Category: Uncategorized

‘Build A Bear’ CEO Apology

An organization’s spokesperson needs to answer required questions entirely, provide the crisis information clearly, and handle difficult questions proficiently. Build the bear CEO, Sharon Price John spoke about a crisis that occurred after failing to offer services to all the customers who attended the pay your age event. The CEO well performs the roles of a spokesperson by answering the questions required and explaining the cause of the problem, and the solutions put in place to avoid such challenges in the future.

According to Coombs, a good spokesperson should have characteristics, including the ability to convey that the organization can control the situation and demonstrate compassion to the crisis victims. Sharon Price was well equipped with the two features. She explained the problem effectively and offered possible solutions to the public. Also, she put herself in the parents’ shoes and felt the hurt they had after the failed event. This led her to apologize to the parents and promise better services in the future.

Also, the traits of a spokesperson could be depicted through her facial and bodily expressions. She was empathetic throughout the interview and could persuade the stakeholders of better days in the future. This was due to her calmness and ensuring the credibility of the information.

I found Sharon Price’s interview more informative and clearer than the Facebook Sheryl Sandberg spokesmanship. In her interview, she seemed nervous, and she seemed to lack answers to some of the questions. Even though she was empathetic, the crisis explanation could not be well understood, and her words and actions could not be connected.

Fitchburg State University

Department of NursingLeadership and Management Final Paper

Part II due Week XIV by midnight on day of classGuidelines/Grading Rubric

1. Identify the area in need of improvement and the proposed change (2.5 points). Begin this section with an overview of the problem, and how it impacts nursing, patients or the healthcare setting. This information is similar to Writing Assignment Part I section I, and will be 1 paragraph in length. When the paper is completed this will be a transition paragraph and will lead the reader to the review of literature.

2. Support the need for the change with the nursing literature (4 articles selected and approved) (15 points)a. Write an introductory statement that leads the reader from the problem (in #1) to the literature which provides information to improve or remedy the problem.b. Summarize the key components of each article in this section. -Summarize research articles as you learned in Evidence Based Practice: identify the purpose, method, participants, research design, finding and limitations. -For professional nursing articles identify the key concepts. c. Write a transition statement that leads the reader from the research back to the problemd. Integrate the key components from each article into a rationale for the proposed change 3. Identify how the change will occur and who will participate in this process. (2.5 points) Is there a QI team? Who is on the team? How will information be shared to other nurses? If the change has already occurred, you can “pretend” that you are the original planner and identify who should be on the Quality Improvement Team. If the change has not occurred or if there is no QI team, utilize your textbook to determine the ideal membership of the QI team.

Writing Guidelines:Begin this section of the paper with the title page and content from Part I. Transition to Part II by following above guidelines.Part II should be 4-7 pages in length, not counting title page and Reference pages.Grammar, sentence structure, and writing style are graded within APA writing style and are worth 10 points.

This Assignment: Part II is worth 30 points (of a 100 point final exam).

Late submissions lose 5 points per day (of the maximum 30 points).

Name:

Course:

Professor:

Date:

Dead Wake

‘Dead Wake’ is a critically acclaimed non-fiction novel authored by Erik Larson, an American writer. The story is about Lusitania, an American ship bound for Liverpool. Unknown to those on board, the voyage would be the last that the ship would ever make. Believed to be greater than even the Titanic, everyone thought that the Lusitania was indestructible. The British had gotten word of a possible attack on the ship but ignored it. The events in the book revolve around the First World War during which Germany and Britain fought each other. The attack on the Lusitania was carried out by a German submarine to offend the British. The United States had long declined to be a British ally in the war, but after the ship sunk, the United States joined the First World War in 1917. The main idea of the book is to examine different characters of the people on board, as well as the position of Germany, Britain and the United States of America in the First World War.

When Lusitania left New York, there were many notable personalities aboard. Some of them include the billionaire businessman Alfred Vanderbilt, a famous bookseller named Charles Lauriat and also one of the first female architects of the time (Larson). Other characters explored in the novel are two brothers, Cliff and Leslie Morton who held the position of deckhands. The ship also had a significant number of women and children on it, more than any other ship before the Lusitania. The ship had five stories, further adding to the belief that it was indestructible. No one could destroy such a humongous structure. William Thomas Turner commanded the ship as its captain.

On board the Lusitania, people laughed, ate drank and made merry. They were excited to be on the ship and were assured of a safe journey. Smoking and drinking were particular pastimes enjoyed by the passengers. The ship was supposed to be a passenger ship, but there were claims that it ferried arms as well. Britain and Germany had declared war on each other’s vessels, but this was taken to mean only military ships. Those traveling on the Lusitania felt they had little to worry about concerning the war between Germany and Britain. Before this, the British sought to enlist the help of the United States in the war, but this was met with a lot of reluctance by President Woodrow of the United States. On the first of May 1915, the New York Times carried a post warning of a possible attack on the Lusitania because the Germans might ambush non-military ships (Larson). No one paid any heed to this, and the boat set off as planned. This oversight is what contributed to the sinking of the Lusitania by the Germans.

A German submarine shot at the Lusitania, sinking it. The U-20 submarine was under the command of a thirty-two-year-old captain, Walther Schweiger. The novel describes their submarine as stuffy and tiny, they shared a small toilet, and stale air pervaded the space (Larson). The reader is tempted to think that the captain and his men that sank the Lusitania were a group of monstrous and unfeeling human beings that caused the deaths of hundreds of people. It is also hard not to empathize with the men stuck in the tiny sub for a long time, unable to breathe fresh air and sharing one toilet. Larson shocks the reader by giving a contrasting description of Captain Walther. He loved dogs, man’s favorite pet, lending him an endearing quality. He only attacked because his position demanded that he lead his men to fulfill their duty to their country.

Erik Larson depended mostly on primary sources as he pieced together the events of the sinking of the Lusitania. One example of the primary sources is a letter from one of the survivors of the tragedy, Dwight Harris. Harris wrote to his mother telling her of what happened in the ship in several letters. It is probably the most comprehensive account since he was a first-hand witness to everything that happened. There were other survivors who also gave their accounts enabling the author to cross-check facts and make sure that the novel gave an accurate picture of the occurrences before, during and after the attack on the Lusitania. In addition to the first-hand accounts, Larson also visited the University of Liverpool where he accessed photographs taken after the tragic sinking of the ship (Larson). From the pictures of dead bodies, he got an idea of the magnitude of loss and death that accompanied the attack.

