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The lives of black people in the American nation has been on the stake, and this has been attributed to the violent nature of police in the sense of countering criminal activity in America. Black people have been subjected to a lot of cruelty compared to other races and ethnic groups in America, being beaten, killed and incarcerated in large numbers. Due to this, the filmmaker’s intention of the 13th Documentary was inspired, and it is the inspiration of the rights of the black people that motivated the filmmaker to produce the documentary. Ava Duvernay is the director of the film and among the people astonished by prejudices against the black people, it is through these mistreatments that she reconnected the history of black people to the present police brutality, attributing to what is happening in America as a replica of the slavery of the black people in the in history of America. The black people have not been free, and they have been made slaves working for the government in a more hidden way, mass incarceration to provide free labor. According to the filmmaker, the main intention is to bring awareness of the black people slavery and as well reduce the brutal killings of the black people through awareness that black lives as well do matter.

The overall impression of the documentary is of high quality as the filmmakers made the documentary in line with the subject matter. Furthermore, the film has images that depict the mistreatment of the black people as well as a large number of incarcerated individuals in the American prisons. Besides, data obtained from the previous years has been used to show the difference in the rate and number of incarceration of the black people, and this has made the film quality to be high as it is based on evidence and not fiction. Again, the documentary is based on the constitution’s amendment, ‘The 13th Amendment’ that prohibited slavery of the black people. The documentary, therefore, is valid and provides precise data. Camera quality and the organization of the scenes as well have been made of high quality providing clear images as well as relevant content that are supported by personal experiences through narration, and this makes the documentary purely raw data and therefore making it of high quality. However, at the closing statements of the documentary, there are short and low-quality videos that are played one after the other all depicting the death of black men by the hands of the American police.

The plot of the documentary begins with covering the 1915 civil war drama which is the birth of a nation, and this focuses on how the black people were treated at the time in the film. The documentary as well goes ahead to criticize both sides of the aisle, and this includes from that of President Ronald Regan-war on drugs to that of Bill Clinton- three strikes policy, analyzing each of the movements with thorough discussions, and this allows a new perspective from each side. The documentary obtains its title from the thirteenth amendment with the claim that the clause allows for the incarceration for the purpose of enslaving the African American in another name. In the documentary, the period preceding slavery is rushed in about five minutes, and a large part of the documentary involves a lot of engaging walk through a narrative of mass incarceration. A lot of primary evidence is provided in the documentary with the examples of past president Barrack Obama saying that the population of the United States has a 5% global population, but it has the largest number of the world’s prison attributing to 25% making the US have the highest incarceration rates in the world. Among the incarcerated, 40% are black people while the rest is shared among the other races in the US.

The 13th documentary involves the presentation of facts through interviews with imprisoned personnel and as well uses voiceovers to present the facts. The interviews and voiceovers are accompanied by video clips, music, animations, and graphics content that in black and white with the main purpose of strengthening the message delivered by the facts. The musical lyrics used in the documentary are from the black American rappers who have written songs against the African brutality by the police. There are as well short slowed animations that portray black men dying in the hands of the American police, and this passes a direct message to the viewer that the black people are discriminated against. The documentary as well has incorporated the use of dull episodes that is used to depict moments of sorrow to drive empathy to the viewers.

Besides, some of the animations that are in black and white depict the early times when the black was being mistreated in history. All the elements of the film, including aspects of lighting work hand in hand to convey a common message as well as drive a common emotion to the viewers. In overall, the use of mise-en-scene has been used in a great way as the costumes, positioning of the actors, set design, as well as the props, are set in a way that relates with the topic. The costumes of the prisoners, as well as the prison locations, has as well been shot in relation to the topic. Also, the musical lyrics used in the documentary blends well with the topic and therefore the mise-en-scene has been used to detail in the documentary.

References

DuVernay, A., Averick, S., & Barish, H. (2016). 13th [Documentary]. United States: Netflix.

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Date The leadership of Rebecca Stevens Halstead

Introduction

Rebecca Stevens Halstead is one of the successful women in her career and she works very hard to makes sure that everything that she wants is done perfectly. She displays the qualities of a good leader and she forms a good relationship with the people being led. This comes first as a background of the values she learns at home whereby her mother tells her that should never quit because quitting is not her option but rather she should be courageous and know that everything is never easy and she has to keep trying every day. This is displayed at the point whereby she has entered the training for military and she feels like giving up, at this point she tells her mother and her mother takes her for a drive, and during the drive, she reassures her that everything is okay and she brings afresh the teaching she had taught her before that she should never quit. It is through this way that she gives the training another year and as the training goes on she finds herself already liking the process.

Therefore as she proceeds with her career she is seen as a very dependable person even though sometimes like the above example she feels not adequate and unable to do what she is supposed to do. It is also upon the people she depends on i.e. the parents and people at home as well as friends and the people she leads that she can live very well and show an excellent example of her life. This is because as she states at one point that she had to go through the training thinking of the love and the respect and the faith that the people at home had put into her that she could do it.

