Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Importance of Managing the Project Lifecycle to Achieve Successful Project Outputs

Introduction For a long time, project planners have established that project management is pivotal in helping project managers to undertake complex tasks (Priority Management International 1; The University of Akron 1). Without an effective project management plan, it would be difficult to realize positive project outcomes or complete a successful project.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Managing the Project Lifecycle to Achieve Successful Project Outputs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, proper project management requires advanced technical skills on the part of the project manager because project deliverables are often complex to maneuver (Priority Management International 1). Managing the project lifecycle is one way of simplifying the project management process. This paper explains the importance of managing the project lifecycle for purposes of achieving positive project outputs. Ho wever, before delving into the details surrounding this topic, it is essential to understand the project lifecycle. What is the Project Lifecycle? According to The University of Akron, â€Å"Lifecycle planning involves setting goals, defining targets, establishing schedules, and estimating budgets† (2). The project life cycle consists of four steps – planning, execution, controlling and closure. The planning stage is the first among the four phases described here. It outlines the structure of the project and may include different deliverables, including the financial plan, resource plan, quality plan, risk plan, and acceptance plan (Hillson 65). The second phase (initiation) involves defining the purpose and scope of the project plan. This stage also involves recruiting the project team and evaluating how they would help to achieve the key deliverables of the entire project plan (Priority Management International 1). The planning phase involves the development of key d ocuments that would guide the project team to complete different tasks. The execution phase involves the physical construction of key deliverables. After completion of this task, the project manager seeks the client’s acceptance. If there are no objections, the project is ready for closure. The diagram below summarizes the project lifecycle Figure 1: Project Lifecycle (Source The University of Akron 3) Advertising Looking for essay on project management? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The following sections explain the importance of managing different aspects of the project management lifecycle. Importance of Managing Project Lifecycle Stages Planning Project lifecycles are naturally chaotic. By organizing and planning their tenets, the management process organizes this chaos. This is why Haugan (18) says it is difficult for project managers to manage complex business processes without careful planning and organization . According to Lewis (159), the initial objective of life cycle planning process was to control project costs. This is why many projects incorporated technology in their project plans because they believed it would prevent the escalation of project costs. In the absence of planning, all the different aspects of the project lifecycle would be meaningless. Haugan (18) says in the absence of a project plan, project managers are bound to â€Å"cut corners,† which is a mistake that could jeopardize the rest of the stages that characterize a project. It is important to develop an elaborate project plan because it would outline the foundations of the entire project. An elaborate plan should consider different aspects of a project, including a stakeholder engagement plan, benefits mapping plan, and a risk management plan (among other tenets of a project) (Hillson 65). It is essential for project managers to handle the planning process effectively because without it, there could be a complete project failure. Some key reasons highlighted as reasons for project failure include the lack of stakeholder engagement, poor communication within the project team, and the lack of clear roles and responsibilities among project members (Haugan 18). Having an elaborate project plan could help to overcome some of these challenges. By managing the planning process in the project lifecycle, it is easy for the project manager to find direction during the execution of project deliverables. One desirable outcome of this process is helping all employees to support the project manager and work towards achieving the same objective. In this way, managing the planning process of the project lifecycle plays an important role of attaining the objectives of the project. For example, suppose the planning process outlines the completion of key construction targets, all departments of the project would work towards achieving this goal. Furthermore, the process of designing their objectives w ould be in lieu of attaining the construction targets. In this regard, managing the project lifecycle prevents managers from making costly mistakes during later stages of the project lifecycle.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Managing the Project Lifecycle to Achieve Successful Project Outputs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By doing so, managers have a better chance of completing their projects on time and within their budgets. The main reason why experts recommend proper planning is to avoid making hasty decisions that would be too costly to implement (Hillson 65). In such cases, the client could abandon the entire project Executing Scope Definition A project scope outlines what a project plan entails. Team members are able to understand what to expect and what clients expect of them, through this representation. According to Westland (132), a project scope outlines different attributes of a project plan, including the team name, start and end dates of the project, objectives, deliverables and other attributes of a project plan that are material to its implementation. Through an effective definition of a project’s scope, it is easy to allocate tasks and provide direction to team members regarding what the project manager expects of them, in lieu of the project plan (Hillson 65). Without a project scope, it would be difficult for project managers to define a project timeline or understand the client’s expectation regarding executing other project tasks (Lutchman 15). By defining the project scope, project managers would easily understand the project objectives and make appropriate schedules that would meet them. Proper Resource Allocation Most project managers are supposed to complete project tasks with limited resources. The best way for them to meet their targets (with the limited resources) is through effective resource allocation (Westland 132). The go al of resource allocation is to get the best results out of the available resources. This way, project managers would avoid the possibility of over allocating project resources to one phase of the project plan, at the expense of another. Such a strategy would also ensure that the entire project management plan is efficient and effective in meeting its goals (Westland 132). Through a proper resource allocation strategy, project managers could easily know which methodology to use when aligning project phases with appropriate resources. This step would help them in improving their decision-making processes because they would know when and how to use different strategies for correcting resource allocation problems (Westland 132). For example, they would know when to delay a task to optimize resource efficiency. Similarly, they would know when to substitute resources across different project phases to make sure they allocate available resources to phases that have appropriate skill deman ds.Advertising Looking for essay on project management? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Doing so would decrease cases of work interruptions and decrease the duration taken to complete project tasks. This analysis shows that proper resource allocation would help project managers to complete their projects on time. Similarly, it would help them to manage their resources efficiently (Project Insight 1). Proper Project Scheduling The project scheduling process depends on an efficient management of the project plan because it is a tool that specifies the types of projects that should be undertaken in a project, the resources applicable and the time that the project team should take to complete them (Project Insight 1). Project scheduling is a key part of the project lifecycle because it helps project team members to know what duties they need to undertake and when to do them. Through the proper management of the project-scheduling plan, the project manager is able to understand all the work that should go into delivering the project on time (Priority Management Internationa l 1; The University of Akron 1). The process also helps the project manager to communicate all the resources that go into completing the project. Some project managers often use computer software to manage their project schedules. Such tools help them to track different aspects of the project schedules, more effectively than doing it manually. Nonetheless, it is important to manage project schedules as part of the evaluative stage of the project lifecycle phase because it helps project managers to know the overall status of the project. Controlling Dye (155) says it is important to manage the project lifecycle during the controlling stage because this is the only way that project managers can control a project’s resources. For example, this is the only way that the