Disastrous success prompt Essay

Success does not last forever and problems still arise even after achieving it. Unfortunately, it is a common misapprehension that achieving success will solve every difficulty in life, which is why many strive to achieve it. Success is only a brief moment where one has reached his or her goals in life through hard work and perseverance. There is no guarantee that no problems will exist in one’s life after attaining success. In fact, success could also lead to a disaster and detrimental consequences. Some events that took place during World War II are perfect examples of the above. The misunderstanding of many is that achieving success is the resolution to every problem. Regrettably, if that was the case, we would live in a perfect world. The old saying, â€Å"be careful what you wish for† could apply here as a disclaimer to succeeding because it very well could be disastrous. Adolf Hitler would be a perfect example of disastrous success. Before World War II, he drove the Nazi Party to its pinnacle during the Great Depression in Germany. He promised Germans to regain all the land lost in World War I, to purify the German race and eradicate all Jews, and to bring Germany out of the depression. His success in the country proved to be extremely catastrophic for the Jews. During the war, Hitler ordered the extermination of the Jewish race. By the end of the war he had massacred 11,000,000 people. His success was the tragedy, suffering, and death of numerous Jews. Also, when he lost the war and was captured and died, it led Germany to another period of anarchy and another change in government. Another example that would relate to ruinous success, also from World War II, would be from the end of the war when Germany had surrendered to US forces but Japan would not. To get Japan to surrender, a group a scientists used Albert Einstein’s theories to create the first ever atomic bomb. The scientists knew the damaging effects of the bomb’s success but still allowed its use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to get Japan to surrender. Even though the bomb was effective and allowed the US and allied forces to win the war, it massacred countless lives and devastated two major cities. Unfortunately, the creation of the atomic bomb led to the Cold War, the Nuclear Arms Race, and the creation of numerous nuclear weapons. Even though the bomb was successful in its immediate purpose, it became a leeway to the invention of many other deadly weapons. All in all, success can become very disastrous even though many perceive it as a positive event in life. Hitler’s reign on Germany and the invention of the atomic bomb both demonstrate the devastating effects of success. It can either be help or hindrance in life. Therefore, one must be mindful of the long lasting negative consequences of one’s success.

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay

Introduction The process of restructuring the telecommunication sector truly got under way in Cameroon in June 1995, when the authorities decided thoroughly to reform network industry sectors such as water, electricity and telecommunications with a view to creating a favourable environment in which to develop their infrastructure and services and thus to satisfy increasingly exigent demand. The process took the form of liberalization, State withdrawal from the sectors concerned and the establishment of a  market structure enabling Cameroon to remain in step with the especially rapid global developments in the telecommunication sector; indeed, in spite of the investments made, the coverage rate and quality of service offered had remained largely inadequate. The process was carried out not only by defining the conditions and mechanisms liable to guarantee the sector’s opening to private initiative, but also by enacting regulations and taking measures intended to enable the sector to play t he decisive role incumbent on it in Cameroon’s economic development. Telecommunication sector reform in Cameroon is not limited to the establishment of new regulations and legislation, to the revision of the institutional framework and the establishment of an interconnection regime or to the introduction of competition. It should also comprise bringing behaviour in line with the times. One of our chief concerns is therefore also effective application of the regulations with a view to fulfilling the universal service obligation, ensuring consumer protection and providing for effective and appropriate regulation of true competition. The acquisition of the required know-how is the biggest challenge we face. The institutional players on Cameroon’s telecommunications scene are, as in many other African countries, of the opinion that any society that delays in jumping on the NTIC train will remain mired in a state of underdevelopment. Observations Background Before 1990, as in most African countries, telecommunication services were managed by a national publicly-owned monopoly. The administration in charge of telecommunications set the rules, ensured they were applied and was itself an operator. The results did not always live up to expectations. In June 1990, the President of the Republic signed the order on the programme to privatize public and semi-public enterprises. The telecommunication sector was added to the programme in June 1995. In July 1998, law 98/014 governing telecommunications in Cameroon (the Telecommunications Act) was promulgated. It established the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency and attributed sector responsibilities to a variety of players: the operation of  telecommunication networks to operators, regulatory matters, i.e. application of the rules and supervision of operators, to a regulatory body, the definition of sector policy and the enactment of market regulations to the telecommunication administration. In September of the same year, two public enterprises, CAMTEL for the fixed telephone service and CAMTEL MOBILE for the mobile telephone service, were set up to take over the telecommunication activities of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and of the public enterprise INTELCAM, which was in charge of operating and developing international telecommunication installations. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency was set up at the  same time. Immediately after, the sale of a mobile telephone licence and the process of privatizing CAMTEL and CAMTEL MOBILE got under way. In June 1999, a mobile telephone licence was granted to a private enterprise. The privatization of CAMTEL MOBILE was completed in February 2000. The privatization of CAMTEL is not yet complete. A third mobile telephone licence is to be issued. In less than two years, the sector has undergone sweeping change. Suffice it to mention one indicator: in January 2000 there was one mobile telephone operator with about 5 000 subscribers; on 31 March 2001 there were two operators with over 140 000 subscribers. This rapid and in-depth transformation is taking place within a constantly improving legal framework. II A liberal legal framework The development of new technologies and liberalization have permitted access to new telecommunication services which, depending on their specific natures, require appropriate regulation. The Telecommunications Act sets forth a new regulatory framework, opening the telecommunication sector to competition. The framework, which distinguishes between public and private networks, provides for three legal arrangements: concessions, authorizations  and declarations. 1 Concessions The State can grant one or several public or private corporate bodies all or part of its rights to establish and/or operate telecommunication networks. The concession is subject to strict compliance with the requirements set forth in a list of terms and conditions. This arrangement allows the State not only to keep a watchful eye on the harmonious development of modern telecommunication infrastructure, but also and above all to heighten its control over the development and supply of the basic services and facilities us ually demanded by the majority of users. 2 Authorizations The arrangement of prior authorization applies to the establishment and/or operation of telecommunication networks by physical persons or corporate bodies with a view to providing the public with a basic telecommunication service, a value-added service, a bearer service or any other service by using one or several radio frequencies. A list of terms and conditions containing the requirements to be met is attached to the licence issued to the bearer of a prior authorization. The authorization is issued for a fixed period and can be withdrawn under certain circumstances. 3 Declarations Declarations apply to the establishment of private internal networks, low-range and low-capacity private independent networks (that are not radio networks), low-range and low-capacity radio installations (to be determined  by the Administration), and the provision to the public of telecommunication services other than those subject to the arrangements of concession and authorization. Telecommunication terminal equipment is either freely provided or subject to type-approval. Certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act are detailed in decrees and implementing legislation. We shall not examine all of them here; indeed, some of them are still being drafted. The reform in Cameroon established the separation between the regulatory and operating functions. It works in favour of operators being entities controlled by private capital. The general framework for competition is governed by legislation on competition. The legal framework is supplemented by institutions. III 1 A revised institutional framework The telecommunication administration Spectrum management and the legislation and regulations relating to telecommunications are the exclusive domain of the State. The telecommunication administration has been invested, on behalf of the government, with general jurisdiction over the sector. It sets the general regulatory framework. It therefore establishes and implements telecommunication sector policy, whose aim must be to safeguard the missions of public service, to promote harmonious network development throughout the national territory and effective private sector participation in the sector’s wealth and employment-generating activities, and to ensure compliance by all operators with the applicable treaties, laws and regulations. In addition, the administration supervises the telecommunication sector, oversees public telecommunication enterprises, represents the State at international telecommunication-related organizations and events, and manages the radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency, which technically answers to the telecommunication administration, is the specialized body in charge of  facilitating actual application of the regulations issued. 2 The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency The organization of the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency established by the Telecommunications Act is set forth in decree No. 98/197 of 8 September 1998. The Agency has three main duties: – to ensure the regulations are implemented; – to guarantee respect for the regulations and the exercise of competition; – to settle certain disputes between operators. The Agency’s regulatory authority is subject to performance of the following activities: – definition of the principles governing tariffs for services; – examination of requests for authorization and declaration and of type-approval files for terminal equipment to be connected to public networks; – establishment of principles for calculating interconnection costs; – establishment and management of numbering plans; – management of the frequencies attributed to telecommunications; – submission to the government of proposals aimed at developing and modernizing the sector; – opinions on draft legislative and regulatory texts concerning telecommunications; – control and penalties for infractions. The Agency is specifically competent to settle disputes concerning interconnection, access to a public network, numbering, cases of harmful interference, and sharing of infrastructure. The Telecommunications Act provides the Agency with a quasi-judicial body and an arbitration procedure can be set in motion should one or the other of the parties be opposed. The parties remain free to bring their case before the competent court. IV Human resources Human resources are the key to management and progress, for they have knowledge, that rarest of economic commodities in the 21st century. The current transition from a monopoly environment to that of controlled competition has given rise to new demands in terms of basic knowledge and know- how in telecommunication regulation. Telecommunication leaders and staff in Cameroon were still dealing with the transition from analogue to digital when circuit switching was suddenly replaced by packet switching. This recent change has reshaped the concept and definition of telecommunication networks and services. Everything must therefore be done to make sure the human resources acquire the skills they need for their own development and that of companies, which create wealth for the well-being of peoples. The Ecole Nationale Supà ©rieure des Postes et Tà ©là ©communications, an independent facility run by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, provides basic instruction in telecommunications and ICT to technicians (technical and operating staff), supervising technicians (operating technicians and supervisors) and senior technical managers (works engineers and operating inspectors). It plans to organize standing professional certification for the staff of public and private enterprises and of the public administrations in charge of telecommunications and ICT. V International cooperation Cameroon has always been present and active in regional and international telecommunication organizations. It is a member of the Administrative Councils of both the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has had very few bilateral exchanges of experience and information with other African countries. The ineffectiveness of regional (ATU) and subregional organizations (CAPTAC) has precluded the launch at subregional level of cooperation activities aimed at developing telecommunications in Cameroon. At the international level, ITU  has not been closely involved in telecommunication sector reform. In the past eight years, it has provided some technical assistance but otherwise almost no support for telecommunication development projects in Cameroon, possibly because the Area Office in Yaoundà © is not functioning. The capacities of the Area Office in Yaoundà © should be reinforced. Its main duties should be: – To disseminate ITU documents and information in the area. For this, it should have the means required to provide the documentation centres of the main players in each of the area’s countries with the documents and books needed to acquire knowledge in telecommunications and ICT, for most of the sector’s African managers will have to teach themselves. In this respect, hard as opposed to electronic copies remain invaluable in Africa.

