Examining Prejudice and Discrimination in Singapore

Examining Prejudice and Discrimination in Singapore In this essay, we will be explaining and giving the definitions of prejudice and discrimination. Also, we will go in depth and elaborate about the various kinds of discrimination in todays society such as gender, disability, size, looks, monetary, status, education, sexual and racial discrimination. After which, we will give solutions and ways to reduce racial discrimination in Singapore. Finally we will end with a round up of conclusion. Prejudice and discrimination is a rising issue in todays society. According to Dictionary.com, prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. Discrimination is the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the  group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination. To be prejudiced is to have a cultural mindset and that is relied on negative or unpleasant stereotypes about individuals or groups because of their ethnic, religious, racial or cultural background. To discriminate is to have an active denial of desired goal from a certain group of people. The group can be based on sex, ethnicity, nationality, religion, language, or even class. More recently, disadvantaged groups now also include those based on gender, age, and physical disabilities. Prejudice and discrimination are very common at both the individual and societal levels. Any attempt to eradicate or solve the problem of prejudice and discrimination must thus deal with prevailing beliefs or ideologies, and social structure. Gender- There are many types of discrimination. Gender discrimination, also known as sexism is very common. In most societies, women have been viewed as the weaker sex who is in constant need of protection from the rough world. Women are more delicate by nature compared to men, and are often victims of physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Gender discrimination does not only apply in communities and sometimes families but also a lot of times in workplaces. In Chinese Culture, boys are more wanted than girls as they can pass down the family name. According to BBC news, around a million girl fetuses are aborted and tens of thousands of girl babies are abandoned in China, every year. A boy will bring status and he will also continue the family line. Families also throw big celebrations for baby boys while neglecting the less-wanted girls. The preference for boys is tied up in the Confucian belief that male heirs are necessary to carry on the family name and take care of the family spirit s. A Chinese family worries that if there is no son no one will look after them and keep them company in the afterlife. Confucius once said, There are three ways of being disloyal to your ancestors. Not carrying on the family name is the worse. In early Japan, there is large gender discrimination. They have a saying that goes men as breadwinners and women as homemakers. Even after Japan introduced the Equal Employment Opportunity Law in 1985, which prohibited discrimination against women in employment and urged employers to treat women equally in terms of recruitment, job assignment and promotion. But, they are still the last to be rehired in a full-time job. Japanese women are also expected to quit their job if they have children. Even if companies are facing a shortage of workers, they had no plan to try to hire more women. Women have to work twice as hard as man to advance their careers because of the prejudices within Japanese companies. Their university education is roughly the same as those without an upper secondary education. In 1997, statistics show that Japanese women hold only 9.3% of professional positions, compared to 44.3% in the United States. Womens income is only 45%of mens even though they make up 64% of J apan industry. Females appear to be less strongly oriented toward personal terminal values than men, but more strongly oriented toward moral means. Also in sports, especially soccer, where female officials/referees are slowly introduced to the male side of the game are being discriminated. One such example was Andy Gray, a former footballer, popular football pundit and commentator. He was British television channel Sky Sports main pundit since 1992. However, he was fired after he was found to made sexist comments and made offensive gestures to a female co-presenter. He had commented, Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women dont know the offside rule. in which his fellow presenter, Richard Keys replied, Course they dont. Somebody better get down there and explain. during a post-match show when they thought they were off air. In another show, he was caught on camera( in which it was edited out later on) tugging his pants and asking his female co-presenter Charlotte Jackson to tuck the microphone into his pants. (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3371091/Andy-Gray-sacked-over-sexism-row.html) In Singapore today, Gender discrimination while still existent, is less obvious. Disability Besides the various types of discriminations stated above, there is also a discrimination against the disabled people. Having a disability means that a person has a physical or mental impairment. This in turn has a substantial and long-term negative effect on ones ability to carry out normal everyday activities. Disability discrimination occurs when one is treated less favorably because of their disability as compared to someone without a disability. This is known as direct discrimination. There are cases in which people with some form of disability are treated differently, or are victimized. People who are not disabled laugh at the disabled because of the way they walk or talk. These people gang up and make fun of the disabled. They belittle them, and feel satisfied with themselves. The disabled are not able to do anything about it because there are too many people treating them that way. There is also indirect discrimination where everyone is treated equally, but by treating everyo ne equally, the disabled is put to a disadvantage. This is more subtle and may also be unintentional. An example would be when there are stairs to enter a building but a person with a