Project planning, management and control - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 30 Words: 8899 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? Introduction: Project Management (BS 6079, 1996) is the planning, monitoring and control of all aspects of a project and the motivation of all those involved in it to achieve the project objectives on time and to the specified cost, quality and performance. For any project to become a success, team work plays a major role. One of the most renowned and widely used practical and management team developments is the Belbin team roles. The argument from Belbin is that team composition plays a major factor in influencing the performance of the team (Water et al, 2008). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Project planning, management and control" essay for you Create order The fundamental aspect of human existence is the working together as groups. The main purpose of this is to survive, adapt and thrive to different situations by using individuals intellect and co-operation (Riding and Rayner, 2001). The team roles are classified into organisational roles and the functional roles (Atkinson, 1999). A team role is a set of behaviours grouped in a cluster (Belbin, 1993). The main objective of this essay is to evaluate the teams performance based on the Belbin self perception theory discussing the teams roles, team life cycle and other aspects with respect to the project management exercise. Belbin Team Roles: Team roles are defined as a pattern of behaviour characteristic of the way in which one team member interacts with another (Belbin, 1981). Every individual will take preferred roles in the management exercises and the outcome purely depends on the balance in the team (Riding and Rayner, 2001). It is always a good team with a good balance of individuals will result in a good outcome and vice versa (Belbin, 1993). Belbin has differentiated nine team roles based on the behaviour of people and is classified by feeling, will power, thinking and decisiveness. In the Belbin later research, he added one more role called as SP (Specialist) which refers to single mindedness, acting always alone and dedicated to specialism. The main function of this role is that people will behave in a extremely silent, introvert and will not contribute other than their special interest areas. This is considered as the negligible contribution to the team (Atkinson, 1999). Belbin uses an instrument for quantifyi ng the team role preferences which is called as the Self Perception Inventory. This consists of 70 points by evaluating seven statements in each questions. For each question 10 statements are given and can be prioritised based on the individual behaviour in which 10 points can be distributed. In predicting the performance of the team Belbin succeeded based on the information from the role profiles of each member. In this view a team is balanced when each role appears in atleast one team members profile as high-scoring role (Atkinson, 1999). From the Henley workshops, Belbin was able to specify the composition of the team and arrived at conclusions. This was characterised by (Furnham, 1992): attributes of a leader are similar to chairman profile (CH) now called as Co-ordinator (CO) and the team should have a range of mental abilities which includes a person generating creative ideas and giving practical solutions to the problems encountered. The team should include one Completer Finisher (CF), Implementer (IM) and the members can suit the other team roles based on their personal characteristics and ultimately the team which can identify and improve on their competencies by doing mistakes is considered as the best team (Riding and Rayner, 2001). Teams Belbin profiles: For the project management exercise, the teams were divided based on the Belbin team roles. As said earlier, in a team it is must to have a Completer Finisher (CF) and Implementer (IM). The team were asked to choose from Team Workers (TW). Person having primary reference as Team Workers are few and so persons having secondary and tertiary references as Team Workers were called for choosing the team. Evaluating the team roles and functions: First, from the team balance sheet it is clear that the team has no primary references for SH, PL, RI, TW, CF and can be considered as scarce for the team. This team has three implementers (IM) which is good in terms of delivering the project fast. Having more implementers is not a problem in any team as they move towards implementing the project. But having more shapers is a problem because of their characteristics. Person 1 who is ME can act as a CF and TW because of his secondary and tertiary preferences. Person 1 shows major characteristics of ME because of the feasibility characteristics. In this exercise, person 1 is very much interested in calculating the Critical path, always analysing the situations, showing temperament and whenever anything goes out of plan again doing the critical path whether there is feasibility of completing the project on time. The main advantage with person 1 is that he maintains good temperament in all the situations even if it is good or bad. The disadvantages is that in some situations person 1 whose Belbin profile shows weakness as decision making is very true. Sometimes person 1 took some hasty decisions which have affected the teams profit (decision of choosing the manufacturing subcontractor). Always took more time in making next moves since the basic nature of ME is analysing situations. Sometimes person 1 also did the role of CF when it comes to planning the project. The project plan was for 140 days with 7 periods of 20 days. One of the persons in the team were modifying the plan for days and the person striked the number of resources and wrote the new allocation of resource. Person 1 thought that this can make confusions and he acted as a CF by rubbing of the resources and wrote the allocation as clear as possible so that everybody can understand. Person 2 who is CO acted as a RI and PL in the initial phase of the exercise. As depicted by Belbin, RI used to interact a lot with the external environment is very true. Person 2 whenever any problems are faced by the team, he used to interact more with the teacher understanding the problem and gives new ideas to solving the problem. Person 2 organises well with the resource facilities for the game with the flip charts, pens and other requirements for smooth functioning of the game. At only one stage person 2 acted as a CO in the decision of choosing suppliers. Person 2 behaves more as RI and PL in this exercise. Person 3 who is IM, SP and has two tertiary references as CO and ME has shown good characteristics of implementer role in this exercise. Sometimes person 3 behaves more as ME than CO which is good for the team, because one or more COs have different approaches for the project. Person 3 is always striving hard to implement the project on time and sometimes showed good character for team worker. Person 3 always strives hard to stick to the plan and whenever plan changes, organises well for implementing the plan. The disadvantage is that this person lacks flexibility sometimes when it comes to implementation. Person 4 who is IM, secondary is CF and tertiary is SH initially has shown SH characteristics by challenging and arguing the facts that were made by the team. Person 4 is always interested in results and sometimes behaved as CO by taking decisions. Person 1 and 4 since showed shaper characteristics sometimes had difference of opinion but were well managed by team members. Person 4 showed good implementer characteristics in the final stages of the exercise. Person 5 who is IM, ME as secondary and CF as tertiary initially were helping the team with PL characteristics, sometimes RI when CO has to take decisions by going to the external world and discussing with people. Very sincere, hard working when it comes to implementation. Main advantage is that very well organised in implementing things, interested in sticking to the plan and sometimes resources were provided by him. Person 5 showed a major of Team Worker in many aspects because of the fact that TW always want to harmony among the teams. The team Belbins profiles helped a lot in choosing a balanced team and are 60% accurate with respect to our team. For a project to become a success, it is always helpful with people taking new roles under a good leadership. Finally, good team work will always succeed and makes the project success. Persons took roles which are not their primary, secondary or tertiary references sometimes worked out well and made benefits to the team but many of the times it failed. The people showed majority of the characteristics as depicted by Belbin and is helpful in the teams success. One important learning with Belbin self perception theory is that having two or more shapers in a team is dangerous and will lead to poor project management. It is always helpful to have one PL and one CO as their primary reference. Team Life Cycle: The basic behaviour of any team is that they are dynamic. As an individual, they can perform effectively but as a team they can fail and vice versa. Attention and maintenance are always required for the teams. The first person to bring a chart for teams progression is Tuckman. He has identified four stages in a teams development which are forming, storming, norming and performing (Kakabadse et al, 2004). In the forming stage, team members got to know about each other and started establishing their relationships. The learnings are based on the organisations culture and standards. Project task behaviours and interpersonal relationships are very important in binding the team together. In the storming stage, a person starts expressing the views and there is a chance of difference in opinion. Leadership challenges occur and may lead to rivalry between people because of their behaviours. Because of these conflicts, the main objective of the organisation cannot be met which lead to separation of groups. In the norming stage, groups will start gelling towards one another and each strengths and weaknesses can be known. The teams will set their standards and roles can be clearly defined at this stage. In the performing stage, actual team working takes place and people starts performing their tasks together. If the team loses the energy or support, then a stage called restoring or declining stage may follow. Further in this stage, the strengths, weaknesses of the team is analysed with respect to the task is discussed and learnings are recorded for effective project management in future. Evaluating the teams life cycle: In the project management exercise, different sets of problems are encountered by the team and creative solutions are identified to solve these problems. Some of the solutions clicked and some lead to major failures for the team. The forming stage provided opportunities for the new team to understand each other and gave different settings. When first given the exercise, some team members easily understood the process and some found difficult to understand the process. In the initial stages it took more time for the team to decide the strategy for proceeding with the project. Person 1, 3 expressed their views which were not agreed by the team whereas person 2, 4 had expressed their concerns which again not accepted by the team members. Finally, a conclusion has been made with the project plan and the identification of first, second and third critical paths are identified. This stage is all about trusting and building confidence on other team members. The team lacks leadership in this phase. A leader is clearly needed in this phase to provide direction and guidance (Lee, 2008). The storming stage provides openness for feelings and the team discusses the issues very seriously even if the point is not valid. The existing plan with respect to the actual working is modified and refined well. Person 1, 4 had conflicts in choosing the suppliers whether to go for delivery or quality. Person 2, 3 and 5 also contributed but a single decision has to be taken by the team. The team debated on these issues and finally person 1 compromised person 4 for going to a quality supplier by explaining with the fact which will not affect the delivery of the product. The teams weaknesses are that for first three periods did good jobs but didnt celebrate any success. The other weaknesses are builds, integration points between team members, conflicts within the team and sometimes role conflicts. In the norming stage, the teams had fewer conflicts and started communicating more effectively with others. The team emerged with good practices; loop integration exists because of better communication, the person understands their balance and develops their required skills and role clarity is clearly defined. Person 1 decision will be treated as final since some of the decisions worked out well in the earlier periods and didnt analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the decision which lead to a disaster in period 4, 5. The team didnt properly review the operation in a regular basis which also leads to a failure (not delivering the product on time). The team didnt celebrate success in this stage also. In the performing stage, since person 1 decision went wrong it is important for the team members to chip in with leadership and person start taking responsibilities for leadership which is a very good sign for the team. This allows rotation of leadership and helps team members to grow their own skills. The team started to treat seriously the views from team members as well as outside members which is done for the betterment of the project work. Finally, the team made a little profit and starts celebrating the success which has to be done earlier. In this stage it is always good to have an outsider