Gramscis Notion of Hegemony in Relation to the Youths of Today Essay

Gramscis Notion of Hegemony in Relation to the Youths of Today - Essay Example It should be studied in relation to other matters which could explain more of its attributes and make clear some of its questionable notions. Significantly, an aspect of hegemony could be understood through the study of the behavior and ideology of today’s youth. A particular author has proposed a new concept of hegemony which is relevant to the plight of the present young generation. In exposing the other side of hegemony, Antonio Gramsci has emphasized the importance of making use of one’s intellect in changing the face of the society. In lieu of this fact, the essay will discuss Gramsci’s notion of hegemony and its relation to the youths of today. Gramsci’s Notion of Hegemony Gramsci explains the intellectual aspect of hegemony, suggesting an intellectual struggle instead of power or political struggle. This supports the introductory argument saying that hegemony could actually be understood in light of its other aspects. Intellectual hegemony exists fo r a fact according to Gramsci. He believes that intellectual and cultural activities could also affect social change and not just an economic change (Cuff, et al., 1998). To note, in political economy, hegemony is actually associated to the struggle of economic power in the international arena. To effect an economic change, a particular country applies soft power to influence the economic system of other nations. Certain cultures are used to achieve an economic domination. Nonetheless, for Gramsci, hegemony could actually be viewed in terms of social manipulation. The members of the society could be made to affirm a particular belief or practice through the application of some intellectual activities. Antonio Gramsci actually considers ideas as weapons to change the present state of affairs of the different societies in the world (Cuff, et al., 1998). To note, these ideas are expressed and relayed upon by the influential sectors of the society such as the media. For an idea to have a hegemonic effect, it should be spread to a great number of people. The media is very significant to achieve this objective. It has the ability to influence the thinking of a person by just presenting an idea. It is in this sense that the media could manipulate the thoughts and actions of the members of a particular community. Nonetheless, so as to be in accordance with Gramsci’s notion, the idea which is to be relayed by the media should be one which is aimed at changing the society. What is to be changed is of course the bad image of a particular community. However, for a change to occur there has to be an agent. Relevantly, the youths of today could fill up this need. They could be an effective instrument for social change to happen with the help of the media. In changing the society, there has to be intellectual domination. This means that a certain idea has to be instilled in the people’s mind. The installation however, should be one which could not allow any out side factors to make an opposite claim. In this instance, the members of the society are able to resist any position which is inconsistent to what they have been exposed to. This is to say that for an intellectual domination to take place, the members of the society must learn to adhere to a common idea. The Youths of Today To emphasize, the youths are the ones primarily influenced by the media (Scheibe, n.d. cited in Mazzarella, 2007, p.61). They are the ones who are most exposed to the ideas that the media introduces. Accordingly, the dominant ideology believed in by today’s youth is a product of media’s manipulation. This proves the efficacy of media’s manipulative power. If this attribute is used for the betterment of the society, then the media would be seen as essential in creating the intellectual dom

Performance Incentive Programs in Healthcare Research Paper

Performance Incentive Programs in Healthcare - Research Paper Example In the second report of the Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, the â€Å"quality gap† of the healthcare practice in America was revealed with over 70 studies documenting quality shortcomings.   The quality gap was more prominent in the care that people should receive and the care that they do not receive.   In the second report of the Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, the â€Å"quality gap† of the healthcare practice in America was revealed with over 70 studies documenting quality shortcomings.   The quality gap was more prominent in the care that people should receive and the care that they do not receive.    B. Flaws in the structure of the current health care payment system- fee for service part of the structural flaw that led to quality gaps and the deteriorated state of US healthcare system was partly attributed to the systems of payment to medical providers that do not encourage quality but rather volume.1. Fee for service does not consider quality, efficiency, and cost management quality gaps and deteriorated state of health care that is susceptible to error that accounted for 44,000 to 98,000 deaths per year in the US could have been attributed to the fee for service payment system that does not consider quality, efficiency and cost management (IOM, 2001).   The fee for service payment systems stresses more on quantity and volume rather than the quality of care that a medical provider gives to a patient. 2. Managed Care Organizations differHMOs, PPOs are third-party managed care organizations that also differ in payment to medical providers.   This payment system is not driven to provide quality care but to reduce its cost which could be inimical to the quality of care rendered since the fees are already predetermined.

Genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Genre - Essay Example This will enable in the better presentation of the architecture blog. Designs are the major part of concern and this genre is given more importance when compared to other features of the site. Due to this factor, the designs must be updated frequently. This will attract the viewers and make them understand about a specific architecture. Blogs contain features that allow the viewers to post their comments, pictures and updates. The blog, ‘Daily dose of architecture’, consists these features and it also provides the users with an option to share the pictures with their friends. There are several blogs that provide information about architectures. The feature that makes this blog unique is the way they provide information regarding a particular architectural marvel. Out of these three blogs, each of them follows a certain standard depending on which they provide information about architecture. ‘Daily dose of architecture’ is a blog where the readers get to know about architectures around the world. Information on the home page is updated on a daily basis and readers get a chance to know about the new aspects of architecture. Each day a picture of either a building or some unique construction is put up on the blog’s home page. This kindles the interest of the reader thereby providing them with all the required information. The pattern and color scheme of the blog attracts every reader and they have incorporated unique patterns and fonts to make the blog more interesting. For each link and feature, a picture is included with text and this makes the process of blogging an enjoyable experience. Even the font and color schemes are different for each page and the pictures, texts and colors have been selected with utmost care. Each and every blog differs in its own way. When considering ‘Daily dose of architecture’, it concentrates more on pictorial representation and explanation when compared to textual explanations. The concept of a

Morgan Motor Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Morgan Motor Company - Assignment Example The profile of the Production manager shows that he is not trained in the techniques of production. Mere knowledge will be of no use unless one knows how to do things in sequence at a fast enough rate of speed so that out put is maximised and prices are made competitive. This is one example of how company is run as far labour recruitment is concerned. Hence the company to move forward from its century old stagnation, must implement Human Resource Development policies and train the existing labour force including supervisors and managerial level to work at optimum efficiency levels on par with current management practices and recruit new hands following scientific management methods. Besides, stocking pattern of raw materials is not in accordance with norms of working capital management. There should be forecast of raw materials and components required so that stock are maintained at optimum levels to ensure against locking of capital in non and slow moving items which can result in n on availability of funds for the much needed components for lack which production might have been held up and labour force in all other divisions will also be idling as a result. The company seems to believe in long waiting list of customers as a status symbol of its products in demand and also ensure future production. It simply believes that if the order book is full and customers are made to wait indefinitely under some false notions, the company's future is guaranteed and product's prestige is enhanced. . The only USP of the car is that its components are hand made and there are enthusiastic car lovers around to take care of the company's future. These are false notions and in modern management thinking, overflowing order book is an index of company's inefficiency and poor management. It is not the case that overflowing order book is seasonal and hence expansion for the purpose is inadvisable. The company's ability to produce cars is not more than 500 per year but the demand is much more going by the overflowing order book. It can be still higher if only deliveries are prompt which potential company has failed to realise. It is also difficult to digest that the company has not installed computer for use in its day to day management. These days, lack of computer is a serious handicap for any business or for that matter any one as the computer can give up-to-the-minute if not second update on stocks position, bills payable and receivable positions which are crucial for working capital management and accounting information such as Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account will show if the company is running profitably or at loss and how much it has earned or lost. so as to make future planning practicable instead of planning in darkness. Besides CADD is completely absent in the company's dictionary. There is no R & D arrangement to keep innovating and stay ahead in the market. The company's obsession with old traditions and hand made cars should not stand in the way of innovations since they need not be at the cost of old traditions and hand made cars concept. Like old wine in a new bottle, the hand made car can still be made with innovative concepts and achieve cost cutting and fuel efficiency. The ancient form of ayurveda system of medicine is now taught under modern conditions. Stethoscopes, imaging technologies are now used in