disability might not be able to use the stairs and may need a ramp. Size/looks Being of a different size or looking different may also be a form of prejudice and discrimination. Often during first meetings, people are judged on first impressions, and first impressions are all about the visuals. Many a time people are discriminated against just because they are too fat, too skinny or not good looking enough. Society has set a standard where everyone wants an ideal body and face. This is known as the golden ratio. The ratio of (foot to navel): (navel to head) is the golden ratio of the human body. A persons face has to be symmetrical and have nice proportions to be considered good looking. There is a reason why plastic surgeries are in demand. While applying for jobs, people are required to attach photos of themselves. More often than not, the people who are better looking tend to get the job as compared to those who are less good looking. Then there is the case of body size. People tend to make remarks about fat people and fat jokes. An example would be Yo Mama So Fat jokes, which is very common. Even though different cultures have a preference for people of different sizes, everyone in general prefer slim to fat. Monetary/financially- Financial discrimination is when people look down on others that they are poorer than them. This will affect them if they want to find a job, get a rent or buy an apartment. People tend to look at the appearance to analyze whether you are rich or you are poor. For example, salesman will normally look for people that are trendier from those who wear clothes that seem old and tear. Service staff of well-known brand in some regions might not serve or even come up to you if they think that you have no money to pay if they let you try. So, what is the point to spend so much time to serve you? In United States, there is a case that they are discriminating against the blind people by refusing to make money readable for them as they think there do not have the need. They dont go out a lot, there does not have many chance for them to use the notes. Even for the device that is specially made for them to differentiate the money is expensive. At the end, blind people have to folding their bills in different positions to tell them apart. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/395668/financial_discrimination_against_the.html?cat=15) Financial discrimination also involved the low-waged workers. In a way that large number were paid lesser than the minimum wage that they should get and they had worked overtime without pay. When they get injured in the work place, they had to pay the bills themselves instead of having compensation from their company. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112506238) Status/Education For status discrimination, most of this happens in the work place. We can see lot of who butter up status that up high and despise those who have low status than them. Everybody wants to get to a higher place. For these people that have status discrimination in mind, they normally think that this is a short cut and time saving way. For lower status in the society, they are always afraid of offending the people of the higher status. This is because they cant afford to spend the money to fight cases with them. We can also see employer refuse to hire people that have foreign name, speaks with accent, from another country or even locals who does not have a high level certificate. Competition is getting higher and higher in the work place. Nowadays, it is the certificate of education that decides the fate of status in society. Without a certificate, you will get no jobs. In Singapore, there are several foreign domestic worker abuse cases. Many do not know how to speak English and many doesnt know where to seek for help. There are also many cases about children bring their parents to old folks homes and do not care about them anymore, or old folks being abuse because they are a burden to the family. Sexual discrimination (gay/sexual orientation) People often get confused between gender discrimination and sexual discrimination. While gender discrimination is biased opinions about the female/male gender, sexual discrimination is about their sexual orientation. In society today, talking about homosexuality is still an uncomfortable and touchy topic. While it has progressed from the past where homosexuality was illegal and you could be hanged for admitting that you were a homosexual, it has now been legally acceptable to pronounce yourself one. However this does not stop the community around you to form perceptions and opinions about you. The 2 main places where Sexual discrimination is most evident are in schools and the workplace. In the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), homosexuals and effeminate men are managed according to the dictates of a manpower directive issued. Probably its most well know classification is Category 302, a medical code given to servicemen who are homosexuals, transvestites, paedophiles, etc. homosexuals are further classified into those with effeminate behaviour and those without effeminate behaviour. This form of discrimination persists despite the fact that homosexuality was depathologised by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, and homosexuality is not regarded as a psychiatric condition by the local medical profession. More so, the categorization of homosexuality with transvestism and paedophilia by the SAF further backs up the publics wrong impression that it is abnormal. During the enlistment for Nation Service, any self-declared or discovered servicemen who are homosexual are immediately referred and sent to the Psychological Medicine Branch of the Headquarters of Medical Services for a thorough psychiatric assessment. After which, each of their parents are to come in for an interview. Once they are catagorised as a homosexual, they are instantly medically downgraded to a Public Employment Status of C (PES C), regardless of their level of fitness, and put through modified Basic Military Training. After Basic Military Training, they are deployed into a vocation which has no security risks, posted to non-sensitive units and given a security