to comment on the teams performance which helps in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the team. In the last stage, the team learnt their mistakes and starts working on improving individual competencies and the advantages of team work. Every individual is important for a team and it is the individuals who are building the team. The project management exercise can be done more effectively if the same team is given one more chance based on their learnings. The output required from this phase is the prevention of failures for a future project. Decision making procedures: The teams success depends on the decision making and it is the key factor in project management. The working definition of decision making (Ullman, 2006) is that Decision making is a process that commits resources to resolving an issue. Making a decision is not an event; it is a process for arriving at the correct decisions based on uncertain, incomplete, incomplete, inconsistent and evolving information. It is important for the team to get the best out of these results. In practice, every decision the team trying to make must address two issues: Merit decision quantitative way of taking the decision based on merits Acceptance decision acceptance by the people by the decision taken by the team. A decision is a choice made from several alternatives (Lewis, 2004). The decision is going to be effective when merit and acceptance are considered. For any decision the important criteria is to understand the problem and issues are to be clarified. Then as a team alternatives are generated and criteria are developed for robust decision making. The next important step is the evaluation part which tells the importance of the criteria. This also generates value to the alternatives that are developed for the criteria. Fuse is the next step in decision making which generates decision measures by evaluating process. The last stage is what to do next which reduces consensus, uncertainty, criteria and further revising the alternatives. Hence, (Ullman, 2006)A robust decision is the best possible choice, one found by eliminating all the uncertainty possible within available resources and then choosing with known and acceptable levels of satisfaction and risk. Some of the problems that are encountered during the decision making are team members have different judgement and their outcomes may be different due to different knowledge level, preferences. In order to evaluate a decision, managers have to choose a proper method (Fan Fu-Rong et al, 2008). Consultative approach is the most widely used approach for decision making. For handling group decision, the rules are shown in the below table 2. Evaluating the decision making procedures: Decisions taken in project management exercise by the team sometimes based on merit and sometimes based on acceptance and sometimes a combination of both. A consultative approach is followed when taking a decision. Initially for the first two decisions, it took more time for the team to understand the problem and team is not clear in the issues. The project delivery time is 140 days and the CPM shows that there is 285 days for the product to come out. A project plan is made for getting the product on time and it is always difficult to stick to the plan. Team members initially found difficult to generate alternatives for the decision and initially the team followed a consensus with team members. The first decision is based on merit as to reduce the lead time from 285 to 140 days. The teams weaknesses in the understanding phase are took more time for taking a decision, no clarity on problems, no criteria developed for taking the decision. Also, initially since team members are of diffe rent competencies it took time for gelling together. Then after the decision the team started to develop criteria for the decisions. The team in evaluating phase started to understand the importance of criteria developed and started generating alternatives for the criteria. One important thing is that decisions are always subject to change and it is important to review the earlier decisions. In the exercise, the team decided to go for good quality suppliers which actually paid very well for the team. When it comes to manufacturing sub contractors, due to cost pressure some compromise has to be made by the team and went ahead with the cheap sub contractor. The team took a risk but didnt work out well. The teams decision is partially a combination of merit and acceptance. The teams weakness in this stage is that it never had a backup plan till the failure has happened. In this stage, the resources are shuffled inorder to deliver the product on time which is a good move based on earlier decisions. But in actual practice it is difficult to execute as per the plan and is important to review the decisions as a team by d iscussing the merits and demerits of the team. In Fuse stage, the result from the earlier decisions gives the team of measuring the decisions. In the initial stage, Person 1 took the decision of going ahead with the good quality suppliers and convinced the team members, since it clicked the team went ahead with that persons decision for the future also. Every time when a decision is taken it is important to discuss as a team by evaluating the results of the decision and have a backup plan if that decision went wrong. During the periods 4, 5, 6 the teams took decisions in a fast, accurate way by learning from the mistakes earlier. It is important to learn from mistakes as a team. Finally, in the decide stage, the team started looking at the future in what has to be done next by reducing the uncertainty, refining the interpersonal skills. In this stage, the team started to work on a consensus basis. Even a single member points are taken seriously and started discussing the merits and demerits with refining the criteria. The team started to work on the alternatives and focus more towards for addressing the next issues. The team weakness in this stage, it is important to document the deliberation so that these failures cannot happen in the future. The key learning from the decision making procedures are decisions are subject to change and have to be reviewed consistently. Consensus approach has to be followed inorder to make a decision which can be based on merit and acceptance. Conflict within the team: Many organisations have changed to project management structures because of their inability to resolve conflicts. In a project life cycle, conflicts are part and parcel of life and can happen at any levels of the organisation. The project manager is often described as a conflict manager (Kerzner, 2001, 2009). Conflicts generally happen because of misunderstanding between team members and have different interpretations of companys objective. Inorder to avoid that, projects have to be defined in a clear way so that it can be understood by all the team members. Some people use SMART criteria for defining the project which says; S-Specific M-Measurable A-Attainable R-Realistic or Relevant T-Tangible or time bound (Kerzner, 2009). Time management is crucial in any project and it is important to manage time by avoiding conflicts. Some conflicts are relevant and provide valuable results. Most common types of conflict involve in the allocations of manpower resources, using the equipments and facilities, expenditure on capitals, cost and technical opinions and trade offs (Kerzner, 2001, 2009). Moreover the seven potential sources of conflicts are shown in the Fig 4. Goal, Plan and Belief conflicts are the three types of conflicts (Jain et al, 2007). If a conflict happens in a project, there are five different ways of resolving the conflicts which are shown in fig 5 which are confrontation, compromise, smoothing, forcing and withdrawal. Evaluation of conflicts: The team initially had conflicts in allocating the man power resources like employing in design, assemblers and testers. The team had a conflict over schedules in attaining the project on time. The team members person 1, 2 and 4 had difference of opinions in schedules and the resolution mode of compromise is used to resolve that issue. Person 1, 3, 4 had conflicts in priorities in choosing the suppliers. Person 1 suggested a supplier part can be taken just before the assembly but the team members took a decision by smoothing mode. In case if anything fails the team need to reorder again this may take time. Inorder for the project manager to be effective an understanding of how to work with various employees who must interface with the project is necessary (Kerzner, 2001, 2009). The various members in the team include upper management, functional managers etc and it is important to understand the sub ordinate and functional conflicts. The relationship between conflict causes and sourc es is shown in the figure 6. The teams strength is that none of the members in the team had personality conflict which is very important for project success. When deciding the manufacturing sub contractor person 1 suggested for a reliable sub contractor, but all the other members in the team are cost conscious in which person 1 and other members had a conflict over cost. The teams choice of choosing a good quality supplier had a conflict with other members which is a functional conflict provides good benefits for the team in terms of quality, time and cost. During the period 3, 4 the team members had a conflict of allocating the inspectors which is the conflict over schedule and had a good result during the period. But during the period 5, the team had a conflict on schedule in resource allocation of assemblers but not with the inspectors. All the five resolution modes of conflicts are used for resolving conflicts in almost all the stages. The team weaknesses include conflicts have to happen and has to be resolv ed systematically. But as a team, conflicts at the initial stages of the project give good results and when it comes to final stages conflicts started coming down. The figure 7 shows the conflict intensity in the team during the project life cycle. The key learnings from the project management exercise are that time management is important and the conflicts have to be resolved within the time. Team members have to understand the sub ordinate and their opinions and have to be evaluated inorder to get a good result in the project. It is important to have a plan for resolving conflicts in the planning phase itself. Constant communication of the project objectives to the team members will help in minimising or even eliminating the conflicts. Sometimes direct contact with people will reduce the conflicts. In project management hierarchical issues are to be resolved and there shall not be any domination from the project manager or the functional mangers. Companywide policies can be adapted for resolving the conflict issues for smooth functioning of the project. Role clarities have to be clear which will reduce the conflicts. Team Leadership: Team leadership is one of the main aspects in the project success. In any projects, leadership becomes a problem because project management involves group of people who are frequently in interaction for a specific project. The following tasks are required for a leader to achieve the tasks; Tasks are defined and shall be achieved Team shall be build and can be properly co-ordinated Leader shall satisfy individual team members Task needs It is important for the leader to clearly define the objectives of the project and leadership shall aim at achieving these goals. Team needs The element of leadership shall hold the team together inorder to produce efficient results for the project. If the team have conflicts, then it is the leader who has to convince the team members effectively. Individual needs The performance and contributions of the project by every member of the team have to be understood by the leader and sometimes can reward for good work (Reiss, 1995). From the moment the leadership is taken it is important for the leader to ensure that the project is heading in correct direction (Heerkens, 2002). The biggest problem that a leader is facing in the project management is that managing the anxieties which were developed by the team members. Sometimes if it is not evaluated may lead to slow down the project and work output. The anticipation by the leaders when questioned by the team members are: Whats in it for me? What will be expected out of me? What will life on your team like? (Heerkens, 2002) Evaluation of team leadership: In the project management exercise, the team leadership was with no one and totally a team effort. But it is always important to have a leader for the team for the above reasons stated. Sometimes Person 1 took the leadership in choosing the suppliers, sub contractors, person 2 took the leadership in periods 4, 5 of the project. Person 4 took the leadership in the periods 6, 7 and person 3 during the period 2 of the project. The teams strength is that everybody in the team understands the leadership attitudes which are important for project success. The anxieties by the team members can be reduced by having conversations within the team. The team members frequently had meeting openly for achieving the following: Project objectives were reviewed (the true need for the project) and the justifications were explained as a team (benefits). Project planning and its proposal were reviewed (the solution) and the team leader took a decision for the preferred approach. Initially the team faced problems of leadership and all members expressed their views and constraints. Roles and responsibilities are not clarified clearly by functional categorisation which leads to some problems within the team. This is considered as one of the teams weaknesses. It is important to honestly characterise the style of leadership (free, open, trusting, reacting to situations) The leader