project manager would control the financial costs of the organization (Priority Management International 1). Others have pointed out that this method also helps to reduce project risks and improve the odds of succe ss. Cost and quality control are key parts of the control phase. Quality Control The quality control process is among the last processes undertaken in a project lifecycle. During the planning stage, the project manager outlines a set of standards (requirements) to guide project phases. Quality control strives to make sure that the processes underlying a project plan meet the standards stipulated in the project requirements section (Schwalbe 303). Therefore, nothing that does not conform to the project requirements falls within the criterion of acceptable quality standards. Quality control is subject to the standards outlined in the quality management plan. This plan states the quality control manager, outlines his/her duties and outlines the metrics that they should use to evaluate their duties. According to Hill (141), a key function of the quality control process is making sure that the quality of outputs and inputs used in every project phase meets the stipulated standards. Peopl e use quality control and quality management terms interchangeably because of the perception that the control process stems from the overall quality planning process (Dye 155). It is essential for project managers to ensure that the quality control process is functional because it has a strong bearing on the client’s level of satisfaction and the reputation of the firm/person that is undertaking the project. For example, in the absence of a sound quality control process, different project phases may produce outputs that deviate from the project requirements, thereby leading to customer dissatisfaction (Hill 141). In such cases, there could be damage to the reputation of the contractor. In some cases, this outcome may lead to firm deregistration. In fact, according to Schwalbe (303), quality control is essential in building successful businesses. By meeting or exceeding customer expectations, they are likely to enjoy repeat business, or increased customer loyalty, which are so me of the building blocks of successful businesses. Therefore, it is important to manage quality aspects of a project as a prerequisite for the successful completion of acceptable project outcomes. Cost Control CLARIZEN (1) says that a critical part of a successful project management process is not only managing customer expectations, but also ensuring the proper calibration of different aspects of the project management plan. Although time and resources are important aspects of project management, the successful completion of project management plans depends on how well a project team would optimize project outputs using effective cost management. Based on this understanding, the Project Insight (1) emphasizes the importance of undertaking effective cost management as a subset of effective project planning. Here, it encourages companies to manage different aspects of cost control, including budget costs, actual costs, committed costs, current costs and other expenses associated wit h the project plan (Project Insight 1). This way, project managers can develop team-based and task-based cost sheets. In the same way, they could optimize, evaluate, and control different aspects of their cost management plan. According to Kliem (98), this is the best way that project managers can ensure the proper alignment of project costs with the forecasted project budget. Without it, there could be runaway costs that would affect other aspects of the project plan. Project managers could also easily track actual productivity of project outcomes for purposes of billing or ensuring that the project deliverables meet the desired project outcomes. In this regard, the bottom-line is that project managers cannot afford to overlook cost control because it is a critical part of their resource plan (Project Insight 1). Poor cost control also has the power to affect other aspects of the project management plan. Therefore, poor cost control could lead to undesirable outcomes in all other a spects of the project management plan. Closure Closure is the last stage of the project lifecycle. Managing it is crucial in reflecting through the overall project plan. The importance of managing this last stage is to come up with lessons learned throughout the project execution and management process. This step is important in improving the performance of future projects because the project manager will know what to do in future project management processes (SQA 1). In this regard, the project managers would take advantage of the existing room for improvement because no project is perfect. The process of noting the lessons learned should not only include management because other members of the project team should also give their input regarding what lessons they have learned. The project manager could collect their views using questionnaires or any other data collection tool and analyze them to come up with general findings for improving future projects (SQA 1). Managing the last stage of the project lifecycle is also important in maintaining good relations between the client and the project manager. This step is useful in developing the final project report (required by many clients). Effective management of the closure stage should enable the project manager to prepare an effective and holistic project management report (SQA 1). Through such documents, clients and sponsors learn important information about the project. For example, they could learn about changes made to the project and their effects on the overall project plan. The final report may also include information omitted in the project plan (Westland 132). Clients and sponsors could also learn about the recommendations made by the project manager for purposes of improving future projects. While sponsors are divided regarding the format of the final report (written material or PowerPoint presentation), managing the last stage of the project lifecycle would help the project manager to develop a goo d report. Conclusion This paper has shown the importance of managing the project lifecycle for purposes of achieving positive project outcomes. This analysis emerges within the different tenets of the project lifecycle – planning, execution, control, and closure. The importance of managing the project lifecycle during the planning stage manifests through the need for the project manager to have direction when executing the project. Managing the planning stage of the project lifecycle helps them know this direction. Through this analysis, this paper has shown the importance of developing an elaborate project plan because it outlines the foundations of the entire project. By failing to plan, it is difficult to control all other aspects of the project. This paper has also shown that managing the planning stage helps the project manager to develop clear communication plans and define clear roles for team members. These factors are important in the proper management of the entire project. For the execution phase, this paper has shown that managing the project lifecycle is critical in scope definition, resource allocation, and project scheduling. Managing the project lifecycle is also important during the control stage because it helps project managers to undertake effective control processes. People can underestimate its importance during the last stage of the project lifecycle (closure) because managing the project lifecycle during this phase is critical in identifying new lessons for improving future projects and improving the relationship between the project manager and the sponsors. Collectively, the insights highlighted in this paper show the importance of managing the project lifecycle for purposes of achieving successful project outcomes. Works Cited Archibald, Russell. The Importance And Value Of Project Management  For Enterprises And Institutions. 2004. Web. CLARIZEN. Importance of Cost Management In Project Management. 2015. Web. Dye, Lowell. Ma naging Multiple Projects: Planning, Scheduling, and Allocating  Resources for Competitive Advantage, New York, NY: CRC Press, 2002. Print. Haugan, Gregory. Project Planning and Scheduling, New York, NY: Management Concepts Inc., 2002. Print. Hill, Gerard. The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit, New York, NY: CRC Press, 2009. Print. Hillson, David. Managing Risk in Projects, New York, NY: Gower Publishing, Ltd., 2012. Print. Kliem, Ralph. Ethics and Project Management, New York, NY: CRC Press, 2011. Print. Lewis, James. Project Planning, Scheduling Control: A Hands-On Guide to Bringing  Projects in on Time and on Budget, New York, NY: Probus Pub Co., 1995. Print. Lutchman, Chitram. Project Execution: A Practical Approach to Industrial and  Commercial Project Management, New York, NY: CRC Press, 2010. Print. Priority Management International. The Importance of Project Planning. 2015. Web. Project Insight. Project Scheduling. 2015. Web. Schwalbe, Kathy. Informat ion Technology Project Management, London, UK: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print. SQA. Closure and Evaluation. 2007. Web. The University of Akron. Project Life Cycle. 2015. Web. Westland, Jason. The Project Management Life Cycle: A Complete Step-by-step  Methodology for Initiating, Planning, Executing Closing a Project Successfully, New York, NY: Kogan Page Publishers, 2007. Print. This essay on The Importance of Managing the Project Lifecycle to Achieve Successful Project Outputs was written and submitted by user D0m1n0 to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Lesson Plan Sample for 3rd Grade

