008). Demonstration projects are regarded as live construction projects that are either innovating or imbibing an element of best practice (Construction Excellence, 2008a). Lesson learnt from these projects are used in influencing the UK construction industry change (Construction Excellence, 2008a). The report stoutly consolidated the apprehension of clients at the high level of inefficiency and waste and similarly powerfully consolidated the earlier message of the call for integration (Cain, 2003). The report lucidly admitted that total integration of processes (design and construction) and the application of supply chain management are key to better value for end user client (Cain, 2003). Cain (2003) in his review of the Egan report averred that the report was highly critical of the UK construction industrys disinclination to the grapple of the benefits of greater commonality and standardisation of components and materials. It was revealed in the report that the industry had low profitability, too little investment in capital, research, development and training and that too many of the construction clients in the industry were not satisfied with what they are getting (Construction Excellence, 2006). Consequently, 5 drivers for change were identified by the report with 4 project process improvements and 7 targets for improvement, which are summarized in Fig.3.5 in the previous chapter. Egan recommendations also include the attainment of the UK construction industrys potential. The report notes that for this to be achieved the industry needs to shift from its present culture and structure of competitive tendering and replace it with long term relationships based on clear measurements of performance and sustained improvements in quality and efficiency (Construction Excellence, 2006). MODERNISING CONSTRUCTION (The NAO report of 2001) In 2001, NAO Modernising Construction report came into being with brave recommendations by summarising previous reports that had recently set the tone for the eradication of the quandary besmirching the UK construction industry. The reports provision includes an analytical appraisal of the factual effectiveness of the industry and the barriers that hamper improvement (Cain, 2003). The report is about how to modernise the procurement and delivery of construction projects in the United Kingdom that benefits the construction clients and the UK construction industry in general (NAO, 2001). It critically chastises the UK construction industry for its poor performance and the consequences this poses (Cain, 2003). The report is seen to be very influential in dissuading the construction clients and the construction industry to discard their old adversarial ways and imbibe the Egan best practice (NAO, 2001). In Cains review of the report, it was identified that the major impediments to improvement of the performance of the UK construction industry are (1) the separate appointment of the designers from the rest of the supply chain (2) limited application of value management (3) opposition to supply chain integration (4) inconsideration of the factual cost of construction processes and components (5) little single point responsibility in one hand of design and construction process (6) limited regards to end users needs and inconsideration of fitness for purpose of the construction (7) use by client of narrow and rigid specifications, which stifle innovation and limit the scope for value for money; and (8) less inputs of buildability. According to NAO (2001), the report is seen to be forward looking and underscores good practice being espoused by the industry which if widely applied could achieve much considerable improvements in construction performance achieving better value for money. It was noted within the larger spending departments and agencies estimate that by adopting new approach to procurement and management of construction, efficiency gains of over ÂÂ £600 million annually and improvement in the quality of construction was achieved (NAO, 2001). It was established that there is greater potential in the application of best practice that leads to improved profitability when comparison is made with the current industry average of one per cent of turnover (NAO, 2001). Furthermore, the report also shows that there is no provision of value for money in the acceptance of the lowest price bid in both the final cost of construction or the through life and operational costs (NAO, 2001). It was also noted that conflict and distrust which have contributed to poor performance have severed the relationship between the public sector client and the construction industry (NAO, 2001). The report emphasises the need for integration of the clients, professional advisers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers of materials in order to better manage risk and apply value management and engineering techniques for the improvement of buildability and the elimination of waste from the process (NAO, 2001). This integration will be bring greater concentration to achieving a better construction which meets end users needs at a lower through life costs (NAO, 2001). Integration has the propensity of reducing through life and operational costs which consequently leads to greater certainty of time and budgeted costs of project (NAO, 2001). The report also charged the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to develop more sophisticated performance measures and provide more co-ordinated direction to initiatives to promote better performance by the construction industry (NAO, 2001). The report acknowledged the department collaboration with the construction industry in developing and promoting key performance indicators to measure construction performance such as (1) the operational and running costs of completed buildings (2) the cost effectiveness of the construction process (3) indicators for health and safety; and (4) quality of the completed construction. Lastly, the report emphasises the training of more staff for the effectiveness of the construction clients and the importance of partnering for the adversarial relationship that abounds in the UK construction industry (NAO, 2001). ACCELERATING CHANGE (The SFC Report of 2002) The first act of the then minister of construction, Brian Wilson MP were to announce the arrangement for the SFC and consequently the elongation of the Rethinking