The author of ‘Dead Wake’ succeeds in convincing the readers of his arguments. The description of the atmosphere in the ship gives the reader a feel of the confidence that passengers had in the invincibility of the ship. The sinking itself is also described vividly and reading the book; one feels that they were right there to witness the event. Readers also get to see the viewpoint of the German officers who launched the attack on the ship. President Woodrow’s affair with Edith allows readers to see his humanity after the loss of his wife. These are some of the strengths of the book; readers can relate to many things. The use of primary sources strengthens the author’s credibility because he did not just make up a story but did research before writing. The book also informs on the events that led to the United States to join the way, mostly because of the attack on the Lusitania.

Works Cited

Larson, Erik. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. Broadway Books, 2015.

Art and Literature

(Author’s name)

(Institutional Affiliation)

Abstract

Student intellectual development is, largely, influenced by art, literature and other dramatic presentation. Research studies illustrate that a student’s experience with the arts not only increases the student’s creative abilities, it also develops their spatial reasoning, abstract thought, as well as, critical thinking abilities (Eisner, 1998). The arts have also been associated with increased cultural awareness in students and communication abilities, as they gain knowledge of how to use the arts to converse with the larger society. Appreciation of the fine arts is essential for the growth and development of students both mentally and socially, as it increases an individual’s adaptive techniques

Key Words: Art, Literature, Dramatic Presentation, Intellectual Development

Introduction

Students’ exposure to the arts take place in the form of drawing, book reading, or participation in school plays, among other things. Accordingly, educators agree that such exposure of students is essential if a student is to advance to other levels of the education system. In essence, student awareness of the arts takes place in four main phases. The first phase requires that students understand the basic concepts of the arts, ranging from the very simple concepts to the larger and much complex concepts and ideas (Umphrey, 2006). Providing a critical analysis and appreciation of the concepts of art is the next phase of student awareness of the arts, whereas, performance and creative work is the third phase of this process. Lastly, for students to fully comprehend the fine arts, they need to display the ability to communicate this awareness with the rest of the world.

This paper explains how a piece of art, a work of literature, or a dramatic presentation can have a significant impact on students’ intellectual development and their appreciation of the fine arts.

The Impact of Art and Literature on Student Intellectual Development

Researchers and educators argue that art and literature is beneficial for students as it facilitates the enhancement of various skills in students. This is because exposure to artistic forms encourages students to utilize most of their senses, hence, promoting mental stimulation (Umphrey, 2006). Such stimulation further encourages spatial reasoning and abstract thought, which are necessary for student advancement into other levels of education. In addition to this, exposure to the arts encourages students to exercise their creative abilities, prompting them to create their own pieces of work as well.

More specifically, art promotes the enhancement of student reading and analytical skills. Literary writing and dramatic presentations familiarizes students with the various components of writing and performing, which in turn, facilitates critical thinking in students. Most literature transpires within a historical or cultural context, hence introducing students to various concepts relevant to their education and learning (Horowitz, 2002). From this, students have the ability to understand the importance of expression through the arts. Historical and cultural exposure through the arts increases cultural awareness, hence cultural sensitivity, which is importance for students in their various social institutions.

Conclusion

Unswerving exposure to the arts in the learning environment supports the growth and development of students into well-rounded individuals who are beneficial to the society. It influences intellectual development in students and encourages the development of various skills that are necessary for their interaction with the larger community. Understanding of the fine arts improves social awareness and critical thinking abilities, all of which are indispensable elements of academic achievement.

References

Eisner, E. (1998). Does experience in the arts boost academic achievement. Art Education,

51(1): 7-15.

Horowitz, R. (2002). Arts Education Promotes Intellectual Development. Retrieved from:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=3831

Umphrey, D. (2006). Developing Creative & Cognitive Skills through a Comprehensive Arts

Education. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK “http://education.ucf.edu/arted/docs/Deborah%20Umphrey-” http://education.ucf.edu/arted/docs/Deborah%20Umphrey-Contribution%20of%20the%20Arts%20Final%20Presentation.pdf

How A Web-Based Platform Would Address Communication And Reporting Concerns By Hamilton & Co. Advocates

Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293162” Introduction PAGEREF _Toc380293162 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293163” Executive Summary PAGEREF _Toc380293163 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293164” Business Need and Current Situation PAGEREF _Toc380293164 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293165” Problem Statement PAGEREF _Toc380293165 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293166” Impact on Hamilton and Co. Associates Law Firm PAGEREF _Toc380293166 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293167” Technology Migration PAGEREF _Toc380293167 h 5

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293168” Overview of the Web-based Platform Project PAGEREF _Toc380293168 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293169” Project Description PAGEREF _Toc380293169 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293170” Goals and Objectives PAGEREF _Toc380293170 h 7

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293171” Project assumptions PAGEREF _Toc380293171 h 8

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293172” Project Constraints PAGEREF _Toc380293172 h 8

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293173” Performance of the Project PAGEREF _Toc380293173 h 9

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293174” Cost Benefit Analysis PAGEREF _Toc380293174 h 11

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293175” Analysis of the Available Alternatives for Hamilton & Co. Advocates PAGEREF _Toc380293175 h 14

HYPERLINK l “_Toc380293176” Approvals PAGEREF _Toc380293176 h 15

Introduction

Executive SummaryThis business case provides an outline of how a Web-based platform would address communication and reporting concerns by Hamilton & Co. Advocates, the benefits, goals, assumptions, performance measures, constraints, as well as alternative options. The shift to a centralized, web-based platform allows the law firm to manage its payroll and administrative tasks with enhanced efficiency. Such a shift would result in a reduction in overhead costs, as well as a reduction in errors and enhancement of accuracy in reporting.

As much as the company has a number of alternatives at its disposal, evaluation of the same has brought to the fore fundamental challenges pertaining to their adoption or retention. Not only does the shift to the Web-based platform result in enhanced efficiency, but it is also in line with the company’s goals and objectives.

