African American Religion Essay

Before Africans were brought to America during the slave trade, they had their own culture and society. They had their own language and dance. They also had their own religion. History tells us that the Europeans justified their abuse toward the Africans as helping them become more civilized because the Africans lifestyle appeared primal to them and not as developed and industrialized as theirs. What is often overlooked is that even though Africans were taken from Africa and Americanized and have been stripped of their religion, culture, language and even their name, the very essence of the African as a people did not go away. Some African American slaves rejected Christianity’s religion because they saw it as the â€Å"white man’s religion†. History tells us American Slave Masters abused the Africans by whipping them like animals and by treating them inhumane. The fact that these slave masters wanted the African American to worship their god was unacceptable for some because they could not fathom why they should worship a god who allowed people to be so badly treated. Some Africans accepted Christianity’s religion and faith by identifying with Jesus Christ, the son of God who according to the Bible was innocent of sin and yet he was beaten, bruised and crucified for the sins of the world. Some African Americans wanted to remain faithful to their heritage yet did not agree with the conjure practices. Seth Holly’s character is a good example of conforming to the economic prosperity of America which was founded by Christians. White Christians enforced Christian beliefs, values, and some practices based on the Euro American Christian interpretation of Christian text. Seth developed a kind of hatred for his own people proving that he has adopted the practices of white America in the early 1900s. â€Å"Niggers coming up here from that old backwoods†¦ coming up here from the country carrying Bibles and guitars looking for freedom. † Seth says. â€Å"They got a rude awakening† (6). Seth signifies the African American who resents assimilation to the white American culture. But, at the same time, he too attempts to connect with his heritage by simply allowing Bynum to live in his home and bless it with his conjures rituals. Seth also participates in an African dance ritual called the Juba. Bynum’s character is introduced by practicing conjure rituals. He cuts open pigeons and spreads its blood onto him as a type of cleansing to communicate with spirits. Bynum represents the African American who chose to remain faithful to the religion of his heritage. Others who have chosen the faith of Christianity view conjure rituals as evil, witchcraft, or demonic. Some African Americans wanted to remain faithful to their heritage yet did not agree with conjure practices anymore. Loomis walks in on the juba dance and goes into a trance after dinner at the boarding house. He had a vision of skeletons emerge from a body of water. â€Å"Loomis: I done seen bones rise up out the water. Rise up and walk across the water. Bones walking on top of the water† (53). Loomis recognizes through the vision, his state of ignorance to the knowledge that will lead him to the new way of thinking. Bynum serves as a supporting character reacting to Loomis’s trance. â€Å"Bynum: They walking around here now. Mens. Just like you and me. Come right up out the water† (56). Loomis’s trance and Bynum’s interpretation of it is a turning point in the story. The skeletons coming from the bottom of the sea in Loomis’s vision represent the slave ships, the disorientation experienced by the slaves during emancipation, and the confusion of his release from Joe Turner. Both Loomis and Bynum have tapped into their ancestral religion. The difference between the two is that Bynum represents the African who never renounced his religion and Loomis is the African-American who turned from conjure religion and converted to the faith of Christianity. After Joe turner took his life away from him, Loomis questioned his Christian faith and his identity. By walking in on the ancestral ritual of the Juba dance, Loomis literally walked into what he had actually been looking for, his religion, consequently, his ancestral identity and this is why he fell into the trance. Throughout the play conjures is encompasses four generations; Bynum’s father, Bynum, Loomis, and the neighbor boy Reuben. Reuben’s vision is of Seth’s mother by the pigeon coop, she encourages Reuben to release the caged pigeons. Wilson writes in a way that leads the reader to believe that Loomis needs to find his missing wife. Martha Pentecost is not the one who was lost; Loomis was the one who was lost, wondering around from town to town, searching. Loomis came into the state of belief when Bynum helped him translate his vision. That vision represented Loomis going back to his ancestral conjure religion. Loomis needed to find Martha Pentecost simply to say good-bye to her and their life former together. Up until this point of the story, I believed that Loomis needed to find his wife so they could live out the rest of their lives as a happy free family with their daughter. However, it is made pretty obvious this was never Loomis’s intentions. â€Å"That goodbye kept me out on the road searching,† Loomis says, â€Å"now that I see your face I can say my goodbye and make my own world† (90). Martha Pentecost, a woman of Christian faith, represents the African who assimilated into white America’s culture and Loomis needed to find her to say good-bye to her and the Christian faith. Martha stands by her Christian faith by accusing Loomis â€Å"you done gone over to the devil† (91). White man’s religion believed that conjure was evil or the way of the devil. Loomis finds it easier to reject her for her Christian beliefs. â€Å"Loomis: Great big old white man†¦your Mr. Jesus Christ. Standing there with a whip in one hand and a tote board in another, them niggers swimming in a sea of cotton† (92). Loomis proves with his statement, his version of a bible story that differed from other African Americans but was similar to that of the white man who believed that they were on a level below God and the African’s were beneath them, African’s were one third of a person. Loomis now believes that if African’s are going to be free then they have to take charge of their own destiny. Martha Pentecost represents the African American’s religion, she identifies that Loomis needs to â€Å"be washed in the blood of the lamb† (92) and â€Å"you done gone over to the devil. (91) Through class lessons I learned that African American slaves compared themselves with stories in the bible to instill hope of a life free from oppression, violence, and bondage. Jesus according to the bible was innocent of sin and yet he was beaten, bruised and crucified for the sins of the world. The hope of reigning in heave with Jesus is considered the ultimate reward for suffering life’s trials and tribulations. It is the faith of the African Americans who accepted Christianity religion. Blacks trusted in the Lord instead of man. America was Egypt in the exodus story and as long as the enslaving and oppressing took place America would face the same wrath as Egypt. â€Å"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. † The bible was depended on in justifying and motivation rebellion for the blacks and used as a tool to keep blacks enslaved by the whites. African Americans used sermons, song, and prayer to convey and teach their message of travail and triumph of Israel. Some African Americans could not get past the treatment from the white people that called themselves Christians and as a result they rejected Christianity. Selig’s role suggests that the link between characters is the acquisition of material goods. Selig admits that his ancestors have always made their living pursuing African Americas; his great grandfather transported slaves from Africa, his father captured runaway slaves and returned them to their masters for a reward, and Selig locates displaced people for a fee. Selig attains his ecstasy through consumer capitalism, through the selling of material goods. African Americans are objects for exploitation and exchange in the new economy. He binds African Americans to the economic system, demanding payment of his services and products which necessitates subsistence labor by taking them from one construction site or work site to another, similar to a temporary employment agency today. You pay for an employee to work for some time, but Selig is getting paid by the person looking for work or a ride to a chance of freedom. Selig cannot find a person that has not purchased a dustpan from him because he keeps the names of his customers. Seth is determined to achieve material success, he has very little patience for African Americans migrating north looking for the same prosperity that he desires. Seth is very demanding of his patrons, insisting on advance payment in full, and is preoccupied with maintaining a respectable house. â€Å"It’s hard enough now without all that ignorant kind of acting. Ever since slavery got over with there ain’t been nothing but foolish-acting niggers. Word get out they need men to work in the mill and put in these roads†¦ and niggers drop everything and head north looking for freedom. (5, 6) Seth wants to blend in with the white man’s world; therefore he keeps a link with Selig by negotiating the manufacturing and sale of dustpans. Seth does not have any idea of what it would be like to be a slave, as he was born free in the North and was educated. He demonstrates his education with his math calculation when dealing with the boarding house patrons and the quick notation of him letting Selig know that he is trying to overcharge him for the dust pan materials. Educational differences played a role in tension with Southern blacks, most of who were forbidden from learning to read, saw religion as a matter of oral tradition nd immediate experience and emotion. Northerner blacks, stressed that one could not truly be Christian unless they was able to read the Bible and understand it. This play denies individual worth and identity for some of Wilson’s characters. To be defrauded of the products of one’s labor or to see that creation diminished, like with Jeremy and the guitar contest, is to be denied a reflection of individual worth and identity. If people have been separated from this truth of individual worth and identity through oppression their capacity to bond with one another, form friendships, or couples, families are undermined. Social alienation in Wilson’s characters are expressed in their stores of broken relationships, uncertainty, or suspicion that they feel toward one another. â€Å"Seth: Something ain’t setting right with that fellow, Bynum. He’s one of them mean-looking niggers look like he done killed somebody gambling over a quarter. †(20) Connection between oppression, alienation from self and inability to form bonds with others is displayed in the character of Loomis. Joe Turner’s ability to oppress Loomis carried a judgment of non-worth. â€Å"Loomis: He told me I was worthless. Worthless is something you throw away. Something you don’t bother with† (73) Turners judgment of worthlessness forced Loomis to accept the reality of the white man’s power; he was marked as â€Å"one of Joe Turners niggers and forced to forget his song. †(71) Being alienated from himself and displaced with his relation to the world, Loomis is unable to establish bonds with people around him. The oppression encountered by Wilson’s characters is material or economic, that oppression is spiritual as well in the capacity to deprive the individual of a sense of himself or his unique song. The reawakening of Loomis after his encounter with cultural wisdom is not the self discovery of an average African American but creation of a new source of cultural wisdom, a new African holy man. Wilson uses many metaphors throughout the play. The song is a metaphor for Loomis’s identity and the African American cultural identity. Music is a large part of African American identity, so it makes since that in search of one’s identity they are searching for their song. The boarding house serves as an inn for traveling folk, but the tenants actually receive a form of healing during their stay. Tenants get direction and guidance from Bertha and Bynum. The shiny man that Bynum is in search for signifies African American independence. The man that Bynum met on the road was an independent African American, just as Loomis was freed by his past when he cleansed himself in his own blood. â€Å"Bynum: Herald Loomis, you shining! You shining like new money! †(94) Loomis has dismissed that the blood of Christ can wash away his sins and make him the man he used to be, but by washing himself in his own blood he has sacrificed the old life to begin his new journey on his terms. Bynum’s shining man has been found, meaning his work is complete; he has passed his powers on to the next generation, Loomis. â€Å"They tell me Joe Turner’s come and Gone† is a song that is sung by Bynum, when I first read the story I thought that the meaning was came and now he is dead however, the second time I read the play I realized that it meant that Joe Turner has come and snatched the men and now he is now gone. August Wilson uses symbolism in the play as a very important part in conveying the meaning of the story. Wilson’s use of symbolism is demonstrated through Mr.  Wilson’s use of the road, Martha Pentecost, and Herald Loomis. Symbolic importance is give to the word freedom. The word freedom has instilled hope into the lives of African Americans: during slavery, hope for the release from bondage; after emancipation, the right to be educated, employed, and to move about freely; twentieth century, social, political, and economic justice. Freedom has always stood for the absence of any restraint, because God made all men from his image. There are a number of characters that travel around searching for their place in the world. Mattie, mentions that she keeps on looking, seems like she just keeps starting over, I ain’t never found no place for me to fit. † (76) Reuben tells Zonia, when he finds out that she is leaving the boarding house in search of her mom, â€Å"when I get grown, I come looking for you. †(84) Jeremy does not seem to care much when he loses his job because, â€Å"don’t make me no difference. There’s a big road out there, I can always get my guitar and find me a place to stay. I ain’t planning on staying in one place for too long noway. (64) Martha & Reverend Tolliver moved the Church up north because of the trouble the church was having. When the Civil War finally brought freedom to previously enslaved African Americans, the task of organizing religious communities was only one element of the larger need to create new lives, to reunite families, to find jobs, and to figure out what it would mean to live in the United States as citizens rather than property. August Wilson’s play, Joe Turner’s come and Gone, examines African Americans search for their cultural identity following slavery.