Authentic leadership theory

This theory focuses on whether leadership is genuine and if its intentions, goals, and desires of the leader are for the general good of what is being led or the people being led of they are for personal benefit and desire. It is upon the leader therefore to establish himself or herself and show the people being led the kind of leader he/she is. In this case, Becky can be considered an authentic leader. This is because she has her goals and intentions in place not for her good or benefit but for the good and benefit of the group she is leading as well as the good and the benefit of the country which she is served in her best manner possible. This leadership is based on personal beliefs and convictions which lead a person and therefore it turns out that if the personal beliefs and convictions about the good in the society as positive then there is a possibility of being a good leader. This concept applies to Becky very much as she saw the world as a place that needed change and positive minds as her parents had taught her. She also believed in never giving up and this was the same thing that she fed to her team which she led in the best manner possible.

This theory also states that authentic leadership is created or defined by both leaders and followers. This is true because authentic leadership is only visible through the people being led changing behavior and becoming better people which happens with the two groups Becky leads. That is the 63d ordinance company and her role as a brigadier. Therefore her leadership was very visible from the inside to the outside and this made life good and better every day for the people being led.

Servant leadership theory

In this theory, we see that the leader becomes the servant in a way that he/she is there for the people who are being led. The leader listens to them and helps them to make good decisions in whatever they do. Becky can be said to have been this kind of leader. This is because she was always there for the people being led. She listened to them and almost had all the qualities and characteristics of a servant leader which include; listening empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, and foresight. she displayed these through the different ways she handled her juniors and how they interacted generally.

She states that “the best way to take care of people is to get to know them” (Groysberg et.al., 11). Therefore her leadership model can be said to have been that of learning about people and making sure they got what was needed at the time it was needed so that they could perform to their maximum. Throughout the 27 years she served her country she was able to get most of it in the best way possible and she had a lot of influence as she was a servant leader who never looked back but worked closely with the juniors. This is very evident when she took charge as the head of the 63d ordinance. Her first t step was to call for everyone in the company and get their views as well as their opinions before she began her journey of transforming the company. This is servant leadership because she listened to their concerns and got a plan to make sure that it was successful (Groysberg et.al. 7).

Transformational leadership

This is a kind of leadership that transforms the people and therefore this is exactly what Becky was concerned about. She was greatly concerned about changing the behavior of the people she was leading to make them better and like a family that she had to listen to them and attend to their needs as well as push them to the wall so that they can become better versions of themselves. This is especially seen when she had to deal with the general who was not an easy person to deal with. She called back all the members of her team and began retraining so that the general could have no reason for failing to sign off the deployment for her unit to go to Iraq (Groysberg et.al. 13). Therefore through her leadership, this whole team retrained so hard and she pushed them very much. After all the retraining the general signed off and the team was deployed to Iraq. This is a very clear sign of a transformational leader because if she just waited the possibility of the general have refused to sign the deployment was high and therefore it was her efforts to transform the team that made it excellent.

This transformational leadership of hers is also seen in the ordinance company. She was able to straighten almost everything that was not okay in the 63d ordinance company and therefore when she handed it over it was a fully functioning unit after she worked on it for about 2 years.

In conclusion, we can say that Rebecca Stevens Halstead is one of the women who have shown their leadership skills very openly and who stand out to be admired and taken as mentors and role models due to their nature of doing things and making everything perfect. Therefore it can be said that she was successful in her career in the military even though this had never crossed her mind but was the influence of her mother.

Works cited

Groysberg, Boris, and Deborah Bell. “Rebecca S. Halstead: Steadfast Leadership.” Harvard Business School Organizational Behavior Unit Case 411-050 (2011).

The left brain verses the right brain: How does this impact on learning:

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Introduction

The human brain is responsible for the growth and sustainability of a developing child. The development of the brain starts from the time a child is born. The growth of the brain should be consistent with that of the rest of the body. The proper development of this organ is ideal of the proper function of an individual’s body. This is credited to the enormous amount of activities that the brain performs in conjunction with the rest of the body organs. Like most parts of the body, the brain is divided into two parts that perform different functions. These functions distinguish the significance of the brain making their analysis an ideal part of education (Beals, 2009).

The focus of this paper is to provide an analysis of the function of the brain. The paper looks at the left and the right side focusing on their vitality in leaning. The paper is approached by comparing and contrasting both sides so as to provide a better understanding of the principle elements of the brain. This is followed by the provision of a concluding paragraph that summarizes the contents of the paper.

As stated earlier, the brain is divided into two sides namely the left and the right. Several studies write on the difference between the two factors and their role in the reasoning of human beings. Both parts have different roles that work coherently to compute, calculate, analyze and examine messages from the body. These messages are then returned back to the body which allows for a reaction of the body in response to the performance of the brain. These responses differ depending on the person, the size, the rate of development of the brain and its nutrition. Different sides give rise to different reactions making them produce different responses (Beals, 2009).