status which restricts their access to classified documents. (http://knol.google.com/k/discrimination-against-homosexuals-in-singapore#Singapore_Armed_Forces) In Singapore, while being homosexual is legal, same-sex marriage is not, and any acts of indecency between two people of the same sex, will have you charged. Singapore being a diverse nation, which encourages harmony between different race, religion and background does not have as many Sexual discrimination cases as compared to America. In fact, according to BBC News on 16 May 2009, there was an event help by pinkdot.sg to commemorate love in all forms and between people of every orientation. The event was for Singaporeans in general to affirm our respect for diversity and the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation. Figure : 2,500 pink-attired supporters of gay rights, in a Singapore park. We recognize that many Singaporeans are conservative so we planned an inclusive event that would reach all Singaporeans, straight and gay, organizer Mr Soh says. Racial Racial discrimination is the discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race, also known as Racism. Where most countries do not condone Racism, it is still exists and has become a stereotype in society today. In the US, many laws forbid racial discrimination, and a number of these are directly derived from Title VII in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. The first of these acts makes manifest that employers cannot refuse to hire qualified employees based on race or skin color, and they cant do other things like harass them for race, refuse promotions, or pay them at lower rates. The 1991 Civil Rights Act defines some ways that people who have experienced racial discrimination can sue. Till today, racial discriminations still exist, especially in workplaces where largely foreign workers are employed (mostly Chinese nationals, Bangladeshis and Indian nationals). Faced with language barriers and already lowly paid, they still have to follow orders and listen to vulgarities being thrown at them by their local employers and superiors. The same can be said for domestic helpers, where there are numerous reports of physical (and sometimes sexual) abuses by their employers and agencies. Solutions that can be used to reduce prejudice and discrimination in Singapore Education It not right to judge someone base on his or her race. They might look different from others but they are still human. In order to make people minimize discrimination, it is better to start from the younger generation because they are the future. First step is to take down the Special Assistance Plan( a programme that is catered to students who achieved the top 10% of the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE)) school system (Aaron, 2006). This school system concentrate on Chinese education as there are so many Chinese students and that most of these schools has rich Chinese traditions and history (eg, Hwa Chong Institution). Therefore, how can the racism be reduced in schools like this. Furthermore, government schools should also include religious subject in their system. In addition, universities should also organize some events that relates to intercultural exchanges. This will give an opportunity for students of any nationality to study different cultures. Workplace The company should take racially and culturally staff (Strategies for Reducing Racism, 2001). It is not only for worker and for employee but also apply for management or director. Talk to different people from different cultural and try to figure out what is problem that they have meet. By doing this, the organization will know what they need to do to improve better working environment for their employees. Moreover, try to put different pictures of multicultural so none will feel isolate. Furthermore, there should be a special team to solve any racial problem in the workplace. This group can also come up with some activities for employees so everybody can get closer to each other. Race In Singapore alone, the government has implemented racial harmony. It was in 1964, that Singapore went through 2 five-day periods of racial riots. First in 21st July and second was in 2nd September. The minority of Malays in Singapore had thought that they would benefit from the special rights for Malays that was part of the 1957 Federation of Malaya Constitution when Singapore merged with Malaya. However, it was not part of the agreement of the merger that the special rights were applicable for the Malays in Singapore as well, causing unrest among the Singapore Malays. Reason being that then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had wanted equal rights for all Singapore citizens, regardless of race. The riots that broke out in the 2 dates resulted in lives lost and many injured. (http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_45_2005-01-06.html) And so, on 21st July, which was also the date that the first racial riot broke out in 1964, is celebrated as Racial Harmony Day, in which inter-racial harmony is emphasized and celebrated in schools which students are allowed and also encouraged to dress up in traditional costumes of races other than their own. As most Singaporeans stays in HDB flats, the government have also implemented certain racial quotas for certain flats so that there is a balance between races in a neighbourhood. For instance, certain flats are only allowed to be bought by a certain race. If so happens that the owner of the flat wishes to sell the flat, the buyer would have to be of the same race as the previous owner so that there is always a balance in the races within the area. Because of this rule, there are many cases whereby neighbours of different races have inter-cultural exchanges during festive periods. Like how an Indian neighbor share their homemade delicacies with their Chinese neighbour and vice versa. Locality Welcome new people no matter where they come from, give them some flower or small gift with nice saying such as It is nice to meet you; I hope you will enjoy living here. In this way, everybody will act equally with each other and there will be no prejudice or racism. Another way is that some family can