has to explain the expectations that are required from the team members regarding the delivery by frequent conducting of meetings. Communication plays a major role in leadership and the leader has to explain the behaviour style. (Adopted from Heerkens, 2002 Modified for Project Management exercise). The team initially went ahead with no leader and later person characterised by Belbin as CO started taking leadership which was helpful for the team. The team had good mutual relationships with other members and used visual charts when sketching the plan, reviewing the plan. Professional ethics are maintained throughout the project which is the biggest advantage for the project success. Celebration of project milestones and its success are very important to improve the morale of the members is considered to be one of the team weaknesses. Any team before starting the project must have a leader and it is the leader who assigns the roles and responsibilities of the team members clearly. One of the main leadership qualities is the flexibility in their approach, style in adapting to the situations, communications with the team members. It is not always necessary that leader should have technical skills, but a little amount of knowledge in the particular field is sufficient for managing the project. Conclusion: Organisational behaviour is very important for project management and using Belbin profiles in dividing the organisation is helpful in achieving the objectives. Team work is important for the project to succeed and lies on every individual of the team. It is important for the leader to motivate the members and constantly encourage them for the effective functioning of project teams. Belbin team life cycle shows that evolution of teams and tells the effective functioning of teams. The decision making procedures are important for projects success and has to be reviewed consistently. Project planning is considered to be the important phase in project management and plan gives only the direction. It is important for the team to learn from mistakes. Introduction TVS Motors is the third largest two wheeler manufacturers in India and one among the top ten in the world with annual turnover of more than USD 1 billion 2008-2009 and is the flagship company of the USD 4 billion TVS group. The company has four plants located in Hosur and Mysore in South India, Himachel Pradesh in North India and one in Indonesia. The company has a production capacity of 2.5 million units per year. TVS strength lies in the design and development of new products. TVS delivers total customer satisfaction by anticipating customer needs and presenting quality vehicles at the right time and right price. The customer and his ever changing need is our continuous source of imspiration.TVS always stood for innovative, easy to handle, environment friendly products, backed by reliable customer service. TVS manufactures a wide range of products as shown below. Motorcycles Apache RTR, Flame DS 125, Flame, Jive, Star City, Sport Variomatic Scooters Wego, Scooty Streak, Pep+, Teenz Mopeds TVS XL Super, TVS XL Heavy Duty Step thrus TVS Neo, Rockz (TVS Motors, 2010). The main objective of this essay is to evaluate the project management of a sub system (Fit and Finish Engineering section part of RD) in the TVS Motors and suggesting improvement points for betterment of the project management. Organisation Structure Any organisation exists to achieve the objectives by maintaining good relationships with its customers and its employees. The main objective of organisation is profitability. TVS Motor Company Mission Statement We are committed to being a highly profitable, socially responsible, and leading manufacturer of high value for money, environment friendly, life time personal transportation products under the brand, for customers predominantly in Asian markets and to provide fulfilment and prosperity for employees, dealers and suppliers. (TVS Motors, 2010). TVS Motors has various departments and each department based on their requirements uses different organisation structures. The most widely used organisation structures in TVS Motors are, Mechanistic structure Functional organisation Product / Project organisation Matrix Organisation (Bresnen, 1990). In this essay, the main focus will be on the fit and finish engineering section which is a part of RD and the various tools, techniques that are used by that section for project management. Objectives and factors of project management The objectives of project management related directly to the project are: Functional satisfaction Aesthetic satisfaction Completion on time Completion within budget Value for money (Walker, 2007). Design Brief In this essay, a product is taken from TVS Motors and is evaluated with respect to Fit and Finish Engineering section in the aspects of project management. Project brief (Young, 2007) is the summary document that contains the foundation design for the project. A clear definition of the project is critical to success. There are five essential documents required for defining a project and are: A statement of requirements A stakeholder list A project brief A scope of work assessment A risk assessment (Young, 2007) The key words in the project brief which is taken from TVS are, Male, self employed urban commuter bike Learning points The main learning points that can be incorporated in the design brief are that it should define all the requirements and constraints. In this design brief the requirements are not clearly defined in the case like as per style sign off, same as earlier product which can be converted into an objective requirement in terms of cost, performance and time scale for better clarity of understanding the product. TVS faced layout constraints in the pillion handle when using the same part for the new product which can be mentioned for better understanding of the product. The product definition document is reviewed on a continuous basis and the changes are made which are to be communicated for designers to ensure smooth functioning of the project. Project management process TVS Motors follow a project management process similar to the figure 11. Every project life cycle has various activities and phases which are the definition phase for defining the objective, analysis phase for recruitment and budget, synthesis phase for targets, plans and schedule, implementation phase for monitoring, re-scheduling and the completion phase for review, evaluation and storing the relevant data. Communication and negotiation skills are definitely required for a project manager. Project Planning Project manager description is to bring a project to completion on time, within the budget cost, and to meet the planned performance or end product goals (Simpson, 1987). These tasks are assumed to have performance or end product goals clear and are well defined in advance. The project manager has to prepare a solid plan and has to be followed for the projects success (Dvir et al, 2003). When defining the project plan there are three basic needs required which are the quality, time and the cost. Many projects have failed due to the inadequate understanding of customer requirements, revenue or profit. The methodology of practical project management is shown in figure 12. Project manager has to decide the plan for the project and based on his priorities one can take decision aligning with the organisational objectives. Project has to be defined based on the SMART methodology (S-Specific, M-Measurable, A Achievable, R Resource Driven, T Trackable). Then allocate the resources by splitting into IPTs (Integrated Project Teams) by following a project business process according to the organisation objectives. The IPT can be either a high performance IPT or a good IPT. These people are responsible for the understanding customers needs till the lead time of the product. The success of the product depends on these IPTs and headed by project manager. As said earlier, planning is very important for any project and is made by using a technique called Structured Decomposition or Work Breakdown Structure. This helps in successful interface with other people and assigns responsibilities, the size and completeness of the project. Build a project schedule based on the WBS. Keep tracking of the activities that are held and plan for further actions to bring the product at the right time. Based on these project milestones, a design and development plan is arrived and is shown in figure 14. Design and Development plan consists of list of parts, the various stages that it has to undergo, part numbers and the planned, actual dates of completion. The techniques used widely are Gantt charts and WBS. Management styles There are two types of management styles depending on the project used in TVS Motors. They are the: Reactive management style in which project managers work towards achieving the goals and objectives. This is a short range project perspective Proactive management style long range perspectives are taken in the earlier by considering the risk, contingency plans. It is always better to use proactive management style in a project management. Project planning tools and learnings Work Breakdown Structure: Planning, monitoring and managing all the facets of the project can be done by Work Breakdown structure. The project facets that are done in TVS using WBS are: Work definition Estimation of cost Budgeting Estimation of time Scheduling Allocation of resources Expenditures Changes to the project plan Productivity Performance (Rad and Anantatmula, 2005) The key learning points in WBS or Structured Decomposition is that division change of each level has to be from the following: ÃÆ'Â ¼ Deliverables ÃÆ'Â ¼ Schedules ÃÆ'Â ¼ Resources The following table shows the transition of each level by using any of the above three as the base. Work Breakdown Structure Gantt Charts: TVS Motors uses Gantt chart for displaying the plan and is the most widely used project management tool. Gantt chart helps the manager for concentrating the objectives, avoiding delays and to concentrate on the attention and promises made for the project. It is helpful for the following: Whole process is considered for planning and controlling for its horizon. Gantt charts are based on providing solutions for which the plan is constructed. Scheduling can be done day to day basis for accurate planning and control. (Wilson, 2003). A key feature of Gantt chart was its focus on systemic rather than algorithmic solutions to utilisation problems (Wilson, 2003). There are few more techniques of project management that are used in TVS Motors are Critical Path Method and PERT which are not used in RD Fit and Finish Engineering Section. Gantt charts are to reviewed and updated regularly for continuous monitoring of the project. The benefits of project management that Gantt charts result in are: Project cost control and decrease in time scale Co-ordination and planning of expenditures Idle time elimination (Gantt chart, 2010). The key learning points are: TVS Motors Design and Development Plan can be updated as shown in the figure 16 so that the project can be tracked easily. DD plan has to be reviewed and updated frequently. It is difficult to stick to the plan but considering the variance, the plan has to be provided. Project control entails continuous monitoring of project progress and has to be taken up from the early stages of the project. More focus shall be on the details of the project. The responsibility of controlling the project lies with the project manager. CPM can be used for allotting the man power resources for the project which can be key factor. (Frame, 2003). Integrated Project Teams: The key learning is that IPTs can be formed by using Belbin profiles. TVS Motors in RD Fit and Finish Engineering Section, Belbin profiles are used for identifying the strengths and weakness of the particular member and are not used for assigning the project. In a team a project manager has to be CO with one or two SH, one CF, one ME and two to three IM which will be a perfect project team mix for the success of the project. Project Cost Management Cost management is a process used to minimise the cost of the project while maintaining acceptable levels of quality as well as the scope of the deliverables for the duration of the project (Rad, 2002). This involves estimating the resources cost including the people, equipment, materials, travels and other details. After analysing these details, budgeting and tracking are done for costs to maintain the project within the budget. The most common causes of project failure are that sponsor wants to finish the project in certain time, certain job within the budget. The relationship between the four constraints of PCTS is that C = f {P, T, S} Cost is a function of time, performance and scope. (Lewis, 2007) Terminologies for cost estimation TVS TVS Motors uses various terminologies for estimating costs and are: Absorption costs Below the line costs Cost escalation Direct costs Cost of sales General and administrative costs Indirect costs Labour burden Materials burden Overhead rate Prime cost Standard costing Variance (Lock, 2007) Assumptions in cost estimating In TVS Motors, the following assumptions are made while estimating the cost and are: The starting date and the finishing date are to be planned Deliverables are in the form of hardware, software, documents, spares, training, support and warranty Locations are based on work, customer and delivery Testing, prototype and customer acceptance level Requirements from quality and reliability Inflation and exchange rates, raw material increase Assumptions based on productivity Rates of overhead These assumptions are properly documented at the start of the project for effective functioning of project management. Cost Estimating process Develop the WBS For projects in TVS, initially