Construction programme for another two years which led to the publication of Accelerating Change in the year 2002 (SFC, 2002). In the ministers foreword for the publication, he was more impressed with the reports emphasis on creating a sustainable, customer focussed industry (SFC, 2002). He noted the best in the industry, with particular references to the Rethinking Construction demonstration projects, which showed that Rethinking Construction principles hold good in practice and deliver real tangible returns for clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and communities (SFC, 2002). The minister acknowledge that clients of the UK construction industry all want projects that exemplify superior whole life value and performance, excellent design and functionality, that are devoid of defect, delivered within budget and within the stipulated time (SFC, 2002). It was seen that the report did not come with something alien to the industry but it rather builds on and reaffirm the rethinking construction principles (SFC, 2002). The report presents better ways to tackle the hurdle to progress and identify ways to accelerate the rate of change (SFC, 2002). The chairman of the report Sir John Egan also emphasize his wish for the extinction of profligate and erratic process of lowest cost tendering as the main procurement route with its replacement with one where clients procurement is based on value for money against world class benchmarks and projects delivery by integrated teams of experts involved in continuous improvement in customer satisfaction, productivity, safety and value for money (SFC, 2002). Bruntland (1987) defines sustainability as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sir Egan further stressed that the inability of the rethinking construction report to fully explore sustainability as a core issue was deliberate (SFC, 2002). He noted that concept of pre-planning must come before planning for sustainability and that the ability of pre-planning a project through from start to finish is a pre-requisite to the design in sustainability (SFC, 2002). Our vision is for the UK construction industry to realise maximum value for all clients, end users and stakeholders and exceed their expectations through the consistent delivery of world class products and services (SFC, 2002). The Forum reckons that for change to be accelerated, three key drivers were identified to secure a culture of continuous improvement namely: (1) the need for client leadership; (2) the need for integrated teams; and (3) the need to address people issues, especially health and safety (SFC, 2002). However, integration is the key theme of accelerating change (SFC, 2002). All the following were accentuated by the forum as discussed below. Accelerating Client Leadership The report indicates that most construction clients in the UK construction industry have access to independent, expert advice for meeting their business or project needs. For clients to receive better solutions in meeting their needs, advices covering such as a range of procurement and management options, including environmental performance, operating and whole life costs are vital. Irrespective of the procurement option, the achievement of maximum integration of the team at the most favourable time should be considered as indispensable in order to make the impeccably explore all available expertise, and central to the delivery of best whole life performance and maximising client value from construction. The report notes that the construction clients should make use of integrated teams and long term supply chains and keenly participate in their creation. The report affirms that to ensure the adequacy, consistency and independence of the service, clients can expect a list of basic com petencies and a code of conduct should be made available. The construction industry has various codes of practice and codes of conduct that can assist in bringing about output in this regard. Accelerating Integrated Teams A study to be coordinated by the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group in consultation with the industry and Government was recommended by the forum. This should be carried out to examine the impact of insolvency law and practice on construction supply chains and make recommendations for change by July 2003. The proposals are designed to provide the trust necessary to reinforce collaborative working. The report emphasize that the UK construction industry must espouse supply chain management techniques presently in use in the manufacturing industry to increase productivity, reduce time, increase cash-flow efficiency and thus minimise risk. Accelerating Culture Change in People Issues It was noted that the construction industry engages 1.5 million people. The report reckons that for the UK construction industry to flourish, it needs excellent quality staff with skill, integrity, reliability and safety too carry out their defined roles. The report also notes that one of the challenges facing the UK construction industry is attracting able personnel and training and retaining them. It was also seen that the employment of wide range of people is imperative over the next five years with skills in design, engineering and all construction crafts with figures placed at around 370,000. Moreover, due to the besmirched public image of the industry attracting brightest people to the industry is seen to be harder since they do not see the activity in the construction industry to be fulfilling and rewarding. Consequently, the forum identified five areas for particular attention namely: (1) Health and safety; (2) Pay and conditions; (3) Recruitment; (4) Training and competence; and (5) Image. Cross-Cutting Issues While the report notes client leadership, integrated teams and tackling people issues as drivers for change, the report further notes several other issues that can act as enabling vessels or impediments to change (SFC, 2002). Cross-cutting issues such as (1) Design Quality: For a successful realisation of any construction project the investment in high quality design by an integrated team is considered vital. By the integration of design and construction at the front end of a project, majority of value can easily be created. Safety, reduction in defects and lower operating cost of a structure can be realised through integrated, high quality design; (2) Information