even put the sign with the writing All race are welcome here. By doing this, the new people will feel just like at home. Individual People do not have to make a group in order to reduce racism. People can minimize discrimination by themselves. Just be nice and be polite to everybody. Be brave to stand up again racial discrimination, read book or research about racism on the internet. Talk to those who still a victim of discrimination so people will understand more about this issue. Media As Racial Harmony Day is only emphasized in schools, it can also be spread through the media like radio, television, movies, etc, so that both young and old can be more educated about the importance of racial harmony. Having Racial Harmony Day in school is not enough as the younger generations could still be influenced by others around them especially family members and neighbours. Even though the older generations might have grown up with different races in the older kampong days, there still might be possibility that they have prejudices against other races due to conflicts that might have happened in the past. Conclusion After looking at prejudice and racial discrimination in Singapore, there is still a lot to be done even though it is a multi-racial society as it is still very much a predicament in Singapore. Through our solutions such as more inter-cultural exchanges outside of schools where the government is only implementing the racial harmony idealism, in my opinion, racial harmony must still be educated to each and everyone regardless of age so that everyone knows the importance of racial harmony. Bibilogy http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1506469.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8054402.stm http://aaron-ng.info/blog/racism-in-singapore.html

Nicolas Leonard Sadi Carnot :: biography biographies bio

Nicolas LÃ ©onard Sadi Carnot June 1, 1796 - August 24, 1832 Nicolas Carnot was born on June 1, 1796 in Paris, France. He was the son of Lazare Nicolas Marguerite Carnot. When Sadi was born his father was a member of the Directory, which was the French Revolutionary government. Sadi was brought up in a rough evironment of clashing politics and sciences. His father retired from his position as napoleon's minister in order to devote his time to educating his two sons. At the age of 16 Sadi was sent to Lycee Charlemagne in Paris in order to prepare him for the testings to get into Ecole Polytechnique. At this young age of 16 he entered the Ecole Polytechnique, two years later at the age of 18 he graduated from there. After this he took a two year course in military engineering. Some years later Sadi went to visit his father since he was exiled after the defeat of Napoleon. During his visit of his father they spoke in great detail of a steam engine that had come through where his father lived. This filled Sadi with great excitement as he had plan to develop a theory for steam engines. Once he returned to Paris he began immediatley working on the mathematical theory of heat. This lead to the start of the modern theory of what we know today as thermodynamics. Sadi's first piece that he worked on was a mathematical expression for the work done by one kilogram of steam. This research done my Sadi was never published to the public. It wasn't until later that Sadi finally published something on his works. When his father died his brother, Hippolyte Carnot came to Paris in order to help his brother finish his book on steam engines that he was currently working on. Sadi's book was finally published in 1824, and in his book was the theory of the "Carnot Cycle" In 1827 he was called back into the military to work as a military engineer which he did for less than one year. He quickly retired and moved back to Paris to continue his work on the theory of heat. In 1832 Sadi Carnot became very sick with the cholera epidemic and he died one day after getting cholera, at the young age of only 36. Carnot is known as the father of thermodynamics. He was the first person to show the relationship between work and heat.

The Symbol of Ignorance :: Gun Control Freedom Essays

The Symbol of Ignorance Political emblems and logos can symbolize various things to various people. People see the same image but they do not look at it the same. To some, the representation may be positive, while to others it denotes a negative connotation. The National Rifle Association's emblem conveys ignorant ideologies. The National Rifle Association (NRA) founded in 1871 developed an icon that entails a n eagle grasping rifles in its feet while standing atop a shield painted like the American flag. To some, this icon displays pride and the rights granted to us by the United States Constitution. Some individuals are staunch believers that say gun control should have no restrictions and that anyone over the legal age should have the option of owning a firearm without questions asked. The NRA is comprised of these people who are under the assumption that they can justify their actions by shielding (like that the eagle is perched upon) behind the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution which states that "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Despite this legal shield, gun control laws need to be enacted. "The right to bear arms" should be loosely interpretated. It was created in 1791 to prote ct the American colonists in times of crisis with either the Native Americans or the British soldiers. Instead, the members of the NRA take this right to the extreme and argue that any form of arsenal is appropriate to own. A few problems arise with this belief. No one can argue validly that owning a machine gun or an AK-47 is necessary. If a husband and his wife feel safer with a gun in the home in the case of burglary or other unsuspected catastrophes, by all means they should be able to have a hidden gun in their residence. If someone is an avid hunter, by all means they should be able to own a rifle. The key word in the last to sentences is "a." A small, hand-held gun would be appropriate for the family who lives in fear and feels safer and more protected. It is pure ignorance to argue that owning deadly guns is a "right" in the United States.