Lesson Plan Sample for 3rd Grade PA Standards READING- MATH- 1.1,1.2,2.3,3.4 1.1,1 .2,2.3,3.4 Objectives: MONDAY-FRIDAY 3RDGrade  Ã‚   3rd Grade Students should: Read 17 wpm at an accuracy rate of 85% Read and write 10 whole numbers in expanded Pronounce sounds correctly at 25 sounds per minute (spm) form in 10 out of 15 trials Read 200 vocabularies at 115 words per minute (wpm) with 2 errors Read and write 15 whole numbers in a standard Read a passage at 140 wpm with only unsystematic errors form in 15 out of 18 trials Learn to decode words easily at 105 wpm accurately Classify the place and value of a digit in a four Reading and analyzing the main concept in each paragraph digit numeral Decode words as well as write the title or topic with random faults Round place valued numbers to the nearest 10, State the main concept in 3 paragraphs out 5 100 and 10 000 Read and tell the correct time in a clock Identify factors of whole numbers and their Read and analyze the faces of clocks in 3 out 6 trials multiples in 3 out of 5 trials Read and follow single-step direction less than 1 out of 6 times -Compare whole numbers and learn to use a Read evaluate spoken words in every sentence at 100 wpm number line with 5 integers in 7 out of 10 trials Read 400 words with utmost understanding and fluency Use fractions and multiples of whole numbers Read 90 wpm at an accuracy rate of 90% to compare sections of whole numbers Read and retell a story in a sequential order with 100% accuracy Identifying the dimensions of shap