Ecofeminism in the 21st Century Essay

Ecofeminism in the Twenty-First Century. by Susan Buckingham Introduction Since ‘ecofeminism’ was developed as a concept in the 1970s (1), there have been, arguably, major policy shifts in the fields of gender (in)equality and environmental sustainability. Thus a consideration of the achievements of, and work outstanding for, ecological feminism is warranted. In this paper, I will assess the changing policy landscape to explore the extent to which this has structurally altered gender inequalities and societies’ treatment of the environment, and the imbrication of these wo processes. In order to do so, I will look at the rising profile of gender mainstreaming at the international, European Union (2) and European national level; the application of the ‘feminism’ debate to environmental concerns; and the shifting of the ‘radical edge’ of ecofeminism, to explore future possible trajectories (see, for example, Plumwood 2003; Seager 2003). To some extent, I will suggest that the transformation of policy and development rhetoric to include gender, as distinct from women’s issues (itself, arguably, a ‘post-feminist’ dilution of women’s equality), masks fundamental attachment to ‘business-as-usual’, where social roles, pay differentials, political representation and environmental degradation remain little changed. However, there is, I argue, sufficient evidence to identify the influence of ecofeminist thinking on major policy initiatives concerning the relationship between women, men and environment at a variety of scales. The central question of this paper, then, is whether ecofeminism (as a distinct discourse, or as an amalgam of feminism and environmentalism constructed in different times and places in different ways) has hanged the way in which Western society articulates the relationship between men, women and the environment. This, of course, is a problematic and speculative exercise and will follow from an analysis of how discourse and practice themselves have changed. This paper will consider key changes to gender equality as it is linked to environmental sustainability, and explore how women’s/feminists’ interests have helped to shape the environmental debate in the past decade. I will try to unpick dominant discourses which, on the one hand, are beginning to ‘naturalize’ (some ould say neutralize) environmental concerns (where the terms sustainable development and environmental sustainability are common currency but poorly understood to the point of being anodyne), but on the other hand are marginalizing feminism, to examine the impact of this on ‘ecofeminism’. Finally, I will explore the territory of ecofeminism’s leading/radical edge to speculate on where this may take both conceptual understanding and policy in the future. First, however, to put this discussion into context, I will briefly review ecofeminist arguments to illustrate their ange, before focusing on the constructivist approach, which has had the most traction in gender/environment debates in the last two decades. Ecofeminist approaches It is tempting to use a retrospective to try to impose some sort of order on past intellectual activity, and what I am attempting to do first in this article is to explore whether there is an intellectual trajectory, through a not necessarily coherent body of thinking and writing on gender and environment in the late twentieth century. In teasing out the possible relationship between women’s position, gender anage the environment, ecofeminist writers in the 1970s and 1980s explored the relative importance of essentialism and social construction in these relationships. The social constructivist analyses (which tended to dominate French and British writing; see, for example, Mellor 1992) drew from the Marxist and social feminist literature to show how women’s position in society (as, for example, carers of children and other vulnerable family members, domestic workers, and low paid/status workers) derived from prevailing social and economic structures, which exposed them to a particular set of environmental incivilities. The specifically ecofeminist argument here proposed that, since the same social and economic structures also produced wide-scale environmental damage, then women could, in some sense, ‘share’ this experience and were therefore better placed to argue on nature’s behalf. The essentialist argument that underpinned some of the North American and Australian analyses proposed that women had a particular relationship with nature by virtue of their biology (predominantly as actual or potential child bearers) and that this proximity to nature qualified them to speak more eloquently on nature’s behalf see, for example, Spretnak 1989; Daly 1978). Different authors drew on each position to different degrees, and much of the critique of ecofeminism (well articulated in Biehl 1991) over the past 20 years has focused on the problems perceived with essentialism, and on the validity of a shared experience between the human and non-human. Dennis Smith (2001), in discussing the role of gender in peace and conflict, has argued that essentialism is often used as a tool to mobilize a group around a perceived characteristic which sets it apart, and, certainly, cultural ecofeminism (prioritizing essentialist arguments) did so. Its strength was to demonstrate the possibility of a way of thinking and being which reversed the normal hierarchy in which men stood at the peak; however, little academic feminist environmental thinking is currently framed in this way.

Are We Too Dependent on Technology

Imagine if we were to wake up tomorrow with all electronic devices disabled. Everybody’s life would be impacted in one way or another. We would lose what has become the largest portal for communication. We would also lose countless information that has been stored on computers. There is no denying that technology is going to continue to grow; and impact every aspect of our lives. But the question is if we are becoming too reliant on something that can quickly disappear. We very well could be at risk of losing it all very soon. I will discuss what could cause this change to happen. I will also go over how I believe our dependence on technology is growing. Earth’s magnetic field protects us from most of the suns radiation and other harmful effects. However, the sun is a very powerful force that can cause sudden intense outbursts of energy that are called solar flares. If a very powerful solar flare where to strike Earth it could cause serious effects to our power grid. If we have no power grid, we have lost all of our electronic devices that we count on so much. Solar flares usually impact us the most on an eleven year cycle. The most recent time solar activity peaked was in 2001, and caused widespread radio blackouts in the pacific. The newest cycle of solar activity had begun in late 2007, a year earlier than expected. Scientists say it will peak in 2012 and be between thirty to fifty percent more intense than the one in 2001. With the next one being hypothesized as so much more intense, I believe that it’s time we have a backup plan to accommodate a life without technology. A lot of people believe that we are not too dependent on technology. I spoke to my brother; he stated we just utilize it like we would automobiles or anything else like that. There is no denying the benefits of technology, however, I believe we should not get ahead of ourselves. Over the last fifty years our civilization has changed dramatically. Communication with friends and family has become as easy as the click of the mouse. Also we have saved countless trees by using electronic mail instead of paper mail. I agree that it is in our best interest to continue to use technology in the future. However, I feel that we all should get into the mindset of having a contingency plan in case we lose it. It is hard to go anywhere now days without interacting with a computer. A lot of jobs now require that you fill out applications on the internet. It has also become crucial that you have basic computer skills to be employed in any office setting. In 1994 only 3% of public schools had internet access. In just over ten years in 2005 that number had jumped to 94% of all public schools now having internet access. (US Department of Education) This just goes to show how fast technology is really growing. I feel that we are way to acceptant of something new and need to realize the repercussions before jumping right in. So many people rely on technology in their everyday lives. It could be from using your cell phone for an alarm clock, to setting a flight plan for a commercial flight. If we were to lose all of this, I believe that we would all be left in discontent. I believe that now is the time to slow down a little bit and gain a view of where we are heading. The way that I see it technology is going to continue to grow at a rapid pace. Everybody always wants the next coolest or fastest thing on the market. If you stop to realize how much our lives have changed in the last fifteen years. You can only imagine what our daily activities will be like another fifteen years from now. I believe the one thing that will remain the same in that fifteen years will be our dependence on technology. That is unless we do realize that we need to keep our advancements in check. I believe that a new potentially life changing technology should be closely analyzed before being released to the general public. If we don’t fully realize the potential effects of a new technology, we could be faced with unexpected consequences. Although I welcome change and enjoy using new devices myself, I feel that I too would be lost if I were to lose it all. For that very reason I think that we as a civilization need to realize the potential effects if it were all gone. Are We Too Dependent on Technology Imagine if we were to wake up tomorrow with all electronic devices disabled. Everybody’s life would be impacted in one way or another. We would lose what has become the largest portal for communication. We would also lose countless information that has been stored on computers. There is no denying that technology is going to continue to grow; and impact every aspect of our lives. But the question is if we are becoming too reliant on something that can quickly disappear. We very well could be at risk of losing it all very soon. I will discuss what could cause this change to happen. I will also go over how I believe our dependence on technology is growing. Earth’s magnetic field protects us from most of the suns radiation and other harmful effects. However, the sun is a very powerful force that can cause sudden intense outbursts of energy that are called solar flares. If a very powerful solar flare where to strike Earth it could cause serious effects to our power grid. If we have no power grid, we have lost all of our electronic devices that we count on so much. Solar flares usually impact us the most on an eleven year cycle. The most recent time solar activity peaked was in 2001, and caused widespread radio blackouts in the pacific. The newest cycle of solar activity had begun in late 2007, a year earlier than expected. Scientists say it will peak in 2012 and be between thirty to fifty percent more intense than the one in 2001. With the next one being hypothesized as so much more intense, I believe that it’s time we have a backup plan to accommodate a life without technology. A lot of people believe that we are not too dependent on technology. I spoke to my brother; he stated we just utilize it like we would automobiles or anything else like that. There is no denying the benefits of technology, however, I believe we should not get ahead of ourselves. Over the last fifty years our civilization has changed dramatically. Communication with friends and family has become as easy as the click of the mouse. Also we have saved countless trees by using electronic mail instead of paper mail. I agree that it is in our best interest to continue to use technology in the future. However, I feel that we all should get into the mindset of having a contingency plan in case we lose it. It is hard to go anywhere now days without interacting with a computer. A lot of jobs now require that you fill out applications on the internet. It has also become crucial that you have basic computer skills to be employed in any office setting. In 1994 only 3% of public schools had internet access. In just over ten years in 2005 that number had jumped to 94% of all public schools now having internet access. (US Department of Education) This just goes to show how fast technology is really growing. I feel that we are way to acceptant of something new and need to realize the repercussions before jumping right in. So many people rely on technology in their everyday lives. It could be from using your cell phone for an alarm clock, to setting a flight plan for a commercial flight. If we were to lose all of this, I believe that we would all be left in discontent. I believe that now is the time to slow down a little bit and gain a view of where we are heading. The way that I see it technology is going to continue to grow at a rapid pace. Everybody always wants the next coolest or fastest thing on the market. If you stop to realize how much our lives have changed in the last fifteen years. You can only imagine what our daily activities will be like another fifteen years from now. I believe the one thing that will remain the same in that fifteen years will be our dependence on technology. That is unless we do realize that we need to keep our advancements in check. I believe that a new potentially life changing technology should be closely analyzed before being released to the general public. If we don’t fully realize the potential effects of a new technology, we could be faced with unexpected consequences. Although I welcome change and enjoy using new devices myself, I feel that I too would be lost if I were to lose it all. For that very reason I think that we as a civilization need to realize the potential effects if it were all gone.

