Saturday, December 28, 2019
The American Dream - 945 Words
America was always seen as a country that will give everyone what they want. Immigrants that were coming to America, they believed in the American Dream. People that wanted to live better life come to America and hoped that they will have an opportunity to work and get their dreams. The American Dream is the heart of all American images, its controls how everyone act and what they do. Most people believe that the American Dream can be if you work hard and give all your effort to the work that you do. In the both stories â€Å"The Lost ‘Beautifulness’ Soap and Water†by Yezierska, she gives examples of American Dream that became a nightmare for her characters. Two stories are telling awful situations that were in America and were ironical for†¦show more content†¦Yezierska in her story gives a wonderful example, how the American Dream with freedom became a nightmare. ‘â€Å"Oi-i-i! The murderer! He raised me the rent five dollars a month.†H e continued, â€Å"Good for you! I told you to listen to me. Maybe he thinks we got money laying in the bank when you got so many dollars to give out on paint.††( Yezierska,†The Lost Beautifulness†,pg.# 5). This shows how easily could life change by just raised rent that could mean a nightmare for people that did not have money. Also, Hanneh said â€Å"I will have to take out from my eating the meat and the milk to save together the extra five dollars†(Yezierska, â€Å"The Lost Beautifulness†, pg#6). Henneh gave up on meat and milk to pay for the rent, these products are the most important for everyone, but sometimes we need to choose want we need more and take out other things. Moreover, American Dream most of the time is a nightmare that does not bring anything good to life. People believed in the American Dream and they work hard to get it, but mostly they do not get it. They still can be poor; they could not get a well-paid job and a rent with good conditions. It is shown in the images of Jacob Riis Photographs how did American dream become a nightmare for many people that had hoped for a better future but they just got a horrible life. On those images it can be seen that the people had an awfulShow MoreRelatedImmigrants And The American Dream1362 Words  | 6 PagesImmigrants and the American Dream In the article â€Å"The American Dream†, by James Truslow Adams in The Sundance Reader book, he stated that the American dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and highRead MoreThe American Dream By Kimberly Amadeo1637 Words  | 7 PagesNowadays, a large number of people migrate to the United States to work and achieve the American Dream. According to the Article â€Å"What is the American Dream?†by Kimberly Amadeo, â€Å"The American Dream was first publicly defined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America. Adam’s often-repeated quote is, ‘The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyon e, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.’†There are many peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The American Dream 754 Words  | 4 Pages Nyreel Powell Ms. Jones American Literature 1 June 2015 The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun Have you ever had a dream and it didn’t come how you wanted it to be? Have you ever had accomplishments that you wanted to achieve but people were getting in the way of them? The four main characters in this book all have good dreams but there are people in the way of getting to those dreams or their dream is too high to accomplish. A Raisin in the Sun a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, andRead MoreSister Carrie and the American Dream1618 Words  | 7 PagesThe American Dream is surely based on the concept of â€Å"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness†but it is above all, a matter of ambition. James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian, in 1931 states: life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement†, which not only points towards a better standard of living for Americans but also denounces a degree of greed in the US society. Ambition not only â€Å"killed the catâ₠¬ butRead MoreGrapes Of Wrath And The American Dream1644 Words  | 7 PagesThe idea of the American Dream is ever changing depending on the person and the time of life that person is in. Although the main ideas of the American Dream remain the same to be educated, economically sound, healthy, to have a family, and equal rights. Many great films and works of literature were created to show case all the different ideas people have for their American Dream. The film â€Å"Grapes of Wrath†directed by John Ford and the poem â€Å"I Will Fight No More Forever†by Chief Joseph, both depictRead More Destruction of the American Dream Essay2145 Words  | 9 PagesDestruction of the American Dream I’ve talked about it in the past, the destruction of the American Dream. Always, there have been papers, writings, and thoughts that quantify a particular section of its ultimate demise, be it due to money, education, or sexuality. Maybe the destruction cannot be viewed as a singular event or cause. Perhaps instead it must be examined as a whole process, the decay and ultimate elimination of a dream. Self destruction, if you will†¦ Mr. Self Destruct Read MoreSuccess As One Of The American Dream1137 Words  | 5 PagesApril 2015 Success as One of The American Dream When we hear the word â€Å"success†, we often think of wealth and money. To some people, the embodiment of being success is earning a lot of money. In fact, the concept of success is primarily based on how much money a person earns. However, each person views the definition of success differently. One way to define success is something that has more to do with flash than it does with substance. John Wooden, an American basketball player and coach viewRead MoreJim Cullen And The American Dream2081 Words  | 9 Pages The American Dream, as defined by Cullen, is starting your goal off with a little and ending with more; it s like a business, you invest in it in order to gain more money. Usually, people will define the American Dream as being able to achieve your goal because everyone is offered opportunities. Cullen does acknowledge that people are born with different opportunities, so he talks about the good life. The good life describes different factors that determine your opportunities. Throughout the otherRead MoreFactors Influencing The American Dream1834 Words  | 8 Pagesindividual to succumb or to not succumb to the seductions of crime. These three factors are brilliantly portrayed in the television show, Breaking Bad and the novel, The Stick Up Kids. The American Dream is what many American citizens strive for. However, not all of those citizens are able to achieve the American Dream through a legal pathway. The reason an indivudal may not being able to do so is because of his or her background factors. It is important to note that background factors are a fractionRead MoreShark Tank And The American Dream1755 Words  | 8 PagesShark Tank and The American Dream The TV show Shark tank embodies everything the American dream represents. The show obtains successful Entrepreneurs ready to invest their own money into other Americans wanting to be just like them, reaching the American dream and become a successful entrepreneur. The show presents entrepreneurs working towards the goal of creating a business to not only gain wealth but also change the way we live today. The show is to keep the American dream alive and well while
Friday, December 20, 2019
Essay on The American Christian Holocausts - 5005 Words
The American Christian Holocausts As a high school student I was always annoyed by students who would ask: Why do we have to learn this stuff [history] anyway? We learn history so we dont repeat our mistakes. This is the common answer that my teachers, my father, and just about any other adult would give. This answer made perfect sense to me then, and I easily accepted it. In high school, students learn about the Nazi-Holocaust, and rightfully so. Information abounds regarding this topic. However, my teachers never taught me that our country has a Holocaust of its own (actually there are two; one killing 40 to 60,000,000 Africans, and one killing 100,000,000 Native Red Peoples). Hitler himself often expressed his admiration for†¦show more content†¦Parts of Browns book remained in my mind, in particular, the Sand Creek Massacre (in present day Colorado). I went to the library to read more about the subject. I was in a hurry, so I quickly grabbed an encyclopedia. I first looked under Sand Creek Massacre, shocked at finding nothing, I searched under Battle of Sand Creek and found nothing. The Sand Creek Massacre did not appear anywhere! I was, to use Mcphersons word, appalled. I kept looking, surely the World Book would have it. To my surprise, the book ignored one of the bloodiest and most grotesque massacres in American history. Well, I thought, surely the Encyclopedia Americana will have it. Blank. All encyclopedias had somehow forgotten those Native American men, women, and children. Why was it that the Boston Massacre, wherein 5 men lost their lives, was in every book? The 133 human beings who lost their lives in the most grotesque and mutilated way on Sand Creek were nowhere to be found. If a massacre like Sand Creek did not appear in encyclopedias and textbooks how were young people (and adults) to be taught of the Camp Grant Massacre, the Piegan Massacre, the Massacres of California, the Marias Massacre, the Wa*censored*a Massacre, Guatemala in the 70s and 80s,Show MoreRelatedThe American Holocaust : The Conquest Of The New World1183 Words  | 5 PagesThe American Holocaust – The Conquest of the New World The book I chose from the reading list of nonfiction books was The American Holocaust – The Conquest of the New World by David E. Stannard. In this nonfiction book, David E. Stannard describes in horrifying detail, the destruction and holocaust of nearly all early American societies that resulted from the European contact with the Western Hemisphere. I did not choose this book for any specific reason, but I thought it would be an interestingRead MoreEssay about Supporting Israel: Recent Rise of Anti-Semitism1198 Words  | 5 Pagesargues the importance of supporting Israel and the validity of Christian Zionism. It is rather important for Christians to become well informed of anti-Semitic claims, whys supporting Israel is necessary, and what Christian Zionism is, because Israel is at a crucial point in time and needs all the support it can get. Beginning with and introduction to anti-Semitism, followed by the whys of supporting Israel, and ending with Christian Zionism the reader will be more informed of this subject in orderRead MoreSwastika: Misunderstood Beauty790 Words  | 3 Pagesswastika originates from India. Artifacts outside of the region have also used this symbol with their own slight variations. Greek coins, Scandinavian artifacts, pre-Christian Celtic artifacts, the catacombs of the early Christians in Rome, and several buildings during the Byzantine period used the swastika as decorative images. Native Americans have also used the swastika to represent good luck. However, it was not always regarded with the same kind of respect after the rise of the Nazi party during WWIIRead MoreThe Holocaust And The Bosnian Genocide1310 Words  | 6 Pagespast hundred years, there have been several attempted genocides around the world. Two of the most well-known genocides are the Holocaust (the Nazi’s attempt to destroy the Jewish people) and the Bosnian genocide (the Serbians attempt to destroy the Bosnian population). This paper analy zes a political cartoon relating to genocides, describes the events that led to the Holocaust and the Bosnian genocide, describes several similarities and differences between them and explains why genocides continue regardlessRead MoreEssay on The Holocaust503 Words  | 3 PagesThe Holocaust Nearly six million Jews were killed and murdered in what was called the holocaust. In the years between 1933 and 1945, the Jews of Europe were marked for death. Inanition anti-Semitism was given legal sanction. It was directed by Adolf Hitler and managed by Heinne Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, and Adolf Eichmann. There were many other great crimes and murders, such as the killing of the Armenians by the Turks , but the holocaust stood out as the only systematic and organizedRead MoreSocial Justice Counseling Aims For Equal Access And Opportunity833 Words  | 4 Pagesseeking a life free of prejudice due to their religion, gender, socioeconomic status or anything else that could hinder one from having equal access to the same liberties as others. Due to an array of cultures such as Arab Americans, Jewish American, Native Americans and African Americans, counselors must become culturally competent in all four disciplines and any other culture that their client(s) associates with. All four of the cultures mentioned have some similarities and differences that one mustRead MoreSpielberg s List And Roman Pola Ä ¹Ã‚Æ' Ski s The Pianist1366 Words  | 6 Pagesmovies, plays an important role in shaping the public’s opinions and understanding of the world. The Holocaust for example is a subject that has received a lot of media attention, including three Academy award-winning films in the past two decades. Most people know little about the Holocaust and these films serve as the primary sources of their knowledge, therefore, how they perceive the Holocaust is directly related to the way it is portrayed in these popular movies. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’sRead MoreThe Tragedy Of The Holocaust1599 Words  | 7 Pagesassigned Adolf Hitler as their chancellor. Once Hitler had finally reached power he set out to complete one goal, create a Greater Germany free from the Jews (â€Å"The reasons for the Holocaust,†2009). This tragedy is know n today as, â€Å"The Holocaust,†that explains the terrors of our histories past. The face of the Holocaust, master of death, and leader of Germany; Adolf Hitler the most deceitful, powerful, well spoken, and intelligent person that acted as the key to this mass murder. According to a researchRead MoreExamples Of Anti-Semitism In The Merchant Of Venice1091 Words  | 5 Pagesis filled with Jewish slurs, anti-Semitic remarks, and no justice for the main Jewish character is, in theory, seen as despicable. After the Holocaust, all Jewish slurs and stereotypes, like calling someone â€Å"dog Jew†or thinking Jews only care about money, have been exiled from moral society. This even applies to pieces of art that were produced pre-Holocaust. However, William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is not only read, but taught in schools across the nation. The Merchant of Venice providesRead MoreAnne Frank And The Holocaust1016 Words  | 5 Pagesbright future, but it was taken away from her by the Nazi’s and Holocaust. Before the Holocaust, Anne Frank was just the typical young girl. During the Holocaust, she had to adapt to a dangerous situation. Then, after her death, she has left a legacy that has impacted the hearts of many. Through Anne Frank’s early childhood years, the years during the Holocaust, and the years after her death she has left a legacy that has influenced American culture. Annelies Marie Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Financial Management Property Construction -Myassignmenthelp.Com
Question: Discuss About The Financial Management Property Construction? Answer: Introducation Procurement is a very crucial process in every construction project. This is the process that determines how the project will be executed, key stakeholders and the overall efficiency of project execution. Therefore it is very important for clients to ensure that they select the most appropriate procurement method so as to complete their projects within stipulated time and budget, and to the required industry standards and quality. This report aims at analyzing different construction procurement methods so as to select the best method for Southern Cross Station project. The project was executed using public private partnership (PPP) procurement method and so this report will investigate if this method was appropriate or whether there is a better procurement method for the project. Project Description Southern Cross Station (formerly known as Spencer Street Station) is one of the mega projects that was designed to transform and improve transport infrastructure in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The project is located in Docklands, Melbourne, on Spencer Street between La Trobe Street and Collins Street. This station is Victorias civic landmark and one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Melbourne, Australia. It is the 3rd busiest railway station in Melbourne, having an average daily commuter traffic of 100,000(Railway Technology, 2018). The railway station is owned by IFM Investors and operated by AssetCo Management. IFM Investors has signed a 30-year lease agreement with Victorian State Government to own, operate and maintain the station until 2036. The agreement is under a PPP. Southern Cross Station has different features, components and facilities. They include the transport interchange redevelopment, 16 platforms, 22 rail tracks, a retail plaza, main office building, residential towers, passenger information screens displaying real time train departure and arrival information, 30-bay coach station, 800-cars parking facilities, 5-minute pick up and drop off area and improved public facilities. The station is characterized by high-quality baggage-handling, ticketing and waiting services. All these facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art passenger information display, lighting and seating systems. The station is renowned for its unique architectural trapezoidal roof system that covers a whole city block of approximately 600,000 m2. The main objectives of this project were to provide practical transport experience by transforming the existing bus terminus and railway station into a first-rate inter-modal transport facility, ease movement of passengers, improve staffs working environment and management Southern Cross Station a major transport and retain hub. The station serves interstate, regional and metropolitan bus and rail commuters. The target of the project was to manage 15 million passengers annually and increase this number to 45 million by 2020. Southern Cross Station project started in 2000 when the then Southern Cross Station Authority, a representative of the Victorian State Government, was mandated to oversee the procurement, financing, construction and operation of the project. In 2002, the Authority signed a Services and Development Agreement with Civic Nexus Pty Ltd, a private consortium, to design, construct and operate the station for a period of 30 years. Construction works started in 2002 and were scheduled to be completed in 2005. Nevertheless, construction works did not commence as expected due to contractual disputes, cost overruns and delays until 2006(McCann, et al., 2015). Other partners involved in the construction of Southern Cross Station were: Grimshaw Jackson Joint Venture (architects), Leighton Contractors (builders), Delaware North Australia, Honeywell Limited, ABN AMRO and Daryl Jackson Architecture. The entire project was executed by Civic Nexus consortium, which contracted the other partners. The p rimary owner of the project is Public Transport Victoria. As stated before, this project was executed under a PPP. It was initially estimated to cost A$350 million but it is estimated to have cost A$700 million. Construction works commenced in 2002 and ended in 2013. Every year, Civic Nexus is paid A$30 million for operating and maintaining the facility. This will go on until 2036 when the 30-year lease agreement expires. Southern Cross Station Redevelopment project was not completed within stipulated time and budget due to the wrong choice of procurement method. Below are some photos of the Southern Cross Station Factors Affecting Choice of Construction Procurement Method There are several factors that should be considered when selecting a construction procurement method. Some of these include: project completion speed, project cost certainty, authority and ability of the client to make changes, the level of quality needed, the cost of implementing the procurement method, risk management techniques, and clarity of defining the responsibility of each stakeholder(Zuo, 2008). All these factors affect the choice of construction procurement method for a particular project. The choice of procurement methods helps in avoiding numerous problems and plays a big role in attaining the specific project goals and objectives(Clamp, et al., 2009). Some of these factors are discussed below: Cost is one of the biggest factors that determine the choice of construction procurement method. The cost is usually determined during the design stage of the project, with some uncertainties. Some procurement methods are more expensive than others hence the client should select a method that he/she can afford. It must be noted that the client will have to pay some of his/her team depending on the type of procurement method chosen. Hence the client should choose a procurement method that he/she is ready and able to pay its associated expenses. The initial cost of Southern Cross Station project was estimated to be A$350 million but the projects final value was about A$700 million. Time is another factor that affect the choice of construction procurement method. Most projects have timelines hence the procurement method selected should enable the tem to complete it within stipulated time. Some methods allow design and construction phases to overlap while others require the project to be designed completely before the start of construction. If the project has a short deadline then procurement methods that allow overlapping of design and construction phases should be considered. However, these methods also have their challenges such as cost uncertainty and unclear project scope, among others. Clients expertise and requirements The relevant knowledge, experience and skills in construction projects also play a key role in the selection of construction procurement method. For this reason, it is important to know the knowledge, abilities, experience and requirements of the client before selecting the most appropriate procurement method. Clients who do not have comprehensive knowledge, skills and experience in construction projects should select a procurement method that will enable them play their role indirectly by involving their knowledgeable and experienced representatives such as consultants, project managers, engineers, etc. Therefore there are different procurement methods that are suitable for clients with different levels of knowledge and experience in the construction industry. The most important thing is for the client to select a procurement method that will ensure that his/her requirements are met and opinions considered in every decision that is made by the project team. Project characteristics Characteristics of the project also affect the choice of procurement method used for a particular project. These characteristics include: project size, location, complexity, uniqueness, risks, use, etc. Each of these characteristics has unique impacts on the project hence the procurement method selected should address them. Ability to make changes Different construction procurement methods give the client varied levels of ability to make changes to the project design or scope. Some methods allow the client to make changes at any time while others have very limited provisions for the same. It is worth noting that making changes to the project scope during construction stage has huge implications on project cost and time. Therefore it is usually recommended that the project scope and design are completed before the start of construction phase. Most importantly is that each procurement method gives the client a different level of ability to make changes to the project scope. Each construction project has unique risks. If these risks are not properly identified, analyzed and mitigated or prevented, they cause a lot of problems. In this regard, the client should ensure that the construction procurement method selected allocates or transfers risks appropriately t various stakeholders. The persons allocated the risks should fully understand the risks and take full responsibility. Industry preference This is also another factor that should be considered when selecting a construction procurement method. The client should consider the procurement method that most stakeholders are conversant with in the area where the project is being executed. This will make it easier for all stakeholders to understand each other and work as a team. Choosing a familiar procurement method also prevents the likelihood of conflicts and legal issues among stakeholders involved in the project. External factors There are also other external factors that influence the choice of a construction procurement method. Some of these factors include: legal factors, political factors, climatic factors, technological factors, social or community factors, etc. These factors create uncertainty if they arise when the project is ongoing. Procurement method used in Southern Cross Station Project The procurement method used in Southern Cross Station project was PPP. As stated before, Victorian State Government signed a PPP with Civic Nexus to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the project. PPP is a procurement method where governments collaborate with private companies so as to procure mega projects of high value, and signs an agreement to share risks and opportunities of the project(Plantinga Doree, 2016). This procurement method is mainly used for public infrastructure projects such as roads, bridge, railways, etc. In this method, a private party makes an agreement to finance the project. Characteristics of PPP Procurement Method PPP is an innovative procurement method of delivering mega infrastructure projects(Tang, et al., 2010). This method involves collaboration between private and public sector so as to design, finance, execute, manage and maintain a project(Fernandez, et al., 2016). In this method, the project is usually financed largely by the private entity and partially by the government(Robert, et al., 2014). The method is usually used for infrastructure development projects(Al-Saadi Abdou, 2016),(Ke, 2014). In PPP, the public sector and private sector involved have specific responsibilities(Polyakova Vasilyewa, 2016). The method transfers risks to parties (developers, financiers, construction contractors, suppliers, service providers and operators) that best understands them and which are able to manage them effectively. This method is gaining popularity in many parts of the world including Australia(Wilson, et al., 2010). The main characteristics of PPP are as follows: Single private entity: in PPP procurement method, the government awards the whole project to a single private entity or contractor. This allows the private entity to develop smarter and better solutions for the project. Financing: in most cases, the private sector consortium finances the entire project under a PPP project. Once the project is complete, the government starts paying the private sector consortium over an agreed period of time usually 25-30 years. During this period, the private sector consortium owns the project and rents it to the government. Preparation time: it usually takes longer to prepare and submit bids using PPP approach. This is because both the public and private sectors have to perform due diligence and comprehensive analyses of the project management before making the final decision. Risk: the levels of risks in PPP are relatively high due to the size and complexity of projects executed under this procurement method. The risks are shared between the private sector and public sector even though former bears the highest risk(Rodriguez, 2017). The consortium therefore factors these risks into the bid price of the project. Maintenance: since the private sector consortium is responsible for the maintenance of the project once it is completed, the maintenance cost is factored in the projects overall cost. Expertise: PPP allows governments to capitalize on the best expertise in the private sector. Under this procurement method, the government engage private entities with the best knowledge, skills and expertise. Relationships: PPPs fosters building of long-term relationship between the private and public sectors. Advantages of PPP Procurement Method PPP procurement method has numerous benefits. Some of these are as follows: Innovation: PPP procurement method brings great innovation from the private sector to deliver public projects(World Bank Group, 2016). The private consortium involved in the project always selects the most qualified professionals to undertake specific tasks of the project. These professionals usually provide innovative solutions that are cost effective, environmentally friendly and more efficient. Cost certainty: in PPPs, determination of project costs is done in advance. The government, which is the contracting authority, will only pay this cost of the private entity delivered the agreed project outputs. Cost certainty also helps the government to know the exact amount it will pay, when and how to pay it. Faster delivery: most PPP projects are completed on time. This is because each task is assigned to specialists who are able to execute it faster and better. The method also allows overlapping of design and construction phases. Cost savings: projects executed under PPP are said to be cost effective mainly because of the greater innovations used and the alternative solutions provided(Yuan, et al., 2009). Even though some of these solutions may be expense during the construction phase, they reduce the cost of the project in the long term. Proper utilization of public resources: PPP projects ensures that public resources are used properly. This is because PPP projects involve participation of communities and based on their size, the projects attract strict monitoring from the general public. Since the expected project outputs are known even to the public, the private entity is compelled to put resources into appropriate use. Better quality: the final product built from PPP is usually of high quality(Rodriguez, 2017). This is mainly because the products are created by the most competent professionals in their areas of specialization. The infrastructure built is also maintained properly throughout its lifecycle. Collaboration: PPP promotes collaboration between public and private sectors. This collaboration helps in building strong relationships between the two sectors, which is good for the economy. Incentives: the government is likely to give the private consortium incentives to complete the project on time and within stipulated budget, and to improve the commercial and operational performance of the project. Disadvantages of PPP Procurement Method Some disadvantages of PPP procurement method include: Complexity: PPP projects are usually more complex than other projects in terms of design, structure, construction, operation and maintenance processes. This great complexity is associated with high risks and may lead to disputes, which was the case for Southern Cross Station project. Bidding cost: the cost of bidding a PPP project is quite high. For instance, design professionals will spend a lot of time preparing the designs but all these efforts will be useless if their company loses the bid. Therefore if a company bids and fails to win the contract, it will have lost a significant amount of money used in the bidding process. Political exposure: PPP projects are susceptible to politics. If there is a political change before the project is complete, the new government may abandon or reduce funding of the project thus causing delay and wastage of public resources. Procurement time and cost: procurement process for PPP projects takes a lot of time. The government has to do a lot of due diligence and consultation before choosing the private consortium to award the contract. This length procurement time is also associated with higher transaction costs. The cost is even higher considering the complexity of PPP projects. There is also the fear that people will have to pay in order to use the facility or infrastructure being developed. These claims are usually not true and therefore the involved parties have to educate the public on this issue. When executing a project under PPP, there is a possibility of the private consortium being after making profits and not giving other issues adequate attention. This may also not favor the government and public sector because taxpayers money will be used to pay for the project(Sazonov, 2012). This may also lead to low quality work as the private investor may focus on cost reduction instead of quality. Important Procurement Characteristics There are several procurement characteristics that were very important in selecting PPP as the procurement approach for this project. Some of these characteristics include the following: Cost: the initial cost of Southern Cross Station project was estimated to be A$350 million but the final cost was more than this value. Therefore the client of this project selected a procurement approach that did not deliver the project at the stipulated budget. Time: this project was scheduled to commence in 2002 and be completed in 2005. However, the project was commenced in 2002 and completed in 2013. Therefore the procurement method used did not complete the project within the stipulated time. Part of the project was completed in 2007. Quality: this is another very important procurement characteristic. PPP was selected because it had the potential to deliver the project at the required industry standards and quality. Impact: the procurement method selected was also aimed at ensuring positive impacts of the project on the economy, environment and society. Through PPP contracting, the interests of the general public are always considered. Relationship/collaboration: this is another important procurement characteristics that prompted the selected of PPP. The federal and state government definitely chose this procurement method so as to build relationships with private parties in the construction industry so that they can do business together in the future. These governments have several similar projects in the future and therefore they can always work with these parties when necessary. The success factors of a PPP are: capacity of the public sector to effectively manage its part of the project, political stability and commitment, level of competitiveness in the bidding process, appropriate allocation of risks, and affordability and viability of the project. Potential Reasons Why PPP was Selected for Southern Cross Station Project The likely reasons why PPP may have been selected for Southern Cross Station project are: Project value: the value of Southern Cross Station project was about A$350 million even though the final cost was approximately A$700 million. Therefore PPP procurement method was appropriate since the project value was over A$50 million. Risk transfer: considering the characteristics of Southern Cross Station project, t was not necessary to transfer risks since the Victorian State Government will assume responsibility of the project at the expiry of the contract period. This was useful in avoiding problems that would result to project delays and high cost overruns. What this project required was for its risks to be shared among participants. Therefore PPP was not the best method as it transfers most of the risks to the private entity. Clients knowledge and experience: another reason why alliancing contracting was the most appropriate procurement method for this project is the knowledge and experience of the client. The Public Transport Victoria a government agency, has vast knowledge and experience in this kind of infrastructure projects. Therefore the Authority understands the likely challenges to be faced and how to overcome them so as to complete the project as planned. Building relationships: alliancing contracting is a procurement method that is based on collaboration. The parties involved are able to work as a team, build a working relationship and probably work together in the future. Since Melbourne and Australia as a whole are still developing, the government wanted to work with parties and build good relationship for the purposes of similar projects in the future. Popularity of PPP Procurement Method The popularity of PPP procurement method has continued to increase in many parts of the world(Anderson, 2012). Mot governments are preferring this approach because of their potential benefits and advantages(Roehrich, et al., 2014), some of which have been discussed above. Some of the reasons contributing to the popularity of PPP procurement method are: Policy implications: PPPs have great policy implications in the construction industry. The experience the government has when implementing projects through PPP determines the kind of policies that the government establishes. In most cases, the government formulates policies that favor it and the private parties. Organizational structure: PPPs have systematic management and organizational structures that specify the roles and responsibilities of the private and public sectors involved. This helps in avoiding conflicts and disputes. Government commitment: increased popularity of PPPs is also being contributed by the governments commitment to treat private parties equally and fairly, and reward them appropriately. As a result of this, the private sector is now embracing this procurement method. Utilization of private finance and expertise: PPPs enable governments to utilize the finance resources and expertise in private sector. Through this method, these resources and expertise are transferred from the private sector to the public sector. In other words, PPPs make it possible for governments to attain long-term development goals without having to mobilize vast resources at once(Quelin, 2015). Opinion Procurement method contributes significantly to the success or failure of execution of a construction project(Sethuraman, et al., 2016). There are different construction procurement methods, each suitable for different kinds of projects executed under various situations. These methods have varying risk levels that are transferred onto the contractor, client or other key stakeholders. They differ significantly in terms of risk sharing and liability, management structure, design management, determination of contract price and tendering procedures, among others. The most suitable construction method has to be selected after comprehensive analysis of the projects risks, opportunities, budget constraints and time constraints. PPP is a procurement method that is majorly suitable for government infrastructure projects. This method is mainly suitable for projects valued above A$50 million and those that require risk transfer and not risk sharing. Considering these essential requirements, PPP was not the most suitable procurement method for Southern Cross Station Redevelopment project. There are several other construction procurement methods that would have been used instead of PPP. Each of these other methods has its own advantages and disadvantages(Naoum Egu, 2016). Some of them include: traditional procurement method, design and build method, construction management, management contracting and alliancing, among others(Davis, 2008). From these options, the most appropriate procurement method for Southern Cross Station Redevelopment project is alliancing. Alliancing is an innovative and strategic construction procurement method. It is suitable for mega government infrastructure projects, such as the one in this paper. Advantages of alliancing include: greater flexibility that allow the client and other key stakeholders to make changes easily; greater innovation; allows parties involved to negotiate, agree and build strong relationship for future works(Davis Love, 2011); improved collaboration among stakeholders; equal sharing of risks and benefits; responsibility sharing; interest alignment; and quick dispute resolution(Rooney, 2011). Conclusion Construction projects are very dynamic in nature as they are usually executed by parties from different fields or professions. These projects are executed using varied procurement methods. Each of the procurement method used in construction industry has unique characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. This report has analyzed the procurement method used in executing the about A$700 million Southern Cross Station Redevelopment project. Construction of this infrastructure project started in 2002 and was completed in 2013. Its completion was delayed and it ran into cost overruns mainly because of the wrong procurement method that was used. The procurement method used in this project was PPP. The Southern Cross Station Authority, the agency that represented the Victorian State Government, entered into a partnership with Civic Nexus Pty Ltd to design, finance, construct, maintain and operate the project. The partnership is a 30-year agreement. However, PPP was not the most appropriat e procurement method because of the projects characteristics. This project required a procurement method that promotes equal risk sharing among parties instead of risk transfer. Therefore alliancing was the most suitable method for Southern Cross Station Redevelopment project. This procurement method has greater flexibility, promotes collaboration among parties, is based on risk sharing among parties instead of risk transfer, has less disputes and it brings parties with common interests together. References Acott, K., 2017. New Stadium Train Station on TRack for Bouncedown. [Online] Available at: https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/new-stadium-train-station-on-track-for-bouncedown-ng-b88472013z [Accessed 24 January 2018]. Al-Saadi, R. Abdou, A., 2016. Factors Critical for the Success of Public-Private Partnerships in UAE Infrastructure Projects: Experts' Perception. International Journal of Construction Management, 16(3), pp. 234-248. Anderson, S., 2012. Public, Private, Neither, Both? Publicness Theory and the Analysis of Healthcare Organizations. Social Science Medicine, Volume 74, pp. 313-322. Australian Government, 2015. National Alliance Contracting Guidelines: Guide to Alliance Contracting, Canberra: Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development . Clamp, H., Cox, S. Lupton, S., 2009. Which Procurement Method?. s.l.:RIBA Publishing. Davis, L., 2008. Building Procurement Methods. Brisbane: Icon.net Pty Ltd. Davis, P. Love, P., 2011. Alliance Contracting: Adding Value Through Relationship Development. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 18(5), pp. 444-461. Fernandes, D., Costa, A. Lahdenpera, P., 2017. Key Features of a Project Alliance and their Impact on the Success of an Apartment Renovation: A Case Study. International Journal of Construction Management, pp. 1-15. Fernandez, R., Carraro, A. Hillbrecht, R., 2016. Efficiency, Cost and Benefits in Contracts of Public-Private Partnerships. Nova Economia, 26(2). Goverment of Western Australia, 2015. The New Perth Stadium Design, Build, Finance and Maintain Project, Perth: Department of Treasury. Jefferies, M., Brewer, G. Gajendran, T., 2014. Using A Case Study Approach to Identify Critical Success Factors for Alliance Contracting. Engineering, Construction nd Archiectural Management, 21(5), pp. 465-480. Ke, Y., 2014. Is Public-Private Partnership a Panacea for Infrastructure Development? The Case of Beijing National Stadium. International Journal of Construction Management, 14(2), pp. 90-100. Laan, A., Voordijk, H. Dewulf, G., 2011. Reducing Opportunistic Behaviour Through a Project Alliance. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 4(4), pp. 660-679. Laing O'Rourke, 2017. Perth Stadium Station, Burswood, WA, Australia. [Online] Available at: https://www.laingorourke.com/our-projects/all-projects/perth-stadium-station.aspx [Accessed 24 January 2018]. McCann, S., Aranda-Mena, G. Edwards, P., 2015. Public Private Partnership Projects in the Operating Phase. Journal of Strategic Contracting and Negotiation, 1(4), pp. 268-287. Naoum, S. Egu, C., 2016. Modern Selection Criteria for Procurement Methods in Construction: A State-of-the-art Literature Review and a Survey. Internationa Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9(2), pp. 309-336. Plantinga, H. Doree, A., 2016. Procurement Strategy Formation: (re-dsigning) Rail Infrastructure Project Alliances. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9(1), pp. 53-73. Polyakova, I. Vasilyewa, E., 2016. Benefits of Public-and-Private Partnership for the Creation of the Infrastrcture of the Urbanized Territories in Russia. Procedia Engineering, Volume 165, pp. 1380-1387. Project Manager, 2011. Alliancing Benefits and Challenges in Infrastrcture Projects. [Online] Available at: https://projectmanager.com.au/alliancing-benefits-and-challenges-in-infrastructure-projects/ [Accessed 24 January 2018]. Quelin, B., 2015. re Public-Private Partnerships the BEst Way to Provide Government Services. [Online] Available at: https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/are-public-private-partnerships-the-best-way-to-provide-government-services [Accessed 2 February 2018]. Railway Technology, 2017. Perth Stadium Station, Burswood. [Online] Available at: https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/perth-stadium-station-burswood/ [Accessed 24 January 2018]. Railway Technology, 2018. Southern Cross Station Redevelopment Project, Melbourne. [Online] Available at: https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/southern-cross-station-redevelopment-australia/ [Accessed 2 February 2018]. Robert, O., Dansoh, A. Kuragu, J., 2014. Reasons for Adopting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Construction Projects in Ghana. International Journal of Construction Management, 14(4), pp. 227-238. Rodriguez, J., 2017. Public Private Partnership Pros and Cons. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/public-private-partnership-pros-and-cons-844713 [Accessed 24 January 2018]. Rodriguez, J., 2017. Public Private Partnership Pros and Cons. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/public-private-partnership-pros-and-cons-844713 [Accessed 2 January 2018]. Roehrich, J., Lewis, M. George, G., 2014. Are Public-Private Partnerships a Healthy Option? A Systematic Literature Review. Social Science Medicine, Volume 113, pp. 110-119. Rooney, G., 2011. Project Alliancing and Relationship Contracting Conflict Embracing Project Delivery Systems. Melbourne, 16th Annual IACM Conference. Sazonov, V., 2012. Advantages, Disadvantages and Risks pf Public-Private Partnership. RUDN Journal of Law, Volume 3, pp. 99-108. Sethuraman, V., Perera, B. Sumanarathna, D., 2016. Factors Influencing Procurement Adoption in Construction: Building vs INfrastructure Projects. Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference. Tang, L., Shen, G. Cheng, E., 2010. A Review of Studies on Public-Privare Partnership Projects in the Contruction Industry. International Journal of Project Management, 28(7), pp. 683-694. Walker, D., Harley, J. Mills, A., 2015. Performance of Project Alliancing in Australasia: A Digest of Infrastructure Development from 2008 to 2013. Construction Economics and Building, 15(1), pp. 1-18. Wilson, D., Pelham, N. Duffield, C., 2010. A Review of Australian PPP Governance Structures. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 15(3), pp. 198-215. World Bank Group, 2016. Government Objectives: Benefits and Risks of PPPs. [Online] Available at: https://ppp.worldbank.org/public-private-partnership/overview/ppp-objectives [Accessed 24 January 2018]. Young, B., Hosseini, A. Laedre, O., 2016. The Characteristics of Australian Infrastructure Alliance Projects. Energy Procedia, Volume 96, pp. 833-844. Yuan, J., Zeng, A., Skibniewski, M. Li, Q., 2009. Selection of Performance Objectives and Key Performance Indicators in Public-Private Partnership Projects to Achieve Value for Money. Construction Management and Economics, 27(3), pp. 253-270. Zuo, J., 2008. Project Culture in the Australian Construction Industry: Lessons for China. Adelaide: University of South Australia.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
John Morgan Plumbing Prominence and Progress
Questions: 1. You must advise specifically on the continuing use of the words John Morgan Plumbing in the name of any proposed trading format you recommend. 2. Explain why you chose your recommended trading format with particular reference to the considerations outlined above and how your choice can facilitate the achievement of these objectives. Answers: 1. John Morgan has built his business as a sole proprietorship and gained a lot of prominence and progress. He has always traded as John Morgan Trading and the businesss name has become and household name going by the fact that it has obtained successful contracts for a number of major public sector developments. He has also increased the workforce to more than twenty people as well as a number of vehicles for transporting the plumbing personnel and equipments. A business name is also known as the trading name. It is the title under which a company or any other legal entity trades with. A business name, not only identifies the business to the customers, it also allows the business entity to differentiate itself from its competitors (Gregg, 2004 p50). It also helps the customers to make an emotional connection to a business brand, products and services. The business name is the most valuable asset of majority of businesses. In this particular case, we see a sole proprietor using his own name as the business name; many of his clients know his company by the name John Morgan Plumbing. That is a brand that cannot just be wished away because it has already marketed itself to a great extent. John Morgan should consider the growing nature of his company and adopt a more manageable trading format that will ensure a continued growth and expansion of his business. However, he should maintain the business name because it is more convenient to work with an established brand name rather than incur costs of registering a new name and marketing it from scratch. It is important to note that companies change their names often to reflect the arising market changes or due to conflicts in copyrights. There are huge multinationals that once changed their names and eventually triumphed in the market after very aggressive marketing campaigns. For instance, Nissan was once known as Datsun, LG was known as Lucky and Gold star while Xerox was initially known as Halloid Company (Spadaccini, 2004 p24). John Morgans company is unique in the sense that it deals with plumbing services rather than tangible products. A service business or a company derives its reputation from the quality of services being offered. In this particular case, the quality of plumbing services is closely tied to John Morgan who is the sole owner. Changing that name would complicate the companys prospects of going concern. It is expensive to change the companys name. Changing the name of the business would require John Morgan to change the marketing materials, stationary, signage and business cards. In addition, he would have to overhaul the companys website as well as the domains name. A change on companys name would also require a change in the design of the logo as well as conduct a new market research for the new name. It is more advantageous for John Morgan to retain his original business name in order to maintain the trusted brand as the company expands. Such a company needs a robust name to maintain its original clients and networks. It would also be costly to register a new company bearing in mind the legal factors associated with the exercise. Changing a company name would require the owner to conduct a trademark of the new name and register the companys new name as a trademark. John Morgan would also have to obtain new employer identification number and submit the final tax returns to the IRS. By changing the company name, it would require the company owner to inform their bank and update their legal documentation including the articles of association. It is crucial for Morgan to retain the original company name because it is a small growing company and will not need any legal or tax advice. Brand equity is another added value for retaining the initial companys name rather than changing it. Many people including the clients, suppliers and customers are familiar with John Morgan Plumbing. When that name changes, definitely the company would lose its brand equity in the sense that not everyone will be familiar with the new name. For instance, John Morgan Plumbing had already built a good reputation in the plumbing industry and built some worthy networks. It is advantageous to retain the same name because the company is widely known by that name. Otherwise it would be very difficult to inform the loyal customers of the change of name whereby some will not necessarily associate themselves with the new name. Building a new reputation from scratch is an uphill task and would require the use of some substantial amount of resources (Martin, 2010 p73). It is also not logic to abandon an established brand in favour of a new one. Even though the company has expanded so well and increased the numbers of employees, vehicles, operations etc, it is still a small company. Changing a name of such a company can sometimes be very disruptive. For instance, changing the companys name, designing the logos and materials can take up a good deal of time for the employees. Such a change would require reworking of marketing materials and contacting customers of the changes made. The entire process may end up translating into loss of productivity as well as lowering of employees morale. Sometimes the employees may not support the change of companys name and doing so would result to less productivity. The advantage of maintaining an established brand name is to allow employees ample time to focus on their work and to continue building the company brand rather than to concentrate on implementing the changes (Schneeman, 2012 p8). John Morgan Plumbing should retain that particular business name. However, they should adopt a trading format of a private company limited by shares in order to effectively manage the company as it expands to become a huge company. Being a sole proprietor, John Morgan may find it difficult to effectively manage the growing number of employees and companys operations by his own. Bearing g in mind that he still wants to maintain effectiveness of his business, he would still do so as the majority shareholder in the company. 2. The Irish Company Act 2014 underwent significant changes to create several types of Limited liability Companies. One of them was private companies limited by shares (LTDs). I prefer the trading format of a LTD because it provides an organization structure that enhances effective management. A Private Company Limited by Shares can be managed either by the owners or by the managers. Such a company can be managed by one director and Morgan has an opportunity to grow his business as a company while at the same time maintaining the control and autonomy in decision making of the company. Unlike corporations, LTDs are an operating agreement where the owners create rules that govern the business (Mancuso, 2015 p16). It is easier to form a private company limited by shares and maintain a good legal standing. John Morgan Plumbing would be do well as LTD especially at this time when it is expanding and growing to be a big company. It requires the attention of John Morgan to oversee a major t ransformation in terms of restructuring, management and delivery of plumbing services to the clients. It also requires his attention into further marketing of the company. Benefits of Choosing LTD as the Appropriate Trading Format of John Morgan Plumbing A private company limited by shares does not have a limit for the number of owners it can have. It can be either be owned by one member or many members. This element is in line with John Morgan desire to remain in control of his plumbing business. He will not have to lose the shareholding of the business because he has an option of remaining the sole owner while at the same time running the business as a LTD (Bevans, 2006 p89). Similarly, a Company Limited by shares for John Morgan Plumbing is an ideal trading format regarding taxation purposes. Just like sole proprietorship, the incomes from the LTD are treated as personal incomes for the business owner. In that regard, they are not subject to certain federal taxations for which corporations are liable. Taxes are not paid at the business level but rather at an individual level. The tax returns are therefore reported on the owners personal income. For John Morgan, this is an ideal trading format because it is almost the same as the sole proprietorship and John Morgan will still remain the sole owner of the company and will be in total control of the business. Creation of a Private Company Limited by Shares helps to affirm to the customers, employees, partners, traders and suppliers that the company has made a formal commitment to the business. John Morgan Plumbing is currently a sole proprietorship and the business owner is directly liable for the companies liabilities because its a personal business. However, if he adopts a trading format of that of LTD, then he will be a distinct individual untied to the company. In fact the company is regarded as a legal person distinct from the owner. The owner is not liable or responsible for the business debts. Every transaction for the company will be done on behalf of the company and not for John Morgan. This is an ideal format of doing business because it disassociates personal finances of the business owner to those of the company. It is an easier format to expand the business and to access credit. It is also an easier format for negotiating business deal with other entities as well as with the suppliers, creditors and debtors. For instance, the creditors cannot pursue the personal accounts of John Morgan to recover the business debts because he is a distinct person from the busi ness. In that regard, his personal assets are not vulnerable from the business debts. For a business expanding in such a fast phase, it is prudent to separate private and family life from the business in order to embark on a strategic management of business in terms of marketing, production, service delivery and brand management. Under the new trading format, John Morgan will be in a better position to restructure the companys processes including delegation of duties, designing the communication structures and defining specific roles and responsibilities of specific workers and managers. He will also be in a better position to seek consultancy services for the company on legal matters, management, marketing and services. He will also be in a better position to create or modify his companys service brands for particular market segments depending on the market needs. This will be a recipe for expanding the business because every worker will have a set of defined roles and responsibilities. Such a trading format will instil discipline in the workplace because the company will have a set of companys mission statement, vision and objectives. Workers will be expected to work as a team whereby they will have a shared vision all working to meet the set objectives. This will go down to enhanced plumbing services to the respective clients. The company will be in a better position to monitor its operations and to identify the hard and smart working employees who can be used to further the companys good reputation for purposes of continued excellent delivery of plumbing services. A LTD is also an ideal format for John Morgan Plumbing because it will be seeking to do business with big organizations, government and other institutions. Big organizations such as institutions and government departments prefer to deal with reputable companies rather than an individual because aspects of professionalism are given priority. We have seen that John Morgan Plumbing had already obtained some contracts for major public sector developments as a sole proprietor. The success and reputation of this business will not only rely on its previous performance, but also on the measures taken to improve the companys future engagements with other businesses. The objective of any business is to have a going concern and for such a booming plumbing business, the prospects of doing well in future lies on the kind of trading format they adopt at the moment. For a huge business, sole proprietorship would not be a viable business model because it would overstretch the management efforts of t he business owner. It is in this regard that we say that a private company limited by shares is the best model that would guarantee John Morgan Plumbing a going concern. Formation of a LTD will of course require some expenses and fees to file the Articles of Organization within the state. The fee used is more than that of the sole proprietor. However, the benefits of this new model are far bigger than the registration fees. Going with the fact that John Morgan was very eager to retain the control of the business, LTD provides that platform because unlike the corporations where one can sell shares, it is difficult to transfer an LTD. It is the prerogative of the owner to approve any addition of new owners or to alter ownership percentages. It is also important to acknowledge the fact that an LTD requires very simple legal process and is easy to manage especially when the owners are few. In this particular case, the owner is one and decision making process can be fast and strategic. It would not require setting up of long boardroom meetings to arrive to a decision because John Morgan can solicit competent advice from managers and consultants to make in formed decisions regarding the business. I therefore, believe that an LTD is the best trading format that John Morgan Plumbing should adopt while at the same time maintaining the initial business name. Bibliography Bevans, N. R., 2006. Business Organizations and Corporate Law. Illustrated ed. Boston: Cengage Learning. Available at: https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=87G4yWVkehACprintsec=frontcoverdq=Bevans,+N.+R.,+2006.+Business+Organizations+and+Corporate+Law.hl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageqf=false Mancuso, A., 2015. Form Your Own Limited Liability Company. Berkeley: Nolo Martin, A. R., 2010. Limited Liability Company and Partnership Answer Book. Alphen aan den Rijn : Aspen Publishers. Available at: https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=Nt_NyGiLXV8Cpg=SL10-PA8dq=Limited+Liability+Company+and+Partnership+Answer+Bookhl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=Limited%20Liability%20Company%20and%20Partnership%20Answer%20Bookf=false Schneeman, A., 2012. The Law of Corporations and Other Business Organizations. 6, illustrated ed. Boston: Cengage Learning. Available at: https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=lnoy85p0Pr0Cprintsec=frontcoverdq=The+Law+of+Corporations+and+Other+Business+Organizationshl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=The%20Law%20of%20Corporations%20and%20Other%20Business%20Organizationsf=false Spadaccini, M., 2004. Ultimate Book of Forming Corps, LLCs, Partnerships Sole Proprietorships. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies,Incorporated. https://www.cro.ie/Registration/Business-Name
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