Business Need and Current SituationProblem StatementHamilton & Co. Advocates Law Firm was started in 2003. At the time of its inception, the law firm was made up of three lawyers and a secretary. The law firm occupied an executive but single office, in which case its operations and business needs were relatively few. The management of its payroll, as well as other administrative functions could, therefore, be satisfactorily handled using the mainframe system.

However, the law firm has grown over the years to increase not only the number of lawyers and employees that it has but also the size of the office that it needs. Currently, the law firm is composed of 20 lawyers, as well as 7 paralegal assistants and 3 secretaries. In addition, a total of 3 departmental heads are incorporated, not to mention 4 workers in the IT department. These employees occupy two floors in a downtown building. Needless to say, the increase in the number of employees and workers in the office resulted in an increase in the burden for the company as far as the administrative activities and the employees’ payroll are concerned. On a monthly basis, Hamilton & Co. Advocates outsources the services of Mick Consultants Ltd. who assist in the alignment of the payroll and financial reports.

One of the key problems in the law firm revolves around the making of financial reports. In line with the mainframe system all financial reports for the entire week and month have to be done manually by the three secretaries. Needless to say, not only does the manual generation of financial reports take too much time and effort, but it also comes with a higher probability that errors will be made in making the entries. This costs the law firm quite a lot in terms of finances and much needed workforce.

On the same note, the employees are currently required to report to the departmental heads as to the number of hours that they have worked every day, as well as raise any concerns that they may be having pertaining to administrative tasks or the payroll and billings. It goes without saying that the enormous burden weighs heavily on the secretary, especially considering that she is also expected to undertake her daily billable tasks. Maintaining a proper balance between the two tasks presents an enormous challenge on the secretaries.

Since the beginning, Hamilton & Co. Advocates law firm has been using legacy mainframe systems to undertake tasks such as payroll activities, reporting, as well as resource management. These have been rendered inadequate by the increased workforce, which has resulted in higher administrative costs, time wastage, as well as increased turnover of employees. These problems have made it necessary that Hamilton & Co. Advocates inculcates web-based platform to replace the mainframe legacy platform. The implementation of the Web-based platform would allow employees to have an enhanced role in the management of their payroll and administrative issues, as well as allow the law firm to manage its administrative duties from a central platform. It eliminates redundancy in the workforce, allows for timely and accurate reporting, as well as increased efficiency.

Impact on Hamilton and Co. Associates Law FirmMigrating to the Web-Based platform would have a widespread impact on Hamilton & Co. Advocates law firm, especially with regard to the time, effort and finances required to carry out certain administrative and payroll activities. On the same note, the migration will undoubtedly require input that alters the manner in which the organization is run, as well as the roles and responsibilities, tools and processes in the organization.

Tools: The implementation and operationalization of the web-based platform means the complete phasing out of the existing legacy operating system or platform. Having in mind that the platform is relatively new in the law firm, it is imperative that the employees are taken through some form of training or orientation on the use of the platform alongside other organizational tools.

Processes: The greatest impact of the web-based platform will be felt in the process aspect of the law firm especially with regard to the administrative and payroll activities. These will become streamlined and their efficiency enhanced, which will result in a reduction of the workload on the secretaries. In addition, the implementation of the system comes with an element of independence to the employees as far as the management of their payroll and administrative tasks is concerned.

Roles and Responsibility: The increased autonomy and efficiency, alongside the streamlining of some activities will result in a reduction of the magnitude of work, as well as the manpower required for its execution. In essence, as much as the law firm values its workforce and employees, it will have to reduce their numbers. This is especially with regard to outsourced services, as such activities would become redundant in the new system. The current workforce, with the new web-based platform, would have the capacity to handle the activities. This will undoubtedly result in a reduction in the expenses spent on outsourcing certain services, which will increase the law firm’s return on investment. As much as the platform is new, the current workforce in the IT department is sufficiently capable of putting it into place and operationalizing it.

Additional hardware: The initial capital investment will involve the purchasing of software, as well as obtaining of a license for the implementation of the project. However, it is imperative that the law firm buys additional servers in an effort to accommodate the web-based platform today and in the future.

Technology MigrationThe migration of the existing data from the legacy operating system to a new Web-based operating system requires that disruption to the daily activities in administration and payroll are kept at a minimum. In essence, a phased approach incorporating 6 stages will be used. These stages include the following.

Stage I: Any software and hardware that will be required in the upgrade will be purchased. The Information Technology development group will undertake the creation and testing of the Web Platform in a web-based environment.

Stage II: A temporary legacy operating system that backs up the system and archives all data stored in the law firm’s mainframe will put in place. This legacy operating system will be used in the daily administration and payroll activities for the time being.

Stage III: At this stage, the IT team fills the Web-based operating system with all data pertaining to administration and payroll activities alongside end-of-a-pay cycle.

Stage IV: Considering that the web-based platform is a relatively new phenomenon in the law firm, it is unlikely that the employees are privy to its functioning. In essence, the IT team will take the employees through training on the functionality of the platform.

Stage V: This stage involves full internalization of the web-based platform, as well as the archiving of the legacy operating system. At this time, the web-based platform or operating system is the only one used in carrying out the varied administrative and payroll activities in the law firm.

Overview of the Web-based Platform ProjectProject DescriptionThe Web-Based Platform Project undertakes a review and analysis of likely products that would best replace the legacy platform that Hamilton & Co. Advocates Law firm has been using with an entirely new web-based platform. The selection process involves the evaluation of programs with regard to the sufficiency with which they replace the current system while still allowing for the expansion for the next decade.

The new platform, on being selected, will be implemented in phases where the current system will be phased out and archived while the new platform becomes fully operational. The key objective of the project will be realized through enhanced efficiency in carrying out administrative, payroll and reporting activities, which will result in a significant reduction of the expense. On the same note, the increased independence and flexibility of employees is bound to result in enhanced job satisfaction, thereby reducing the turnover in the law firm.

In addition, the time spent undertaking redundant activities that do not bring any income to the law firm will be channeled to productive activities, thereby adding to the return on investment.