Why Use Bitcoins Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Why Use Bitcoins - Research Paper Example A solution is proposed to the double-spending problem incorporating peer-to-peer network. Bitcoins involves network timestamps transactions by forming a record that cannot be altered without redoing the proof-of-work. The longest chain clearly proves that it originated from one of the largest pool of CPU strength, and also serves as proof of the sequence of events witnessed. Although as long as most of CPU strength is under the control of nodes which are not collaborating to attack the network, they will spawn the longest chain and outpace attackers. Minimal structure is required by the network itself. Leaving and rejoining of the network by nodes at will also happens, while messages are broadcast on a best effort basis; also the nodes allow the lengthiest proof-of-work chain as evidence of what happened in its absence (Andy). Introduction Commerce on the Internet has come to over relay on financial institutions serving as third parties relied upon to process electronic payments. The system still suffers from the inherent weaknesses of the trust based model, though it works well enough for many transactions. Since financial institutions cannot keep away from mediating disputes, completely non-reversible transactions cannot be deemed possible. While limiting the minimum practical transaction size and cutting off the possibility for small casual transactions, the cost of mediation increases transaction costs, and there is a wider scope regarding the cost in the loss of ability to make non-reversible payments for nonreversible services. There is also the need for trust spreads due to the likelihood of reversal. While interviewing customers for more information than they would otherwise need, Bitcoin merchants must be wary of them (Angry). Although Bitcoins have been proved to be vital in the distribution of currency, they are sometimes associated with various risks which aid dealers in the black markets. A certain degree of fraud is allowed as unavoidable. These e xpenses and expense uncertainties can be evaded in person, through the use of physical currency, though no such mechanisms are present to carry out payments over a communications channel devoid of a trusted party. An electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust is required, making it possible for any two willing parties to transact directly with each other, thus not needing the services of a trusted third party. Routine escrow mechanisms could easily be implemented to protect buyers, since the transactions which are computationally impractical to reverse would shield sellers from fraud. In this paper, we study the use of Bitcoins as solutions to the double-spending problem incorporating peer-to-peer distributed timestamp server in order to spawn computational evidence of the sequential order of transactions. The system facilitating Bitcoin transactions is protected as long as honest nodes as a group run more CPU strength than any group of attacker nodes wo rking together (Chirgwin). Bitcoin for a free society A free society needs a free market while a free market requires a sound form of currency. Bitcoin is a form of currency with good properties like pseudonymous, no likely hood of frozen accounts, there is no charge-backs and there is very cheap and very fast transfer of funds. This is a huge advantage over a barter or cash-only economy. In order to succeed in the long-run, Bitcoin needs the following 3 hypotheses: i. No state control. In short, we should not attempt to gain legality for Bitcoin; the state should not be asked or involved in Bitcoin operations ii. No bank involvement: We should not focus on interoperability with the traditional banking

Memo about a country to secretery of state Essay

Memo about a country to secretery of state - Essay Example Also, the rule of Habib Bourguiba after the independence of the nation from 1959 to 1987 has left significant impact on the public education, female liberation and social reform (Guardian News and Media Limited, 2014). The new constitution of the nation is the result of the widespread debate about principal political parties and it has been adopted in the National Constituent Assembly in January 2014. Though it got the support of both Islamic and secularist parties, only its implementation will solve the debate about the role of the religion in public life and the role of the state in controlling religious traditions (Arieff & Humud, 2015). The newly formed democratic government of Tunisia deserves financial assistance from countries which supports democracy. The United States must remain committed towards supporting Tunisia’s struggles to stimulate republic. This is because Tunisia’s approach towards democracy aims at strengthening the civil society, empowering the young generation and the women of the nation, introducing economic reforms, taking the steps towards increasing the participation of the people in the government and reinforcing security within the country. The U.S. must provide support to the Tunisian government to encourage good governance, transparency in the fiscal system and in enhancing management capacity of the civil society organizations. The grants provided to the state through the â€Å"Middle East Partnership Initiative† (MEPI) has helped the nation to expand the economic opportunities for the women and the youth and also encouraged the people to take part in the political system of the country (The White House, 2015). Thus the U.S. must continue to provide additional funds under this program. The U.S has also helped the government by providing technical assistance to implement the freedom of

Lawyer regulations in Saudi Arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Lawyer regulations in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The result of those events has made it necessary for the Saudi legal market to find ways to develop the profession and promote it. One such method was to create a law that discussed professional partnerships, which included all kinds of professions, whether it was lawyers, doctors, or engineers. In an explanatory note for the laws of professional companies, 4 issued by the Bureau of Experts, the Council of Ministers stated: â€Å"the difficulties surrounding individual professionals are many.† As such, it’s better for clients to deal with a group of professionals than to find themselves in front of a team of specialists at a high level of achievement.5 However, the legal profession and lawyer’s regulations in Saudi Arabia have gone through many stages 6 until the law has evolved into in the form that we see today.7 The present Saudi Code of law practice was released under the Royal Decree No. M/38, dated 15 October, 2001, and under the Council of Ministers Resolu tion, No. ... tThe Saudi Code of Law practice, article 10, states: â€Å"a professional partnership for practicing law may be formed by two or more of the lawyers whose names are registered in the list,8 but is subject to the requirements of the professional partnerships law.† The legislature here did not refer to the company law as the law that governs the relationships between partners, but points out the law of professional partnerships. The legislature made the differences very clear by stating that â€Å"it is appropriate to subject professional firms to the provisions of the General Partnership, organized by Title II of the Companies Law, where professional firms are â€Å"civilian companies† in their nature, as working in liberal professions does not make them merchants.† Thus, the differences are obvious between civil companies and commercial companies, either in their formality or substantively standards.9 So, a law firm partnership is governed by the Law of Professio nal Partnership and not the Company Law. Thus, the next topic will be devoted to discussing the Law of Professional Partnerships in regards to the provision of professional partnerships legality. 2. The Saudi law of Professional Partnerships a. General The law of Professional Partnerships considers a partnership between lawyers to be a civil company. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss what a civil company is before covering the partnership legalitypersonality under the Saudi law of Professional Partnerships. b. What is a Civil Company? i. Terminology: The best English translation for a civil company is a â€Å"Professional Partnership.† In French it is known as â€Å"societe civile professionnelle†

Legal Elements of a Business Contract Coursework

Legal Elements of a Business Contract - Coursework Example Consideration is the third element in contracts and is denoted as a valuable item or cash, which is presented so as to make the contract more binding. For example, a seller may require a buyer to present the payments for goods if they are to be delivered. The payment is considered as a consideration in this case. However, the buyer does not need to buy the full amount. The consideration is only given if there is a promise made (Boundy 2010, p. 64). In addition, the law requires that both parties should have an intention of getting into a contract. They must exhibit the awareness that their agreement is to be bound by law. The contract must be made by people out of their free consent without any form of coercion, fraud, mistake, misrepresentation or undue influence. The individuals must be in their right capacity to make contracts. This refers to the soundness of mind, being of the right age as well as individuals not disqualified by law to make any contract. There must be a lawful object of the contract as well as the certainty of the contract. The law also considers the possibility of performance surrounding the lawful object which is the subject of the contract. If it is something that cannot happen, then the law cannot enforce such contracts. Some contracts require legal formalities in form of writing (Boundy 2010, p. 67). Bilateral contracts are made by two parties after the agreement of terms and conditions while unilateral contracts only involve one party who presents the terms as well as the offer. Unilateral contracts are commonly applied by individuals looking for lost items who offer rewards to individuals who find them. In unilateral contracts, only one person is bound by the law (Boundy 2010, p. 94).