selling price will be decided and then an overall vehicle price which is then split into many subsystems of a two wheeler. Schedule the tasks After arriving at the WBS, tasks will be scheduled for achieving the target cost plan Retrieve Historic Cost Data All the benchmark costs are taken from the earlier products Develop Cost relationships Then a relationship is obtained from the overall vehicle comparing the earlier to the new project. Allow for learning TVS follows a continuous learning cycle and it is important to review from the each part cost Identify skills and Wage rates Develop labour and material costs Develop overhead and Administration costs Apply escalation and inflation Estimate calculation Analyse, adjust and support for the costs Publish the cost results Cost target sheet for style parts in TVS After estimating for the overall vehicle, the cost will be split into various subsystems and the following figure shows a typical cost sheet for style parts. Cost will be estimated based on parametric estimating, cost estimating. Indexing, cost capacity and factorial estimating are rarely used in TVS. Cost estimating is the most accurate method for calculating costs and is used for arriving the cost of each part either based on benchmarks or from the earlier product. The table has part number, part description, material used, finish (painting or texturing), volume, surface area and mass. Then for the earlier products technical specifications of volume, surface area and mass will be there. Then based on the overall project estimate a cost target will be assigned for that particular part and the design has to be within that cost. Design to Target cost is becoming important and more weightage are given for target cost. For any product, it has three costs basically the raw material cost, the manufacturing cost and the labour cost for each part. Costs are calculated on that basis for each of the parts based on the mass of each part. Raw material costs since it is a varying one, for target cost raw materials cost are taken on that particular date and published. Cost profiles In the design phase, the cost increases in the early stages and finally when it comes to the next stage design stage will be constant, whereas in the manufacturing part it increases gradually because this involves tooling cost, raw materials cost which is not a constant one. In the materials phase, the cost will be stagnant when starting for mass production, the stocks will be taken up and then the flow will be a constant one and then again it increases. Regarding the management and overhead cost it is an exponential curve as shown in the figure 21. Potential sources of Estimating error There are many causes for estimating error in a project. Some of the causes of estimating error in TVS Motors are inflation or escalation in raw material price which can be controlled by adjustment in price or agreeing for a variation in price. An exchange rate plays a major role in estimating error which can be taken up by opting forward in currency foreign rates. Inexperience in estimating errors can be solved by hiring consultants, training. Clarity in design brief also plays a major role which can be solved by force clarification. Overdesign can be taken upfront in design which can be solved by Value Analysis tools. Cost sign off has to be done before starting the design. Supplier quotes and the suppliers have to be finalised at the early stages of design. Risk and uncertainty can be taken up by rigorous analysis of risk management. Learning points Cost collection has to be accurate and effective while fixing the design cost. Proper analysis of past products has to be considered. Work Breakdown structure has to be perfectly done. Process has to be tried and tested with respect to people, behaviour and teams. Discipline is an important aspect with defined process and stick to the plan while execution. New innovative works are always dealt in order to create wonders in the project. Cost estimation can be done by Earned Value Analysis (EVA) which can be taken as an effective input for TVS Motors. Risk Management Project risk is defined as undesired events that may cause delays, excessive spending, unsatisfactory project results, safety or environmental hazards and even total failure As an experienced project manager there is no risk free project (Raz et al, 2002). Risk management is the means by which uncertainty is systematically managed to increase the likelihood of meeting the project objectives. Systematic is the key word because more disciplined the approach the more the risks can be managed (Verzuh, 2003). Often risks can be taken but has to be manageable risks. In TVS Motors, risk management plays a vital role and is important to consider all the risks related to design and development process. It is not about negative thoughts but it is the accurate way of running the project for better results (PPMC Notes, 2010). Advantages of risk management TVS Unexpected problems always arise in any project and are important for the project manager to get ready for this. In TVS Motors related to Fit and Finish Engineering Section RD the various risks can be input from other departments, manpower allocation, design iterations, over design etc which ultimately affects the lead time of the project. Known unknowns represents identified potential problems like discussed earlier Unknown unknowns which are the real threat for the project if this issue can be predicted then it will give good results in project management (Verzuh, 2003). Relationship between risk and project management TVS In the definition phase, the project is defined based on the business objectives. Then comes the planning phase, which contains two parts risk management and scheduling. In this phase, project deliverables, WBS are arrived. It is important to have a risk management plan and then to the control phase which executes the risk plan and identifying the new risks. It is a continuous learning cycle and based on the new risk opportunities the risk management plan is updated. Methodology and contentions in risk management TVS The following five practices are followed in TVS for risk analysis and are: 1) Risk identification is done systematically based on documentation reviews, SWOT analysis and experience from the earlier products. 2) A risk when it is captured the likelihood of that risk is analysed and the consequences are studied. 3) To prevent the possibility of adverse or consequent effects, a risk contingency plan is made for uncertainty. 4) A detailed risk mitigation plan is made by proper method of trade off analysis. 5) The project manager is considered as the risk manager (Raz et al, 2002). Role of project management in NPI Project management consists of several activities which market research is the first one followed by technical and production activities. Risks will be increased when a new project goes through several phases. There is a more chance of risk in technical activities compared to marketing and other activities. It is better to have low risk when it comes to final stages of the project as shown in the figure 26. Risk analysis TVS Risk analysis is done systematically in TVS by considering the ratings for severity, prevention control and occurrence as shown in the table. Learning points Risk management is a very important aspect of project management and has to be incorporated in TVS NPI process as a stage gate process. Team work and communication plays a major role in risk management and has to be effectively done for better efficiency of project management. The purpose of risk management is to bring the product on time with cost and quality as the backbones. Blame culture has to be removed in project management. Risk mitigation plan shall be incorporated for each aspect of the risk analysis in TVS. Risk contingency plan shall be incorporated if the risks are manageable and take proactive measures. Mitigation activity has to be incorporated directly to the project plan. Contingency plans and the contingent mitigation plans are held against the risk plan and when an impact occurs contingency plans shall be moved. Then, the implemented contingency plan becomes a part of project plan. Thorough reviewing of risk management is required and it is important to take the learning points for the next project. Based on the benchmark data or previous risks, the risk plans for the new project can be taken up for identifying the bottleneck resources. Suppliers, Manufacturers and Purchase team members have to own their risk plans and has to be given to TVS. Unused risk provisions shall be given with great care for the full impact of cost of remaining risks. It is the responsible of a project manager to have full ownership of the risk mitigation and risk contingency plans. Conclusion Thus, project management plays a major role in any organisation and is one of the important aspects in attaining the business objectives. Project management gives equal importance to quality, cost and delivery. In TVS, project management principles are followed widely throughout the organisation and a part of it related to Fit and Finish Engineering Section of RD is taken as the case study. The learning points and the take away points are discussed for better functioning of project management related to project planning, organisation structure, project cost management and risk management. References Atkinson, R. (1999). Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. International Journal of Project Management , Vol 17 (6), pp 337-342. Belbin, R. (1981). Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail. London: Heinemann. Belbin, R. (1993). Team Roles at Work. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Bresnen, M. (1990). Organising construction: project organisation and matrix management. Worcester: Mike Bresnen. BS6079. (1996). British Standards in Project Management 6079. Dvira, D. Razb,T.,Shenharch.A.J., (2003). An empirical analysis of the relationship between project planning and project success. International Journal of Project Management , Vol 21 (2), pp 89-95. Fan Fu-Rong, Zhao Xi-Nan, Wang Q.Mang, (2008). A model of project evaluation based on group decision making. Chinese Control and Decision Conference, 2008, CCDC 2008, p 2005-2008, 2008, Chinese Control and Decision Conference, 2008, CCDC 2008 . Frame, J.D (2003). Managing Projects in Organisation: How to make the best use of time, techniques and people (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey Bass. Gantt Chart Project management resources. [online], https://www.visitask.com/gantt-chart.asp [accessed on 14th January 2010] Heerkens, G. (2002). Project Management. New York: The McGraw Hill Companies. Jain, V., Benyoucef,L.,Deshmukh,S.G., (2007). A new approach to model goal and plan conflicts in a dynamic supply chain. 2007 IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, SOLI, 2007, 2007 IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics, SOLI . Kakabadse, A. Bank,J.,Vinnicombe,S., (2004). Working in Organisations (2nd ed.). Hants, Burlington: Andrew Kakabadse, John Bank, Susan Vinnicombe. Kerzner, H. (2001). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. New York: John Wiley Sons. Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (10th ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley Sons Inc. Kliem, R. Ludin,I.S., Robertson,K.L. (1997). Project Management Methodology: A practical guide for the next millenium. New York: Marcel Dekker. Lee, E. (2008). Forming to Performing: Transitioning Large-Scale Project Into Agile. Agile Conference 2008 , pp 106-111. Lewis, J. (2007). Fundamentals of Project Management. New York: AMACOM. Lewis, J. (2004). Team Based Project Management. Washington: James P.Lewis. Lock, D. (2007). Project Management (9th ed.). Hampshire: Gower Publishing Company. Loosemore, M. Raftrey,J.,Reilly,C., (2006). Risk management in projects. Oxon, Newyork: Taylor Francis. Orr, A. (2004). Advanced Project Management A complete guide to the key processes, models and techniques. London Sterling: Kogan Page Ltd. Project Planning,Management and Control Module Notes, (2009). Rad, P.F. (2005). Project Planning Techniques. Vienna: Management Concepts Inc. Rad, P.F. (2002). Project estimating and cost management. Vienna: Managements Concepts Inc. Raz, T, Shenhar,A.J, Dvir,D., (2002). Risk management, project success and technological uncertainty. R D Management , Vol 32 (2), pp 101-109. Reiss, G. (1995). Project Management Demystified: Todays Tools and Techniques. London: Routledge. Riding, R.J, Rayner,S.G (2001). International Perspectives on Individual Differences (Vol. II). USA: Richard J.Riding and Stephen G.Rayner. Simpson, WD. (1987). New techniques in software project management. New York: John Wiley. Ten Haaf, W. Bikker,H., Adriaanse,D.J., (2002). Fundamentals of Business Engineering and Management: A Systems Approach to People and Organisations,. Delft: DUP Science. TVS Motors TVS Motor Company Limited. [online]. https://www.tvsmotor.in/tvsbrief.asp [accessed on 12th January 2010]. Ullman, D. (2006). Making robust decisions:decision management for technical, business and service teams (1st ed.). Victoria: David Ullman. Verzuh, E. (2003). The portable MBA in project management. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley Sons Inc. Walker, A. (2007). Project Management in Construction (5th ed.). Oxford, Malten, Victoria: Blackwell Publishing. Water, H.V.D., Ahaus,K.,Rozier,R.,. (2008). Team roles, team balance and team performance. Journal of Management Development , Vol 27 (5), pp 499-512. Wilson, J.M (2003). Gantt charts: A centenary appreciation. European Journal of Operational Research , Vol 149 (2), pp 430-437. Young, T. (2007). Handbook of Project Management: A Practical Guide to Effective Policies, Techniques and Process (2nd ed.). London: Philadelphia Kogan Page.