The Growth of Democracy :: European Europe History

The Growth of Democracy In 1850, Britain was an undemocratic country. At this time the electoral system divided Boroughs and Counties. Voting qualifications were different in boroughs and constituencies. The vote was only given to men over the age of 21 providing their property was valued at  £10 or more, or land was more than  £2 per year in rent. Seats were distributed unequally and traditional ruling families usually formed the Cabinet. Furthermore, bribery and corruption were widespread and only the minority of the population were entitled to vote. At this time there was no form of a basic education for the population masses and there was still a lot of power lying within the House Of Lords and not with elected officials. A certain degree of money was necessary to stand for election because this was not a paying job, which, as a result stopped vast numbers of people standing for election because the did not have the finances to support themselves. Nor were they able to afford to stand for election a s due to bribery and corruption, the poor stood no chance of winning as they did not have the money to provide voters with what they wanted in return for their support. For democracy, there needed to be regular elections and although at this time elections were every seven years, this was not often enough. However between 1850 and 1918, progress was made towards Britain becoming a democracy. Now there was better communication and education increasing political interest and this influenced people in trade, industry and finance. Economic changes made people better off and left them wanting to take part in politics, and be represented in parliament. This general desire for the widening of the franchise led to pressure groups forming in 1864. The Extension of the Franchise was helped by the Second Reform Bill passed in 1867. In this act, all householders who paid rates with 12 months residence and all  £10 a year lodgers with one years residence in the Boroughs were given the Franchise. In the Counties, the Franchise was given to those  £5 property owners and all those who occupied property with a rateable value of  £12 or in Scotland,  £14. This act changed the views of The Liberals and The Tories as they now saw that many people backed the idea of a widening of the franchise. Party opinions changed in order to woo voters in the towns, but these changed opinions alone helped in bringing Britain towards democracy as now these political parties wanted to give the people what they wanted and were, agreeing with the populations views on this issue.

The Beatles Essay -- essays research papers

The Beatles There have been more books published about one 20th century icon than any other, this band that is said to have broken down barriers in all ways, is the Beatles. Their music was said to have driven that younger generation mad. Perhaps it was because they were one of the first bands ever play real rock and roll music; or maybe it was those cute little peacoats they wore. Or maybe it was just because they were foreigners in the world of music, yet seemed to fit right in with the young people. Whatever reason was, the Beatles were a band that shaped a generation and ones soon to come. The Beatles were more than just a rock and roll band , they were a group of young men who wanted to go a new direction in music. John Lennon, one of lead vocalists, basically started with the intention of moving away from the "Skiffle Boom Era" which was dominating the time. In his doing so, he began to lay the foundation for what would later be the most famous rock band ever. The original band members were as follows : John Lennon, vocals and guitar ; Paul McCartney, vocals ; George Harrison, guitar ; Pete Best, drums ; Stuart Sutcliffe, bass guitar. In March of 1961, the Beatles began to play at the club that would later be nicknamed "The Home of the Beatles". The Cavern Club, which's premises comprised a small group of cellars below a seven story warehouse which had originally been used as an air raid shelter during the war. Later, Alan Sytner, a jazz fan dec...