Media Ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media Ethics - Case Study Example The media house’s reporter went ahead and released the story on Ashe’s health condition overseas prior to Ashe’s consent which forced the athlete to publicly admit his health condition when he was not yet prepared. The actions of the reporter were not in line with how journalists even back them ought to have conducted themselves especially in regards to moral and ethical duties as a major newspaper like USA Today. The chief ethical issue that arose out of this case had to do with the reporter’s express refusal to wait a little longer before publishing the story. The reason that he gave for doing exactly this was that the public needed to get to know this information. These actions of the reporter did not serve any level of good informative justice to Arthur Ashe (Foreman, 2010). There are various ethical facts that a reporter or journalist has to take into consideration before making an ethical decision as regards to Arthur Ashe’s case. One thing that we have to consider also is that the athlete put himself out there in the public domain the moment he decided to be a professional tennis player and become one of the leading opponents of the South African apartheid regime. A journalist could have therefore argued that a person of such social standing could be appropriately considered as a celebrity and social icon (Foreman, 2010). The other fact that had to be considered was that Ashe being an athlete, he had connections and obligations to his sponsors or some media outlets. This therefore means that he was contractually obligated to maintain a specific image. All these factors mean that he had to maintain some form of responsibility to his sponsors and fans in social and economic terms as well. The person to whom a journalist is responsible to will always tend to change depending on the circumstance. Journalists always tend to state that they are ultimately

Real estate in america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Real estate in america - Essay Example No doubt, this study give quantitative proof of the degree to which public real estate management put into practice at the present lags at the back the private sector, an knowledge gap that may point to suboptimal management of openly owned real estate in general, and puts the public division at a difficulty when dealing by means of developers in combined projects. No doubt, this gap means that in general management of public property frequently falls short of consequences in meeting rule objectives. No doubt, planners could play a better role in public real estate management, but cannot efficiently manage properties themselves or connect in winning joint growth with no more official training in real estate finance. The methodology here is a direct topic-by-topic comparison of property management activity in the private sector with that in the public sector. The evidence for the private sector comes from five recently published surveys of real estate management practices among non-real-estate firms in the United States. This literature on corporate real estate management surveys organization of the real estate management function, performance evaluation, record and information management, rules for choice on property gaining and nature, role and efficiency of the real estate decision-making, and real estate activities.

Alcoholism in united states Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alcoholism in united states - Research Paper Example . It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to alcohol use, as well as deaths due to fetal alcohol syndrome†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Xu et al., 11) Alcoholism has remained a heated debate owing to its potential and ever increasing threats to the lives of individuals and society in general, and the expenses that the government has to bear, in particular. Ironically, it has been promulgated as a style statement of the rich and the famous by the media. The minimum age requirement for drinking is 21 in the US. At this age, many people cannot control their drinking, and the contemporary urban lifestyle has compelled people to live at the edge of life and to indulge in such habits that may even wreck their lives, health, career, and relationships. One may get into perpetual depression, or have mood swings, as a result of excessive and habitual drinking. Society, family, job and personal relationships are compromised and it is very difficult for the alcoholics to seek help. Social stigmas associated with alcoholism prevent the victims to put an end to this disease and to start reliving a normal and balanced life. Alcoholism is associated with a number of social, psychological, occupational, economic, legal and family problems. Children that face parental divorce, child abuse and neglect are more prone to alcoholism. Criminal behaviors also influence alcohol consumption. In order to research about alcoholism in the United States, the various underlying social and personal causes must be explored. The over exposure of alcohol to young children is also a major factor of the increasing trend of alcoholism. It is not only draining the valuable national exchequer but emptying the pockets of the people in such a recession-hit period of history. Alcoholism is correlated with race and ethnic backgrounds. The pre-dominant ethnic communities living in the USA are: African-Americans,

European colonialism in the Gulf Region Essay Example for Free

European colonialism in the Gulf Region Essay It is recognized that the first resistance was the betrayal of pan-Arab nationalistic aspirations in order to spare western economic and political interests. It was in the year 1917, when the Ottomans allied themselves with the Germans against the French and British empires. In what Antonios (1938/1946). This was known as the â€Å"Arab Awakening, where there is a description of how Shareef Hussein of Mecca, allied themselves with the British and the French. They were also found revolting against the Ottomans. Similarly, they also helped put an end to a rule that continued for more than four centuries. This understanding was based on a treaty between Arabs and the Allies. This was a British promise made to Shareef Hussein a pan-Arab Meccan leader – where the Arabs were seen as a sovereign nation on the ruins of the Ottoman empire. Returning the gesture for this promise, the Arabs revolted against the Ottoman empire which has fallen under the control of the Young Turks. However, the Europeans had another agenda that they wanted to implement. They apparently had other plans for the region. had other plans for the region. Author Said (1993) notes that, the Arabs after liberating themselves from the Ottomans in 1917 and 1918, took British promises for independence as the literal truth(Said, 1993, p. 247). Antonios (1938/1946) describes what happened at the San Remo conference where British and French leaders changed the geography of the region: Whatever else may be said of the San Remo decisions [of spring 1920, in which the whole of the Arab Rectangle lying between the Mediterranean and the Persian frontier was to be placed under mandatory rule], they [allies meeting in San Remo] did violate the general principles proclaimed and the specific promises made by the Allies, and more particularly by Britain. The purport of the pledges given in secret is now known: with that the Arabs had come into the War and made their contribution and their sacrifices, and that fact alone sufficed to turn the corresponding obligation into a debt of honor. What the San Remo did was, in effect, to ignore the debt and come to decisions which, on all the essential points, an counter to the wishes of the peoples concerned (305-6). It was this San Remo agreement between the British and the French that placed the Arabs under their rule. This was to the cornerstone of the animosity between the two. This encouraged the British and thus the Arab-Israeli conflict happened for 65 years (Hourani, 1991). The British leaders also gave promises to the Arab leaders which became known as the Balfour Declaration. This gave Zionists the promise of having a home in Palestine. This betrayal by the West was sown deeply in the hearts of the Arabs. Thus, at the heart of the Arab nationalism is a story of betrayal and bitter disappointment. (Said 1981). Colonialism was no longer called as that. It came to be known as colonialism and more betrayal came as the Arabs were betrayed when a sudden control of Arabs by Muslim non-Arab Ottomans was replaced by the non-Muslim Europeans. The seriousness of this situation was enhanced by the fact that Arab activists were misled into helping assisting the Europeans in their own adoption of colonial rule. The British and French colonialists suppressed national movements within the olonized nations, silenced voices for national independence and self-determination and installed local puppet leaders to help suppress Arab populations in the newly created states. Colonialism is the act of one political state in influencing and exercising its power on a weaker nation, continuing to control its resources and the citizens of that country. In fact, it became a practice that extended far and wide by the powerful European states during the later half of the nineteenth century and most of these colonies were eventually granted its independence. However, the powerful nations exerted its influence as it created lasting impact on former colonies. Colonialism helped shape the world today. (Colonialism). Approximately 20 percent oil exports of the Persian Gulf pass through the port of Rotterdam, there is an awareness that the Dutch will have their economic importance in insuring that there will be a smooth flow of navigation through the waterway. Meanwhile, in Brussels, Prime Minister Wilfried Martens announced that Belgium will send two minesweepers and a support ship to the gulf. These ships will operate south and east of Qatar under British protection. This mission will last for four and a half months (Markham). The mission of the other frigates will be to protect Italian ships after a grenade attack happened on an Italian merchant ship. This was however, not a welcome move as the flotilla was sent â€Å"without enthusiasm. † Their contention is that there is no one who looks forward any military action in Italy. But the Goria government was obliged not only because of its European allies but also because of the demands from the socialist leader and former prime minister, Bettino Craxi. (Markham). Meanwhile, in Paris, Defense Minister Andre Giraud revealed that three minesweepers went to France on Aug. 17 with a support vessel that operated in the gulf of Oman. The minesweepers were dispatched on Aug. 11 and the French officials said they would be confined at Gulf of Aden, which is some 1,000 miles southwest of the Persian Gulf region. A French fleet at the Djibouti rarely penetrates the Persian Gulf and does not accompany French ships through the waterway. Military was not the only factor that influenced France to send its minesweepers to its fleet. Frances decision to add minesweepers to its fleet was not prompted solely by military considerations. It is considered that France and Iran have been at odds over an Iranian diplomat who had some knowledge about terrorism. It was on July 17 when France broke diplomatic relations with Iran, even as nine French diplomats are still hostages in the embassy in Teheran. (Markham). As one looks at the present European colonialism, it is worthwhile to examine the history of the European colonists in the past. The changes in European society began with a series of religious wars called the Crusades. From 1095 to about 1300, European Christians fought Muslims, people who believed in the religion of Islam. Christian fought to gain control of Jerusalem and other areas they believed were holy. The Crusades took Europeans to the Mediterranean area, northeast Africa, and southwest Asia. There they discovered Italian and Arab merchants in control of busy trade centers. These merchants traded spices, fine silks and gems from India, China and Japan. Word of these riches excited Europeans and they dreamed of trading with Asia themselves. Besides dreams of riches, Europeans had other reasons for wanting to open routes to Asia and Africa. They saw exploration as a way to spread Christianity. The Crusades had not won Jerusalem from the Muslims. However, Europeans had not lost their crusading spirit. They were certain that Christianity was the only true religion. Therefore, they believed it was their duty to convert all non-Christians to Christianity. With the spread of Islam in the seventh century AD, the Arab world came into the limelight. Soon enough, the Arabic language became the main communication of the Arabs who shared a sense of kinship with history. This paper looks into six Gulf States and the possibilities/risks/benefits that a Western company faces as it projects doing business in the Gulf regions. These nations include Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman. It will first analyze what a company needs to know before doing business in that region. To gauge this needs an overview of the region’s culture, government and society. Providing a framework of reference, the researcher will then delve into the possible risks that the company may face as well as its benefits. From there, the researcher hopes to identify which region is the most risky and most beneficial to enter into a business venture. Interspersed along the way are examples of companies who have already done business in the region so that the reader is afforded data on actual company experiences. (Doing Business in Qatar). The first oil discovery in Qatar occurred in 1939, which gave Qatar a per capita GDP equal to that of some West European industrialized nations. When this happened, there was a change in control and wealth into Qatar. The introduction of different policies in pricing showed the economic value of oil. Thus began the continuous flow of wealth into this small Kingdom. And what is unique to Qatar is that it is not only from oil but more recently from the massive natural gas reserves that is presently under development (Doing Business in Qatar). We are talking here of recoverable oil reserves of 15 to 23 billion barrels and natural gas reserves estimated to exceed 900 trillion cubic feet. And to think that a country that holds this wealth possess a population of less than a million people of whom just over 200,000 are Qatari citizens. Considering a small region, Qatar is also an excellent start-up market. Its social infrastructure and physical speed of development offer attractive prospects for countries interested in establishing its business in a great potential area. One can just imagine the immensity of its oil reserves when it is revealed that Qatar today holds oil and gas reserves that should last another 300 years. Qatar’s recent development has been closely aligned to the rise and fall of international oil prices This is because oil production represents about 85% of the country’s total income, 55% of its GDP and 70% of the government revenues. † (Doing Business in Qatar). During the Middle Ages, the Muslim countries of the Middle East had exerted its control of the East-West trade. But this dramatically changed in the fifteenth century. The Portuguese were able to make long journeys because they possessed hips with deep hulls that stood stable in high seas. They were able to go longer than the usual routes and = down the west coast of Africa until they found their way around the southern tip of the continent making contact with Muslim cities. Also in the East Africa, the Portuguese were able to get Arab navigators to take them across to India, where they settled themselves in Calicut on the Malabar Coast in the southwestern part of the country. (The Age of Colonialism. Qatar). Today, considered by many as interconnected with colonialism or as the new form of imperialism, globalisation pertains to â€Å"a process of increasing integration between units around the world. This definition encompasses nation-states, corporations, households, and other organizations. The concept of globalisation emerged from three forces for development, to wit: (1) the role of human migration, (2) international trade, and (3) rapid movements of capital and integration of financial markets (Wikipedia 2007). Cheung, citing an OECD paper, explained globalisation as follows: †¦ a shift from a world of distinct national economies to a global economy in which production is internationalized and financial capital flows freely nd instantly between countries and driven by the information revolution that has helped overcome national barriers so that even the framework of social policies affecting individual citizens is becoming more sensitive to international influences, including the global new media (as cited in Cheung 1997, p. 437). Written by John A. Hobson in 1902, imperialism is considered as a political-economic discourse. Essentially, this claimed that the quest for imperial expansion is motivated by explorations for new investment opportunities and markets from coast-to-coast. For Hobson, the â€Å"taproot of imperialism† is found in industrial oligarchy and not in nationalistic pride. He further averred that imperialism, in a capitalist society, â€Å"is a result of the maldistribution of wealth that created a desire to spread markets in search of profit† (Wikipedia 2007). Looking at the history of the western influence and the continuous political decisions of the West in Arab countries during the past century, it can be gleaned that this has set the stage for more tensions and distrust of the West by the Arab people. Many Arab national movements had adopted an anti-western political speech. The interests of the West have not jibed with that of the Gulf regions. (Alkadry). In the post-colonial period, the confrontation with the Arab with Europe was transformed into a confrontation between the Arabs and the United States. It was said that the Arabs in the post-colonial era were in one of three camps: â€Å"repressive regimes friendly to the United States, repressive regimes not friendly to the United States, and occupying regimes that are sustained economically and militarily by the United States. †