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Use a Library for Research

How to Use a Library for Research For some students, one of the biggest differences between high school and college is the amount and depth of research that is required for research papers. College professors expect students to be quite adept at researching, and for some students, this is a big change from high school. This is not to say that high school teachers dont do a great job of preparing students for college-level research- quite the contrary! Teachers fill a tough and essential role in teaching students how to research and write. College professors simply require students to take that skill to a new level. For example, you may soon discover that many college professors won’t accept encyclopedia articles as sources. Encyclopedias are great for finding a compact, informative accumulation of research on a specific topic. They are a great resource for finding the basic facts, but they are limited when it comes to offering interpretations of the facts. Professors require students to dig a little deeper than that, accumulate their own evidence from broader sources, and form opinions about their sources as well as the specific topics. For this reason, college-bound students should become familiar with the library and all its terms, rules, and methods. They should also have the confidence to venture outside the comfort of the local public library and explore more diverse resources. Card Catalog For years, the card catalog was the only resource for finding much of the material available in the library. Now, of course, much of the catalog information has become available on computers. But not so fast! Most libraries still have resources that haven’t been added to the computer database. As a matter of fact, some of the most interesting items- the items in special collections, for instance- will be the last to be computerized. There are many reasons for this. Some documents are old, some are hand-written, and some are too fragile or too cumbersome to handle. Sometimes it’s a matter of manpower. Some collections are so extensive and some staffs are so small, that the collections will take years to computerize. For this reason, it’s a good idea to practice using the card catalog. It offers an alphabetical listing of titles, authors, and subjects. The catalog entry gives the call number of the source. The call number is used to locate the specific physical location of your source. Call Numbers Each book in the library has a specific number, called a call number. Public libraries contain many books of fiction and books relevant to general use. For this reason, public libraries often use the Dewey Decimal System, the preferred system for fictional books and general use books. Generally, fiction books are alphabetized by the author under this system. Research libraries use a very different system, called the Library of Congress (LC) system. Under this system, books are sorted by topic instead of the author. The first section of the LC call number (before the decimal) refers to the subject of the book. That is why, when browsing books on shelves, you will notice that books are always surrounded by other books on the same topic. Library shelves are usually labeled on each end, to indicate which call numbers are contained within the particular aisle. Computer Search Computer searches are great, but they can be confusing. Libraries are usually affiliated or connected to other libraries (university systems or county systems). For this reason, computer databases will often list books that are not located in your local library. For instance, your public library computer may give you a â€Å"hit† on a certain book. On closer inspection, you may discover that this book is only available at a different library in the same system (county). Don’t let this confuse you! This is actually a great way to locate rare books or books that are published and distributed within a small geographic location. Just be aware of codes or other indication which specify the location of your source. Then ask your librarian about interlibrary loans. If you want to limit your search to your own library, it is possible to conduct internal searches. Just become familiar with the system. When using a computer, be sure to keep a pencil handy and write down the call number carefully, to avoid sending yourself on a wild goose chase! Remember, it’s a good idea to consult the computer and the card catalog, to avoid missing a great source. If you already enjoy research, youll grow to love special collections departments. Archives and special collections contain the most interesting items youll encounter as you conduct your research, such as valuable and unique objects of historical and cultural significance. Things like letters, diaries, rare and local publications, pictures, original drawings, and early maps are located in special collections. Rules Each library or archive will have a set of rules relevant to its own special collections room or department. Normally, any special collection will be set apart from the public areas and will require special permission to enter or to access. You may be required to put most of your belongings into a locker as you enter the room or building where special items are held. Things like pens, markers, beepers, phones, are not permitted, as they could damage delicate collection items or disrupt other researchers.You may find special collections materials by doing a normal library search with index cards, but the search process may differ from place to place.Some libraries will have all the collections materials indexed in their electronic databases, but some will have special books or guides for the special collections. Dont worry, someone will always be on hand to guide you and let you know where to find materials that sound interesting.Some material will be available on microfilm or microfiche. Film items are usually kept in drawers, and you can probably retrieve either of these yourself. Once you find the right film, you will need to read it on a machine. These machines may differ from place to place, so just ask for a little direction. If you conduct a search and identify a rare item youd like to view, you will probably have to fill out a request for it. Ask for a request form, fill it in, and turn it in. One of the archivists will retrieve the item for you and tell you how to handle it. You may have to sit at a specific table and wear gloves to view the item. Does this process sound a little intimidating? Dont be frightened off by the rules! They are put into place so that archivists can protect their very special collections! Youll soon find that some of these items are so intriguing and so valuable to your research that theyre well worth the extra effort.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Happiness Ancient and Modern Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Happiness Ancient and Modern - Essay Example Aristotle, the greatest of all philosophers, stressed upon the need to lead a life of virtue, and Stephen Augustus White in his book Sovereign Virtue, says that Aristotle was adamant that ‘in any circumstances, the virtuous, find life more satisfying than other people do† and make better lives for themselves in spite of their â€Å"modest good fortune.†(Page xi) According to Aristotle’s theory on happiness, he says that in order for a human being to achieve a state of happiness, he has to achieve the happiness that is most suited for a human being. In his opinion, happiness is not just a state of mind but it is a sort of disposition that involves our activities and experiences throughout our lives. The ancient view of happiness was shaped by the usefulness of man for his fellow beings, and based itself on such abstract qualities as ‘wisdom, kindness and goodness† .  Moreland and Issler find that the modern view of happiness is nothing more than instant gratification, and very often this depends upon the attitude of others towards us. Other modernists often equate happiness in the modern world to what we do and the road we take towards achieving predetermined goals. Davies’ take on happiness is right in the sense that happiness comes to us from the things we do, but the modernists don't agree with the fact that analyzing emotions can make us happy.   Happiness accrues from the frequency with which we flood our lives with simple pleasurable moments, than from those which are intense, but few and far in between.  Ã‚  

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Case Brief Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brief - Case Study Example While the plaintiff does not have her palimony agreement in writing, because she filed her claim before the enactment of the new legislature, the judge ruled the amendment does not apply to her case. In doing such, the judge further ruled to deny the defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint and the defendant’s counterclaims. Barbara A. Botis is the girlfriend of the late Gary A. Kudrick. Botis claims herself and Kudrick were in a â€Å"marriage-type relationship† for the greater part of 32 years after Kudrick divorced his wife. Botis further claims that Kudrick promised to take care of her after his death even though he did not put her in his will. Therefore, Botis seeks palimony- or compensation made by one member of an unmarried couples to another member after separation. Estate of Gary A. Kudrick denies that Botis and Kudrick were ever in a â€Å"marriage-type relationship† and, therefore, the plaintiff is not entitled to any compensation. Furthermore, the Estate seeks its own compensation from the plaintiff for unauthorized withdrawals from a home equity line on one of the deceased’s residences, removing belongings from one of the residences, and refusing to return stolen financial documents. In addition, the defendant later requested to expand the later counterclaim to include fraud, perjury, attorney fees, and punitive damages. Plaintiff stands that her and the late Gary Kudrick met in high school in approximately 1954. Although they initially married other people, after both of their respective marriages ended, they began a committed relationship. In 1976, Kudrick moved into Botis’s residence while still maintaining his own separate residence. They then lived together for approximately eight years before selling her residence and moving into his expanded residence in 1984 of which she claims she invested $17,000. Then, in 1995, they supposedly purchase another home

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Boca Juniors Essay Example for Free