The, By Francisco Cantu And Sad Truth Of Life - 2095 Words

A large portion of transitioning into adulthood is the realization, the biggest and most life-altering one is discovering that not everything is as you imagined or hoped. Francisco Cantu’s essay â€Å"Bajadas†, is a great example of this as it discusses his changing viewpoints regarding his job as a Border Patrol agent as he comes to realize more about what the job truly entails. Unveiling the disappointing and sad truth of life is a pivotal point in someone’s life, having the ability to make or break the person, clearly seen in the essay as Cantu discusses a year’s worth of experiences with the Border Patrol. Cantu’s personal experience is an effective way to shed light on a plethora of issues regarding Border Patrol and Immigration and the†¦show more content†¦As defined by The Pew Trusts, â€Å"It [Border Patrol] maintains and monitors border fencing, patrols land borders, operates land-based surveillance equipment, and conducts search and rescue missions, among other duties.† This idea is what excited him, that he would be out there doing his best for all the immigrants that needed some help. He explains it to his mother as a need to go, to grow as a person and learn how to face situations of danger as well as how to understand the region and landscape better. He would also be using all the information and experience that he had available to him. (Cantu 57) He later discusses how he can hardly deal with all the dark things that he is experiencing realizing it was not at all as he expected. He mentions losing sleep, having nightmares, as well as struggling with thoughts of how his job is not as fulfilling as he needed or expected. He later goes on to state that he had accepted his role in the situation, as someone who could do his best to protect and provide support to these immigrants in such a trying and difficult time in their life and hoping to make an impact. Life is constantly changing and transforming as we age, learn and experience more, Cantu’s essay conveys this message clearly with all the seemingly unimportant situations adding up to deliver one large message. Life is constantly in a state of adjustment as more information is gathered and used to make decisions and change the path ahead of them. InShow MoreRelatedIntroduction to Rizal Course11998 Words   |  48 Pageshacienda which those time large portion of the town were owned by Dominican friars. Rizal’s great grandfather was Francisco Mercado, the son of Domingo and Ines dela Rosa, who married a Chinese mestiza Cirila Bernacha, had a son by the name of Juan Mercado, who married a Chinese mestiza Cirila Alejandrino, serving as Riza’s grandfather. Juan and Cirila had 14 children, one of whom was Francisco Mercado, Rizal’s father who married Teodora Alonzo. Rizal’s father was an erudite man. He took courses in Latin

Organizational Behaviour Monetary Mechanism or Statistics

Question: Describe about the Organizational Behaviour for Monetary Mechanism or Statistics. Answer: Organizations have normally rely upon monetary mechanism or statistics when assessing their value, health as well as performance. However, in the recent past, organizations have realized the significance of people-oriented indicators including worker characters, attitudes as well as perceptions remain critical forecasters of the behavior and performance of the employees (Shuck and Wollard 2008). Employee engagement has become a competitive advantage and it can be used to enhance productivity as well as gratification amongst the workers besides entire performance of the organization. Engagement integrates physical and emotional energies to task role performance. An employee who is engaged will be engaged physically in task, vigilant cognitively as well as associated emphatically with stakeholders hence increased productivity (Medlin and Green 2014). The employee engagement leads to both optimistic outcomes for persons and the organizations based on profitability and productivity. The engagement leads to significant connotation between worker engagement, growth and profitability of business alongside loyalty among customers. For example, Southwest Airlines remains a typically sample of both association and engaged workers as well as customers where there is a high level of engagement and customer loyalty. The employee engagement thus leads to customer loyalty which in turn leads to success of the organization. This is because this Airline has created a blog where employees and customers have freely voiced their opinions including production of videos that convey their feelings of the Airline. In this sense, engaging workers is a significant practice in the success of organizations since it improves the productivity as well as ginning customer loyalty. This has even been more prominent in the service industry in which workers are constantly in face-to-face contacts with the clients. Through employees engagement, many organizations have acknowledged that it is increasingly more expensive to recruit new workers. Such organizations trust that via training as well as developing the existing staffs, the act generates a feeling of being valued among the employees at the organization (Ghadi 2012). This in turn becomes a more influential reason for the employees to stay and give the best to the organization. A highly engaged employee is less probably to turnover or become absent from his work. There is, therefore, a negative correlation between engagement and turnover intent. Another example that can illustrate the contribution of employee engagement to the effectiveness of the whole organization is KIA Motors. Here, there is a high connection between leadership and engagement of the employees. The HR department of KIA Motors recognized that both middle and senior management played critical roles in the construction of engaged labor force. They have subsequently displayed managers on successions of training course thereby developing skills leading to overall increase in manager performances. The employee engagement makes managers or leaders to become more self-assured in respective skills hence establishing a compassionate as well as inclusive environment in which both feedback and communication is often exchanged. In this case, staffs will share their sentiments easily on decision and policies as contrasted to executives being ill-informed as well as narrow-minded (Batista-Taran et al. 2013). Accordingly, employees engagement contributes to the general effectiveness of the organization based on increased motivation, performance of organization, staff retention, focus and profitability. References Batista-Taran, L.C., Shuck, M.B., Gutierrez, C.C. and Baralt, S., 2013. The role of leadership style in employee engagement. Ghadi, M.Y., 2012. The role of meaningful work and employee engagement in understanding the relationship between transformational leadership and work outcomes: an employee perspective. Medlin, B. and Green Jr, K.W., 2014. Impact of Management Basics on Employee Engagement. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 13(2), p.21. Shuck, M.B. and Wollard, K.K., 2008. Employee Engagement: Motivating and Retaining Tomorrow's Workforce. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 22(1), pp.48-53.