Role Of The Quantity Surveyor in Construction

Role Of The Quantity Surveyor in Construction 1.1 Background to the Study A competent design team is crucial for any new building project according to Lee (2008:127). The quantity surveyor can be a very valuable addition to the design team for the client, giving expert advice on contractual and financial matters. The quantity surveyor will have the clients interest as his number one priority and his services can be of great value to any person considering constructing a new building. According to Bowles Le Roux (1992:1) any person considering building or investing in construction projects needs expert advice from a quantity surveyor. No matter the size or complexity of a project, the quantity surveyor provides valuable advice through the various stages of the project. The Guide for Quantity Surveying Appointments (2006) states that any client who is considering building any structure of any size, changing an existing structure or investing in construction projects no matter how simple or complex, needs the expert advice of a professional quantity surveyor for establishing budgets, cash flows, cost planning, cost management and obtaining value for money. Construction projects differ from each other and every project has its own unique challenges. Construction projects are not standard products which have been designed and mass manufactured in a controlled environment. There is a lack of a relatively stable market price. This is due to monthly payments which are made as the work proceeds, before the project reaches completion. As a result of technological, financial and economical influences the methods adopted for construction work are varied and complex and the expert advice of a quantity surveyor should be obtained before the start of any project planning. This is the main reasons why there is a need for the services of a quantity surveyor. (Bowles Le Roux, 1992:2) The ordinary member of the general public has little knowledge or experience in the construction industry. However economically active individuals who can be seen as potential clients for residential construction projects are often reluctant to utilize the services of a professional quantity surveyor. According to Lee (2008:123), a potential pitfall for the first-time homeowner is to utilize the services of a non-reputable contractor who is not affiliated to the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). Members of the general public who are not experienced in the construction industry can be subjected to un-ethical practices and this may lead to their exploitation. Due to the many problems caused by these un-ethical and non-reputable contractors to the homeowners and other property professionals, the South African government passed legislation in 2001 known as the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act. The intention of this Act is to guard homeowners against non-reputable contractors who build to substandard quality and then refuse to be held responsible. (Lee, 2008:123) One factor which may deter people from using the services of a quantity surveyor is the professional fees. According to research done by Cruywagen and Snyman (2005) professional quantity surveying services can be rendered as affordable in South Africa. The research shows that, due to the competitiveness of the market, it has become the norm for quantity surveyors to reduce professional fees. Cruywagen and Snyman (2005), state that there is a distinct relationship between the profitability for the quantity surveyor and the value of a project. This means residential projects are not profitable as compared to big industrial developments, shopping centers etc. This may be the reason for the lack of marketing in the residential sector and why the general public is not aware of the quantity surveying profession. The purpose of this study is to identify and understand the specific role of the professional quantity surveyor in the construction industry and to explain the significant effect a quantity surveyor can have on a construction project. 1.2 Problem Statement The general public who is not involved in the construction industry is unaware of the quantity surveying profession and the functions the quantity surveyor perform and this lack of knowledge can lead to their exploitation if a quantity surveyor is not involved. 1.3 Hypothesis For the purpose of this study the following hypotheses are set out: The general public is unaware of the quantity surveying profession and the services the profession provide. Fees associated with the quantity surveyor may intimidate homeowners who are looking to complete a project with as little investment as possible, not realizing that the quantity surveyor can save you a substantial amount of money by providing you with expert advice on financial and contractual matters. 1.4 Objectives This study has four primary objectives. The objectives are to: Outline the specific role of the quantity surveyor. Realize the major effect a quantity surveyor can have on a building project Make the general public aware of the quantity surveying profession and the functions the quantity surveyor performs. To learn why the general public is reluctant to use the services of a quantity surveyor. 1.5 Methodology A qualitative research approach was follow for the purpose of this study. The researcher has conducted a comprehensive review of relevant literature on the topic. The focus has been on the quantity surveying profession and the services it provide. Personal interviews have been conducted with professional quantity surveyors. To understand the broader picture members of the general public who recently became homeowners (of newly constructed buildings) was asked to complete a questionnaire. Attention has been given to whether or not the services of a quantity surveyor was utilized and if not, why? 1.6 Delimitations The research is limited to the residential construction industry. The focus of the research is on the services of a professional quantity surveyor and not that of the contractors quantity surveyor. Members of the general public who was approached with questionnaires was limited to those who were recently involved with the construction of a residential building. 1.7 Assumptions The researcher assumed that all data collected are accurate and all interviews and questionnaires conducted were answered truthfully. CHAPTER TWO THE QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION 2.1 Introduction In this chapter all the literature on the related topic collected by the researcher will be reviewed. This review will include literature on the history of the quantity surveyor, the contractors quantity surveyor, competencies of a professional quantity surveyor, fees of the professional quantity surveyor, estimating and cost advice as well as the use of a bill of quantities. The core focus however will be to outline the specific functions of the professional quantity surveyor. 2.2 History of the quantity surveyor According to the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (2010), the quantity surveying profession started with the turn of the nineteenth century. The first recorded use of the term Quantity surveyor was in 1859. Before then the terms measurer, Custom surveyor or surveyor were used. At that time it was custom for the surveyor to work for the master builders, measuring the completed work and often submitting biased final accounts to the building owners. As a result of this behavior it became the norm for building owners to enter into a contract and invite tenders before any work commenced. According to Bowles Le Roux (1992:4), this gave rise to competition and builders tendering realized that they were spending an immense amount of time and effort measuring and calculating to arrive at a tender figure. In addition there was the added danger that the builders interpreted the architects drawings differently which would lead to inaccurate pricing and result in the tenders not being calculated on an uniform basis. The builders realized that a surveyor could be employed to act as an unbiased person to measure the quantities on their behalf. This insured that the builders tendered on the same basis whilst sharing the cost for the surveyor. Building owners were afraid of unethical practice between the builders and the surveyor and realized it would be to their personal advantage to appoint and compensate the quantity surveyor. This is how the independent professional quantity surveyor gained consultant status. In South Africa the title quantity surveyor is reserved under the Quantity Surveyors Act of 1970 for the sole use by those who had acquired the obligatory qualifications and experience stipulated under the Act. Furthermore, those persons must register with the South African Council for Quantity Surveyors before they can act as consultants to the general public (ASAQS, 2010) 2.3 Contractors quantity surveyor The main difference between a professional quantity surveyor and a contractors quantity surveyor is that the latter is employed by the construction company and not by the client. Dent (1970:7) states that a contractor who undertakes big projects will need a quantity surveying staff. The contractors surveyor will represent the contractor and the contractors interest will be the main priority. According to Cornick and Osbon (1994:108), the contractors quantity surveyor spends comparatively the same amount of time on cost planning, feasibility studies and tender appraisal as the professional quantity surveyor and significantly more on post-contract services but significantly less on preparing tender documentation. Project cost control is one function that requires equal efficiency by both surveyors, the contractors quantity surveyor on behalf of the contractor and the professional quantity surveyor on behalf of the client. Cornick and Osbon (1994:109) identified seven main functions for the contractors quantity surveyor namely: Valuation of work completed for payment from client and payment to subcontractor. Determination of change due to variation from client or designer. Preliminaries allocation. Subcontractor accounts to agree tender and actual costs. Financial reporting for quarterly account forecasts. Cost accounting for plant and material use by company. Cost accounting for labour use by the company. Clients expectations of project cost control will increase as the clients and their cost advisers become more complex. The clients will be expecting the cost of their buildings to be reduced to match their budget. Therefore contractors quantity surveyor must strive to improving their cost controlling and accounting capabilities for the construction companies that they work for. 2.4 The professional quantity surveyor According to Bowles Le Roux (1992:3) the quantity surveyor is a professional consultant appointed by the client who wishes to invest in property development. It is the quantity surveyors responsibility to advise the client, architect and engineer on all financial and contractual matters from the pre-tender stage right through to the completion of the project. For the quantity surveyor to accomplish this role he must develop a comprehensive understanding of the various construction methods and have a transparent understanding of the different forms of contract and sub-contract agreements available in the construction industry. The quantity surveyor must be capable of advising on the cost of alternative construction methods and costs of different materials. An analytical approach must be adopted in finding beneficial solutions in the interest of the client. The Guide for Quantity Surveying Appointments (2006) states that a professional quantity surveyor will draw on extensive cost information obtained from client databases and experience from other projects for effective budget setting. It is the quantity surveyors ongoing implementation of financial discipline in the areas of budget setting, alternative design option costing, cash flow predictions, final cost forecasting, management of variations including potential areas of dispute and timeous final account settlement, etc. that allows the maximum value for money requirement to be achieved. 2.4.1 Standard quantity surveying services According to A Guide for Quantity Surveying Appointments (2006) the standard services that can be provided by a professional quantity surveyor are: Financial viability studies and the initial budget planning prior to the detailed design to establish whether the project is feasible in terms of the clients financial budget; Preliminary cost studies and comparing alternative designs and materials in terms of operating and maintenance costs; Monitoring the design as it evolves to ensure it stays within clients budget; Preparing tender documentation for pricing by contractors and advising on contractual arrangements; Evaluating the submitted tenders and reporting on the suitability thereof; Negotiating the contract sums with the individual contractors; Preparing cash flow predictions; Preparing cost reports at regular intervals; Valuing construction work in progress; Preparing the final account thus determining the final cost; Settlement of the final costs with the contractor and sub-contractors. Additional specialist services that many quantity surveyors are experienced in providing are: Acting as project manager; Acting as principle agent; Consulting on property development; Valuation of buildings for insurance purposes etc.; Acting as an expert witness; Advising on the settlement of disputes through mediation and arbitration. Facilitating with fast track construction projects; Providing services for projects in engineering, mining and petro-chemical industries. It is recommended to employ the quantity surveyors full services as a professional consultant rather than in a technical/measurement role in order to utilize the quantity surveyors expertise to the best advantage. 