Boca Juniors Essay Trading players have become a profitable piece of business for soccer clubs globally especially in proven leagues in South American continents. Its had become an essential practice to ensure cash flows remain healthy from the export of home bred talents which is abundant in soccer crazy countries like Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. In the case of Boca Juniors, the club president is faced with an enviable position where there is an option to sell players at the peak of their game for a nice profit. Both players, Gago and Palacio are key players in the team with a string of accolades in their short stint there. Their performances have generated a lot of excitement and have caught the eyes of Europes largest clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid etc In a business where the playing lives of soccer players are limited, it makes sense to trade them at their prime to the highest bidder. My recommendation to Macri is to offload the older Palacios to FC Barcelona while keeping the younger Gago and building on his experience (with more playing time, titles) and market value. While losing a key player may be disruptive, Macri can derive many benefits from the cash generated to the tune of USD4m. (17.5% ownership) Among the tangible benefits; 1. The proceeds from the sale will help close the gap on the loss and perhaps push Boca to profitability in fiscal 2007. Also, among the immediate benefit is the decrease in wage bill – Boca had to increase Palacio’s salary significantly if he had stayed. This is an important consideration as Macri will be leaving Boca to run for mayor of the city of Buenos Aires, he will like to leave a lasting legacy and his decision may prove to be essential to the impression that he leaves the club in a good state with the necessary support structure he developed and a team that is capable to challenge for honours. 2. Expand La Cantera – Boca Jrs has a good youth policy and are known to foster many of the world’s top players i.e. Tevez, Caniggia and Riquelme. The additional funds can be used to expand the existing facilities at the La Cantera Youth academy; expansion to cover branch academies in satellite cities or organize more coaching clinics across Argentina. 3. Staff additional scouts – casting the scouting net wider across all 18 cities in Argentina (incl Buenos Aires). This is critical to feed the academy with talent and nurturing them to become exceptional players. The excess can be used to fund scouting headcount. 4. Enhance La Bombonera – additional funds to be used to build a hospitality wing or upgrade facilities to include more VIP boxes and preferred seating. Expanding the stadium seating may be considered but the costs may exceed the contribution from the player sale. (it has already been enlarged previously in 1996 to 57,000 seats). Although not critical, the renovation could help generate more funds through ticketing or tours. 5. Investment fund track record – the sale will improve yield and performance of the fund. With the sale of Palacio, the private investors stand to earn up to 65% on the profits. This could amount to USD14.3m (65% of USD22m), the highest sale amount to be recorded by the fund. This could in turn be reinvested to purchase new players (outright purchase to replace the striker) to help compliment their efforts in churning new players through the youth academy. Moreover, there are also intangible benefits to this arrangement; such a sale could be aligned with their heritage of promoting players to the first team through their youth system. It is a chance for new and younger players to breakthrough. As for Gago, he can stay and build on his value; he is young and could spend another 2-3 years to build his credential (soccer players prime between 21-25 years old). His value will continue to grow if Boca is successful on the field during this period. Besides, Real Madrid has shown admiration and made their intentions known – a transfer down the road seems inevitable (player himself indicating interest) but Boca could use this to their advantage by pitting Real Madrid up against other clubs in a bid to price him up from their initial offer of USD26m. Gago’s contract is also without encumbrance and his ownership structure is not as complicated as Palacio. All proceeds from future sale could be booked as 100% profit for Boca. All these benefit could be captured without much impact to revenues. I anticipate that ticket sales, television rights, membership fees or marketing revenues will continue to grow evidenced by the strong following it has in Argentina. Boca fans are known to be dedicated and loyal to club due to the steep heritage – being one of the most successful clubs in history of soccer – 22 Argentine League championships, 16 international titles including 5 Copa Libertadores and 3 Intercontinental Cups. The Intergenerational following and folksy origin (Xeneize) appeals to the working class and has an affinity of close to 40% of soccer fans in Argentina.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Portrayal of Family in Charles Dickens David Copperfield Essay

The Portrayal of Family in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield DECLARATION OF INTEGRITY. I declare that this study is my own and does not contain any unacknowledged work from any source. CONTEXT INTRODUCTION. 4 1. COPPERFIELDS (SENIOUR): Dicken’s pattern of 6 happy marriage. 2. DAVID&DORA’S MARRIAGE: the reasons of spiritual 8 separation in the family. 3. DAVID&AGNES’S MARRIAGE: Dicken’s ideal of 12 marriage 4. MR.MURDSTONE&CLARA: opposite to Dicken’s ideal 14 Of happy marriage. 5. MICAWBERS: the main components of 16 happy marriage. 6. MR.BARKIS&PEGGOTTY: the importance of women's wisdom 20 CONCLUSION 22 BIBLIOGRATHY 23 INTRODUCTION David Copperfield became my favorite of all Dickens' novels. Although the novel is rather long ( 736 pages) I have read it in one gulp for the actions that take place in the novel are developed so dynamically that the process of reading itself was like taking a piece of sweet cake. It evoked in me a lot of emotions and I really have been crying and laughing together with the heroes of this novel. The affect of the book on me was so great that I that was even thinking of it days and nights. That is the reason why I have chosen this book for my term paper in order to develop the theme â€Å"Family in Charles Dickens' novel ‘David Copperfield’ †. Charles Dickens is one of the most popular and ingenious writers of the XIX century. He is the author of many novels. Due to reach personal experience Dickens managed to create vivid images of all kinds of people: kind and cruel ones, of the oppressed and the oppressors. Deep, wise psychoanalysis, irony, perhaps some of the sentimentalism place the reader not only in the position of spectator but also of the participant of situations that happen to Dickens’ heroes. Dickens makes the reader to think, to laugh and to cry together with his heroes throughout his books. â€Å"David Copperfield† was Dickens' favorite creation. The novel reflects writer’s own life – his autobiography. The image and character of David Copperfield corresponds to the image and character of Dickens himself. The range of personages of the novel recalls to us people which were close to Dickens: Micowber is comical portrait of John Dickens, the father of the author; the image of Dora – is the exact copy of the Marry Bindel – the first sweet-heart of the writer; David’s seeking in marri... ... the novel, â€Å"Of all my books I like this the best†. Likewise legion readers have come to agree with the author’s own conclusion. In my paper I tried to trace Dicken's messages and lessons he teaches the reader on the family issue. By masterly usage of the language the author manages to portray good and bad images in order for us to be able to chose which way to follow and which one to avoid. The principles and components of happy marriage that the author is trying to share with us are simple but at the same time ingenious. I firmly believe that this book is highly useful for young people and should be included in the list of books compulsory for reading in the University. BIBLIOGRATHY *1. Dickens Charles.†David Copperfield†, Wordsworth Edition Ltd., Denmark, 1992, 737 pages. WORKS CONSULTED: *1. Lawrence Crabb. â€Å"Marriage Builder†, Druckhaus Gummersbach,Germany, 1991, 160 pages *2. http://library.utoronto.ca/www/dickens/crit/il.html *3. http://www.glug.com/homework/copperfield.html *4. http://www.nagoya.-u.ac.jp.dickens.html *5. http://www.mitsuka.dickens.crit.html *6 Jammy Broke "Notes on 'David Copperfield'", Cambridge University Press, 1991, 50 pages.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Google Inc. Essay