Project Management Process [in Construction]

ADVANCE PROJECT MANAGEMENT Project Management Process [In Construction Project] Ibtisam, Badar Reg. No— CIIT/SP13-RPM-292/CVC CIIT/SP13-RPMEmail: [email  protected] edu. pk Project Management Process | 2 Project Management Processes A PROJECT MANAGEMENT Process is the management process of planning and controlling the performance or execution of a project. Project management is one of the critical processes of any project. This is due to the fact that project management is the core process that connects all other project activities and processes together.Project management is a responsible process. The project management process connects all other project activities together and creates the harmony in the project. Therefore, the project management team should have a detailed understanding on the all project management processes and the tools that they can make use for each project management process. When it comes to the activities of project management, there are plenty. Ho wever, these plenty of project management activities can be categorized into five main processes. THE FIVE PROJECT PROCESS GROUPS . Initiation 2. Planning 3. Implementation / Execution 4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Control 5. Closure Project Management Process | 3 Project Management Process [In Construction Project] In my all working career, I only deal with two types of projects, i. e. IT and Construction Project. So if someone asks to me where you have to invest, I will prefer these two areas. In this report, I’m discussing about construction project management process. As I believe, construction is a field which boosts jobs and help in unemployment.In this report, I want to talk about project management process according to new project of Housing society or Villas construction project. I will consider this project according to each phase and step of project management process. Project Initiating The Initiating phase of the Construction project management process is where the project gets defined and authorized by management. The inputs to this phase are usually a statement of work or a contract given to you by the project sponsor. Other inputs are the environmental factors of your organization such as policies, procedures, and cultures to name a few.The output of the Initiating process is a Project Charter, focus on project scope and costs issue, set major milestones, and a Preliminary Project Scope Statement. We value leading the Project with a commitment that allows for nothing but success. By embracing new ideas, working well with our partners, meeting challenges with enthusiasm, and serving as positive advocates for the project, we will provide the leadership required for exceptional delivery. We value managing the Project well by clarifying our priorities, defining expectations and directing all efforts toward addressing the most critical issues first.Working hard to determine what must be done to guide potential toward opportunity will provide th e focus we need to succeed. We value the resources entrusted to us. By developing and recognizing our staff, practicing fiscal responsibility, measuring and reporting on performance, delivering what we promise, keeping to a schedule, and communicating with honesty and transparency, we will demonstrate our integrity. Measures of Success †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Safety: No Recordable or lost time injuries and reportable injuries lower than the industry average Schedule: Meet or eat established project milestones Budget: Manage risks to contain costs within budget Quality: Conform to project requirements without adverse effects on milestones or budget Environmental Compliance: Complete project without permit violations. Public Perception: Strong Community Support Through Effective Communication Project Management Process | 4 Project Planning Once a contract has been awarded: It is the responsibility of the project staff to review the item material lists and arran ge for deletion of material codes that will not be required.They shall also request addition of item material codes that they determine are necessary. Site Manager staff reviews the uploaded data in Site Manager for accuracy prior to making a project active. If the contract contains more than one category, the site manager staff will discuss with the project engineer and supervising engineer (SE) the need to keep the multiple categories. The SE will determine if the Site Manager staff should process an administrative construction order to combine Categories with like federal funding. A preconstruction meeting with the Contractor must be held for all Contracts awarded.The purposes of the meeting are: †¢ To review the Contract, especially job-specific special provisions. †¢ To discuss Project features, particularly those that may present problems. †¢ To discuss Environmental Permits and concerns. †¢ To discuss the potential problems of water pollution and soil eros ion. †¢ To review the Contractor's proposed progress schedule. †¢ To review the methods of handling traffic. †¢ To review sampling and testing requirements for materials to be used throughout the construction process. Project Management Process | 5 To address any of the Contractors’ questions concerning the plans and the Contract. Any problems that cannot be resolved at this meeting will be reviewed with the District office, and the final determination will be transmitted to all concerned, and if feasible, incorporated in the written report of the meeting. Start and completion dates for utilities must also be sent to: †¢ the Manager of Fiscal and Special Projects, and †¢ The Transportation Utilities Engineer. Notification should be sent to both of the above within seven days of effective completion date so final audits can be performed.The original of all memorandums regarding project status must be addressed and sent to the Construction Division Chie f. The functional requirements for construction planning such as technology choice, work breakdown, and budgeting. Construction planning is not an activity which is restricted to the period after the award of a contract for construction. It should be an essential activity during the facility design. Also, if problems arise during construction, re-planning is required. Project Implementation/ExecutionIn this stage we deal with contract management, Construction Management , and cost management. The integration of the different design aspects almost always requires that changes in approach be made in each aspect to accommodate the others. Such changes should be made as early in the design of the building as possible, since the time and work required in making changes increases rapidly as the design becomes more detailed. It is helpful therefore to have a systematic approach to the coordination of these approaches, and the Design Brief is a good opportunity for providing this.It is sugg ested that some initial indications are included in the Design Brief at the project inception stage, and that the consultants amend these as the design develops. The building envelope consists of all the