2.4.2 Competencies of the professional quantity surveyor Competencies can be defined as the ability a person should have in a given occupational area subject to external and internal factors like organization size, type, and age (Barret, 1992). (Holmes Joyce, 1993) defined competence as a description of an action, a mode of behavior or outcome that a person should be able to demonstrate, or the ability to transfer skills and knowledge to new situations within the occupational area. In the construction industry the quantity surveyor can be seen as the economist and cost accountant, whose services facilitate the client to obtain the maximum value for the clients investment. There are three aspects which reflect value for a client in the construction industry, namely cost, time and quantity. Quantity surveyors add value to the construction project performance by using the appropriate competencies. It is therefore important for an assessment of the quantity surveyors competencies in order to highlight the continuing relevance of their services in the construction industry (Nkado Meyer, 2001:483). The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) set out the competencies required by professional quantity surveyors in three categories, namely basic -, core and optional competencies. Table 1 below presents the competencies in three categories. Under the structure of the RICS the basic competencies are present in all construction professions, the core competencies primarily for quantity surveyors and the optional competencies are required for specialization in a specific field. Table 1: Competencies set out by the RICS (Nkado Meyer, 2001:484). A Study conducted by Nkado and Meyer (2001:484) identified 23 defined competencies which apply to quantity surveyors in South Africa. A questionnaire was sent to randomly selected members of the ASAQS of a different demographic background. The questionnaire listed the 23 competencies in alphabetical order. The respondents were asked to rate the importance of the competencies for a career as a professional quantity surveyor in South Africa at present, the importance in the future and the level of evidence of each competency in the quantity surveying profession. Rating worked on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"not important and 5 being à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"very important. The researchers ensured the respondents anonymity to attain an honest response. Table 2: Competencies ratings (Nkado Meyer, 2001:487). Table 2 shows the ratings which have been converted to percentages for effective interpretation. It is interesting to note that three of the traditional core competencies are rated in the top five competencies required by quantity surveyors in South Africa at present, the three being procurement and financial management, economics of construction and construction contract practice. The results showed that management orientated competencies were rated of higher importance for future services while the highest importance for current services were technically orientated. The five most important competencies required by quantity surveyors in South Africa at present are: Computer literacy and information technology; Procurement and financial management; Economics of construction; Construction contract practice; Measurement. The five most important competencies required by quantity surveyors in South Africa in the future are: Computer literacy and information technology; Procurement and financial management; Economics of construction; Project management; Marketing. Competencies utilized by quantity surveyors with greatest efficiency in South Africa are: Measurement; Procurement and financial management; Professional practice; Construction contract practice; Economics of construction. It is evident that management orientated competencies will grow in importance and will replace the traditional technically orientated competencies as the core competencies of the quantity surveyor (Nkado Meyer,2001:490). 2.4.3 Professional quantity surveying fees The fees charged by professional quantity surveyors are proportionate with the work done for the client and according to A Guide for Quantity Surveying Appointments 2006 there are 5 options available: A time charge; A percentage fee based on a tariff recommended by The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (see Table 3); An agreed percentage of the contract value; A lump-sum fee; Any other fee arranged between the quantity surveyor and the client. 2.4.3.1 Time Charges The following recommended hourly time charges for the private sector were approved by The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession with effect from 1 January 2010 (SACQSP, 2010). (All rates are exclusive of VAT.) Not exceeding 5 years experience R 700-00 Exceeding 5 years and not exceeding 10 years experience R 1 250-00 Exceeding 10 years experience R 1 750-00 Specialist work R 2 190-00 2.4.3.2 Percentage fees By using table 3 a basic fee will be determined and multiplied by the appropriate percentage (Table 4, 5 6). The basic fee shall be calculated on the value for fee purposes (see table 3). Table 3: Basic fee (SACQSP, 2010) Table 4: Appropriate percentages for building work (SACQSP, 2010) Table 5: Appropriate percentages for engineering work (SACQSP, 2010) Table 6. Appropriate percentages for management services (SACQSP, 2010) Once the primary charge (table 3) is established, the amount is multiplied by the appropriate percentage. In addition to this there will be a marginal rate which would be added to the primary charge. The gross amount will be payable to the quantity surveyor as the professional fees. 2.5 Estimating and cost advice Aibinu and Pasco (2008:1258) states: Pre-tender cost estimation (or early stage cost estimation) is the forecasting of the cost of a project during the planning and design stage. Research done by Trost and Oberlender (2003) identified 11 factors that play a role in the precision of estimates of which the 5 most important are: Process design; Estimator team experience and cost information; Time spent on preparation of estimate; Site requirements; The current labour and bidding climate. According to Bennett, Morrison and Stevens (1981) estimating is the main function of cost planning services provided by the quantity surveyor. They conclude that cost planning is unsuccessful without decent estimating. Morrison (1984:57) states that quantity surveyors have developed different methods for estimating to deal with the large variety of projects and designs. These different methods differ in detail with some estimates being very thorough, for instance a priced bill of quantities. Other may be very simple and only entail a simple lump sum estimate. All other factors being equal, the estimates accuracy will increase as the detail and time spent in preparing the estimate increases. 2.5.1 Clients brief The client, architect (design team) and the quantity surveyor are the most important members in the in the project briefing process. According to research done (Bowen, Pearl, Nkado Edwards, n.d.) it is vital to have an efficient client brief if the client is to reach his objectives with regard to the time, cost and quality of the project. Insufficient briefing of the design team by the client can lead to major frustration and unhappiness for the client. The brief procedure is the process where the client explains and spells out the objectives and requirements of a project (Bowen et al., n.d.). Bowen (1993) states that: The purpose of this stage is for the clients to communicate to the design team and specialist consultants their needs and objectives in initiating the project. For the client to be satisfied, the design of the building must fulfill the clients needs with regards to the technical aspects and quality standards. In addition to this the project must be completed within the budget and on time (Seymour Louw, 1990). In order to achieve this, a detailed and complete client brief is necessary to eliminate as many uncertainties as possible. 2.5.2 Feasibility studies After the briefing process, the quantity surveyor will do a feasibility study. The outcome of the feasibility study helps the client to decide whether to go ahead with the project. A feasibility study is conducted to ascertain whether a project idea is economically viable (Hofstrand Clause, n.d.). It is the quantity surveyors responsibility to make recommendations to the client on the viability of the project and give professional advice on any alternatives. The feasibility study involves economical and technical investigations that allow the client to decide whether to proceed with the project (Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, 2010). According to Hofstrand Clause (n.d.) a feasibility study: Identifies alternatives. Identifies reasons not to proceed. Indicate new opportunities. Gives quality information for better decision making. Assist in acquiring funding from banks and other investors. 2.6 Use of bill of quantities After the quantity surveyor completes the elemental estimate the client will decide whether the project will go ahead or not. This decision is largely based on whether the estimate is within the clients budget or not. If the estimate is within budget the client should instruct the architect to prepare detailed working drawings for construction. The quantity surveyor can start with the preparation of the bill of quantities once he has received these drawings (Bowles Le Roux, 1992). Davis, Love and Baccarini (2009:99) states that the bill of quantities has 2 main uses and these can be categorized under pre-contract and post-contract stage. In the pre-contract stage the bill of quantities aid contractors to prepare their tenders. In the post-contract stage the bill of quantities assists the quantity surveyor and the contractor in the valuation of the work in progress and work completed for payment purposes. The bill of quantities is mainly used for tendering purposes. It enables contractors to prepare tenders using the same information which will lead to more accurate tender sums. The bill of quantities allow for a common basis on which the tenders can be compared. This brings about a competitive market (Kodikara, Thorpe McCaffer, 1993:261). According to Bowles and Le Roux (1992) the bill of quantities describes the nature of the building. It is a document which lists all the items that need to be completed for the construction of the building. These items required for the completion of the building is measured from drawings and specifications received from the architect and engineers. The total cost for the project will be the sum of all the individual items added together. When these items are priced there must be an allowance for the execution of each item as well as a realistic profit margin. The information in the bill of quantities can be classified into three fundamental categories namely; preliminaries, preambles and bills. The preliminaries of a contract entail all requirements of the project which do not have a direct impact on the construction works. The preliminaries of a contract may include health and safety requirements, access to and from site, accommodation for workforce, insurances required etc. Preambles define the standards of workmanship and materials to be used. The bills contain the measured items needed to complete the works and comprises of the description, units and quantities (Kodikara et al., 1993:261). The bill of quantities, detailed construction drawings, engineering drawings and specifications will be issued to building contractors. These documents form part of the tender documentation. The tender documents enable contractors to submit a competitive tender for a project and aid them in determining an accurate price for the completion of the building. A practical time limit is set for the contractors to price the bill. All tenders should be handed in before the specified closing date. According to Davis et al. (2009:103), the bill of quantities has various advantages to the parties involved in a project: Pre-contract stage: Database à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" It provides a cost database for future estimating Fee calculation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" It provides a conclusive basis for the calculation of professional fees Asset management à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" It provide data for asset management of finished building, insurance, maintenance schedules etc. Taxation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Provide basis for precise preparation of depreciation schedules as part of the asset management plan. Post-contract stage: Accurate progress payments à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" It becomes a basis from which the interim payments can be evaluated. This insures work is done at a reasonable price and gives the contractor and client peace of mind that the contractor is not paid too much or too little for work completed. Pricing of contract instructions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" It provides a basis for the valuation of variations to the project. Risk management à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Prices from the contractor in the bill of quantities can be compared with current market related prices. According to Davis et al. (2009:103), the major disadvantages of the bill of quantities are that the preparation is time consuming and it tends to increase cost. 2.7 Conclusion It is clear from the above that the quantity surveyor can be a very valuable addition to the clients professional team. Quantity surveyors in South Africa are competent professionals. From the inception stage of a project, right through to the final payment, the quantity surveyor will give expert advice on financial and contractual matters. The successful completion of a project can never be guaranteed due to the many uncontrollable factors in the construction industry. However having the services of a quantity surveyor at your disposal will greatly improve the chances of completing a project successfully and within budget. CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY 3.1 Data In this chapter the data collection methods and the analysis of the data is explained. For the purpose of this study a qualitative research methodology was followed in order to test the hypotheses put forward. The research was conducted by way of a comprehensive literature review and collecting data through interviews and questionnaires. The research problem is mainly that the general public is unaware of the quantity surveying profession therefore data relating to the services that the quantity surveyor offer and the profession in general were required. 3.2 Collection of data Books and journals on the related topic from local and international sources were used for the collection of data. All the data was collected before the field work started and was done over a two month period. Furthermore, primary data was collected through personal interviews and questionnaires. Interviews were conducted with quantity surveyors. The interviews were informal but due to the researchers relative lack of experience in conducting interviews the questions were well prepared. Questionnaires were used to obtain the necessary data from members of the general public who were recently involved in the construction of a residential building. The questionnaires consisted out of open ended questions and were administered in person. To maximize to accuracy of the response the questions were short and in unambiguous language (Leedy Ormrod, 2005:190). To insure the validity of the research an honest response is required. For this reason the names of individuals and the quantity surveying company approached for the research will be held confidential. 3.3 Data analysis The qualitative data was organized, summarized and analyzed by the researcher in order to reach a conclusion and make recommendations. It should be noted that the sample is very small, but for the purpose of this study it is sufficient for the researcher to understand the problem at hand and reach a conclusion. CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Introduction Primary data was collected through interviews and questionnaires as explained in the previous chapter. Ten individuals who were recently involved in a residential project were approached to complete the questionnaire. This chapter will discus the findings of the questionnaire and will incorporate the data collected from interviews with quantity surveyors. 4.1.1 Awareness of the quantity surveying profession Figure 4.1 Indicate the awareness of the quantity surveying profession. It was found that the large majority of the respondents were aware of the profession. However this does not necessarily mean they understand what the profession entails. An interesting observation was that the respondent, who was not aware of the quantity surveying profession, was the only respondent under 30 years of age. 4.1.2 Understanding of the quantity surveyor The question was what the understanding of quantity surveyors was by the respondents. Three of the ten respondents had reas