Oedipus Rex and Hamlet Essay Sample free essay sample

Oedipus RexandHamletare two calamities with regicide at the Centre of their secret plans. The subject of the first drama by Sophocles is subjugation of free will to divine design. William Shakespeare’s drama is besides about the restriction of adult male in regard to the Godhead. The latter is nevertheless more concerned with the restrictions of human cognition. and the palsy of the will when one confronts this restriction. The haughtiness that stands against Godhead will is besides a subject discovered in both dramas. In the Sophocles’ play the attempt is to debar the higher will. and it is demonstrated that those who make the attempt suffer consequently. Hamlet. on the other manus. explores the effects of rational haughtiness. that which strives for absolute cognition. Shakespeare’s drama is written in the context of the Renaissance. which was characterized by the rise of humanitarianism. It is a doctrine that maintains that the human potency should be allowed full reign in order that society and cognition progress. We will write a custom essay sample on Oedipus Rex and Hamlet Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the get downing the Renaissance imaginativeness was fired by the possibility that absolute cognition is in the appreciation of the homo. which was instrumental in set uping the scientific method as the basic standard of truth. But as the motion progressed the earlier positivism merged into incredulity. Michel de Montaigne in France espoused a doctrine that maintains that visual aspects are non to be equated with world. All attempt towards cognition is an on-going venture. where the psyche grapples with visual aspects in order to get at understanding. The influence of Montaigne is obvious in every facet of the dramaHamlet. The supporter delivers the longest monologues in the full Shakespearean musical composition. in which he grapples with visual aspect and its import. This is above all the subject of the drama. Hamlet’s is an act of epic interior geographic expedition. The shade of his dead male parent comes and tells him that he has been murdered at the custodies of his brother Claudius. who is now sitting on the throne of Denmark holding married his widow. He is told to revenge this slaying. Apart from this there is plentifulness of circumstantial grounds that what the shade says is true. And yet he is paralyzed by indecisiveness. because he wants â€Å"facts† before he can move. We know that he was a pupil before he was called back to the castle by the intelligence of his father’s decease. We assume that he is fired by the Renaissance spirit that harks after facts. The undermentioned oration of Hamlet demonstrates this spirit: What a piece of work is a adult male! How baronial in ground. how infinite in module. in signifier and traveling how express and admirable. in action how like an angel. in apprehensiveness how like a god—the beauty of the universe. the idol of animate beings! ( II. two. 293–297 ) It is about a written text of a transition from the Renaissance humanist Pico Della Mirandola. and so it discloses the true context of the drama. We know that Hamlet is non cowardly. or missing in enterprise. He duels with Laertes. and he stabs Polonius in a compulsive run. He feigns madness convincingly. and stages an luxuriant drama in the tribunal designed to expose Claudius’ guilt. But in order to transport out retaliation he must be perfectly certain of guilt. and here Hamlet is stuck. It is the calamity whereby he falls. He does take his retaliation in the terminal. but merely after he is mortally wounded. and being the cause of the decease of many more who are guiltless. The concluding message of Shakespeare is that there is a monetary value to pay if one aspires to God-like cognition. and this is the palsy of the will. Sophocles conveys the same message in a more blunt manner. The supporter here comes to cognize God’s will and wants to debar it. But in the really attempt to debar it he fulfils it. This is non merely the instance with Oedipus. but with all those who want to debar the design of God. When Laius and Jocasta. the male monarch and queen of Thebes. learn through a Delphic prophet that their boy is destined to kill the male parent and cohabit with the female parent. they decide to kill their first-born. The babe is tied by the legs and given to a retainer to despatch in the wood. But the servant takes clemency on the baby and hands it over to a shepherd to transport it off to distant Corinth. The royal twosome in Corinth is childless. and so they bring up the baby as their ain. As the vernal prince of Corinth Oedipus consults at a Delphic shrine and learns of the same prophet. that he is destined to kill his male parent and cohabit with his female parent. He loves the male monarch and queen of Corinth as his male parent and female parent. and hence to debar the Godhead edict he flees the land. He finds himself at a hamlets near Thebes. where he accosts Laius. his biological male parent. errors him for a brigand and kills him. He so goes on to win the favour of the Theban people by work outing the conundrum of the Sphinx. and they place him on the vacant throne. where he is obliged to get married the widow of the late male monarch. and therefore carry throughing the 2nd portion of the prognostication. holding married his female parent. Therefore. the three who try to debar their destiny – Laius. Jocasta and Oedipus – all end up carry throughing the same by th e really act of running off. The fact that the Godhead edict is abhorrent does non consequence the cardinal message. which is that homo will can non overrule the Godhead one. Analyzing the Delphic prophet. Sigmund Freud sees it as showing the â€Å"Oedipal complex† . This is the suppression of the latent desire in all to kill one’s male parent and cohabit with one’s female parent. This is non improbable. for Freud is after all depicting the most powerful of tabu. Some observers besides identify the Oedipal composite as being expressed in the character of Hamlet. But Ernest Jones is more close to the grade when he says â€Å"that Hamlet. for temperamental grounds. was basically incapable of decisive action of any kind† ( 31 ) . Oedipus. on the other manus. is ever decisive. even when he is stamp downing unpalatable truths. When it begins to click on him that the Delphic prophet has already been fulfilled he engages in wilful suppression. and latches onto the tiniest scintillas of groun ds that would invalidate events. He even appears cheerful when a courier from Corinth brings him intelligence of his supposed father’s decease. merely because is contradicts the Godhead prophet. and expresses. â€Å"the prophets are dead— / Dust. ashes. nil. dead as Polybus† ( Sophocles 67 ) . This may be delusory. but it is non missing in will. From the really first Oedipus is characterized by a vigorous and decisive will. whereas Hamlet is indecisive. The proper subject of Shakespeare’s drama can merely be located here. opines Jacques Lacan. Like Freud he besides attempts to analyse the character of Hamlet. which is to think at the unconscious substrate of the head utilizing extant hints. But alternatively of sexual suppression he finds epistemic ambiguity to be the substance ( Hopkins 53 ) . He finds that the duologue of Hamlet is laced with an eternal steam of ambiguities. and so is the construction of the drama. Hamlet is non stamp downing anything. but is alternatively giving full b lowhole to all the thoughts in his caput. We can state that he is ‘essaying’ in the mode of Montaigne. In decision. both Oedipus Rex and Hamlet are plays that portray the finite extent of homo will. and its subjugation to the higher will of God. In the former drama the message is put frontward in a straightforward mode. In the latter and more recent drama. nevertheless. it is framed through a corollary to it. that human cognition is finite in extent. and that any given to absolute cognition delivers paralysing indecisiveness. Plants Cited Hopkins. Lisa. Get downing Shakespeare. Manchester. United kingdom: Manchester University Press. 2005. Jones. Ernest. Hamlet and ?dipus. London: Doubleday. 1954. Shakespeare. William. The Calamity of Hamlet. Prince of Denmark. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet Classic. 1998. Sophocles. Oedipus the King ( Oedipus Rex ) . New York: Filiquarian Publishing. 2006.

To Kill a Mockingbird movie vs book essays

To Kill a Mockingbird movie vs book essays To compare and contrast the To Kill A Mockingbird film vs. the book. The book is better, but watching the movie also enjoying. There were three differences that stood out, the absence of characters, the different scenes, and an actors to characters comparison. The book to the movie there is a clear difference but the morals are all still the same. The directors made some good changes and some bad ones the movie was good over all any ways. From the book to the movie there were characters missing some important some not important at all. One character that I felt was missing that is important that wasnt there was Aunt Alexandra she was the whole be more like a girl role model for Scout. A character in the book that wasnt in the movie was Mr. Dolphus Raymond it wasnt a big deal though because he really didnt play a huge role anyways, just shows how people had to find away to not be ridiculed by others for liking bad people. Mrs. Rachael was an other character that was omitted from the book, dill was not living with her in the movie instead he live with Mrs. Stephine Crawford. The director made the choice to delete these characters for a reason the only one that affected the book was Aunt Alexandra. There were scenes omitted from the book were unnoticed some were missed. One scene that was significant that was missing was the scene were Scout and Jem go to the church with Calpernia, that scene showed how the racism went 2 ways. Another scenes that were deleted was the Dolphis Raymond scene were Dill drinks the coke that is supposed to be booze. The scenes that were missed the most were the school scenes all deleted. The school scenes were important they give insight on how the school was built. The Characters compared to the actors in the movie were good in some cases but bad in others. The actor Atticus was a perfect match for the character in the book physical, and physiological. The character Jem is not...