Technology (IT) and the Internet: The introductions of IT and electronic business (e-business), as enablers into the construction sector have brought about a lucid transformation of many operations in the construction sector with greater propensity for more. Its benefits are significant for designers, constructors and building operators. It tends not to be that easier in deriving maximum benefits from its introduction. Through the wider use of the internet and electronic procurement (e-procurement) greater potential exists for the reduction of infrastructure cost. The extensive adoption of e-business and virtual prototyping involve the construction industry transforming its traditional methods of working and its business relationships. The most vital impediments to this transformation include organisational and cultural inertia, scale, awareness of the potential and knowledge of the benefits, skills, perceptions of cost and risk, legal issues and standards. However, considerable potential benefits still abounds such as efficiencies and skills development from knowledge management, economy and speed of construction, improved business relationships, product and process improvement and technology and entrepreneurship; (3) Research and Development (RD) and Innovation: Investment in RD is essential to innovation and continuous improvement. It provides value to clients and improves profitability; (4) Sustainability: Sustainability can be considered as a driver for change. Its embracement in the construction industry can lead to a safer and less lavish sector; and (5) Planning System:Â   A government reform in the planning system is well supported by the report. It considers a fair, transparent, timely and consistent planning system will help to eliminate waste promote responsible development. The forum reckons that if all these cross-cutting issues are properly managed and developed, they offer considerable opportunity of impacting on the pace of change (SFC, 2002). Charter Handbook (Confederation of Construction Client) Charter handbook was published by the construction clients forum. The charter handbook sets out the obligations that define a best practice client (Jones and Saad, 2003). It emphasizes the leadership role which the construction client needs to play for a rapid radical change in the UK construction industry (Jones and Saad, 2003). The handbook requires charter client to be at the front end of the drive for continuous improvement of cultural relationships throughout the supply chain with performance measurement used to provide proof of improvement (Cain, 2003). According to Cain (2003) the obligations of the charter client was listed by the handbook as follows: (1) yearly review and amendment as necessary their cultural change programme based on what has been experienced; (2) measure their respective performance in achieving their cultural change programme; (3) prepare a cultural change programme with targets for its achievements; and (4) monitor the effects of implementing their cultural change programme using key performance indicator (KPI) that suites the project. Jones and Saad (2003) note that it also requires the charter client to engage procurement processes that delivers the following improvements namely: (1) considerable reductions in whole-life costs; (2) significant improvements in functional efficiency; (3) a quality environment for end users; (4) reduced construction time; (5) improved predictability on time and budget; (5) reduction in defects; and (6) elimination of inefficiency and waste. Moreover, the handbook charged the construction client to consistently procure through integrated teams preferably in long term relationship (Jones and Saad, 2003). The handbook also emphasizes the importance of supply change management (Cain, 2003). Lastly, the handbook made it clear that consultants must be an integral part of both UK construction industry and the integrated supply chain (Cain, 2003). Movement for Innovation (M4i) In November 1998, the M4i came into being to implement, across the whole of the industry, the recommendations contained in the rethinking construction report (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report came up with the proposition for the creation of a movement for change which would be made up of group of dynamic people inspired by the need for change (Construction Excellence, 2008b). Since the start of year 2004, it has been a part of the construction excellence (Construction Excellence, 2008b). Radical improvement in construction in value for money, profitability, reliability and respect for people, through demonstration of best practices and innovation was the main aims of the movement (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report notes that benchmarking against M4i demonstration projects can considerably leads to excellent output or result (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The M4i demonstration projects have shown real benefits of best practice measures and innovations with over 180 demonstration projects being submitted by construction clients and contractors (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report seeks to facilitate performance efficiencies to achieve sustained annual improvements of (1) 10% reduction in cost and construction time; (2) 20% reduction in defects and accidents; (3) 10% increase in productivity and profitability; and (4) 20% increase in predictability of project performance (Construction Excellence, 2008). All these are expected to be achieved through the following avenues namely: (1) product development; (2) project implementation; (3) partnering the supply chain; and (4) production of components (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The movement is involved in a range of services which include namely: (1) clusters; (2) working groups; (3) M4i board; (4) M4i teams; and (5) M4i clubs (Construction Excellence, 2008b). CONCLUSION There is no system or perhaps industry without its teething problems. Problems are encountered to be experienced and solved. Identifying areas of improvement is the first step in moving in the right direction. UK government and the industry have shown great concerns which have been yielding fruit even if it has not been of great measures. Subsequent chapters have deliberated on the besmirching situation of the industry which needs to be repa