Christopher J.H. Wright Essay -- Religion, Jesus, Old Testament

Introduction In the book by Christopher J.H. Wright, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, the author argues the very existence of Jesus Christ in the New Testament is portrayed within the Old Testament. Wright writes, â€Å"the deeper you go into understanding the Old Testament, the closer you will come to the heart of Jesus† (ix). Wright explains many Christians love Jesus, but do not know much about the Scriptures that He read. This is the author’s intention of the book, bringing the readers to a deep understanding of the Old Testament and gaining a greater understanding of Jesus. The purpose of this review is to summarize and critique Wright’s work along with presenting the strengths and weaknesses of the book. Wright has a profound love for the Old Testament Scriptures and wants to portray that to his readers. Wright studied Old Testament economic ethics for his doctorate at Cambridge, England. His book, God’s People in God’s Land came from his doctoral work. His passion for the Old Testament is demonstrated by two other works that focus on God the Father and the Holy Spirit in light of the Old Testament. Summary Wright asserts the understanding of Jesus starts with Matthew 1:18. It is the previous 17 verses that most do not regard as it is just a list of names. These names, Wright says, are part of a much larger story and without recognizing these names one cannot fully understand Jesus (1). The story is that of the Old Testament and the genealogy links the Old and New Testaments together. Wright says, â€Å"The Old Testament tells the story which Jesus completes† (2). Wright continues to break down the genealogy and reaches back to Abraham to proclaim that through Abraham, all nations of the earth will be blessed (4). Th... ... of Jesus while trying to convey his true identity (142-158). Less space could have been given concerning the names of Jesus while still reflecting the point Wright was trying to convey. While more ground is covered than needed, the author, as Long states, presents the information in an engaging manner. Conclusion Wright brings his readers through the Old Testament so they can have a greater understanding of Jesus. He presents the information in an engaging manner, but at times Wright can overstate his purpose. Pastors and lay people alike can benefit from reading Wright’s book as he brings people closer to Jesus by deepening their understanding of the Old Testament. This review has outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s book to give readers an insight into Wright’s theological perspective of the Old Testament in light of the New Testament.