Google Inc. began in 1996 as the brainchild of two bright computer science grad students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page. These two intellectually gifted men met in 1995 at Stanford University where they were doing their PhDs. During their time together at Stanford, both came up with creative ways of finding and organizing large amounts of data. After that, Brin and Page developed a technology called PageRank that enabled them to analyze a particular website’s significance. The idea of a search engine occurred to Brin and Page after they came up with the idea for PageRank. The search engine was based on the on the same algorithm that PageRank used, but would be much more effective at obtaining better and accurate results than existing search engines. The idea soon became the world famous search engine simply known as Google that was launched on September 15, 1997. Brin and Page’s company was formally incorporated on September 4, 1998 at an acquaintance’s garage in Me nlo Park, California. Google, a play on words, received its name from â€Å"googol†, the mathematical equivalent of the number one followed by a hundred zeros. Naming the company Google was seen by both Brin and Page as the perfect way to reflect their original mission to â€Å"organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful†. Over the years, Google has become so popular that is has gained a vast number of followers who liked its simple design and useful results. In 2000, Google began selling text-based advertisements associated with search keywords in order to maintain an uncluttered page design so that speed is maximized when loading a page. Their innovative advertising system, comprised of its AdWords and AdSense products, is so successful that 99% of their revenue is derived from it. However, the technological industry demands constant innovation and Google’s strong focus on continuous improvement is reflected in the company’s ever expanding line of innovative services and products that includes webmail (Gmail), blogging (Blogger), and interactive maps (Google Maps). Google†™s strong organizational culture that includes values such as creativity, simplicity and innovation plays a huge role in their tremendous success and gives them a huge competitive advantage over their rivals in the search engine market.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Helen Burns in Jane Eyre

Though Helen Burns is a short- lived character, her appearance in the book is significant on a symbolic level. In the novel, Helen epitomizes religious devotion and Christian principles, with the idea of ‘love your enemies’ summarizing her beliefs.Helen’s religious beliefs define her character and are referenced to help demonstrate the missing relationships in her and Jane’s life, as a result of being orphaned. Her religious conduct provides a comfort to her, and later on a comfort to Jane when confronted with her dying friend.The friendship formed with Helen greatly affects Jane and teaches her a lot, including how to mask her passion. Helen is the first person we see Jane form a friendly and intimate relationship with, increasing the impact and significance of Helen’s death scene; which can be viewed as a pivotal moment in Jane’s life, and a possible symbol of the death of her passion. Helen’s references to religious teaching can be u sed in the novel to demonstrate missing relationship dynamics in the girl’s life and help explore the friendship that they form.For example, Helen refers to God as ‘maker, father, friend, universal parent. ’ It is significant that God has these roles, as they are foundation figures in life that the girl’s have fallen short of. It is possible that part of the appeal of God to Helena, and soon to Jane, is because these individuals are not present in their life.This would demonstrate and explain the importance of religion in Helen’s life and the comfort God brings to her. Similarly, Helen suggests that one of the appeals to God and religion is the opportunity it provides to create a relationship.When Helen tells Jane ‘I love him, I believe he loves me,’ she is presenting ides of reciprocity and balance in a relationship. These ideas are contrasted in the relationships Jane and Helen have experienced in Mrs Reed’s house, the orphanag e and at Lowood.However, this can be a reminder to us that these ideas are seen with in the relationship between Helen and Jane; emphasizing the importance of their friendship to each other and further increasing the heartbreak of her death for Jane. Helen represents a model of Christianity that stresses tolerance and acceptance.Helen’s compliant attitude to life is center to her character and is significant in the story as it has a great impact on Jane. Helen Burns is a character incapable of anger or vengeance. This can be seen through the bullying of Helen by Mrs. Scratcherd.As Jane observes Mrs. Sctratcherd continually ‘make her an object of constant notice’ she finally lashes out at Helen for not having cleaned her nails. Helen ‘without being told, unloosened her pinafore,’ and Mrs Scratcheard striked her a dozen times. Helen is unresponsive.Jane is confused by Helena’s patient response to mistreatment and later tells Helen that ‘If I were in your place, I should dislike her, I should resist her. ’ However, her ability to remain graceful and calm even in the face of (what Jane Sees as) unjustified punishment makes a great impression on Jane who ‘heard her with wonder’ as Helen explained the way she conducts herself. It is possibly through Helen Burn’s example that Jane learns to ‘mask’ her passion. As well as being an ideal for the Christian ethos, it could be said that the character of Helen Burns possesses Christ like characteristics.Helen’s suffering of rejection at Lowood can be compared to Jesus’ suffering of persecution. Furthermore, her response to suffering can be said to mirror those of Jesus. The idea of ‘Love your neighbor,’ summarizes Helen’s beliefs; she never passes judgment or rebels, and she seeks to forgive those who hurt her.This view of Helen should be noted as it links to and can emphasize the idea of Helen being a â €˜teacher’ to Jane, and the large impact that Helen will make on Jane’s life. While Jane and Helen are very dieeferent character’s, Jane very much feels she can relate to Helen and learns from her influence.Like Jane, Helen is an orphan who longs for a home. In the scene before her death, Helen tells Jane she is ‘going to my long home- my last home. ’ This is one example of the difference in the two girls beliefs. Helen believes that she will find her home in heaven rather than England.This conversation about life after death contrasts what adult’s in Jane’s life have taught her and similarly goes against Jane’s previous fears regarding ghosts, death and the supernatural. In this moment, however, we as the reader see Jane is  comfortable literally next to death, a concept she feared when living with the reads.This is the first intimate moment we see Jane experiencing- Jane is nestled in close to her friend, whose arm is aro und her. In this moment we feel Jane is contempt and comfortable. It is possible that Jane’s attitude to death was a fear of the unknown, which now Helen has made more familiar, therefor providing her with the strength to cope so close to death. Helen’s death can be seen symbolically on many levels.One interpretation of Helen’s death is that it symbolizes the death of Jane’s passion. The name ‘Helen Burns’ itself implies destruction, fire and burning. Fire is a recurring theme throughout the beginning of the book, which is referred to to represent the fiery and passionate nature of Jane’s character.As well as this, during the short friendship between Helen and Jane, we can notice the awe in which Jane has for the levelheaded attitude that Helena carries. Therefore, on both a literary and symbolic term, the death of Helen burns suggests death or destruction to Jane’s passion.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Fascism Essays - Fascism, Far-right Politics, Nationalism