different elements that make up the fabric of the building, such as the floor, walls, windows and roof. Most of the design decisions relating to the building envelope are the responsibility of the architect and structural engineer. They have a large impact on the thermal performance of the building, and it is therefore essential that the performance of the envelope is coordinated with the design of the HVAC system.This is the area that offers most opportunities for improved building performance through an integrated design approach. Project Management Process | 6 Monitoring, Evaluation & Control In this portion we deal with risk management, quality management and also do many kind of testing. Quality control starts with matching expectations about quality levels with budget and scop e during planning and design reviews and continues through construction delivery with a program of inspections, tests, and certifications.It requires a coordinated performance among the entire project team in order for a completed building program to fully satisfy a client's and the building users' expectations. Having a process implemented at the beginning of the project will help define the goals as well as provide a continuous measurement system over time to make sure the objectives are being met. The responsibility rests withe project team and the project owner. Also the manager who has †general management† or †project owner† jurisdiction also shares in the residual responsibility.This process is done at many levels such as: – The individual professional's level – The work package level – The functional manager's level – The project team level – The general manager's level – The project owner's level Project audit s provide the opportunity to have an independent appraisal of where the project stands and the efficiency and effectiveness with which the project is being managed. Audits can be planned periodicly, but also requested when there is a sense that the project is in trouble, or when a new manager takes over in order to become accustomed with the project.Project audits should: – Determine what is going right or wrong, and why – Identify forces and factors that have prevented achievements of cost, schedule, and technical performance goals and Evaluate the efficacy of existing project management strategy – Provide for an exchange of ideas, information, problems, solutions, and strategies with the project team members The task is to manage the project as it progresses, using the project control systems to maximum advantage. Project control is best analyzed by applying the factors of a unique operation, following its output and measuring its results.All factors are to be considered; labor, materials and equipment. One might also have to consider the role of the subcontractors, as they affect the sequencing of a task. In measuring the factors, the project manager must key in on the productivity of his labor force, measuring output over a given period of time. From these results, the project manager can then make a comparison against the project estimate, and against the objectives to meet the expected goals. To be affected in managing the project, the project manager must exercise three modes of operation.These three modes are planning, communicating and monitoring of the project. The project must be well-planned, each factor of the plan properly communicated, carefully monitored and controlled. Proper planning involves one of the initiatives of the goal setting process, the preparation of the schedules, a solid logistics plan and time-based general conditions established to monitor all phases of construction. The limits of construction should be cl ear and they must comply with the language of Project Management Process | 7 the contract documents. Collectively, these are the tools needed to compile this information.It must then be the commitment of the project superintendent and labor forces to carry out the tasks within these limits. To properly implement the plan, the plan must be communicated in such a fashion that there is full understanding of its purpose. One successful mode is the construction schedule. This guide to the project must clearly show each activity starting and finishing dates, duration, resources, long lead item purchasing schedule, submittal dates, purchasing dates, materials delivery to site dates all tied together by meaningful relationships, the networking between tasks. Closer & conclusionAs part of the Project Closure Plan, Suring success of a project the Project Manager needs to remain mindful of the close-out activities that bring a job to its responsible end. The process involves several very impor tant accomplishments that are clearly defined in the construction documents usually in the general conditions section of the specification book. To be successful it is always prudent to be informed and prepared. At the startup of the project a review of each trade section would further help identify needed final submittal information, that each of your subcontractors would be obligated to produce to complete their contract.It is now time to make a close out checklist. This checklist is an excellent tool to include in each subcontract, locking each subcontractor into ownership of their respective final submittal material, whether it is warranties, record drawings, or operation and maintenance manuals a clear reminder at the set time of contract signing is a good way to identify that you are in control. Referencing this information at the halfway point of a longer project would allow you to focus on closing out subcontracts of early finish work completed early, reducing your challenge s at the end of the project.The close-out materials are generally comparable to the submission materials required for approval by the architect at the start-up of the work by any trade. At the end of the project a manual including all of these pieces of literature are assembled and you publish this collection to the client via the architect. Additional information may include as-built drawings; replications of the architect plans with markups that identify the changes made and approved throughout the construction period and most certainly, letters of warrantee from each participating subcontractor. process will be developed that will address the things most important to employees as they explore options for their future. During this process, the management team promises to: †¢ Be open and honest about decisions that affect an employee’s position on the team †¢ Work directly with employees to allow opportunities inside and outside the project to develop new skills an d refine existing ones †¢ Promptly communicate to employee’s project changes that might affect them.We want to keep employees engaged in the current project and ensure that they are ready for new challenges. Employees can share immediate and long-term plans by completing the Employee Interest Survey described above. The employee’s manager will schedule an informal meeting to discuss the employee’s responses in the Interest Survey. The outcome of this meeting will be to turn those short and long-term goals into an action plan.