Effective Speech Writing, Inspirational Public Speaking

Effective Speech Writing, Inspirational Public Speaking Writing speeches for graduation, class assignments, or other purposes consists of a lot more than finding a few inspirational quotes and possibly a funny story or two. The key to writing good speeches lies in using a theme. If you always refer back to this theme, the audience will respond positively and remember your words. This does not mean that inspirational quotes are not important, but they should be integrated into your speech in a way that makes sense. Choosing a Theme The first task that a public speaker needs to focus on before they do any actual writing is the message they are trying to convey. My inspiration for this idea came from the speeches of John F. Kennedy. In his Inaugural Speech, he chose to focus on freedom. He addressed many different topics, but always came back to this idea of liberty. When asked to be the guest speaker at a National Honor Society induction recently, I decided to focus on how an individuals daily decisions add up to reveal that persons true character. We can not cheat in the small things and expect these blemishes to never surface. When the real tests in life occur, our character will not be able to withstand the pressure because we have not chosen the harder path all along. Why did I choose this as my theme? My audience consisted of Juniors and Seniors at the top of their respective classes. They had to meet stringent requirements in the areas of scholarship, community service, leadership, and character in order to be accepted into the organization. I wanted to leave them with one idea that might make them think twice. How does this relate to you? First, you must decide who will make up your audience. In a graduation speech, you are addressing your fellow classmates. However, parents, grandparents, teachers and administrators will also be present. While you will be focusing on people your age, what you say must be in line with the dignity of the ceremony itself. Remembering that, think of the ONE thought with which you want to leave your audience. Why only one idea? Mainly because if you reinforce a single point instead of focusing on a number of different ideas, your audience will have a greater tendency to remember it. A speech does not lend itself to having many themes. Stick with one really good theme, and use each point you make, your theme reinforcers, to bring that idea home. If you would like some ideas for possible themes, look at the world around you. What are people concerned about? If you are speaking about the state of education, find one central idea that you feel strongly about. Then return to that idea with each point you make. Write your individual points to reinforce your idea. To return to the graduation speech, check out these top ten themes to use when writing your speech. Utilizing Theme Reinforcers Theme reinforcers are simply the points that a speechwriter uses throughout his or her speech to reinforce the central idea they are trying to get across. In Winston Churchills famous commencement address to Westminster College in 1946, we find him emphasizing over and over again the need for cooperation against tyranny and war. His speech covered serious problems with which the post-war world was faced, including what he termed as the iron curtain that had descended across the European continent. Many say that this speech was the beginning of the cold war.  What we can learn from his address is the importance of continually reiterating one idea. The effect that this speech had on the world is almost incalculable. On a more local note, I used the four requirements necessary to become a member of NHS as my four points. When I discussed scholarship, I returned to my idea of daily decisions and said that a students attitude towards learning is increased positively with each personal decision to focus on the task at hand. If a student enters a class with the attitude that they want to learn what is being taught, then their efforts will shine forth in true learning. I continued in this vein for each of the other three requirements. Of course, this does not mean that throughout the speech the same words are repeated over and over. The hardest part of writing any speech is to approach the main theme from many different angles. Wrapping it All Together Once youve picked your theme and chosen the points you want to emphasize, putting the speech together is fairly simple. You can organize it first in outline form, remembering to return at the end of each point to the theme you are trying to get across. Numbering your points sometimes helps the audience remember where you are and how far you have left to travel before the climax of your speech. This climax is the most important part. It should be the last paragraph, and leave everyone with something to think about. One great way to bring your ideas home is to find a quote which aptly embodies your theme. As Jean Rostand said, Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said. Quotes, Resources and an Unconventional Idea Find great quotations and other speech writing resources. The tips found on many of these pages are awesome, especially the strategies for giving the speeches themselves. There are also many unconventional ideas that can be incorporated into speeches. A great example of this occurred during a graduation speech by a Valedictorian which incorporated music throughout. She picked three different songs to represent the students elementary, middle, and high school years and played them softly while she went through memories for the class. Her theme was a celebration of life as it was, is, and will be. She ended with a song of hope and left students with the idea that there was a lot to look forward to in the future. Speech writing is all about knowing your audience and addressing their concerns. Leave your audience with something about which to think. Include humor and inspirational quotes. But make sure that each of these are integrated into the whole. Study the great speeches of the past to find inspiration. The joy that you will feel when you have given a speech that has inspired people is amazing and worth the effort. Good luck! Inspiring Speech Example The following speech was delivered during an induction to the National Honor Society.   Good Evening. I am both honored and flattered to have been asked to speak for this wonderful occasion. I congratulate each of you and your parents. Your achievements in the realms of Scholarship, Leadership, Community Service, and Character are being honored here tonight by your induction into this prestigious society. An honor such as this is a wonderful way for the school and community to recognize and celebrate the choices, and sometimes the sacrifices, you have made. But I believe that what should make you and your parents the most proud is not the actual honor itself, but what you had to do to get it. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Any recognition is just the icing on the cake, not to be expected but definitely to be enjoyed. However, I challenge you not to rest on your laurels but to continue to strive towards even loftier goals. The four requirements for membership in which you have excelled: scholarship, leadership, community service, and character were not chosen at random. They are the core of a fulfilled and fulfilling life. The most important thing to remember is that each of these characteristics are the sum of many individual decisions. They embody a positive attitude backed by purpose. The only way to achieve your purpose is to take small actions everyday. In the end, they all add up. My hope for you is that you will cultivate this attitude backed by purpose in your own life. PAUSE Scholarship is much more than just getting straight As. It is a life-long love of learning. In the end it is a sum of small choices. Each time you decide you WANT to learn something, the experience will be so rewarding that the next time becomes easier. Soon learning becomes a habit. At that point, your desire to learn makes getting As easier while taking the focus off of grades. The knowledge can still be hard to gain, but knowing youve mastered a difficult subject is an awesome reward. Suddenly the world around you becomes richer, full of learning opportunities. PAUSE Leadership is not about being elected or appointed to an office. The office does not teach someone how to be a leader. Leadership is an attitude cultivated over time. Are you one to stand up for what you believe in and face the music even when that music happens to be unpleasant? Do you have a purpose and follow that purpose to get the ends you desire? Do you have a vision? These are all questions that true leaders answer in the affirmative.But how do you become a leader? Each small decision you make takes you one step closer. Remember the goal is not to get power, but to get your vision and your purpose across. Leaders without visions can be likened to driving in a strange town without a road map: you are going to wind up somewhere, it just might not be in the best part of town. PAUSE Many see community service as a means to an end. Some might see it as a way to get service points while socializing, while others may view it as an unfortunate (and often inconvenient) necessity of high school life. But is that true community service? Once again true community service is an attitude. Are you doing it for the right reasons? Im not saying there wont be Saturday mornings when you would rather sleep your heart out than paint your heart out. What Im talking about is that in the end, when it is all done, and you are once again well-rested, you can look back and realize that you did something worthwhile. That you helped your fellow man in some way. Remember as John Donne said, No man is an island entire of himself. PAUSE Finally, character. If there is any one thing that is evidenced by your daily choices it is your character. I truly believe what Thomas Macaulay said, The measure of a mans real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. What do you do when no ones around? The teacher steps out of the room for a moment while you are taking a test after school. You know exactly where in your notes the answer to question 23 is. Do you look? Minimal chance of being caught! The answer to this question is the key to your true character. For while being honest and honorable when others are watching is important, being true to yourself is tantamount. And in the end, these private day-to-day decisions will eventually reveal your true character to the world. PAUSE All in all, are making the tough choices worth it? Yes. While it would be easier to slide through life without a purpose, without a code, it would not be fulfilling. Only by setting difficult goals and achieving them can we find true self-worth. One final thing, each persons goals are different, and what comes easy to one may be difficult for another. Therefore, do not squash others dreams. This is a surefire way to know that you arent working towards fulfilling your own. In conclusion, I congratulate you for this honor. You are truly the best of the best. Enjoy yourself, and remember as Mother Teresa said, Life is a promise; fulfill it.

Motivation, values and involvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motivation, values and involvement - Essay Example Motivation is a complex phenomenon. In direct relation to consumer behaviour, it refers to the facts which incite consumers to behave in a certain way, as in, all these being equal, to repeatedly purchase one brand instead of another. Generally speaking, motivation is a response to latent or overt biological or learned need. Indeed, products have the potential to address overt needs, or awaken latent ones and, in so doing, create a sense of want which can only be satisfied through the purchase of the product. In direct relation to the aforementioned, it is important to point out that the assumption that the purchase/use of a certain product will satisfy need/want is the crux of the expectancy theory and, in itself, contributes to the intensification of motivation. Proceeding from the above stated, it is important to clarify that there are different types and categories of need. This phenomenon is referred to as need hierarchy and has been fully explained by Maslow's theory of need. According to the aforementioned, people have different types of needs, some of which, such as the need to shelter, are more pressing than others, such as the need for recognition.