Eleanor Marx :: Economist Writers Literature Essays

Eleanor Marx Eleanor Marx has not been remembered as an economist. Her life, though more so her death, has captured the imaginations and curiosities of novelists and biographers and her existence has been cast into the role of the â€Å"tragic socialist.† Yet, as the daughter of Karl Marx, she was a prominent writer and activist for socialist reform. She edited Marx’s unpublished texts after his death and contributed several articles of her own on economic topics. Similarly, in her daily interactions, she worked for social reform that was fundamentally economic in nature and associated with a wide range of feminist and socialist activists. Many of these people themselves have been classified, or perhaps reclassified in recent years, as economists themselves. Yet Eleanor has by and large been overlooked by historians and economists. She has been relegated to the role of tragic heroine at best and a curiosity at worst. This paper will argue that both in her written legacy and in the way she conducted her personal life, Eleanor Marx was first and foremost an economist. An Economist in Writing Eleanor Marx’s essay, â€Å"The Woman Question,† clearly delineates her role as an economist and her dedication to feminism at the same time. The text was written and published with her common law husband, Edward Aveling. As Kapp points out in her extensive biography, this text was the first of Eleanor’s writings â€Å"to bear the imprint of a commercial publisher† (Kapp II, 1972, 83). While Aveling certainly was involved in producing the final document, in Kapp’s analysis at least, the majority of the underlying argument was Eleanor’s (83). Thus, we can reasonably say that this document, framed as a review of Bebel’s Woman-Past, Present, and Future, is indicative of Eleanor’s intellectual processes. The text of â€Å"The Woman Question† is ardent in its defense of economics and women. For Eleanor, the only way to improve the status of women was to tie it to the class movement. â€Å"The question is one of economics. The position of women rests, as everything in our complex modern society rests, on an economic basis† (Marx 1886). With the phrase, â€Å"everything in our complex modern society,† Eleanor not only casts herself as an economist, but establishes that any venture, be it social or academic, is fundamentally economic in nature. Thus, once she establishes that feminism is inherently an economic issue, the connection between her father’s socialist theories and her own feminism becomes clear.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

To Kill A Mockingbird I've never been to Alabama, but novelist Harper Lee made me feel as if I had been there in the long, hot summer of 1935, when a lawyer named Atticus Finch decided to defend an innocent black man accused of a horrible crime. The story of how the whole town reacted to the trial is told by the lawyer's daughter, Scout, who remembers exactly what it was like to be eight years old in 1935, in Macomb, Alabama. Scout is the reason I loved this book, because her voice rings so clear and true. Not only does she make me see the things she sees, she makes me feel the things she feels. There's a lot more going on than just the trial, and Scout tells you all about it. A man called Boo Radley lives next door. Very few people have ever seen Boo, but Scout and her friends have a lot of fun telling scary stories about him. The mystery about Boo Radley is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout and her big brother, Jem, run wild and play games and have a great time while their father is busy with the trial. One of their friends is a strange boy called Dill. Actually Dill isn't really so strange once you get to know him. He says things like "I'm little but I'm old," which is funny but also pretty sad, because some of the time Dill acts more like a little old man than a seven–year–old boy. To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with interesting characters like Dill, and Scout makes them all seem just as real as the people in your own hometown. Here's how Scout describes Miss Caroline, who wore a red–striped dress: "She looked and smelled like a peppermint drop." Dill, Boo, and Jem are all fascinating, but the most important character in the book is Scout's father, Atticus Finch. You get the idea that Scout is writing the story down because she wants the world to know what a good man her dad was, and how hard he tried to do the right thing, even though the deck was stacked against him. The larger theme of the story is about racial intolerance, but Scout never tries to make it a "lesson," it's simply part of the world she describes.

Education Essay Essay

Education is a vital part of growing up. Without it, our potential cannot be utilized. We use education to make decisions, interact with others, and survive in general. In order for society to improve as a whole, we must use our education to improve on the knowledge we have already attained. Public education gives American citizens the chance to become critical thinkers, prepare for work, and compete in a global marketplace. Public education has transformed into a corrupt system. A system centered around the GPA. Getting a good percentage is the only thing that seems to be important in school. The only thing students care about is how they can pull off a 4.0. Even the teachers’ focus is on the grades. Teachers are rated based off how their students did on standardized tests and their grades. There is almost no focus on the pure attaining of knowledge. Once a student finishes a class, about 90% of the information they learned is lost. There is almost no importance on retaining knowledge after they finish testing on it. Students only about care their grades because that is what colleges look at. Everyone strives for that 4.0 GPA so they can get into their dream school. Once students get to college, their focus goes from learning to get a good grade to learning to prepare for their job. College students have to truly understand and retain the information they learn because it is important to their potential career paths. Although many problems can be found in public education, there are few that can actually be solved. Public education cannot be easily changed without disrupting the foundations of what public education does for students. If we change our focus from grades to pure learning, colleges would have no way of judging a student. It is the nature of the beast.