The IT department will issue an RFI so as to have clear knowledge of the products available in the market both in terms of software and hardware. The specifications of the products should be listed so as to determine the ones that would sufficiently replace the existing system, as well as meet the future needs of the law firm for at least the next decade. This will allow for evaluation, determination and acquisition of the best product, paving way for the implementation, as well as data population using internal resources.

Goals and ObjectivesThe implementation of the Web-based Platform project is aimed at enhancing the capacity of Hamilton & Co. Advocates law firm to meet certain goals and objectives. These are especially with regard to enhancing its efficiency, reduce costs and enhance accuracy and timeliness.

Enhancing employee efficiency: The undertaking of administrative and payroll activities is bound to require a reduced number of employees, in which case the law firm will increase its efficiency as it will not need to outsource some of the services.

Enhanced accuracy and timeliness in reporting: all data pertaining to administrative and payroll activities will be reported in an accurate and timely manner.

Reduction in employee turnover: Enhanced flexibility and independence of employee allows for quick addressing of any concerns that the employees may be having, thereby enhancing their satisfaction. This results in a reduction in employee turnover.

Reduced expenses: The increased efficiency results in fewer employees and outsourcing being required by the law firm, in which case it saves on overheads and costs spent on these.

Project assumptions

The success of the project is built on a number of assumptions. However, these assumptions would be likely to change with time, especially as the scope of the project increases. Nevertheless, they make the fundamental basis upon which the business case is built. The key assumptions made include the following.

It is assumed that the funds needed for making the technological migration are available in Hamilton & Co. Advocates law firm. This includes funding for the purchase of hardware, software, as well as training of the employees about the usage and functionality of the new platform.

It is assumed that all employees and members of staff will undergo sufficient training in line with their tasks pertaining to reporting, timesheet and data entry alongside other elements of functionality of the new web-based platform.

It is assumed that the executive is backing and in support of the project, as only then would the project be bound to be successfully implemented and incorporated. This will allow for the full participation and support of the project on its entirety.

Project ConstraintsAs much as the environment may be conducive for the implementation of the project, there are varied constraints that face the same. These constraints are undoubtedly bound to increase (or decrease) with the development of the project into more details. Nevertheless, these constraints form the basis upon which the business case is built and from which other constraints would follow after enhanced detailing. Any additional constraints that are identified in the course of the project will be added accordingly. Nevertheless, the key constraints revolve around the following constraints.

Limited commercial off the shelf products that will have the capacity to support the administrative and payroll activities.

On the same note, the project is limited in terms of the IT resources that would be available to support not only the WP project, but also other IT initiatives that the law firm is currently undertaking.

Software and hardware providers would be limited in terms of the support they render to the project, especially considering that the implementation process will not be done by product vendors or product developers rather it will be carried out internally.

Performance of the ProjectThe success of the project is founded on varied key processes or resources. Their likely and expected outcomes would be fundamental to the overall success of the project, in which case they may be used as the yardsticks upon which the performance of the entire Web-based project would be measured (Scwalbe, 2010). It is imperative that quantification of the impact of these performance measures is done so as to determine the real outcome. The table below presents the key resources or processes, and matches them up with the performance measures.

Key services/Processes/ Resources Measurement of Performance

Manpower, workforce, staff resources The project is bound to streamline the workforce especially considering that the work previously carried out by the three secretaries alongside other outsourced service vendors can be comfortably carried out by the secretaries alone. In essence, not only will the law firm cease to outsource varied services pertaining to the administrative and payroll activities, but also there will be a reduction of employees carrying out these activities by at least three members of the staff.

Reporting One of the areas that will be fundamentally affected is the reporting activity in Hamilton & Co. Advocates Law firm. The Web-based platform will streamline reporting activities in the firm, ensuring that the information is entered in an accurate and timely manner. In addition, the timelines within which reconciliation of the reports is done will be depreciably reduced from monthly to twice a year.

Maintenance of the Software and the System There will be a reduction in the number of times that maintenance of the system and software is carried out. The new web-based platform will need to undergo maintenance twice a year, which is a reduction from the monthly maintenance that the system undergoes. Needless to say, there will be a reduction in the workforce that is needed to carry out routine maintenance. It is, however, impossible, to determine the reduction in the workforce needed for maintenance of the system and the software before implementation of the same.

Data entry As noted, the system gives employees more freedom as far as making their own entries is concerned. This results in a reduction (as well as elimination) of the redundant or non-billable activities that managers and secretaries undertake.

Cost Benefit AnalysisThe viability of any project for any company is based on the savings that it incorporates for the company, not only in terms of manpower and human resources but also with regard to the cost or financial savings. In essence, the costs of the project have to be matched up against the savings (benefits) so as to determine the overall viability (Scwalbe, 2010). A cost benefit analysis has been done for the project for its first year, detailing the capital costs and constituent costs, alongside the benefits accruing in the same year. These are presented in monetary terms in the table below and net loss/savings presented at the end of the same.

Costs

Action Description Amount in Dollars ($)

Purchase Web-based product, hardware, software and licenses Initial costs pertaining to the web-based project. 390,000

Hardware alignment and Software installation The cost that the IT team incurs in the installing and implementation of the new Web-based platform, transferring information and data from the old system, archiving the legacy system and operationalizing the new system. 60,000

Staff training Training the employees on the functionality of the new web-based platform so as to allow for enhanced utility and success of the same. 70,000

Total costs ($) —————————————————————— 520,000

Savings

Action Description Amount in Dollars ($)

A reduction of the Payroll staff by 3 people. Elimination of the need to outsource activities to outside vendors. The reduction of the number of individuals working in the payroll and finance department will result in savings equal to their combined annual salaries and benefits. These are added to the savings made by the eliminated need for outsourcing the law firm’s activities. 345,000

Reduction in the frequency of system and software maintenance Previously, the system and software maintenance was done on a monthly basis. This has been reduced to only twice a year, which could result in savings as fewer IT resources would be used in such activities that do not generate income. 93,000

Non-billable payroll and administrative tasks eliminated from the realm of the departmental heads and secretaries. 5 departmental heads and secretaries have always been burdened with redundant and non-billable tasks pertaining to the payroll, as well as administration. The increased independence of employees eliminates this redundancy resulting in savings in the time (and money) dedicated to such redundant activities by 12 hours a week, billed at 34 dollars for the 5 departmental heads and secretaries. 106,080

A 15% reduction in employee turnover The increased efficiency and independence has resulted in enhanced satisfaction among employees thereby reducing turnover by 15%. This saves the law the money that it requires to recruit, hire, train and orient new employees. 64,000

Total savings —————————————————————————— 608,080

Difference (Loss or savings) ————————————————————- 88,080

The implementation of the project results in savings amounting to $88,080 in the initial year. This is undoubtedly bound to have a positive impact on the sustainability and profitability of Hamilton & Co. Advocates law firm. It is worth noting that while the cost incurred in obtaining the licenses and software is a one-time affair, all benefits pertaining to the system are bound to be repeated every year. In essence, the amount of savings is bound to increase in the subsequent years, holding all factors constant.

Analysis of the Available Alternatives for Hamilton & Co. AdvocatesAs much as it would be recommended that Hamilton & Co. Advocates implement the web-based platform, it is worth noting that the company has varied alternatives that it could still explore. In fact, the choice or decision to implement this system should be based on the evaluation of all alternatives and weighing them against each other in terms of their pros and cons so as to determine the best alternative (Scwalbe, 2010). For this project, Hamilton & Co. Advocates has the option of retaining the mainframe legacy platform, developing the software internally, as well as outsourcing the web-based platform implementation.

Retaining the mainframe legacy platform that Hamilton & Co. Advocates use comes with a number of disadvantages. The system is not automated, in which case timely and accurate reporting would be difficult. In addition, it results in wastage of time and money as departmental heads undertake the non-billable tasks pertaining to payroll and administration. Turnover would likely remain high due to dissatisfaction of workers especially considering that they would think of the administration as nonresponsive to their concerns more so with regards to issues pertaining to payroll and administrative activities.

The development of the software internally faces the challenge of deficiency in the technical expertise in the law firm. In addition, the development would consume a lot of time to make and install. This is over and above the enormous investment in terms of financial resources needed to kick off the development to completion.

Outsourcing the platform, on the other hand, introduces an element of redundancy in the law firm, especially considering that the company has employees who have the capacity to implement the same. In essence, that would introduce duplicity, not to mention that it would be extremely expensive on the company. Enormous savings would be made by allowing the internal workers in Hamilton & Co. Advocates to carry out the implementation, especially considering that they have knowledge about the internal workings of the law firm and its needs.

ApprovalsThe implementation of the platform would be guided by a project plan. These have to be examined and given the approval by the executive individuals in the law firm. These would be required to append their signatures against their names, which will serve as an indication that they have read the document and approved the content and would allow for the making of the project plan.

References

Schwalbe, K. (2010). Information technology Project Management. Boston, MA: Course Technology/Cengage Learning.

HDev312 Spring 2022Dr. FeltonPaper Assignment: Film AnalysisDue: In Forum Group’s Paper Forum by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, May 1st


Adolescence through the Lens of A Feature Film

This assignment asks you to analyze a feature film about adolescence by applying concepts, dynamics, processes, and issues addressed in our course readings. You’ll draw primarily on readings from Week Six on through the semester. For example: topics pertaining to adolescents’ family, peers and friendships, romantic relationships, sexual identity, the role of smartphones and social media in adolescents’ everyday lives, school as a context for development, work and career aspirations and possibilities, problems such as drug abuse or mental illness, or challenges such as unplanned early pregnancy (among other concerns). You may also draw on readings from the first part of the semester on the teenage brain, risk-taking and adolescent cognition and on pubertal timing.

[Note: An alternate option for selecting a novel or a non-fiction memoir is listed at the end of these guidelines.]

Select ONE of the Following Films:

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Bend it Like Beckham (2002)

Love and Basketball (2000)

Our Song (2001)

Real Women Have Curves (2002)Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Eighth Grade (2018)

Juno (2007)Quinceañera (2006)

Love, Concord (2012)

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Wood (1999)

Dope (2015)

ATL (2006)The Kings of Summer (2013)

Lean on Me (1989)

Coach Carter (2005)

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

The Hate You Give (2018)

Mean Girls (2004)

Love, Simon (2018)

Mosquita & Mari (2012)

The Perks of being a Wallflower (2012)

All of these films are widely available and each reflect many of the themes addressed in our text’s readings.


Your task is to identify concepts, ideas, and insights we’ve been addressing and to apply them to the central character(s) and experiences depicted in the film. Your paper is NOT meant to be an exhaustive survey of all of the concepts depicted; rather, your task is to select 6 concepts, processes and/or dynamics and explore them in depth by focusing in on specific instances in the film. Use the specific examples from the film to explain how the experiences depicted are consistent or inconsistent with the research presented in our readings. For example, if you select Juno, you might address the following concepts, dynamics, and issues: the social support offered by peers, adolescents’ increasing levels of autonomy in the family system, or challenges, risks, and protective factors related to an early unplanned pregnancy.

When citing the text or other course materials verbatim (directly) or when paraphrasing (indirectly), be sure to identify the relevant page number(s). Use in-text citation.

Tips on developing your paper:

Availability of Films: at independent and chain video stores; through Netflix, iTunes, and other online sources; through your local library.

Having a good grasp of the film means that you will need to watch it more than once. You’ll also want to take notes. Remember, your primary purpose in viewing the film is for analysis, not entertainment (although an appreciation for the film will support your engagement). You’ll want to view the film critically, considering how the film depicts themes and concepts discussed in the readings and viewing material addressed from Week Six on. Strategies for Note-taking: Some students prefer to take notes during their first viewing of the film (when the story and characters are fresh and unfamiliar). Others choose to make notes after their first viewing, and then re-view the film and make more detailed notes. Whatever strategy you choose, you will need to view the film more than once, and you may view portions of it multiple times. You’ll also want to jot down relevant bits of verbatim dialogue and descriptions of events that you’ll incorporate in your writing.

Provide an introductory paragraph that BRIEFLY summarizes the arc of the film (4-5 sentences max), and then tell readers of your paper why it’s a particularly useful film for addressing specific dynamics, processes and challenges that adolescents face. Make sure to identify the 6 concepts or processes that you’ll be focusing on for your paper.