Business Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Administration - Essay Example There are three main ways to create organisational structures which are discussed below: Functional structure This technique divides work according to the function of an organisation; it makes departments on the basis of organisational functions such as marketing, finance, human resource etc. (Torraco & Swanson, 1995) This is a very successful way to create an organisational structure as it promotes strong communication between departments and allows employees to use their expertise to achieve organisational goals. This structure is used by both small and large firms (Tobey & Benson, 2009). Example Revlon is a multinational cosmetics, skin care, personal care and fragrance firm and it uses functional organisational structure to manage its 6800 employees. It focuses on organisational functions to meet organisational goals. (Five approaches to Organizational Design) Divisional structure This way of developing structure, make divisions according to the types of products and market areas (Ulrich and Brockbank, 2005). This structure is usually used by large firms which have wide variety of products and its operations are geographically expanded. Small size firms can also use divisional structure on a small scale (Vosburgh, 2007). ... It uses divisional structure. (Five approaches to Organizational Design) Matrix Matrix structure is combination of functional and divisional structure; it is a hybrid which is normally used by large multinational firms. Though it is a complex and costly structure but firms using this structure enjoy the benefit of both functional and divisional structures (Aguinis, 2009). Example Starbucks coffee company is an international coffee house which operates in many countries. It uses matrix structure which is costly but Starbucks Corporation is enjoying advantages of both functional and divisional structure which is helping them to expand and to maintain its focus on company’s goals (Hitt, 2008). How managers can be supported during the process of organisational structure change. Managers play an important role during the process of organisational structure change. They need to be very systematic to implement the change and has to be very careful about the processes involved (Armstr ong, 2009). Change can be a shift to other structure or it may also mean to bring in the change within the selected organisational structure (Beatty & Schneier, 997). There is an eight-step process which can support managers the process of structural change. Following figure shows the steps involves in the process: (CliffNotes) Managers first need to analyse the need for change of organisational structure, then they need to develop the goals of change, once they decide goals then they need to select the change agent, then they need to do diagnosis, after diagnosis they need to select the intervention method, then they need to do develop a plan for change, once the plan is develop than

The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Essay

The Role of Public Opinion in the Downfall of Policies The 1990 Poll Tax and the First Employment Contract 2006 - Essay Example The following discussion will explore the theory behind the rights assertion of citizens in reaction to unfair laws and policy reforms of the government, which is becoming very important to the validation of public policy. It is then going to consider the problems that the Conservative Government experienced with the Poll Tax in the 1990s and the French Government in respect to the First Employment Contract 2006. In this section it will illustrate how public opinion doomed these policies to the scrapheap. Carney has proposed that pressure groups have embarked on using the legal system for alternative methods than just setting precedent or using judicial review for ulterior motives than questioning the rule of law. This has occurred because the present legal system does not provide sufficient protection for the environment and he considers three theories of how pressure groups use the legal system which are; as a surrogate political process (Sax); adjunct to the political process; and rights assertion (Dworkin and Rawls). The following section will consider; each of these theories; the application that Carney proposes; and whether the theories of empowerment and grassroots movements provides any insight into providing environmental rights as sufficient access to justice against unfair public policy. The Surrogate Political Process theory argues that courts are completely independent from the political and as Sax argues that it is the only method of social reform that is not possible in the political arena of lobbying and the competing of interests.1 This is the radical form of the argument; however there is a more traditional line of argument as illustrated by Carney: The ability to operate as a surrogate political process the courts must have values which promote a different agenda to that which is being promoted by the traditional political process, and have the ability to ensure that these values are ultimately accepted in the traditional political process.2 The problem with this argument for the political/legal process is that it is not viable in the English Legal System, because of parliamentary sovereignty and the unwritten constitution because the English courts do not have the power to quash laws that are inconsistent with the constitution. In France, however, this is a possibility therefore extreme public reaction as to the First Employment Contract 2006 can result in the laws being quashed by the Courts. Therefore the government before losing in the courts in jurisdictions, such as France, will retract their public policy because of the ultimate failure of the policy due to the unfairness to the public. Adjunct to Political Process: This thesis recognizes the limitations of the court's ability to effect significant social change by itself - rather litigation is seen as another campaign tool - or in the words of David Robinson3 an arrow in the quiver. As a campaign tool litigation can serve a number of purposes. It may if successful legitimize the goal [of the Pressure Group] It may

The impact of non-production departments on effective logistics and Essay

The impact of non-production departments on effective logistics and operations performance - Essay Example The non-production departments would be identified and their impact on effective logistics would be discussed; that would assist in not only identifying the problem, but also finding a solution for it. The process by which acquisition movements and other functions such as storage of parts, materials, and finished inventory are strategically managed through the utilization of proper marketing channel, which is the future objective of generating revenue and profit, is called effective logistics (Blecken 134-137). It also includes the objective of effectively fulfilling the orders by minimizing the cost. In case of effective logistics, the focus is on efficient system and attention is paid towards movement, which is the backbone of the system. Instead of distribution, finance, production, and purchase, logistics deals with a flow of information and materials. According to the concept of logistics, every segment in an organization should work together, and the marketing manager should be prepared to consider lower performance or lower level of service while preparing activity framework, so that the lag times are also considered. This would give the project manager a proper estimate of time, which is most important in logistics (Burg â€Å"5 Logistics and Shipping Mistakes Small Businesses Make"). Operations Management Performance and Effective Logistics Effective logistics is a part of operations management and the performance of the enterprise depends on logistics and other aspects of operations management. Operations management involves management of design and productive systems, along with control, and planning of daily operations within the transcorporate networks and company. Supply chain network is an integral part of operations management. In small enterprises, the operational management, such as daily productions, etc is usually handled by the human beings. Operations management and logistics are considered an area of concern by the stakeholders of the co mpany. In order to measure the performance of operational management process and logistics system, appropriate performance indicators should be selected in such a way that it stands in line with the objectives of the business. The performance measures would assist in evaluating the objectives and degree to which those are attained (Charantimath 440-443). The operational management performance of the company can be accessed by examining certain areas such as cost, flexibility of process, delivery, and quality of products. Logistics system of any organization influences the objectives of the company through the above mentioned areas. This also indicates that logistics affect the performance of any organization significantly. Considering the four areas of logistics which are considered in operations management, the quality of process, and product should meet the high demand standards. The cost of the inventory and the work process should be lower. The objective would be to have high ca pacity, and low cost of administration. Delivery rate should be high and accurate, and lead time has to be short. Finally flexibility in terms of achievement of customer benefit, maintenance of relationship with partners should be of high degree (Deepen 14-16). Non-Production Departments In order to identify the impact of non-production department on logistics and operations management performance of organizations, first the non-production overheads have to be identified, and discussed why they are considered such. The non-production