Panasonic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Panasonic - Essay Example In 1920, Hoichi Kai was formed after WWI to ensure that all the employees, who had grown in number with the passage of time, worked together in healthy collaboration. The company had grown into a big business by 1922. It was in May 2003 that the officials decided that â€Å"Panasonic† would be the global brand name for all products of the company, with brand slogan as â€Å"Panasonic ideas for life† (Panasonic, 2013c). Panasonic was already the brand name for the companies’ loud speakers back in 1955, and that is why it was named â€Å"pan† and â€Å"sonic†. Panasonic became the national brand name in the last decade, and all outdoor signs were also altered correspondingly. Now, Panasonic has become a corporate brand that offers a wide variety of spectacular products and services. With hard work, dedication and innovation as the founding principles of the company, Panasonic has become one of the giant companies that offer a myriad of products that a re present in the households of common people all around the world. This paper sheds light on important aspects of this extravagant brand name while focusing on important branding theories. What makes Panasonic Successful? With its head office located in Osaka, Japan, and under current presidency of Kazuhiro Tsuga, Panasonic has been able to outshine many of its competitors with constant struggle, hard work and innovation as its base message. ... s saving energy and resources, planting trees, conducting cleanup activities and providing eco-based promotion and education.† It is one of the basic management principles of Panasonic’s to care for and synchronize with the ecosystem; and, that is why, Panasonic products can be termed as green products, since they help save energy while maintaining the vitality of the environment. Panasonic products are energy efficient, and are manufactured in sites under environment friendly conditions, like reduction of emission of CO2 and other toxic gases. Eco-friendly behavior of Panasonic has made it popular among people all over the globe. Panasonic works in collaboration with consumers, suppliers, vendors, and experts to make green innovations possible on a worldwide level. Supply chain and logistic partners have made it possible for Panasonic to reduce environmental impacts during the manufacture process. Panasonic also believes in maintaining and highlighting biodiversity in a reas where Panasonic sites are located. Since ecosystem-friendliness or greenness of Panasonic products is what makes Panasonic successful, we shall probe further into the same idea. Panasonic aims to become the leading Green Innovation Company on its 100th anniversary in 2018 (Panasonic Corporation of North America, 2013b). Green Innovation Company will have two main goals: Green Life Innovation, and Green Business Innovation. Green Life Innovation will make people’s lives eco-friendly by introducing more energy-efficient products; and, Green Business Innovation will improve organizational performance through modernization. Panasonic works under the principle that manufacturing impacts should be minimized in the manufacturing process. For example, products are manufactured with lead-free

Activists Beyond Borders Essay Example for Free

Activists Beyond Borders Essay Contemporary approaches to international relations have been widely regarded as ineffective public policy initiatives based on ideological political agendas as opposed to practical and innovative social activism.   In their landmark book, Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics, Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink offer both an insightful theoretical background and a multi-disciplinary guide to achieving progressive activism that transcends the traditional methods (failures) of international governmental agencies and governments themselves. With this essay I will lay out the basis for the book with the hopes of highlighting its strengths as well as pointing out possible shortcomings in an attempt to demonstrate the always challenging effort to combine forces for a common social agenda. The major strength of the book is fortified by its willingness to critique the previous short-sided solutions put forth by international governmental institutions such as the World Health Organization and the International Monetary Fund. Their argument, based on the cultural shift of the 1960’s and accelerated through the technological innovations that facilitate both global and local communicative strategies and alliances, points toward transnational advocacy networks that ‘carry and re-frame ideas, insert them in policy debates, pressure for regime formation, and enforce existing norms and rules, at the same time that they try to influence particular domestic political issues’ (p. 199).   In this way, they are trying to both work around the existing discourse of international policy while at the same time trying to reform the discussion from within, albeit via non-governmental organizations. This idealism can also be the shortcoming of the book as well because it breaks apart the mythological unified dimension of international advocacy groups .   The nature of the transnational advocacy groups necessitates the fragmentation of a unified group that could possibly carry the necessary force to grab the headlines and attention of groups such as the WHO and IMF.   By leaving their argument based on a symbolic narrative of ‘transnational advocacy groups’ but leaving out possibly critiques against them, the authors unfortunately invite further critique, even from parties that ideally agree with them, like myself. One notable success story, a very tragic one at base, is the example of Cindy Sheehan and her epic battle to gain international support for trying to bring an end to the war in Iraq.   She has been fearless in her fight and in doing so has mobilized thousands of supporters throughout the international community as well as garnering a wealth of complementary media coverage that leverages her cause against an extremely vulnerable an emotionally taxing target.   Her extreme measures and lack of fear have on the one hand created a groundswell of public admiration and support, but at the same time she has run the risk of overexposure and the resulting media backlash by over saturating her symbolic politics. This is a fine line that Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink acknowledge in their research and it is part and parcel to the overall struggle that transnational advocacy groups face in their battle to garner the necessary support of intellectuals, parallel advocacy groups, sympathetic non-governmental agencies, and ultimately the financial and ideological backing of official governmental policy groups that hold the power to enact and enforce the changes that are being fought for.

Frankenstein Visits Utopia :: Shelley More Utopia Frankenstein Essays

Introduction â€Å"I HAD DESIRED IT WITH AN ARDOR THAT FAR EXCEEDED MODERATION; BUT NOW THAT I HAD FINISHED, THE BEAUTY OF THE DREAM VANISHED, AND BREATHLESS HORROR AND DISGUST FILLED MY HEART.† This statement by Mary Shelley, from the story Frankenstein, reflects the passions of men to pursue dreams, despite the often imminent consequences of their actions. In Thomas More’s Utopia, the reader experiences a similar tension for an uncertain place called Utopia. This place is described by a visitor to this land, named Raphael, as having a perfect society. How will Frankenstein fit in Utopia? Lets find out from Sir Thomas More, as both he and I can now see Frankenstein’s boat approaching, in return from a six month stay on the island of Utopia. We have not been in contact with Frankenstein since his departure in June. As far as we know, all is well, considering the saying ‘no news is good news.’ Book One More:While we have a few minutes, let me fill you in on some details about the island and its inhabitants, as described by Raphael’s five year visit. I would also like to reveal to you Frankenstein’s plight that led him to flee to such a place as Utopia. I am certain that Frankenstein’s perspective of Utopia will not be as representative as Raphael’s, but the feedback will undoubtedly be quite interesting. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Raphael immediately after his return from Utopia. Over the span of a lunch sitting, Raphael described this island in vivid detail. Some of these descriptions I have long since forgotten due to a fire that engulfed my office, incinerating all my notes from this visit with Raphael. Still, I am quite aware of the wondrous details provided to me by Raphael’s account, including the intricacies of such a well organized and fascinating political system, and the overall quality of life, where nobody owns anything, but everyone is rich. I can never forget Raphael’s statement, â€Å"for what greater wealth can there be than cheerfulness, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety?† We shall soon see if this statement holds water. On that note, let me begin with the politics of Utopia and then I will brief all the other interesting facets that make this island so unique. I would also like to inform you of my predictions of the effects this island should have on Mr.

Ethics And Issues Essay

How should schools deal with Internet plagiarism? There are many ways as to how a school can deal with internet plagiarism. Firstly, they should teach their students the importance of writing a fair work and the worth of hard work it has. Students need to know that any piece written by them is their own accomplished hard work that is entirely original. In such a way, they have learned the essential elements of the work that the school teacher wanted them to work on. In other words, they have succeeded in meeting the requirements of the coursework, no matter what grade they get. Secondly, teachers should highly emphasize on the topic of ethics and ethical writing to the students. Apart from these, a school has to be up-to-date regarding the different ways as to how the students plagiarize. Keeping a track on the past papers of the previous is one way. The other is to use anti-plagiarism software today. The popular software used these days by the universities is Turnitin. com or Mydropbox. com. Students should be taught that plagiarism is a crime and is equivalent to stealing. Altering digital photos: Art or Fraud  Similar to plagiarizing, altering digital photos is fraud and can earn even legal consequences if used for financial or academic gains. Altering digital photos and stating it as your own work is like stealing someone else’s work, making some additions and stating it as your own. Just as the painting of Mona Lisa will always be the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, no matter how altered it is, any work done on anybody’s presently done work is a crime. In my opinion, altering digital photos can never be an art but a fraud because the original work is done by someone else. Photojournalism is mostly subjected to this fraud. If altering digital photos was to be considered as art, many people would misuse it to present as legal evidences. Since the natures of digital photos are, in a way, alterable, these pieces are never considered as a piece of legal evidence. Software have been developed where any alter in the digital images are spotted and traced that avoids altering of any digital piece as well (Pearson, 2006). Altering any image or piece for one’s own benefit in order to gain money is a crime, thus a fraud and not an art. Just as a re-mix music cannot be regarded as an original piece of art, altering digital photos, too cannot be regarded as an art.