Your paper must be thoughtfully developed. Focus your analysis on one or two central characters. Also, be sure to refer to the characters by name (not by the name of the actor playing the role). If you aren’t sure of characters’ names, you can find them on imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), or by rolling the film credits at the end of the film.

Remember, you’re not being asked to review the film or write up your reactions to the film. Your task is to examine how the film illuminates and helps us to understand the various phenomena that we are studying.

Papers will be posted in your Forum Group’s Paper Forum.

Alternate Assignment Option:

Some of you may prefer to skip the added screen time needed for this assignment. If that’s the case, you may select a novel or a non-fiction book or memoir that focuses on the adolescent experience through the lens of a specific teen. This may also be a way for you to focus in greater depth on particular issues facing adolescents. For example, you might want to address autism or neurodiversity, homelessness, activism, a highly creative adolescent, or drug addiction. Please email me directly with the title of the text that you plan to use.

[Note: For either option (the film or a book about an adolescent): If you find that our course materials are insufficient in addressing the themes (dynamics, processes, issues) that you want to examine, you may certainly opt to bring in outside sources. However, outside sources are not required.]

(Covered the first short story)

The Dew Breaker contains a collection of nine different but interconnected stories. The first entry, the book of the dead, the narrator is a young woman called Ka who is from Haiti but lives in New York. She is forced to travel to Florida with her father on a mission of selling a sculpture to a popular Haitian television personality called Gabrielle Fonteneau. She wakes up and learns that her father is missing together with the sculptor, after she spent the night at a hotel room. She talks to the police who question her. Her father reappears finally as the sun sets in the horizon but he does not have the sculpture.

He instead he transports Ka to a lake where he throws the sculpture into the water, something that annoys her daughter who could not get the reason why he did this. He tells her daughter that he did that because he felt that he was not worth being immortalized as art. He then tells her that the stories she heard about him being imprisoned are all not true but he was in fact employed to torture and kill those who were prisoners, but she asks her to believe that she is regretful of his actions. When they return to the hotel, she calls her mother demanding an explanation of how she was able to live with her father. Her mother responds by saying that he changed upon meeting her, meaning she saved his life. They meet for lunch with Gabrielle the next day and her father lies about his Haitian home so as not to be identified. That experienced seems as one of the hardest emotional turmoil as she tries to understand what she learnt

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Hottentot Venus by Barbara Chase-Ribound book review

The novel Hottentot Venus by Barbara Chase-Ribound is an incredible book that has won several critical praises though its ability of bringing to light hidden truths. Racism and sexism in the hearts of the European imperialism cannot be well discussed without paying attention to the physical difference of ordinary persons. The author uses a real female to discusses his arguments and build his themes. Sarah Baartman the novel’s protagonist was born in South Africa in the year 1789 and at the age of twenty she was taken to London by an English surgeon who had promised to assist her become famous. Instead she was forced to parade naked before a rude British crowd for an exhibition. She faced cruelty and torture which even resulted to detaining by British abolitionists. After a short period Baartman find herself in the midst of another humiliating event when she is sold to a French circus in 1814 by her keeper who was also supposedly her husband. After her sale she was moved to Paris to participate in an exotic animal circus. It is at this point she is also forced to assist in a sideshow sensation and she becomes known as “Hottentot Venus”. According to the story, medical experts and top scientists felt that her prominent buttocks were a perfect example of the primitive evolution. In this saga that ranges from Capetown, London to Paris and back to Africa the author condemns the certain aspects of evocation since they act as icons of scientific racism, brutality, ugliness, exploitation and sexism.

The book is opened by a brief explanation of how the name Hottentot Venus came to be. The name came from the Portuguese after they discovered KhoeKhoe nation located in South African eastern coast. The Portuguese found the Dutch community in this nation and nicknamed then “the Hottento” which means stutterer in Dutch because they felt language consisted of so many unrelated sounds. The book further continues to the first chapter which begins which Sarah birthday which was on January 1816. It at this same day that it is disclosed that Sarah is suffering a serious fever and chest problem. Though her illness seems serious she still has to continue looking strong under the leadership to the white. Later chapters then begin to portray the various unfair treatment and discriminations that Sarah is facing in the hands of white leadership. Even though Sarah is ill and lost both of her parents in the hands of the white or the British rule, she still has to face many more challenges. She is sold to a white master by her aunt who at the time acted as her guardian and is nick named Saartjie. She is also betrayed by her supposedly husband by selling her to the Heinrich. The author uses several life situations though his protagonist Sarah to show how race and sexism is wide spread and common cause of many problems today.

In making an overall review of Hemings work in this book we can strongly say that the themes of racism and sexism are widely discussed. The author uses a real character specifically a female middle aged woman Sarah who is later referred to as Saartjie to show how these two themes are wide spread in almost all societies. Sarah is seen to move from one society to the other and facing related problems. Back in her home she is forced to undergo certain strict traditions just because she is a woman and had to get married. In her family house her aunt constantly looks as a source of wealth just because she is female and thus supposed to act as a source of wealth. The author goes further to portray that there are differences in how racism and sexism is practiced by using slavery and blue collar jobs practiced in developed areas such as London and Paris. But in all cases the end results of these acts are similar since they are end up abusing human rights, affects personal extreme and besides degrades the value of human life.

However, the author can improve on this great literature book to a credible academic reference when discussing these two themes; racism and sexism by focusing on a specific line of racism. For instance, the author can select scientific racism which includes illiteracy in education and technology or focus on feminism. The benefit of this recommendation is to ensure the author researchers and provides more important and accurate data on the narrow topic.

Work Cited

Chase-Ribound, Barbara Hottentot Venus New York, Doubleday, 2003

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

[Name of Student]

[Name of Instructor]

[University]

[Name of Course]

[Date]

Introduction

Low-rise residents are the most form of houses that are in need of heightened innovation so as to ensure privacy, simplify access, create harmonious form of relationship and maximize grade relationship. Creating a place where legitimate users and residents are in a position to go about their daily routine without any fear or insecurity is one of the major elements of this assignment. Moreover, the use of the existing urban areas will be required in the future where large, medium, and small centers enjoy good transport, services and jobs (Stephenson, 2011).

Good design for low-rise housing has to focus on the increasing density at the same time without conceding the comfort of the existing residents. However, this design has to contribute confidently to the character of the locality while offering high-value public domain. Good house designs should not need expensive construction materials and techniques but offer creativity to produce well-designed houses that are smaller, more suitable and have lower running coast. Good low-rise housing designs of infill residential projects are important to promote community acceptance and understanding of the issue of higher densities present in the suburban regions.

A major factor in housing cost is the provision of parking space. Notably, about 30% of apartment structures are for below-ground car parking (Stephenson, 2011). However, there is a possibility to lower the cost of building a house by reducing car parking especially if the site for the house is close to public transport means. The site areas used for access driveways and garaging can be reduced. This will leave more land that can be used as a private open place, residential amenity or for tree planting.

In the past decades, low-rise house development in Conventry, UK has mainly focused on space in order to achieve good amenity. However, design creativity is now required at both high and medium densities. More detailed ideas are needed concerning the relationship between buildings and their neighbors and the streetscapes. The details should also provide information on vegetation benefits at each location and how to maximize the landscaping.

The increase in the density of housing that exists in the suburbs is a problem that needs a solution. The issue of density is sometimes a cause of distress within a given community. The house design present in this paper reveals the fact that medium-density housing does not require to be achieved through the process of high-rise development. The organization of this housing design has to consider the following factors;

Building mass and height

The height and mass of this design should be put into thought so as to ensure compatibility with some of the planned and existing developments present in the community (Fletcher, 2012). A building may be similar to its neighbor while some others may vary, requiring skillful design so as to ensure appropriate integration with the city fabric. However, low-rise houses are frequently sandwiched between high-density and low-density areas. With the careful organization of height and mass, low-rise houses can serve as a screening device for transition between fluctuating neighborhood scales.

Siting

In the areas that have desirable and established character and streetscape, the placing of a new building should enhance and respect that condition. Matching grades and setbacks can help new buildings blend in while at the same time reducing any neighbor negative impact (Fletcher, 2012). For the areas that have less desirable character and streetscape, for instance, large surface parking lots, reverse frontages, encourage new development so as to establish new design standards and improve the character.

Connectivity

Connectivity refers to features such as pathways, buildings, natural areas, and open spaces that are found in the new development. This design should integrate with the existing environment. As such, the guidelines for connectivity will deal with developing a positive relationship between the existing context and the new development (Joyce, 2005). The design should also focus on improving the linkages between built areas and within.

Generally, the existing networks include pedestrian pathways, natural features, streets and open spaces. Enhanced pedestrian connectivity makes walking more convenient and pleasant, as well as encourages alternate transit manners to vehicular. Through a city-wide perspective, linking natural features and open spaces through a site can render a system of green corridors for environmental and recreational benefits.

House construction

The design of the house will include the ground floor and the first floor. The house will be located facing north. It will consist of a rear garden. The plot size for the house is 30 meters south to north and 12 meters west to east. He house will be a three bedroom house. It will have two bathrooms and a half bath. The living area of the house will be 1,775 sq.ft. The garage bay will accommodate two cars at a time. The design gives a bonus space which will be used as a garden for the house.

Ground floor

The design for the ground floor considers the following;

Situation of the insulation within the floor structure.

Applied floor loading

Minimizing air leakage, thermal bridging and preventing air condensation.

The ground floor of the house will include insulation below the concrete slab. This will ensure that there is increased thermal capacity for the house, maintaining steady internal temperature (Rumbarger, Vitullo and Ramsey, 2003). All the materials will be compressed under the load. The insulation material for the house, which will be under the slab, will be in a position to accommodate the applied loads with minimum compression. The location of the insulation on the floor influences the thermal characteristics that the floor brings to the house. Additionally, it has relevance when it comes the active loads that apply during the use of the floor.

The point load will be spread by the layers that are above the insulation so that the load, which is acting on the insulation is lower than the load applied to the surface of the floor. The ion of the load is a function of the depth of the layer that is above the insulation. Thus, a point load applied to the floor where the insulation is placed below a thin screed will lead to a higher applied load on the insulation.

There will be a 150mm that will be between the upper region of the floor and the exterior ground level. The dpm will be lapped with vcl/dpc .On the exterior part of the ground-floor wall, the brickwork cladding will be set out from sheathing face so as to ensure correct cavity with. This can be illustrated by Figure 2 of the ground floor slab.

First floor

First floor will be made up of depth beams or trimmers which will be fabricated by bolting or nailing joints together. For the engineered timber joints, manufacture’s guidelines have to be followed. In any case, the long or the large loads need support; beams, that have greater depth, will be required. Otherwise, beams and trimmers can be of steel flitch or hardwood beams.

Walls

The walls of the house will be made from timber. In order to attain better thermal performance from the timber wall structure of the house, there will be an increase in the depth of the studs to more than 150mm so as to permit more insulation. Additionally, the design does allow the use of studs that are more than 200mm deep. For insulation purposes, the walls will use cellulose or fiber.

Ventilation of the house

The house will be made of the ground and first floor. Therefore, it will require proper ventilation for the circulation of air in and outside the house. On the ground floor, the house will have a total number of eight windows. Each room will have one window except for the rumpus room which will have the entrance door. The stairs of the house will be located on the lower right side of the house in the living room. First floor will have five windows that will ensure proper ventilation of the house. The kitchen of the house will be located on the ground floor of the house.

The kitchen of the house will have counters. The kitchen shall also have a food storage room. The house will use the pitch roof type. On the roof, there will be a total of three roof windows which will ensure that there is proper flow of air in and out of the roof region.

Inspection of the house

Inspection of the house will be done under the accompanying criteria

Grounds

Proper grading drainage far from the house

No sign of standing water

No spills from septic tank or parasite field

Yard, arranging, trees and walkways in great condition

No limbs or hedges touching house or overhanging the top

Railings on stairs and decks are satisfactory and secure

Driveways, walkways, yards, door landings in great condition, and pitched far from the structure

Downspout waste steered far from the structure

Structure

Ridge and sash board lines seem straight and level

Sides of house seem straight, not bowed or listing

Window and door frames seem square (particularly bowed windows)

Roof

Composition shingles no twisting, no measuring, no loss of granulation particulate,

No broken, harmed or missing shingles, close to two layers of material

Wood shingles or shakes no mold, decay or rot, no broke/broken/missing shingles, no twisting

Flat tops: no undeniable patches, no splits or parts, insignificant rankles/”alligatoring” and wrinkles, no residue stores

Flashing around top infiltrations

No proof of abundance material concrete/tar/caulk

Soffits and belt: no rot, no stains

Exterior venting for eave regions: vents are clean and not painted over Gutters:

Inside Rooms

Floors, dividers, and roofs seem straight and plumb and level

No stains on floors, dividers or roofs

Flooring materials in great condition

No noteworthy splits in dividers or roofs

Interior entryways work effortlessly and lock appropriately, no harm or rot, no broken fittings

Paint, divider covering, and paneling in great condition

Wood trim introduced well and in great condition

Lights and switches work appropriately

Adequate number of three-pronged electrical outlets in each one-room

Windows, Doors, and Wood Trim

Wood casings and trim pieces are secure, no breaks, decay or rot

Joints around casings are caulked

Muntin and mullion coating compound in great condition

Storm windows or warm glass utilized

Drip tops introduced over windows

Bathrooms

Working fumes fan that doesn’t end in the loft space

Adequate stream and weight at all apparatuses

Sink, tub, and shower empty appropriately

Plumbing and cupboard floor under sink in great condition

If the sink is metal, it hints at no rust; flood channel doesn’t spill

Toilet works appropriately

Toilet steady, no shaking, no stains around the base

References

Fletcher, G. (2012). Residential construction academy: House wiring. Clifton Park, NY: DelmarCengage Learning.

Joyce, M. (2005). Residential construction academy. Australia: Thomson/Delmar Learning.

Madsen, D. A., & Madsen, D. P. (2012). Engineering drawing & design. Clifton Park, NY:Delmar, Cengage Learning.

Rumbarger, J., Vitullo, R., & Ramsey, C. G. (2003). Architectural graphic standards forresidential construction. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Stephenson, T. (2011). Understanding construction drawings for housing and small buildings.Toronto: Nelson Education.

(Sample) Curve-Fitting Project – Linear Model: Men’s 400 Meter Dash Submitted by Suzanne Sands

(LR-1) Purpose: To analyze the winning times for the Olympic Men’s 400 Meter Dash using a linear model

Data: The winning times were retrieved from http://www.databaseolympics.com/sport/sportevent.htm?sp=ATH&enum=130The winning times were gathered for the most recent 16 Summer Olympics, post-WWII. (More data was available, back to 1896.)

DATA:

Summer Olympics:Men’s 400 Meter DashWinning Times

Year Time (seconds)

1948 46.20

1952 45.90

1956 46.70

1960 44.90

1964 45.10

1968 43.80

1972 44.66

1976 44.26

1980 44.60

1984 44.27

1988 43.87

1992 43.50

1996 43.49

2000 43.84

2004 44.00

2008 43.75

(LR-2) SCATTERPLOT:

As one would expect, the winning times generally show a downward trend, as stronger competition and training methods result in faster speeds. The trend is somewhat linear.

(LR-3)

Line of Best Fit (Regression Line)

y = 0.0431x + 129.84 where x = Year and y = Winning Time (in seconds)

(LR-4) The slope is 0.0431 and is negative since the winning times are generally decreasing.

The slope indicates that in general, the winning time decreases by 0.0431 second a year, and so the winning time decreases at an average rate of 4(0.0431) = 0.1724 second each 4-year Olympic interval.

(LR-5) Values of r2 and r:

r2 = 0.6991

We know that the slope of the regression line is negative so the correlation coefficient r must be negative.

r=-0.6991=-0.84

Recall that r = 1 corresponds to perfect negative correlation, and so r = 0.84 indicates moderately strong negative correlation (relatively close to -1 but not very strong).

(LR-6) Prediction: For the 2012 Summer Olympics, substitute x = 2012 to get y = 0.0431(2012) + 129.84 43.1 seconds.

The regression line predicts a winning time of 43.1 seconds for the Men’s 400 Meter Dash in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

(LR-7) Narrative:

The data consisted of the winning times for the men’s 400m event in the Summer Olympics, for 1948 through 2008. The data exhibit a moderately strong downward linear trend, looking overall at the 60 year period.

The regression line predicts a winning time of 43.1 seconds for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which would be nearly 0.4 second less than the existing Olympic record of 43.49 seconds, quite a feat!

Will the regression line’s prediction be accurate? In the last two decades, there appears to be more of a cyclical (up and down) trend. Could winning times continue to drop at the same average rate? Extensive searches for talented potential athletes and improved full-time training methods can lead to decreased winning times, but ultimately, there will be a physical limit for humans.

Note that there were some unusual data points of 46.7 seconds in 1956 and 43.80 in 1968, which are far above and far below the regression line.

If we restrict ourselves to looking just at the most recent winning times, beyond 1968, for Olympic winning times in 1972 and beyond (10 winning times), we have the following scatterplot and regression line.

Using the most recent ten winning times, our regression line is y = 0.025x + 93.834.

When x = 2012, the prediction is y = 0.025(2012) + 93.834 43.5 seconds. This line predicts a winning time of 43.5 seconds for 2012 and that would indicate an excellent time close to the existing record of 43.49 seconds, but not dramatically below it.

Note too that for r2 = 0.5351 and for the negatively sloping line, the correlation coefficient is r=-0.5351=-0.73, not as strong as when we considered the time period going back to 1948. The most recent set of 10 winning times do not visually exhibit as strong a linear trend as the set of 16 winning times dating back to 1948.

CONCLUSION:

I have examined two linear models, using different subsets of the Olympic winning times for the men’s 400 meter dash and both have moderately strong negative correlation coefficients. One model uses data extending back to 1948 and predicts a winning time of 43.1 seconds for the 2012 Olympics, and the other model uses data from the most recent 10 Olympic games and predicts 43.5 seconds. My guess is that 43.5 will be closer to the actual winning time. We will see what happens later this summer!

UPDATE: When the race was run in August, 2012, the winning time was 43.94 seconds.