Sociology and Anthropology Essay Example for Free

Sociology and Anthropology Essay A. The Science of Sociology and Anthropology Sociology is the scientific study of human society and its origins, development, organizations, and institutions. ] It is a social science which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity, structures, and functions. A goal for many sociologists is to conduct research which may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, while others focus primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of social processes. Subject matter ranges from the micro level of individual agency and interaction to the macro level of systems and the social structure. The traditional focuses of sociology include social stratification, social class, culture, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, social mobility, religion, secularization, law, and deviance. As all spheres of human activity are affected by the interplay between social structure and individual agency, sociology has gradually expanded its focus to further subjects, such as health, medical, military and penal institutions, the Internet, environmental sociology, political economy and the role of social activity in the development of scientific knowledge. Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. To understand the full sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge from the social and biological sciences as well as the humanities and physical sciences. A central concern of anthropologists is the application of knowledge to the solution of human problems. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: sociocultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Anthropologists often integrate the perspectives of several of these areas into their research, teaching, and professional lives. Sociology and anthropology are separate, but related, branches of the social sciences that study humans and society.  Once anthropology and sociology were similar in how they studied humans, but in the early part of the 20th century, their methodologies and foci diverged. B. The Development of Sociology and Anthropology The history of Anthropology and Sociology is long and full of invaluable insights into the human condition. It provides a mirror that reaches deep into ourselves and explains why we do things that are sometimes contradictory to logic, and most often in alliance with societal standards. For these reasons, Anthropology and Sociology have remained highly esteemed fields of study and continue to flourish as a library of social thought grows. August Comte was the first to coin the term sociology. He was not the first to create theories of sociology, but was the first to proclaim himself a sociologist. Comte was a functionalist who believed every aspect of society served a purpose. He is most famous for his idea of social statics and dynamics. Social statics is the study of social order, whereas social dynamics is the study of social change and progress. Dividing the study of sociology into these two categories created two different frames of reference from which sociology could be studied (Collins and Makowsky 26). The next significant development in sociology came with Karl Marx. Marx was a conflict theorist who believed that all aspects of society could be explained as a struggle between two or more opposing groups. There were three parts to Marxs theory. First, there was his sociology which established the class system (Collins and Makowsky 34). This system included the capitalists, or bourgeois, who owned the means of production and profited from exploiting workers, or the proletariat (Collins and Makowsky 40). Next, Marxs politics explained that a class struggle for power would be won by the group that best suits the evolving economy (Collins and Makowsky 36). Since the only way for the capitalist to profit is by exploiting the worker, and the worker cannot profit on his own because he does not own the means of production, capitalists could drive wages lower and lower until the workers revolt (Collins and Makowsky 41). Finally, Marx speculated that this revolt would occur because the worker would be gaining less from their work than what they put in. This was his social/political philosophy (Collins and Makowsky 45). At around the same time in the field of Anthropology the predominant school of thought was becoming the social evolutionists. These theorists used Charles Darwins theory of evolution to explain society (Collins and Makowsky 85). Herbert Spencer said that societies were like organisms in that they went from simple to complex and independent to interdependent. However, societies were not like organisms because they were not organized similarly or interconnected (Collins and Makowsky 85-86). Sir Edward Burnett Tylor was another social evolutionist who believed that all cultures were derived from a single body of information and that certain societies had less and others more (McGee and Warms 27). Lewis Henry Morgan perpetuated this idea by claiming that there were three types of societies: savage, barbarian, and civilized (McGee and Warms 41). The aspects of the society that determined how evolved the culture was along this scale were how people gained subsistence, the system of government, language, family, religion, house life and architecture, and the type of ownership of property (McGee and Warms 42). The three stages could be defined along the lines of inventions and discoveries and the types of primary institutions (McGee and Warms 46). Some years after the social evolutionists established their theories of Anthropology, Emile Durkheim made an impact on Sociology. Like Comte, he too was a functionalist. Durkheim created many theories, among them the most notable being that of the function of crime and Social Facts. Durkheim believed that the function of crime was to unify members of society. Crime provides a principle behind which most members of society can stand behind and become united. The repercussions of crime also teach the youth the norms and values of a society (Collins and Makowsky 105). Durkheim is also commended for his theory of Social Facts. A Social Fact is determined by a society and is not true across all societies, whereas facts are true across all societies (McGee and Warms 88). Another sociologist who was working at the same time as Emile Durkheim was Max Weber. Weber was a symbolic interactionalist who believed that all interactions in society represented a deeper characteristic of society. However, Weber was also a Marxist who deemed class, power, and status the foundation of society (Collins and Makowsky 120-121). Weber spent much of his time explaining the forms of government. He described two types of government: Patrimonialism and Bureaucracy. In Patrimonialism, positions in government were awarded via traditional legitimacy, or birth-right (Collins and Makowsky 126). No special skills were needed to fulfill job requirements and there were generally few to no rules. In Bureaucracy, people were appointed or elected for positions. This system used rational-legal legitimacy and contained a hierarchy. Bureaucracy required a great amount of specialization and included many rules and regulations (Collins and Makowsky 127). Two other symbolic interactionalists who made significant contributions to sociology around this time were Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. Cooley developed the concept of the Looking-Glass self. The principle had three dimensions. First, people look at themselves as they think others see them. Then, they look for judgments others may be making about them. And finally, they evaluate those judgments and adjust their behavior accordingly (Collins and Makowsky 167). Mead also created a model of the self. In Meads theory, the first stage we encounter is the me. This is a stage in which we anticipate stimuli and react with formulated responses. As we mature, we enter the I where we are now able to see the expectations society has of us and we react with conditioned responses (Collins and Makowsky 174). After we are able to identify ourselves as part of a community, we adjust our actions to best suit the interests of the community (Collins and Makowsky 175). A new school of Anthropology developed shortly after the theories of Cooley and Mead. The school was Historical Particularism and it drew upon the work of Franz Boas and Alfred L.  Kroeber. Historical Particularism brought with it the idea that each society has a unique history based on different paths of development and therefore, no society is inferior to the next (McGee and Warms 130). Boas believed that one must immerse oneself in a culture in order to understand it and draw conclusions. This was starkly different to the anthropologists before him who used comparative studies to examine other cultures. Boas used ethnographic studies to document cultures that were about to be lost because of contact with the outside world (131-132). Kroeber was Boas student, however Kroeber took a different approach to anthropology. He did not believe that the individual played a significant role in the development of society, whereas Boas did (McGee and Warms 133). Kroebers major contribution to anthropological theory was his Eighteen Professions. These professions were eighteen beliefs about social evolution which Kroeber did not agree with. He believed that social evolution began on an assumption that society evolves like organisms, and did not believe heory should include assumptions (McGee and Warms 141). Three equally influential anthropologists of the same time period were Bronislaw Malinowski, Alfred Reginald Radcliff-Brown, and Edward Everet Evans-Pritchard. All three belonged to the Structural Functionalist school of anthropology. Structural Functionalists sought to understand the underlying structure of society. The most notable Structural Functionalist was Malinowski. He studied the Kula trade in New Guinea with the Trobriand Islanders. Malinowski discovered that necklaces and bracelets being exchanged in this system were not just gifts between tribes. They were in fact creating a relationship between the tribes so that other goods, such as food, could be traded freely because of the established bond between the two tribes (McGee and Warms 161). Radcliffe-Brown is best known for his research on the relationship a child holds with his or her mothers brother. He hypothesized that the mothers brother acts as a second, or surrogate, mother to the child whereas the father of the child acts as a disciplinarian. In addition, the child has access to the mothers brothers food and property if the mother dies and the mothers brother helps when the child is sick or if the mother is no longer capable of caring for the child. This explains the positive relationship that the mothers brother has with the child, and the negative relationship a child has with his or her father (McGee and Warms 177). Previous theorists such as Sigmund Freud had speculated that a negative relationship a son had with his father was a result of jealousy the son felt because the father was having sex with the mother (Collins and Makowsky 148). The last of the Structural Functionalists was Evans-Pritchard. He developed the idea of a Segmentary Lineage System. This was a system by which people see themselves in relationship to each other depending on how closely related they are to each other. For example, even if an individual is friends with someone from another family, they will take the side of a member of their own family before defending the friend outside their bloodline (McGee and Warms 191). During this time, another school of anthropology was developing. This was the school of Culture and Personality. Culture and Personality was defined by three themes: the relationships between culture and human nature, culture and individual personality, and culture and society typical socialization. It was pioneered by two anthropologists; Ruth Fulton Benedict and Margaret Mead (McGee and Warms 206). Benedicts major contribution was the highly influential concept of cultural relativism. Cultural relativism asserted that there are no superior or inferior cultures, only different cultures. Benedict also stressed that cultural configuration established the personality of its members. She was primarily interested in culture and human nature (McGee and Warms 209). Mead was chiefly concerned with culture and the individual. Her major contribution was a study on Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies. Mead studied three tribes: the Mundugumor, the Arapesh, and the Tchambuli. In the Mundugumor tribe, both sexes were aggressive head hunters. In the Arapesh tribe, both men and women were gentle and calm problem solvers. In the Tchambuli tribe, men were apt to gossip and provided nurturing while women were dominant. Since all three of these systems were very different from the western, patriarchal way of thinking, they contributed significantly to the study of anthropology (McGee and Warms 222). Another movement in anthropological thought began in this time period. It was called Cultural Ecology and Neo-Evolutionary Thought. Pioneered by Julian Steward and George Peter Murdock and focused on how societies adapt to their environments as a measurement of evolution (McGee and Warms 225). When Boas made ethnographic studies a standard in anthropology, cross-cultural studies had been abandoned. Murdock revived the practice of cross-cultural studies and created the Human Relations Area Files. This was a collection of my volumes documenting the organization of various cultures around the world (McGee and Warms 263). Murdock also contributed significantly to the study of divorce. He hypothesized that a stable marriage is more likely if one or more of three factors are in place. First, a bride price helped to secure a marriage because there was no obligation to repay the price and therefore marriage was profitable. Second, arranged marriage would stabilize a marriage. The final factor that would ensure the stability of a marriage was the crow. This is a situation in which women are stolen and would not be returned because this is a sign of weakness (McGee and Warms 265-266). Steward is responsible for the distinction between culture type and culture core. A societys culture type is how a culture uses a specific technology to exploit the environment. Culture core accounts for the features of a culture that play a role. Knowing both the culture type and core of a society can prove useful when studying how the society aintains subsistence (McGee and Warms 228). Up until this point in history, few if any sociologists had touched upon race. Then, the rise of the black sociologist occurred in the form of W. E. B. DuBois. DuBois was a Marxist and saw blacks as the modern day proletariat. He believed it was segregation that kept black from obtaining jobs and in turn bad jobs led blacks to lower economic status. DuBois believed the only way to create chang e was through education, though he admitted that education was useless under segregation (Collins and Makowsky 196). DuBois also suggested that blacks have a double consciousness. Blacks feel caught between two identities: one black, and one American. These two identities divert blacks attention from fulfilling either identity to its fullest extent. It also places undue mental stress on African-Americans to keep switching identities to match their circumstances (Farganis 180). Several years later, Erving Goffman, another symbolic interactionalist, contributed his theory of Dramaturgy. Goffman stated that each one of us has a back stage and a front stage. The back stage is who we really are when we think we are not being judged. Goffman categorizes this as a accurate identity. The front stage is the act we put on for the rest of society to see. This is what Goffman labels a fabricated identity (Farganis 360). There are four steps to managing a fabricated identity. First, one must control the setting. Then, an individual puts on a personal front. Next, one will play the part they have created. And finally, the individual must manage the audience (Farganis 366-367). Another influential sociologist was Michele Foucault. He belonged to the new movement of Contemporary European Thought under the umbrella of Post-Modernism. Foucault suggested that over time, societies discourse, or presumed truths, have changed. For example, during the middle ages, society at large made the assumption that everything in the world could be explained through religion. However, during the enlightenment, the discourse of western thought shifted to look towards science for an answer to all phenomena (Faganis 411). In post-modernism, sociologists propose that there are no ultimate truths that science, religion, or any other institution can define (Farganis 413). At the same time, Claude Levi-Strauss is studying language from an anthropological standpoint. His major contribution to the field is through his inclination to approach linguistics from a structuralist point of view. Levi-Strauss asserts that language should be studied to discover the underlying structures that create societies. Previous theorist such as Boas thought language was important to study because it showed how we categorize the world (McGee and Warms 335). Around this time, Sally Slocum is attempting to perform a Feminist Critique. Female anthropologists and sociologist of the past had too often focused on the importance of men in society and glossed over the contributions of women. Slocum pointed out that women are second class citizens in most societies because of their association with nature which was seen as untamed and therefore dangerous. Men were associated with culture because they were the controllers of culture. This created an image of men as being the more civilized of the two genders. Women were aligned with nature because of their ability to bear children and the work they commonly did producing, instead of killing as men often did (McGee and Warms 419). These anthropologists and sociologists of the past have provided current thinkers with a basis for further research and exploration. Today, Anthropology and Sociology are growing fields of interest across the world. Thousands of anthropologists and sociologists chip away at lifes major questions every day. As the canon of literature grows, human beings grow closer and closer towards self-actualization.

Perception and Reality Essay Example for Free

Perception and Reality Essay ?Introduction This paper will attempt to argue against the common misconceptions about reality and perception. It will try to explain that perception and reality are interconnected, and that our five human senses are not the sole basis of reality, they are just instrumental to am additional process of perception that will bring the truth in our lives. This paper will briefly discuss the historical progression of human apprehension of the world he exists in. From Plato to Quantum Physics, the paper will clearly show how our perception can change the way we view the world. Admittedly this topic is broad and the paper could not possibly cover all its aspects. The paper will only focus wherein it will show that the creation of our reality is significantly based on our perception, there are important aspects that were left out like the nature of consciousness and its role on perception. Although this will enhance the understanding of perception and reality, it is no longer a necessity for this concept to be elaborated further. Some citations and explanations are self evident; other examples are very technical, if the reader would like to have a further understanding of the cited examples, a different reference might be needed. I. What is Reality? â€Å"What is real? How do you define real? If youre talking about what you can hear, what you can smell, taste and fee, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. † -Morpheus, The Matrix Reality in its simplest explanation is â€Å"everything that exists. † It covers everything from atoms to the stars in a faraway galaxy and everything in between, including the everyday objects we encounter. Non-material objects like thoughts and ideas, love, purpose, meaning can also be ascribed some semblance of reality to them. However, all these and everything that exists can be said to only exist because we perceived them. So if everything that exists are only objects of our perception, what is real then? More than 2000 years ago, some guy named Zeno presented a riddle that up to now baffled scientists and thinkers alike. It was called the â€Å"The Arrow Paradox. † Zeno argued that the flight of an arrow is an example of motion. He stated that in any given moment of time, the arrow is either where it is, or where it is not, if the arrow is where it is, then it is not moving, if it is where it is not, then it cannot possibly be there, the arrow can only be where it is; thus, it cannot move and is always at rest, although in different locations in space. To understand this better consider the light bulbs we usually see as Christmas decors, there is a perception that lights are running from one direction to the other, but in reality, the lights just blink on and off in a sequential pattern so as to create the illusion that it is moving. Here we have a paradox, on one hand; no one can repute what Zeno had claimed. That the arrow never moves. Logically speaking, no one has ever succeeded in disproving what he said. In other words, he was so correct in his analysis that no one can dispute them. On the other hand, our common sense will undeniably tell us that the arrow is moving, thus the paradox. This paper was not meant to present a resolution to Zeno’s riddle, (although there is a perfectly logical explanation based on our latest scientific knowledge, this paper will no longer tackle it. ) the paradox was only cited to illustrate the dilemma of human perception, that the reality based on our perception is not absolute and varies as our perspective changes. Reality will always be dependent on what we perceive and how we perceive it. II. The Nature of Perception The most common model of perception is that what we see, hear, smell, touch and feel is what is real. These are input data sensors that go straight to our brain. The brain then interprets the vibratory information to construct images that evoke ideas and emotions to name a few. These images in turn are further conceptualized by assigning meanings to these mental constructs, completing the whole process of perception. Without interpretation there is no perception, we commonly think that two different people looking at the same object would see the same thing. But it is possible that the interpretation of the brain will tell us that the two persons may not be seeing the same thing. A good example would be the case of a glass half filled with water, two persons may see the same sensory input that tells them that there is a glass and there is water in it, but if you ask them what they see, one may tell that the glass is half-full and the other may tell that the glass is half-empty. Why is this so? The sensory inputs of our perception, when it goes to the brain, are filtered by the mind. So, the way those signals or inputs are constructed inside the brain are affected by various factors. The factors that affect our perception maybe our environment, culture, upbringing, experiences, beliefs, etc. there may not be a conflict to see a single object with nothing in the background, they would surely see the same thing. But imagine seeing everything and the relata of all objects all around us all at once. It is easy to imagine now how challenging to the brain the process of perception is. However, though our naked perception is only limited, by the help of our instruments we are able to perceive a world that is totally different from what we commonly see, by the use of these devices, we were able to magnify the scale and scope of our perception. This enables us to see and imagine the worlds on both end of the spectra of the infinitely large and the infinitely small. With this capability, we were able to hold varying world views throughout our history. These world views are how we see ourselves and the world around us. It seems that for humans, bare perception and its interpretation are inseparable. Because of this, the nature of perception has an intrinsic illusory aspect, we believe that the things we see are actually what they are, although we can hold this to be relatively true, most of the time, it is not always the case. There have been some serious studies to show that the universe is nothing more than a holographic representation of the brain ( a hologram is a 3d image projected into space by the aid of lasers. ). This theory will sure shake the very foundation of our sense of reality, and if true, then the illusory nature of perception is very possible. Why? Because what we see to be real is totally different from what a holographic universe will suggest. In other words, we should always be prepared to at least accept a new world view based on the implications of the latest scientific knowledge. III. The Role of Perception in Reality The Allegory of Plato’s Cave Plato imagined humans living in an underground cave, with an opening where light enters as big as the cave a long way at the top. They’ve been there since birth, their bodies held in place by metal shackles. Their eyes are only limited to see what is in front of them because their bonds restrict them from turning their heads around. There is a fire burning behind them on higher ground. These men cannot see the fire or the objects behind them, only their shadows. The shadows are their only idea of reality. Plato suggested in his allegory that the world our senses show us is not necessarily what it seems to be, our perception can fool us into believing what is actual. A long time ago, the world was believed to be flat, by common sense, that’s what our eyes would tell us, and then later on, when men circumnavigated the world, they imagined and started to believe that the world was round, there was a change in perception, and later on, when our astronauts saw the world in outer space and satellites took pictures of the globe, they confirmed that what was previously believe that the world is flat was false. As another example, our senses will tell us that the earth is still, but actually, it spins at a specific velocity around its axis. Reality as a paradigm of our Perception To further understand the evolution of our beliefs and perception, let us discuss the various world views and beliefs human beings had throughout its history. In the Newtonian era, more than 200 years ago, the prevailing world view was that everything was mechanical and deterministic, that the world is governed and follow very specific physical laws and the that universe was made out of solid spherical objects with independent existence that interact with one another. Now this paradigm was radically altered by the discovery of Einstein’s theory of Relativity. The era of relativity told us that these objects had no independent existence of its own, that the existence of one object is dependent on the existence of another. This idea becomes clear when we try to define something. For example, what is energy? We define energy as the product of mass and motion, if you will notice, energy can only be defined by relating it to mass and motion, and the same goes with mass and motion, nothing can be defined and understood without referring to each other. By the late 20th century, when scientist began to understand quantum mechanics, a more radical world view has been realized. It was so radical because it states that objects have no cause. The subatomic particles, which are the building blocks of everything we can see, come out of nowhere randomly and spontaneously. It is so weird that people have not fully understood the implication of this new scientific discovery. Einstein who understood the implication of quantum mechanics made a comment that if quantum theory is correct, there is no objective reality at all. Today quantum theory is the most successful theory man ever conceived. And for sure for better or for worse, our perception of reality will never be the same again. The most common interpretation in the implication of quantum mechanics for example is that perception and objects are inseparable from one another. This idea further proves that perception plays a major role in our reality. IV. Perception becomes reality Perception is reality. By now, It is clear that there are levels of perception brought about by different points of views. The levels of this perception therefore have corresponding levels of reality. Using the example of a flat earth perception, imagine that you went back in time to the medieval ages and told a peasant that earth is not flat but round, what would you think he would say? He would probably gather his neighbours and a laughed at you and dismissed you as a loony. There is no way you could possibly convince these people unless you take them to a space ship and show them the world from outer space. It was so obvious to them that the world that they feel and see is flat. Another example on how we perceive objects, science will tell us that objects are composed of subatomic particles but when broken down further it was revealed that 99. 99% of it consisted of empty space, yet we perceive objects as something as a solid figure with form and colour. We are not denying that there is validity and truth to what we perceive. These examples were only to demonstrate that reality actually changes when there is a shift of a higher level of perception. In other words, there are many points of view that create our reality. It is not the case that all we can see is all that there is. It is the most common mistake to consider that the limit of our perception is the limit of all that can be perceived. The human mind and its ability to perceive is very limited and it can only comprehend a tiny fraction of what is really out there. The false sense of confidence and the high regard we uphold our beliefs actually obscures us to perceive reality as clear as it can be. An open mind, especially on the area of beliefs on our world, shaped about by our limited perception, can be very useful in shattering even the most persistent illusions we hold about the world and ourselves. There is a serious and profound consequence to our perceptions being influenced by our reality and of held reality influenced and altered by our new way of perceiving things. To understand the dynamic relationship between the two is great advantage. V. Conclusion Phenomenal reality is personal truths brought about by one’s beliefs and ideas about the world. Each one of us tends to think we see things as they actually are. that we are objective, but this is not the case. We see the world not as it is, but as we are – or how we are conditioned to see it. Our behaviors, attitudes, mindsets and relationship towards the world and other people are profoundly affected by how we perceive things. A case of a believer of a particular religion who held a particular belief system that there is only one god and it’s his god is the true one god, then tends to treat others’ beliefs as false. These attitudes rather convinced the believer that those people are ignorant and are being deceived by their own religion. Worse, he is also very inclined to consider these poor people as something inferior. Now, imagine that human beings can believe that there is only one God, manifested in many ways, and in various belief systems. Imagine the implications of this new way of perceiving things, instead of focusing on endless arguments brought about by their differences, they can acknowledge and tolerate each other’s beliefs. The energy and resources that is used once to affirm, protect and propagate their faiths are now available to to spend in truly worthwhile activities that will truly uplift the human conditions. Imagine the peace and harmony brought about by focusing on shared similarities rather that difference. There is a great potential for this new world view. Our latest knowledge in science, our knowledge in philosophy and religion are already here to tell us that we are one, all that is needed is a â€Å"shift† of perception and we can create a world where everyone can truly live in prosperity. Whether collectively or in a personal level, we are responsible for our lives, we create our reality based on our perception. What is important is what we are conscious about. It is my contention that raising or even changing one’s level of perception gives him the ability to create a life with quality. For better or for worse, perception makes or breaks us. â€Å"When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven Last of he will be able to see the sun. † —Plato, The Republic.