Ethics and Strategic Plan

Week 2 Individual assignment Abstract Reviews the role of ethics and social responsibilities in developing a strategic plan while considering stakeholder needs and agendas. Reviews the four key responsibilities and priorities as stated by Carroll; economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary responsibilities. Discusses the importance of integrating ethical and social responsibilities in a strategic plan. Uses Enron an example of a company overstepping ethical boundaries and discusses measures that could be taken to avoid future unethical behavior by a company. EthicsAccording to Lantos (2001) â€Å"It is no news that today’s business organizations are expected to exhibit ethical behavior and moral management. However, over the past half century the bar has been steadily raised. Now, not only are firms expected to be virtuous, they are being called to practice â€Å"social responsibility† or â€Å"corporate citizenship†(Carroll 2000, p. 187), accepting some accoun tability for societal welfare† (p. 1). Ethical and social responsibilities are a necessity in developing a strategic plan. There are four key responsibilities an organization needs to establish when developing a strategic plan.These four responsibilities integrated together will meet most needs and agendas of the stakeholders. Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Developing a Strategic Plan â€Å"Should strategic decision makers be responsible only to the shareholders, or do they have broader responsibilities? † (Wheelen & Hunger, 2010, p. 72). The strategic decision makers are the individuals creating the strategic plan, incorporating both ethical and social responsibilities into the company's plan can be a burden and compromises need to be taken into consideration to meet both ethical and social responsibilities while meeting stakeholders needs and agendas.Stakeholders are referred to as individuals who are â€Å"affected or are affected by the achievement of the firm's objectives† Wheelen, T. , ; Hunger, J. (2010). Archie B. Carroll, a business management author and professor states, â€Å"proposes that the managers of business organizations have four responsibilities listed in order of priority: Economic responsibility to produce goods or services of value to society so the firm can repay its creditors and shareholders. Legal responsibility as defined by government laws, the management is expected to obey. Ethical responsibility to follow generally held beliefs about behavior in a society.Discretionary responsibility are voluntary obligations a corporation assumes† (Wheelen ; Hunger, 2010, p. 73). With these four responsibilities, a company when establishing their strategic plan, they must incorporate these fundamental responsibilities in a means that would satisfy the stakeholders needs and agendas. The company must consider all risks, company performance, strategies to meet performance, and social responsibility policies while creating measurable indicators to demonstrate the progress of the company when developing the strategic plan.Once the strategic plan has been developed, communication of the plan to the stakeholders is an important part of the process. By communicating the strategic plan to the stakeholders, all affected individuals or groups will become aware of the path the company is headed. Example of Overstepping Ethical Boundaries As referenced earlier, a company has responsibilities to meet when establishing a strategic plan. Ethical responsibility is listed as the second priority a company needs to meet according to Carroll.When overstepping ethical boundaries, a company exposes stakeholders to risks that do not meet their needs. An example of an organization that has displayed this behavior and acting in the company's interest was Enron. Enron overstepped the ethical boundaries which in the end cost the stakeholders, which mainly was the employees, billions of dollars for their own p ersonal gain. Enron through various unethical decisions, mislead employees and investors by manipulating the accounting entries to make the company to be more profitable than the true represented dollars were.At the time of the Enron incident, there were inadequate government legal or regulatory process in place, if such processes were in place, the Enron incident could have been prevented. Preventative measure that have been established by the government have assisted in reducing the risk to the stakeholders in an organization. A financial auditing company approved by the government is now required to audit financial reports of a company. Pension plans are no longer administered by the company, a third party firm is required to administer a company's pension plan to prevent overstepping ethical boundaries. ConclusionWith past scandals in the business world, companies have been establishing roles of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan while considering st akeholder needs and agendas. Carroll has identified four key responsibilities a company needs to address when developing a strategic plan. Economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary responsibilities, listed in order of priority, are represented to show how an organization can integrate social and ethical responsibilities in a strategic plan. The example provided of Enron has illustrated how a company has overstepped the ethical boundaries and causing risks to the stakeholders.Since the Enron incident, the government established processes to prevent unethical behavior as what happened with Enron to protect the stakeholders of the company. References Carroll, A. B. (2000), â€Å"The four faces of corporate citizenship,† in Business Ethics 00/01, Richardson, J. E. (Ed). , Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, Guilford, CT, pp. 187-191. Lantos, G. (2001, June). The Boundaries of Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility. Wheelen, T. , ; Hunger, J. (2010). Concepts in strategic management and bus iness policy achieving sustainability (12th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection.