Choose two potential markets( construction related, such as railway or Essay

Choose two potential markets( construction related, such as railway or civil etc. ) for a contracting organisation to enter for - Essay Example Overall, construction advanced by 8% in the year 2010 and in the subsequent year by 2.8% (DKM Economic Consultants, 2009, P.15). Nevertheless, by the later part of the year 2011, the entire construction industry’s growth had started to become slow with a relative downturn in the year 2010. For instance, new construction orders in the year 2012 were below the preceding quarter’s level, by 8.5% (DKM Economic Consultants, 2009, P.17). At this time, the house construction sector, both public and private suffered a major blow, and only infrastructure construction showed slight signs of development, as the government made the attempt to keep the civil works running, through collaboration with private investors. This implies that, by the year 2012, the house construction segment had been surpassed by civil engineering in terms of performance and industry leadership. The United Kingdom’s construction industry is a major economic pillar, since it contributes about a tenth of Britain’s (GDP), provides work to approximately 1.4 million individuals and accrues revenue of about ?65 billion per year. This industry is also ranked among the world’s top ten industries, further emphasizing its significance and the wide array of opportunities it has for new engineering companies. Construction Market Sectors The United Kingdom building and engineering industry comprises of large and dominant companies, which operate along with smaller establishments. Competitive rivalry in the industry is slightly eased when companies diversify their operations into different sectors. Key among these sectors, are the house construction and civil engineering sectors, which are analyzed hereunder, for the purpose of advising a potential construction contractor (Greenhalgh and Squires, 2011, P.35). Civil Engineering Sector Civil Engineering, which encompasses public works like railway, highway and other infrastructure constructions, is UK’s building and const ruction industry’s largest segment. This sector accounts for approximately 52.9% of the overall value of the industry (Data Monitor. 2012, P.7). In 2012, the output from infrastructure construction amounted to ?14,181 million, whereas infrastructure maintenance stood at ?7,775m (Data Monitor. 2012, P.10). Division of the civil engineering sector into its sub-sectors indicates that, railways, roads, as well as, water and sewerage subdivisions represent the greatest infrastructure construction components, at 25%, 24% and 22% in that order (Data Monitor. 2012, P.16). In the duration running from 2007 to 2011, all the new civil engineering sub-sectors depicted relatively steady annual growth. For instance, the water and sewerage sub-sector depicted a 10% growth, the roads sub-division a growth of 9%, while the railway construction sub-sector was at 24% (Data Monitor. 2012, P.18). One of the principal leaders in this sector is Balfour Beatty. This renowned civil engineering compan y deals with construction, business investment and overall engineering services. Balfour Beatty offers its specialized services in complex structure, road, utility systems and rail construction, not only to the United Kingdom, but to the entire globe as well. The company’s operations cover the entire European region, the Americas, as well as, the Asia Pacific area. This

Organizational culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organizational culture - Research Paper Example Generally, it is unlikely for two organizations to have the same culture as it depends on the management, the environment, type of work and other factors which vary from organization to organization. It is important for the employees to adjust in the organizational culture in order to enjoy their work and stay formed with each other (Schabracq, 2009). There are several theories and to represent them, several models have been proposed to explain the organization culture. One of the models was presented by Charles Handy and was called the Charles Handy model. Charles Handy was an Irish who was born in 1932. He was a philosopher and had specialized in organizational behavior and management. He has been known as one of the most influential management thinkers living because of his contribution towards his professional grounds. He has also written many articles specialized in his field for many universities including Harvard. He presented his model in which he emphasized on four types of organizational cultures (Armstrong, Stephens, 2005). â€Å"Power Culture† explains that in some organizations the power is given in the hands of few people only who are authorized to take the decisions. This power is concentrated to small groups of people or the centralized figure which controls from the center like a web. These groups of people enjoy special benefits at the workplace and they are the most important people as they are the decision makers. Their role is to then delegate the responsibilities to the employees junior to them. In this type of culture, the junior employees are meant to follow the instructions strictly and they do not even have the freedom to express their ideas and views. The most likely reason for unrest in this type of culture is managers becoming partial to one employee or the other (Handy, 2007). â€Å"Role

Power and Privilege Socialization and Career Essay

Power and Privilege Socialization and Career - Essay Example The presence of gender bias, whichever direction it cuts, impacts the use of power and privilege to an unfair degree. Gender bias in schools. It has long been believed that one reason there is a gender-based social bias in our country is founded in the different gender expectations placed on children. For example, little boys are given guns and trucks as toys and told not to cry. Conversely, girls are presented with dolls and allowed to express emotions more readily. In schools, there tends to be a preference given to boys, sending a message of higher worth and power. "Giving the boys more time and attention is not uncommon according to research on gender bias in classrooms and it has been documented that this behavior sends a message to both boys and girls that one sex is more worthy of teachers' time and attention" (Wellhousen and Yin 38). This type of early socialization can negatively impact the self-image and choices made by girls, as well as diminish their interests in certain career fields. In fact, teachers themselves have been conditioned to project, even in very subtle ways, particular ca reer preferences based on gender. "From parents and counselors, books and television, and myriad societal institutions, teachers have been taught that one set of jobs and behaviors is appropriate for girls and another, different, set is appropriate for boys" (Erekson, et al. 67). It is unconscionable that a teacher would intentionally foist a stereotype on his classroom, but the understated message of gender inequality-or at least predisposition for one career field over another-still gets absorbed by young minds. This connotes that power and privilege both travel along the lines of gender expectations, and girls are disadvantaged from the start. That said, the notion of career-oriented gender bias is not exclusively applied to women; men have felt the disadvantage of role expectations as well. Gender bias is always unfair. In the case of Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan, there was a non-typical application of career stereotyping where women were in the place of power and given a gender-biased privilege. In that case, Mr. Hogan applied to the university's nursing program and, though he was qualified in every way, was denied admission. The stated reason was because he was not a woman and the university was open exclusively to women. The practice of admitting only women was defended by the organization as a method of educational affirmative action, an argument the court refused. This illustrates the fundamental unfairness of gender bias, regardless of the direction in which it is applied, and gives support to negative gender stereotypes. Nursing is not a profession designed exclusively for women, just as being a doctor is not an occupation solely for men. Yet, even as children, these gender roles are most often assumed during play time; reinforcing an inappropriate a ttitude towards both individuals and career choices. When an otherwise qualified candidate is refused the opportunity to participate in any opportunity, program, or career solely on the basis of gender, it is a flagrant exercise of the abuse of power by those privileged to have it. Unfortunately, this unfairness is a learned behavior that stems

The Values in the Pharmaceutical Line of Business Case Study

The Values in the Pharmaceutical Line of Business - Case Study Example The key opportunities and challenges that AstraZeneca faces in this day and age include the fact that it has to have a globally competitive strategy which can counter the pressures that it receives at the hands of the players which are already thriving big time within the related market domains. This would mean that the competition is cut throat and there is absolutely no room for leniency at any cost. It faces immense competition from Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck and Co., and Sanofi-Aventis – all of which are globally accepted players. However, it also faces rivalry as far as its pertinent business undertakings are concerned from the local players that are thriving on the word of mouth realms and hence are penetrating strongly within the related markets (Kassirer 2005). The key challenges would be to make its basis strong so that AstraZeneca does not fall back at its infancy stage in the future. Also there must be proper e mphasis on the factor that is related with its business strategy, which relies heavily on growing the business through strengthening of the already developed products and the ones that are in the pipeline, the delivery of what has been promised, the re-shaping of the business from time to time, and lastly the promotion of a culture that is socially responsible and accountable at the same time (Hosking 2002). AstraZeneca has to prepare a business strategy that is coherent, encompasses quite a few significant areas of business and undertakes measures to resolve disputes that have a long-lasting effect and consequence for the sake of the organization. AstraZeneca must know how to take care of its customers because this is an important yardstick when it wants to establish areas where it could build upon its basis in the long run. More than anything else, there is a need to discern the exact methodology behind AstraZeneca’s policy towards attracting new customers and thus retainin g them for longer periods of time. All these points are very essential as AstraZeneca tries its best to uphold its strengths and cash in upon the opportunities that come its way.

Discrimnation in medical care based on color and race Research Paper

Discrimnation in medical care based on color and race - Research Paper Example The first focuses on potential lack of general applicability of findings based on unrepresentative data gathered from race-biased samples, a concern which gains most of its force from implicitly or explicitly biological understandings of race. Of more concern to professionals who do not share that view, are the implications of racial disparity in clinical trials for the health of African-American patients (Mwaria, King); that Black patients are less likely to participate in research protocols makes them less likely to be among those first receiving the most advanced forms of medical intervention, and may contribute to general health inequality. In the 1990’s clinicians and researchers, backed by the Centers for Disease Control (Trubo 1994), The National Institutes of Health (NIH 1994) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA 1997), began to hunt for the â€Å"barriers† to African-American participation in clinical trials. Research concluded that the problem is complex and that patient beliefs, racist bias on the part of physicians and institutional and community constraints all play a role (King, Mwaria, Shavers-Hornaday, 1997). Despite the apparent complexity of the issue, much of this discussion centers primarily on African-American â€Å"distrust† of doctors and the healthcare system in general and clinical trials in particular(Corbie-Smith 1999, Dula, Friemuth 2001, Gamble, Shavers-Hornaday, , Thomas 1999, ), while a substantial number of papers argued that widespread credulity toward â€Å"conspiracy theories† among Black patients is a key component of their distrust and thus of their unwillingness to undergo experimental treatments. (Corbie-Smith , Friemuth, Simmons and Parsons, 1999, Thomas) Among the most outlandish—and well-analyzed—medical â€Å"conspiracy theories† are those concerning HIV/AIDS. Researchers have

Considering Why Young People Begin Using Illicit Substances and How to Assignment

Considering Why Young People Begin Using Illicit Substances and How to Reduce Drug Taking Activity - Assignment Example There are two types of illicit substances, commonly known as soft drugs and hard drugs. Soft drugs include barbiturates, amphetamines and cannabis while heroin and cocaine are highly addictive and are called hard drugs (Keene 2002, p. 78). The soft drugs are not highly addictive while the hard drugs are highly addictive. Although all substances are harmful as they affect a person’s mental and physical health cocaine is particularly dangerous in fact it is lethal if taken in large amounts. Youth today is quite well-informed about the harmful effects of drugs and even though they are aware of the potential dangers of using illicit drugs that do not stop them from experimenting. There are various reasons which pull the young people towards drugs; some teenagers try drugs simply out of curiosity. The experimentation which starts with soft drugs often leads the use of hard drugs and consequently criminal activities (Pudney 2003). Studies show that cannabis is the most commonly used drug in the United Kingdom with 42% of the users being teenagers between the ages of 15 and 16 (Keene 2002, p. 76) whereas cocaine is the most commonly used hard drug. Boredom was cited as a reason for taking illicit drugs by young people belonging to middle-class families. In such cases, illicit drugs were a means of recreation and a way to enjoy and explore life from a different angle. It added excitement to their lives making it interesting. Some teenagers take drugs for enjoyment and may stop once the novelty is over but this can only happen if they are using soft drugs. The desire to appear cool or be accepted as popular is the reason which gets high school students hooked to drugs. Drugs can have a strong effect on a person’s mind and thinking.  

OOO Et Al V. Commissioner of Metropolitan Police 2011 Essay

OOO Et Al V. Commissioner of Metropolitan Police 2011 - Essay Example The verdict was that the officers acting as agents of the defendant, had neglected the aspects of investigating on the issue of contention. The issue of contention involved the claims of human trafficking as well as the duties and the powers of the police. The issue involved the claim that the claimants had been exposed to degrading, inhuman treatment, besides being held under servitude and forced compliance. Following the suit, each of the claimants was awarded a cash retribution of 5,000 as non-pecuniary compensation (Benitez et al. 2010). Discussion The case in question was the first of its kind, to be heard in England and the South Whales, especially due to its scope. The case was questioning the scope of the duties and obligations of police officers, with regard to investigating reported instances of the violations of article 3 and 4 of the ECHR. The case involved the abuse faced by four Nigerian women, previously trafficked into the U.K, while still below the age of eighteen â €“ to be used for domestic servitude. The four women had brought a claim against the commissioner of police in charge of the Metropolis, demanding compensation – for the failure of carrying out investigations into the intelligence of the cases presented to the police years back, regarding the illegal trafficking and forced servitude at North London. The Metropolitan Police Unit consented of having received the reports of the breach of the human rights of the four women, as per the provisions of article 3 and 4 of the ECHR. However, the Metropolitan Police disputed the fact that the officers had breached the rights of the claimants, as a result of their failure to investigate the authenticity of the claims of the four women. However, there was no question regarding whether the duty to investigate was demanded under articles 3 and 4 of the ECHR, but, whether the failure to investigate constituted the breach of the duty (Williams & U.N. General Assembly 1981). In deciding th e breach to act on the cases of the women, Mr. Williams evaluated in details – the evidence provided and the background information offered by the four women and other present witnesses. These witnesses included the police unit, and all the police officers engaged in the reporting of the matter or involved in evaluating the cases of the four women at some point in time. One of the claimants had also challenged the Metropolitan Police Service to offer her retribution damages amounting to ?25,000, to which they consented. The MPS also expressed regret to her, over their failure to offer the basic standards in examining the circumstances surrounding her plight, which she had reported at the Southgate police station in 2004. Mr. William also considered the conditions surrounding the cases of the three other Nigerian women – who were not party to the ?25,000 case – claiming that they had undergone similar human rights abuse, and had reported the issues to the police. The police had done nothing about their cases (Ovey &White 2006). In the same case, in November 2008 – the four claimants had ordered their solicitor to address the MPS, requiring them to carry out criminal investigations into the case, against the people involved in the abuse of the claimants. In December 2008, the MPS consented to the responsibility of undertaking the investigation into the issues surrounding the human rights abuse of the four. According to the case, it was confirmed that