Case Study of the Life of Bill Viola

DrumheadBill Viola is populating fable of media and engineering particularly in video production. Viola Born on January 25, 1951 in Queens, New York, United States of America. Viola spent his early old ages of life in his place town Queens and subsequently on shifted to Westbury, New York. Viola had funny nature that ever triggered him to travel in front to fear. Once he was on a hilly country trip with his household, where he about drowned in lake but he mentions the incident as one of the most bewitching experiences of his life. Viola earned university grade from Syracuse University, Syracuse New York in 1973 in all right art and started his professional calling as a picture technician at Everson Museum of Arts in Syracuse, New York. Subsequently on two old ages he worked as proficient manager in Art/Tapes/22. And in 1976 and 1977 he traveled across the universe to enter cultural humanistic disciplines public presentations. In 1977 Viola was invited by WNET 13 channel Television re search lab New York to work as an creative person in abode where he directed a noteworthy series of work and they were on aired. 1977 proved to be lucky for Viola in footings of personal life, he was invited to La Trobe University, Melbourne Australia by their cultural humanistic disciplines manager, Kira Parov as in the really following twelvemonth Ms. Parov became Mrs. Viola. In 1979 Viola along with his partner Parov, traveled to Sahara desert, Tunisia to enter mirages. In 1980 Viola achieved a cultural family between US and Japan for one and half twelvemonth at Japan. In Japan, Parov and Viola acquired cognition in Zen Buddhism and Viola became the first creative person in abode at Sony Corporation’s Atsugi research research labs. At the terminal of 1981 Parov and Viola came back to USA but this clip in California where Viola joined California Institute of Arts as an teacher and taught Advanced Video Technology. Viola besides continued his art work with a alone subject wi th Parov. They created art work based on human organic structure medical images retrieved from a local infirmary, carnal consciousness in a menagerie at San Diego and fire walking rites of Hindu community at Fiji. Parov had great involvement and experience in picture taking. In 1987 both travel to south west of USA and captured stone sites and recorded pictures of desert landscapes. Viola’s art work is intriguing, the manner he relates everything behind the camera to sole religious thoughts. His picture demo his great and alone love for nature. In 2005 he went to Dharamshala, India with his boies to enter a supplication with Dalai Lama. Viola has great passion for music excessively. From 1973 to 1980, seven old ages he had worked, performed and learned with a composer David Tudor, being attached to a music group â€Å"Rainforest† . Viola’s arts work got planetary acknowledgment and assessment back in 1970’s. Numerous exhibitions of humanistic disciplines in all over the universe exhibited Viola’s originative humanistic disciplines work. For case in 1987 at Museum of Modern Art, New York â€Å"Installations and Videotapes† . In 1995, Viola represented USA exhibiting one his celebrated piece of art work â€Å"Buried Secrets† at the 46th Venice Biennale. In 1997, Whitney Museum of American Arts paid a testimonial to Viola’s art work by showing Viola’s 25 old ages of art work that had around 35 installings and picture tapes. Viola has a alone personality and thought. In an interview he revealed that he don’t like to populate in crowded topographic points, he prefers to populate in the corner side of metropolis therefore he’s populating from last 25 old ages in a corner of long beach, California with his partner and two boies. His studio is nearby to his house and he has rented another house, where he has maintained a resource library. In that house, he goes and stays to believe and be after thoughts, without any communicating beginning non even phone. Harmonizing to Bill Viola, he thinks more creatively when he his near to nature and off from people and day-to-day everyday tensenesss. He merely goes to his studio after explicating an thought to work else he doesn’t travel. He takes things and events positively, like he has no fright that life will stop. In fact the chief subject behind most of his work, we all life in this universe for a short continuance and we have to return into ageless life, that’s stableness. His art works began to exhibit when he was at school at the age of, normally displayed on wall. During his academic life, his pictures were ever fixed on walls and they are still at that place. This fact convinces that he has in born endowment of going an creative person, much like a passion that subsequently on became his profession ( Viola, 1990 ) . His thoughts are profoundly rooted in spiritualism, Mysticism, shamanism, Buddhism. Taoism, Sufism, and philosophical ideas ( Ross, Sellars, & A ; Hyde, 1997 ) . Viola has received legion awards for his outstanding parts to media and picture engineering. In 1984 he received a national award: Polaroid Video Art Award for his exceeding accomplishment. Again in 1987, he received Maya Deren Award from American Film Institute, USA. In 1989, his work was honored with John D. and C atherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award, USA. In 1993, he was awarded Skowhegan Medal for his contributions’ in Video Installation, USA. Viola has immense part to art in footings of ancient civilization, his services were acknowledged and awarded in 2003 by American Federal of Arts that presented him Cultural leading Award. Viola non merely received prestigiousness and awards from his place state but across worldwide. In 2006, he received NORD/LB Art award in Bremen, Germany. In 2009, he was honored by an award from Cambridge MA. In 2009 he won International Prize at Barcelona, Spain. In 2011 Viola’s university, Syracuse University felt great pride and award in his pupil parts to field of humanistic disciplines and awarded him Arent Award for Distinguished Alumni. Recently in 2013 he received two awards, one from Anderson Ranch, Snowmass Village, CO the â€Å"National Artist Award† and the other from Aurora Picture Show, Houston, TX the â€Å"Aurora Award† . Along with a long list of awards, Viola has besides received nine ( 9 ) honorary doctorial grades in Fine Arts from assorted universities and institutes worldwide.DiscussionIn media engineering legion creative person are working on picture engineering and installings, what makes Viola’s art unique is usage of slow gesture with intensive computing machine based redaction. He has contributed a batch in this field, in this paper we will discourse some of his plants. In 2007 Viola represented US in 52neodymiumVenice Biennale where he presented his picture installing, â€Å"ocean without shore† . It’s one the major and greatly influential picture installings by Viola. The construct behind â€Å"Ocean Without Shore† is about the passage between life and decease with utilizing H2O. A spectator faces three big picture proctors which are placed in a dark room. About 20 four people get downing looking from an unseeable H2O wall. Flow of H2O is dynamic. Every individual walks entirely and get down nearing the spectator. Those 20 four people are all same, brumous and skin tone is gray. As the semen closer to the spectator, at a certain distance that is a threshold between them and viewer, they touch the unobserved threshold. When they touch it, it clearly seeable as a powerful heat lightening. Afterwards they turn back and travel once more to the unseeable H2O wall. Whole picture installing last for one and half hr. Every individual looking from the unseeable H2O wall is soundless, unagitated, and inactive. They are pass oning with deep emotions. Their emotions can be written into 1000s of words. Each of the individual returns, as if decease is strike harding at his door. They are in a unusual peaceable province as reaching of decease is welcomed by them. Ocean Without shore is a deep emotional illustration of homo. It depicts the events which lie at concurrence point of decease and life. Bill Viola says, â€Å"The picture sequence paperss a sequence of persons easy nearing out of darkness and traveling into the visible radiation in order to go through into the physical universe. Once bodied, nevertheless, all existences realize that their presence is finite and so they must finally turn away from stuff being to return from where they came. The rhythm repeats without end.† Idea of Ocean Without Shore was taken from the poesy of Birago Diop. Birago was inspired from a Sufi mysterious Ibn Arabi who said â €Å"The Self is an ocean without a shore. Gazing upon it has no beginning or terminal, in this universe and the next.† This work shows Viola is influenced by mysticism and Sufism. Viola’s work allows viewer to comprehend all signifiers of life, in a ways he persuades the spectator to see his ain contemplation in the basic thoughts of hope, desire, love, decease, regeneration and above all stableness ( Robson, 2011 ) . Another great piece of art was subsequently on presented by Viola that portions concept and subject with Ocean without shores. Bodies of visible radiation is a distinct series of Transfigurations that focus on the clip when a individual or object follows the rule of transmutation due to internal forces of high witting non external. Viola shows the transmutation of ego is normally called by an interior realisation. A individual gets clear thought of his psyche, his filthy, unfiltered set of emotions and so he overcomes all such emotions and gets transformed into a new being, an ideal being. In this piece of art Viola used black and white images of apparitional organic structures, that appear easy from darkness, and pass through a certain threshold of H2O and enter enlighten colourful universe. That new reaching of self-encounters with diverse set of human emotions from joy to fury, and all are occupied with some desires, and eventually these apparitional organic structures disappear i n darkness from where the appeared. In this installing Viola used images shootings from an old camera along with shootings with a High definition camera ( Viola, Bodies of Light ) . In this artistic picture Viola conveys a message of life to his spectator that their comes a point in life, when a individual changes itself for his interior peace and satisfaction. Runing with this universe may gain money and luxury to a individual but the cost is an individual’s internal peace. Internal forces become stronger to external forces and therefore a man’s life become calm.DecisionBill Viola is a large name in the picture engineering and installings, and has achieved many awards and awards due to his parts. One can non state viola came into this field by opportunity or by pick. He is an congenital creative person. Harmonizing to him life without art is non a life. Despite great sum of celebrity and acknowledgment, Viola’s life is simple and he looks for simpleness in ever y facet of life. The chief thought of Bill Viola’s work is about basic human life, demands and procedures. The manner he tries to associate the being of adult male with decease is singular. He shows both sides of positions in his work. Exemplifying the phenomenon of decease so much is normally considered as pessimism. It may devoid the viewer’s involvement from life and he may believe that life will stop so why he has to do attempts for endurance. But Viola on the same clip attempts to convert the spectator that he can non get away from cosmopolitan worlds. A dead being is really undead. He persuades the viewing audiences to believe at high degree of consciousness. This attack provokes the spectator to understand the importance of basic human needs that are love, hope, heartache and a desire to populate. Viola uses H2O and visible radiation along with high dimensional camera’s to picture his subjects. His hallmark is usage of slow gesture, organic structures ( c haracters ) appear and disappear in proctors of picture screen really easy and swimmingly. His picture enhances the sum of repose in the spectator. Viola uses latest engineering and works on old age construct and thoughts peculiarly Sufism and Mysticism. Viola’s piece of work are unagitated, calm and smooth that adds repose in spectator. Viola’s work is more about to chew over than to praise the high dimension camera. His subjects are cosmopolitan and influence all sort of people. One can non claim that he makes art pieces and picture installings for a peculiar category of people. Viola has deep involvement in ancient saints and their history.MentionsRobson, J. ( 2011, November 19 ) .Bill Viola: Ocean Without a Shore.Retrieved from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pafa.org/billviola/Bill-Viola-Ocean-Without-a-Shore/1184/ Ross, D. A. , Sellars, P. , & A ; Hyde, L. ( 1997 ) .Bill Viola.New York: Whitney Museum of American Art. Viola, B. ( 1990, June 30 ) . Contemporay Arts. ( M. Nash, Interviewer ) Viola, B. ( n.d. ) . Bodies of Light.Bodies of Light.James Cohan Gallery, New York.

Selections from Annie John

The passage entitled â€Å"Selections from Annie John† was written by Jamaica Kincaid. In this extract it tells of the life of a young girl and her relationship with her mother. It begins with her stating clearly how being with her mother was an important part of her life. This was followed by narrating the things they did together. She would help her admirable mother to cook and clean. She then goes into detail of what and how things were done in regards to helping her mother with the cooking and cleaning. In the following paragraph she vividly describes her mother and briefly mentions her father. As the narrator is with her mother she tells of how they would spend time by her mother telling her stories of her past. During this past time is where the daughter showed her mother the most affection by leaning on her mother and sniffing her and gazing at her mothers’ beauty. She truly loved her mother for all that she was. As the excerpt progresses the narrator becomes a little older and goes through puberty. During this stage she begins to see new sides of her mother and herself; which, to the narrator were not good sides at all. She didn’t recognize the response she got from her mother as the same woman she grew up loving. Ultimately one day she was confronted by her mother one day coming home late from school. She tried to lie and her mother knew the truth and exposed it. Vicious words were exchanged and in the end this love she had for her mother as a youth has slowly been deteriorated. Her mother ends her rebellious thoughts with a comment that makes the narrator go deep into thought and realises that there is going to be a gap between her and her mother after this day. This extract is a very good example of difficult it is to maintain relationships with parents. I clearly agree with Kincaid’s idea. Her idea shows how easy it is to admire and have good relationship with your parents for years and how one moment can destroy all that was built. All forms of admiration you can have are presented in the passage. The description of the bond between the persona and the mother seems to be unbreakable. How Kincaid presents the theme is very effective. Who would have thought after all the praise of her mother and time with her it would end in that way. It was a shocker. It allowed me to feel bad for the young girl. This also shows how a young person’s disrespect to a parent can negatively impact the way the parent looks at the child. When the daughter said â€Å" well like father like son. Like mother like daughter. † If it wasn’t for that act of disrespect her mother would have probably scolded her and tell her how to do right. After that if I was a parent I wouldn’t even care about helping that child anymore. A lot of young people who are going through puberty think they have already â€Å"made it† and become very disrespectful at times. This can be seen in any teen. I can say this because I was the same way. For every negative comment towards me, was a response to justify or nullify what was said. It’s normal for teens to be rebellious during this maturity stage. This was another bonus for Kincaid to have me on her side. This situation more than likely happens every day. It’s real. On the other hand it also shows how each one of us will mature and we will be treated differently. Not only Kincaid’s passage shows the difficulty in maintaining relationships with parents but it is also an eye opener to young adults as to why we were treated like that at our age. We must learn that as we get older we change and we must act accordingly. This is another serious factor that Kincaid presents. The changes in youth during their adolescence age when these changes occur to the body are quite serious for young children. They don’t know what to do or how to treat these changes. I am fortunate enough to be a boy so my changes weren’t anything too drastic to get help with. However for young girls they have to worry about a lot and as Kincaid present this it is an issue I think is very important for girls to be taught to expect and treat with care. This may also be a reason as to why the subject of Kincaid passage acted in such a manner. Over all the issue kincaids passage presents are all relevant and informative if you read to take what is occurring into consideration.