Fascism Essays - Fascism, Far-right Politics, Nationalism Fascism Fascism is a form of counter-revolutionary politics that first arose in the early part of the twentieth-century in Europe. It was a response to the rapid social upheaval, the devastation of World War I, and the Bolshevik Revolution. Fascism is a philosophy or a system of government the advocates or exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with an ideology of aggressive nationalism. Celebrating the nation or the race as an organic community surpassing all other loyalties. This right-wing philosophy will even advocate violent action to maintain this loyalty which is held in such high regards. Fascism approaches politics in two central areas, populist and elitist. Populist in that it seeks to activate "the people" as a whole against perceived oppressors or enemies and to create a nation of unity. The elitist approach treats as putting the peoples will on one select group, or most often one supreme leader called El Duce, from whom all power proceeds downward. The two most recognized names that go along with Fascism is Italys Benito Mussolini and Germanys Adolf Hitler. The philosophy of Fascism can be traced to the philosophers who argue that the will is prior to and superior to the intellect or reason. George Sorel, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Georg Hegal are main philosophers whos beliefs and ideologies greatly influenced the shaping of Fascist theory. Sorel (1847-1922) was a French social philosopher who had a major influence on Mussolini. Sorel believed that societies naturally became decadent and disorganized. This decay could only be slowed by the leadership of idealists who were willing to use violence to obtain power. Nietzsche (1844-1900) theorized that there were two moral codes: the ruling class ( master morality) and the oppressed class (slave morality). Nietzsche believed the ancient empires were developed from the master majority and the religious ideas and views grew out the slave majority. The idea of the "overman" or superman which symbolized man at his most creative and highest intellectual capacity was brought about by Nietzsche as well. Hegal believed people should sacrifice for the community. He thought war was also necessary to unify the state, with peace bring nothing but a weak society. Hegal also sustained that laws should be made by the corporate organization of the state. Fascism values human nature in a group for the benefit of the community. The group as a whole is called the human will, which is ruled by a select group or one leader, with the power being passed down from top to bottom. Fascism seeks to organize an organization led mass movement in an effort to capture the state power. When the power is in the firm grip of the ruler, or IL Duce, the government will be used to control the population and everything in it so the community will be benefited. Fascisms ideal government would be fashioned around the good of the community or nation. Everyone would work for the benefit of the nation and that is all. Regularly this would take place with the merging of the state and business leadership, with concern only of the nation. In this the nation will also take care of its members if the need should arise. This could be money ,shelter, food, or any other need that might come about. The ideology of Fascism has been identified with totalitarianism, state terror, fanaticism, arranged violence, and blind obedience. Adolf Hitler established his own personal ideology, Mein Kampf, which means My Struggle. The book was written while Hitler was in prison and not yet in power. Mussolini fashioned his ideology after he took control of Italy. Despite their two different angles on the use of Fascism Hitler and Mussolini both worked similarly on how they established their principles in the same basic manner. Their principles came from basic responses to various issues the leaders faced. Fascism is an authoritarian political movement that developed in Italy and other European countries after 1919 as a reaction against the profound political and social changes brought about from inflation, and declining social, economic, and political conditions. Italy, which was ready for a new political aspect, was the birthplace of fascist ideology. Benito Mussolini was the man who brought this ideology to Italy. Mussolini had been looking for the perfect opportunity to take complete control of the country and now was the time to do so. Mussolini said "Fascism, which was not afraid to call itself reactionarydoes not hesitate to call itself illiberal and anti-liberal" (Nazi Fascism and the Modern Totalitarian State) this statement can be easily recognized in the steps