Management of Contractual Risks

Management of Contractual Risks 1 Introduction Managing risk should be a fundamental part of bidding for Building or Highways work. Risk is described by Atkinson (2001) as the probability of an occurrence of a hazard and the magnitude of the consequences. Consequently risk may also be considered as the possibility of an experience happening and the resultant effect of the experience if it ere to take place. As defined by RICS (2010) risk management is a means of processes where risks are recognised, examined and then of course controlled. It is a constant cycle that begins at the pretender stage; this means that risks of events are put into a bid from the start and also at the end of construction. During the different phases of a project, many new even previously un-thought of risks materialise throughout. Recognising them quickly allows faster mitigation; in order to reduce impact risk has on the project. This study has examined the inaccuracy of pretender process of managing risk with the use of both pretender and contract registers. There were also opportunities, they were recognised. The subject area of risk was selected following discussions with managers and work colleagues, during my 2010 placement year with Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM). This topic was considered as an ideal subject area for a research project because SRM were improving the system they currently incorporate. So the plan of the study was to advise any conclusions made on the research, so as to further enhance the pretender practice within SRM. My colleagues gave me some risk data sheets for a few projects. The emphasis being on highway construction, as this information was available from my placement and SRM. 1.2 Rationale The subject of what to research developed from consultations with colleagues and the line manager at SRM. My colleagues were interested in the managing of risk and were working to improve SRMs pretender risk process to ensure it replicated the contract phase a bit more. This therefore illustrated a requirement in the business and indeed construction for research in to this topic area. The main reason for eventually electing the subject area of risk was the open access of information provided by SRM and the contact with knowledgeable personnel in my placement. This gave a better understanding of the procedures, allowing greater understanding in subject area of risk. In addition access was gained during placement to potential data in the form of contract and pretender risk registers from various Highway works undertaken by SRM. The aim of the research as came about by undertaking literary research, up to that point none of the data was collected, or plan formulated of how to use the data. The aim was to understand how pretender recognition of risks may be inaccurate. After that considering how it could be improved and whether it was possible to do so. Subsequently, recording any conclusions of pretender process in order to develop and better it. 1.3 Hypothesis, Aims and main Objectives 1.3.1 Aims Were to see if management of the contractual risks identifies significant additional risks that the pretender risk process failed to recognise and thus determine how inaccurate the pretender risk process is. 1.3.2 Objectives Find the processes presently employed to deal with risk, in both contractual and pretender phases and in recognising and measuring them. Investigate if important additional contractual risks recognised were within the pretender phase register. Compare SRMs risk management processes with other contractors and analyse to find the best solution. If possible, note any resulting conclusions and input results within the pretender register then produce a new and accurate one. 1.3.3 Hypothesis The management of contractual risks in Highway construction successfully identifies additional risks, consequently pretender appraisal has become inaccurate. 1.4 Overview of work done / Methodology 1.4.1 SRM schemes/jobs The SRM jobs used on the research comprised of, M1 J25-28, and A19 upgrade (both Highways Agency jobs) and M74 Glasgow council, all Highway projects. A19 was Term Maintenance Contract (TMC) whereas M1 J25-28 and M74 upgrade were (MAC) contracts. When examining the A19 upgrade the contractual records were acquired but the pretender risk records were not. However the contractual records were compared to a risk bid from a different project. Not ideal but the only solution at the time. The majority of the items were related, so comparable/related items were drawn from the pretender items, then included in the A19 contract register. An evaluation was done involving the contract and pretender risks. To do this the max, min, probable costs in addition to the likelihood of a risk event were incorporated from contract and pretender appraisals. A total assessment of the risks was calculated via averaging the max, min as well as probable costs which are multiplied against the likelihood of the risk event. All risks types were identified, in order to distinguish trends in risks recognised at the pretender and found in contract phase or were not found at all. The A19 contract risk register was distinctive to M1 J25-28 and M74 upgrade registers as it didnt contain costs. Every risk was divided by its probability and impact, whether that was high, medium or low appraisal. The pretender register, risk items were fitted against the occurring contractual register items. To see if every item in the registers were done, costs and probabilities were assigned to the A19 contractual risk method of appraisal. In getting a total assessment, both probability and risk price were multiplied. These costs were then evaluated against the overall pretender costs. 1.4.2 Highway contractor Interviews Interviews via telephone were conducted with a few companies to really see what processes are used at post contract and pretender. Also to find out how precise these methods are. Companies interviewed were: Morgan EST. Vinci Balfour Beatty May Guerney 1.4.3 Literature Review In order to understand the risk management procedures in construction and more specifically in Highways work a literary review was embarked on. This meant the research would gain an appreciation of the perception of risk by construction, prior to any literary review, my personal experience had only come from SRMs perspective and the processes they use. In order to gain real understanding and to funnel clearly on what my hypothesis stated, it was decided to split the literature review into two sections. One section, comprising of processes used by industry, taken from an assortment of books. The second section being that of SRMs highways process and accompanying documents. This makes it possible for an assessment to be conducted between SRM and the other contractors, like how different stages of a contract work in Highway works. 1.5 Overview of conclusions Both the information gained and analysis undertaken, imply the data could sustain the theory and main aims. Due to a large risk amount being found in contractual phase that was not previously seen at pretender. Even though assessments for any one risk were fairly inexact, overall assessment of pretender and contractual seemed strong. Showing pretender registers was inaccurate and needed to be better if assessments and risk management has to become more reliable. 1.6 Report Guide 1 Introduction An opening on the managing of risk in the dissertation while validating the basis in selecting the subject area. The introduction states the aims, objectives and hypothesis that the researched was established upon, as well as outlining the work done and an overview of the Conclusions. 2 Methodology Explains the methods used to investigate my hypothesis, from Literature review, approaches used in analysis and review of information and any outcomes. This expresses the reasons for utilising the techniques chosen also any research restrictions. Its meant to be a methodical, simple approach to how things were done. 3 Literature Review This chapter contains my understanding and Knowledge of the subject area. Done by means of, studying the risk process used in management through books, journals and the internet. Allowing a greater comprehension of risk in Highways work, and how its viewed and used. 4 Results and Analysis Confirms the outcome in the investigation and subsequent breakdown of SRMs jobs as well as the Highway contractors interviews. It outlines the judgments made concerning the pretender and contractual assessments. The Hypothesis was then tested against the information found, to see if its statement is true or false. 6 Conclusions- This analyses all the results in relation to the hypothesis and if theres is any basis that it will hold up. Detailing limitations affecting the research, while also imparting proposals for both industry and any future dissertations. 2 Methodology 2.1 Introduction Methodologies are vital to the accomplishments of research and must be dealt with care in order for the most appropriate research methods to be chosen (Fellows and Liu, 2008). The methodology outcome depended on the subject area, research aims and amount of literature review obtained. For data collection and analysis, the methods employed ought to be realising the aims and objectives so as to continually test the hypothesis and validate the research. The information that was obtainable and available played a huge role, as work on the dissertation could not be done if the information wasnt relevant. The information therefore can be decided by the hypothesis, as if the information was not on hand then one cant trial the hypothesis. Due to these factors, risk management was identified as an appropriate topic from the beginning, but it wasnt until the research was started that defining the hypothesis was possible, yet having an impression of the aims and objectives that were to be accomplished. From the off, the aim was to gauge how precise pretender risk management was, even if unsure of the data and information existing prior to consulting SRM team. Ultimately this section highlights the research methods utilised in the research, and the close association that has been made when doing so between the methods and Aim, hypothesis and objectives. 2.2 Aim Employed to help concentrate the methodology in choosing the right methods, also to clarify to the person who reads the dissertation what precisely was being investigated. So this shall be done by recalling the Aim set out: To see whether the post contract risk process identifies key additional risks that the pretender risk process failed to recognise and thus determine how inaccurate pretender risk process is. 2.3 Quantitative and Qualitative methods In Data collection there are two key styles; quantitative and qualitative forms of research. Quantitative method, being a grouping of information done using figures, which is then evaluated by arithmetical trials to trial an assumption or theory (Creswell, 1994). While the Qualitative method was quite different, instead using connotations, previous incidents and words (Naoum, 2007). Quantitative Methods can be less difficult in examining; it creates measurable outcomes that create analytical arithmetical results. They tend to be better for others to read and understand. While, qualitative information from research has a tendency to be complicated as it often requires researcher input and manipulation to ensure its appropriate for investigative procedures (Fellows and Liu, 2008). The methods adopted depend upon data obtainable as well as the research itself. By executing good research, its generally required and essential to use both quantitative and qualitative. Therefore a mixture o f the two was brought to play, for a more correct and more reliable conclusion; more is detailed further in this section. 2.4 Literature Review As mentioned previously literary appraisal was undertaken; providing a core subject knowledge in risk management of Highway construction. The idea in doing this was grasping how risk was analysed in Highway construction sector, and the procedures used in controlling it. Next research was done to discover how risk was managed, by using literature in form of books and journals. Then see SRMs risk management process from their risk management documentation. Dividing the literature review in two sections meant that one of the objectives could be fulfilled by comparing SRMs risk management approach with other construction companies. By doing the literary appraisal it imparted a better comprehension of the chosen topic of risk, and illustrated the problems and successes in risk management. While also showing the diverse and numerous ways in managing risk, and how the approach identified and selected can depend on many issues like project type, contract used or even size of companies and jobs themselves. The list literature sources below were used in delivering the dissertation:   Textbooks -were very useful in gaining the relevant knowledge of risk management, and procedures used. Books located in the library were discovered using the computer search engines. using. Chapters needed or thought appropriate were studied, and compared against searches that had been made on the internet. A check system, which assessed the validity of both sources of information against each other. With much of the research it became apparent that information in books available werent current especially in the older series of books. Despite this it wasnt a predicament for Risk management as texts of up to ten years old were and are significant and applicable now, with some techniques having improved. The books allowed for great comparison for up to date information on the internet. Journals were again located on the Loughborough University library database, which with the relevant buzz words located material of use. Finding journals proved difficult in comparison to textbook numbers, yet the sources were helpful.   Internet supplied a platform for research of literature. Being easy to use and handy, collating information could be done at speed and with relative ease. It allowed greater understanding of what type of book would be needed from the library. Information from the internet was important but it had its limits and it was vital to know that it can be inaccurate and cause misguidance, research can be more guaranteed with text and journals. This way of thinking about limitations in using the internet was in mind when searching websites on risk in the construction. Finding various helpful websites any information was compared other websites in order to increase reliability, but most importantly against book and journals. As with all research appropriate sources of reliability were identified and used like the RICS website. Two editorials from RICS site provided constructive, and were used in the literature review. In finding books the internet was most useful as many articles on websit es highlighted book of particular relevance and use.   SRMs Risk Management Procedures document SRMs risk management procedure document was used as section two of the literature review. Reading through the document and important information was used in the literature review, particularly, on the processes used by SRM in risk management. A comparison was made between SRMs procedures and with those found in the first half of the literature review. 2.5 Data Collection When actually collecting the data for the research the collection was again split into two parts. The initial data collection was from SRM projects, other data collection was associated to other contractors. The intention was to compare the risk procedures, and attempt at analysing which was the superior one. The next section shows how all the data collection was collected and prepared. 2.5.1 SRM Projects The information on the SRM jobs were formed while in placement during 2010, while working on the M1, involved in subcontractor packages and various Quantity surveying related work. Prior to any data collection, discussions with colleagues and senior managers took place in order to help formulate and aid the research as what would be required in terms of data. At this stage no hypothesis had been decided, the idea was to assess the accuracy of risks in the pretender assessments. Therefore colleagues stated and recommended the use of valid information in the form pretender and contractual risk registers could be provided. The contracts that would be made available were the M1 J25-28 scheme, A19 upgrade and M74 Glasgow project. Three similar Motorway/road maintenance projects that differ from each other contractually. A19 upgrade was a TMC to maintain, operate a network of strategic roads in the North East. M1 J25-28 and M74 are both MAC contracts for similar maintenance one in the midlands and the latter in Glasgow. A19 upgrade and M1 J25-28 are HA run, while M74 was for the Glasgow city council. The HA run their contracts by splitting their contracts into 13 sections in the UK, and in these projects cases offer for the extension and maintenance of the roads within these sections. The reason that A19 upgrade was a TMC but M1 J25-28 and M74, MAC based contracts were that previous to the MAC HA projects were also run with the TMC contract, but now all is done under MAC style. The contracts run for 5 years with optional extensions. Different sections of maintenance start and end at different areas on the motorway in question over a 5 year cycle, meaning that when MAC contracts were first used, some sections werent using them and using TMC etc A19 upgrade was a TMC completed in 2009, whereas M1 J25-28 scheme was a modern MAC contract just saw completion in late 2010. The difference in MACs and TMC are TMC two separate companies, one as managing agent the other as main contractor. MAC consists of the 1 contractor, running both as an agent to the client and as main contractor on site. Using the three contracts as the basis for the research the risk manager on the placement at SRM provided a pretender register for the M1 J25-28 risk management and A19 contractual phase, both of which he had involvement on. Trying to get pretender ones for M74 was problematic but couldnt find any. In order to have a full complete analysis, it was decided that for M74 to use another MAC pretender risk register. Pretty much similar to M74 except the location geographically. For sure this would create limitations but it could possible in using another risk register as SRM do when starting on a new comparable bids. So similarities would be high and that as long as it was noted in the dissertation as to its use and reasons why. Due to the generic nature of the risks they were deemed suitable as with what SRM do in practice. While on placement working on the M1 J25-28 contract meant developing contacts with colleagues who work day in day out on the subject are. Therefore requesting registers on M1 job was easier than the other jobs. The A19 contractual register came to me inn the same way. Getting the M74 contractual register, as the risk team on my placement had contact details for which to enquire with and the registers were duly emailed. 2.5.2 Rival Highway Contractors Obtaining information via rivals in the sector of road maintenance was much more difficult than from SRM sources, as they were very protective of information they gave out. The SRM jobs were Highways related, so the focus was getting some from Highway firms. By doing additional data collection it allowed for an honest comparison between SRM and other contractors. The methods were expected to have been alike if not the same, involving different construction projects; the data was likely to be different. The plan was to send questionnaires to the chosen contractors, but after unsuccessful returns it became apparent that another route would be needed, so interviews via telephone were deemed suitable. It seemed with written survey, contractors were inclined to take no notice of it or put a more generic thoughtless answer, While via a telephone interview response to the questions asked would be immediate and better, with no real confusion of what the question was asking as myself in person could explain. The Highway contractors contacted were: Morgan est. Vinci Balfour Beatty May Guerney A semi-structured set of questions was planned in order to gain the information required but also allowed telephone participant to elaborate and discuss the subject in a friendly professional manner. Contractors in Highways works were contacted, the dissertation of Risk Management was explained with the aims and objectives that needed to be achieved and asked the below queries: Does your company possess a methodology for the management of pretender risks? How does your company detect risks in the pretender phase? How does your company calculate final risk totals? Does your company undertake risk management after the contractual phase? ould I obtain a pretender and or contractual risk register to use in my research (for the Highways project you are on)? Each Contractor interviewed was told research being undertaking intended in contrasting data in pretender phase against the contractual as well as any assessments made. The questions were supposed to see what processes companies used in managing risks. Overall the different companies were helpful in answering these questions. The Fifth and final question was done to get registers like that gained from SRM. It was the only difficult part as many refused to hand registers over from live projects due to the sensitivity of their data and company policies. However some registers were received but didnt really contain the crucial information required just a formatted company risk register. Throughout the interviews, notes were made on the first four questions and the results put into a table at the time of the interview showing the company and their response to each question. Thus, making analysis easier when looking at the responses later in the dissertation. 2.6 Analysis of data Prior to analysis, the research had assessed how SRM price risks. It was crucial in knowing this before as it established the type of analysis would that be approved, and is detailed below. Upon formulating the risks that have been identified each risk will be categorised with maximum, most likely, minimum values and probability. The data was put through a programme @ RISK formulates hundreds of simulations, creating a graph showing the data. The 75th percentile is put in the final pretender as the final risk total. SRM do this for all of their projects. For this dissertation we were concerned in the risks recognised and individual costing risks as shown in paragraph above with min, max and probable etc. The focal point being what was keyed in to @ RISK as opposed to what it produces. For the Data analysis the SRM contracts have been split into their individual projects and the Other Highway contractors. The reason for splitting the SRMs projects was that the analysis varied in parts by way it had been collected as mentioned earlier (some with full risk registers some in part). 2.6.1 M1 J25-28s scheme and M74 Glasgow Analysis for M1 and M74 projects were pretty much the same. The M1 contract and pretender risk register could be matched up to the pretender and contractual registers for the M74 contract risks, due to them being MACs. In evaluating the accurateness of the risk registers and appraisals made, comparable risks to contractual register were then removed from the pretender. When comparing values in matching risks, it was vital to have a total value for both pretender and contractual registers. The best and most impartial methods for pretender register were to average the minimum, maximum, probable figures then multiplying by likelihood of the event. These were a range of potential expenses which could be incurred by the risk, and any total cost was decided to be an average of these, as all projects had them. As its unknown as to its actually occurrence the average should be multiplied by the probability, which gives a total potential cost to the risk. While the contract risk registers should be considered by severity and possibility by scale of 1-5, and then an assessment of the risk was undertaken, figuring out the most likely value as well as minimum and maximum. Mitigation measures are identified for each risk, and then assessment was done again as before the mitigation. The M74 didnt have min prices in its contractual register, therefore all risks were assumed to be zero. Without any minimum values any overall assessments of the risk would not have been made. The reason for not using the likely value instead was so the data would use a range of values. It was decided greater accuracy would be found in setting the minimum as zero and range of values than the most likely. By setting all its risks as zero means they are an unimportant minimum value or a risk/event that doesnt happen. The M1 contract register had all the necessary values so no intervention was needed. Both contract risk registers failed to show any probability, just a likelihood scale from 1-5. Therefore it was assumed, giving the scale a percentage instead, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%. Then the total appraisals of the contractual registers were done through an identical method. Where similar contractual risks could be distributable to a few pretender risks in a register or vice versa, the total appraisal amounts were split by the quantity of risk items, in preventing them being counted twice. This was tabulated under the headings; the contract risks, pretender risks, information put into the registers, and total assessment. The contract risks were then categorised: Unrecognised however is protected (No value). Unrecognised but not protected ought to have been recognised. Unrecognised unable to recognise. Recognised while also protected. Identified yet unprotected. Each risk was grouped by colour to state which category from above it fell in. 2.6.2 A19 upgrade The breakdown of the A19 job was began in a similar way to the M1 J25-28 and M74 contracts. The measurement total cost for pretender register was done the same as in the other projects by averaging and the different range of values and dividing by probability of them occurring. When totalling the contract risks differences became apparent as the register calculated risks another way, as there were no costs. So Instead they were measured under the probability and impact style grid, using severity status as guides, whether that be low, medium or high. So in order to measure the total value of risks would mean assigning each risk a value and probability based on the risk severity system used, then times the two numbers to get the total assessment for that given risk This therefore required the assignment of cost and probabilities to be accurate. So by using the Risk severity matrix as used by SRM, a cost could be associated to a certain risk level. With use of the grid SRM review probability/likelihood with a scale from 1-5 and assign costs in numerical order of the probability scale for impact: Below  £1,000 Between  £1,000  £10,000 Between  £10,000  £100,000 Between  £100,000  £1,000,000 Above  £1,000,000 The figures above seemed a very useful guide and perfect to use, create a good range that could be easily used in analysis. The likelihoods for the risks events were given percentages instead of low, medium, high, so as to fit in to correspond and be like the information found in M1 and M74 projects, so: Low being 10%, Medium at 50% High 90%. These numbers were chosen as the provided not too certain outcomes for low and high at 10 and 90 percent, while the medium suited to being the mid point between the two figures. So in getting the total risk value, costs times probability. Then the rest of the analysis followed the same steps taken by M1 and M74 data analysis. 2.6.3 Analysis summary The tables of data for all three projects showing the comparisons made are in the appendices. These tables were only a start in analysing data as they on their own only show limited information that cannot fully test the hypothesis. So Risk recognition was key objective and so a list was formulated of any risks recognised, not recognised and not assessed, were omitted. From this list, risks could be categorised and therefore see which type of items could or could not be seen in pretender by the bid team. Now having had risks recognised and risks unrecognised as threats in pretender meant potentially testing a hypothesis as to whether pretender stage is inaccurate. From this new data 2 graphs were made highlighting and representing more clearly the type of items in registers that was recognised in pretender and those that werent. A review table was then drawn to finally account for the contract risks and categorised as below: Unrecognised however is protected (No value). Unrecognised but not protected ought to have been recognised. Unrecognised unable to recognise. Recognised while also protected. Identified yet unprotected. This table only really accounted for risks in pretender register which corresponded with contract risk, but not the other way round. So it didnt account for all risks found in pretender bid or how many werent in the contract register. So a total evaluation of risks featured in the pretender bid but not in the contract register, so as to fully see the accuracy or inaccuracy of it. As a result a Pretender table of risks recognised at contractual phase was made and the total appraisals done at both pretender bid and contractual phase were compared and contrasted. Last part glimpsed through inaccuracies of pretender register. Done by removing risks identified in pretender and contractual documents, the disparities then tabulated. The variations were categorised, and detailed in a Histogram. 2.6.4 Rival Highway Contractors The ways in which the other Highway teams identified assessed risks at pretender stage, were investigated. This was done by referring back to the table formulated at the time of the interviews. Proceeding with recognition and classification methods, digging out the methods used, what company used what method type. The same was done for the appraisals of risk, so formed 2 pie charts showing the recognition and appraisal of the rival companies risk management processes. It illustrates the most popular methods used by the Highway Contractors interviewed. These methods were compared against the methods SRM use. Many of the companies did turn down the opportunity in handing over information, citied by them as the company policies not to do so and the information is delicate. However some registers were received but didnt really contain the crucial information required just a formatted company risk. Also it proved difficult to obtain pretender and contractual registers, instead receiving o ne without having the other to compare against. Need to fill in contractors interviewed etc!!!!! It was very helpful to look at the various formats of different registers that companys used, and the informatio