Monday, November 4, 2019

MODULE TITTLE-Substance use and misuse (health) Essay

MODULE TITTLE-Substance use and misuse (health) - Essay Example The Royal College of Psychiatrists has acknowledged the problem and is working collaboratively to bring integrated treatment systems for individuals with co-morbidity problems (Hussein, 2002). Schizophrenia and cannabis abuse. Substance abuse is very prevalent among schizophrenia patients and it has been found that â€Å"the most often misused substances are alcohol and cannabis† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.123). The first study to find a connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia was done by Andreasson, Allbeck and Rydberg (1987), and this study concluded that there is some incontrovertible association. One estimate is that â€Å"roughly one quarter of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders currently use or misuse cannabis† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.123-124). In an Australian study also, it was found that 40.9% of the 852 schizophrenic patients were having lifelong use of cannabis (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.201). Other research findi ngs have also indicated that â€Å"patients with schizophrenia are more likely to use cannabis than other psychiatric patients or normal† persons (Hall and Pacula, 2003, p.90). A comprehensive study that examined about 4000 studies from around the world has also warned youngsters that using cannabis will make them more vulnerable to schizophrenia (Moore et al., 2007). While exploring this curious connection, researchers have found out that â€Å"cannabis use (induced) psychotic symptoms in adulthood† and resulted in an â€Å"earlier age at onset† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.124). In many schizophrenic individuals, the â€Å"first social/occupational dysfunction, first negative symptom, (or) first psychotic episode† occurred after the use of cannabis (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.124). Another projection made by a UK study was that â€Å"by 2010, †¦approximately 10% of schizophrenia cases† would be attributable to cannabis misuse (Wei nberger and Harrison, 2011, p.201). As almost all the studies on the connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia have been done taking adult male samples only, all these findings are mostly applicable only to adult males. But it has also been noted that the rate of occurrence of schizophrenia has not increased in proportion with the rate of use of cannabis among young males (Degenhardt, Hall and Lynskey, 2001, pp.32). Opposers of this view, on the other hand have argued that â€Å"in Australia — where marijuana use is heavy among teens — it’s not uncommon for 20 to 30 per cent of new episodes of schizophrenia to be among patients who use marijuana daily or almost daily† (Turning Point Detox, 2011). Why individuals who suffer from schizophrenia misuse cannabis. The question that arises from the above discussion and which is relevant to this study is why individuals suffering from schizophrenia often misuse cannabis. One answer could be that â€Å"sc hizophrenic brains may be more sensitive to toxic influences† (Aronson, 2008, p.480). The impact of cannabis on risk taking behavior is another aspect that needs to be considered as schizophrenic patients most often will be in an abnormal mental state and it will be easy for them to get used to the risk involved in substance abuse. Generally, there has been a controversy raging on whether cannabis use leads schizophrenia or whether schizophrenia prompts an individual to use cannabis. A third possibility including both is also there. One assumption has been

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Main Arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the EU Essay

The Main Arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the EU - Essay Example Since 1959, when Turkey sent in its application to join the European Union (then known as the European Economic Community), Europe has been pondering over the fact whether a primarily Islamic nation lying mostly outside European geographic borders can really be made a part of the Union. While Turkey and EU have a common past of contractual relationship for many years, which led to the negotiations for accession in 2005, the former has always been perceived as an outsider, with whom Europe established relationships primarily for security reasons. The decision to start official talks on Turkey’s EU membership was made on 16 December 2004, while the accession negotiations started on 3 October 2005. This met with a hurdle, when Austria and Germany asked for permissions to allow ‘privileged partnership’ for Turkey without actually making it a full member. With other member states not agreeing to this clause, accession negotiations started, aimed at a full membership. H owever, negotiations have been adjourned on many instances since 2006, primarily due to objections raised by Cyprus, which is against Turkey’s accession to the EU membership (Barber, 2009). This is owing to the fact that currently the island of Cyprus is divided, wherein the Turkish troops have occupied its northern part and its ships are denied entry into Turkish ports. Austria and France have also declared their intention of holding a referendum on Turkey's EU membership. Currently, out of 35 accession chapters eight have been adjourned, which has effectively interrupted the membership negotiations. Owing to this, there has been a sharp fall in pro-EU support amongst the Turks, where a majority believe the accession process is biased and close-ended (Sayfa, 2013). A closer study reveals that majority of the EU member states never considered the EU-Turkey relationship as an essential part of the EU integration. Even after nearly five decades of EU’s relationship with Turkey, the perspective did not change, on the other hand the feeling of alienation increased on both sides (Cendrowicz, 2009). While a majority of the Europeans viewed Turkey as an outsider, the Turks felt that Europe as a political entity cannot be trusted, especially after the Treaty of Sevres post WWI, and furthermore after viewing unwillingness on part of the EU to assist Turkey once the accession negotiations started. In this context, the essay analyses the highly controversial issue of Turkey’s integration into the EU, and highlights the main arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the Union. Discussion Hurdles to the EU accession based on legal principles There were six member states that created the European Community for Coal and Steel (primarily states from Western Europe) in 1952, later known as the European Economic Community or EEC (1957), and which is now referred to as the EU. The preamble of the EEC treaty stated very clearly that this treaty aimed at cre ating a close union among the European people. In the same treaty, Article 237 stated that all European states are eligible to become a part of this Community. This article has since them become the foundation for integration, and is an essential aspect in the political and legal basis of the EU and the Union’s policy to unite Europe. This aspect has been reiterated in the 1993 Maastricht Treaty and had been considered in the proposal for 2004 drafting of the treaty for the Constitution for Europe, ratified by all EU member states. This treaty states in Article I-58 that all European states are free to enter the Union. Thus, here the main emphasis has always been on ‘European states,’ and all contractual provisions become a part of the common law framed by the different European treaties, binding