Brain right brain right brain theory

Developed in the late 1980s, the theory was formulated in response to the argument that each part of the brain has control of different type of thoughts and emotions. According to the theory, people prefer to use one part of their brain when thinking. This reflects on the way they approach different situations in the surrounding environment. The left brain is associated with the use of logic as opposed to empathy. A person whose judgment is based on analytical and objective matters is most likely to use the left side of their brain. The left side of the brain enhances the use of forming premises based on facts rather than emotion. This distances their emotional attachment to a substance due to the need to follow a certain methods of action. A person who uses the right part of the brain is more empathetic to situations in all aspects of life. Their decisions are based on emotional perspective as opposed to that of logic. The use of empathy, feeling and compassion is significant in making essential decisions. Right brain thinkers are thus more caring and thoughtful to circumstances in the outside environment. Facts are irrelevant in most cases owing to the main focus being placed on the end result of the action as opposed to what is right or wrong. The theory thus states that the different parts control different functions of the body giving them different use, importance and requirements (Beals, 2009).

The left part of the brain

The left brain is located on the left side of the body. This is a vital part of to the organ due to the vast amount of responsibilities that it performs. The left part is associated with logical explanations, consistence thinking and use of reason when learning. Such characteristics play a significant role in determining the qualities of an individual. A person develops perceptions, character traits and occupations as a result of their train of thought. People who share the same qualities and preferences often prefer each other’s company. This is influenced by the decision of the brain which gears a person’s actions to a situation that they are most comfortable. The cerebral part of the brain is present in the left making it responsible for dealing with issues that are analytical and intellectual. Such people are good in math and pure sciences which require a considerable amount of reason in order to be successful (Discover magazine, 2012).

The right part of the brain

The right part of the brain is responsible for controlling a large percentage of the emotions of a human being. This involves expressing ones feelings and applying creativity in all aspects of reasoning. The use of creativity in forming new ideas, invention and innovations is an essential part of the right part of the brain. This is essential for leaning at an early age due to the use of creative thought and imagination during this stage of growth. Children use a significant part of their thoughts and feelings when communicating with each other. This expressive nature influences their early choices which are place high regard in forming sustainable friendships.

Learning using the right brain involves looking for new items, topics, subjects and games so as to avoid repetition. Right brain thinkers prefer concentrating on the arts as opposed to logical subjects. Arts in this case compromise of art, politics and history and marketing and social sciences. Most of the thoughts are geared towards finding solutions that benefit the entire society as opposed to problem solving.

The right brain dictates on the career choices a person chooses to take in the future. Identifying with this type of leaning requires recognizing expressions, emotions, body movements and reactions of people in the surrounding environment. This form of learning can be passive in nature and thus starts from the family before diverging into other areas of study (Discover magazine, 2012).

It is essential to note that the right part of the brain controls the left side. This is credited to the use of emotions and expressions in the better part of a person’s life. Both parts of the brain work coherently so as to control the overall function of the body. The left side requires the right side to give an okay on any issues despite the use of logic. Despite this, the left side may dominate in some areas where the use of logic is highly required (National center for infants, toddlers and families, general brain development, 2012).

Conclusion

It is difficult to determine which part of the brain plays a more significance role. This has resulted in a number of arguments where professional have actually picked sides. Despite this, the function of either part of the brain cannot proceed well without the proper development of either of the sides.

References

Beals, K. (2009). Raising a left-brain child in a right-brain world: Strategies for helping bright, quirky, socially awkward children to thrive at home and at school. Boston, Mass: Trumpeter Books.

Discover magazine,. (2012, 06). Mind and brain

http://discovermagazine.com/topics/mind-brain

Retrived from http://www.funderstanding.com/v2/brain/right-brain-vs-left-brain/

National center for infants, toddlers and families, general brain development, 2012. Zero to three

Retrived from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_brainFAQ

The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Birth of the Republican Party

The video lecture was about the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Birth of the Republican Party; events which occurred from the year 1854 to 1855. From the lecture, I learnt that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was created in 1854, it repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allowed these two new territories to decide whether they wanted to be slave or free states (YaleCourses, 2008). This created a huge divide between North and South that would lead to the creation of the Republican Party. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was designed by Stephen Douglas to get rid of slavery in these two new territories. To start, Douglas challenged William L. Dayton’s amendment to create an anti-slavery political party at the territory’s convention by stating that these territories were open to slavery. Kansas and Nebraska were the two new territories that had been created by the Kansas-Nebraska Act (YaleCourses, 2008). The Missouri Compromise had been passed, which was a deal between President Millard Fillmore and Congress to settle the issue of slavery in the country. The deal allowed slavery in Missouri, but it also prevented it from spreading any further or affecting slavery in other states.

I also learnt that after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, two pro-slavery and two anti-slavery political parties were created. The former of the two pro-slavery parties was for slavery and the latter for anti-slavery (YaleCourses, 2008). The anti-slavery party was not a legal party because there was no way for them to represent their people. The Democratic Party ran on a platform stating that they would oppose any state or territorial laws that made it free territory by popular sovereignty, meaning that people in the territories themselves would decide whether it should be a free or slave territory. The Kansas-Nebraska Act also created a new political party, the Republican Party which supported slavery in all territories and opposed any form of abolition. Douglas led the Republican Party to victory over the Democratic Party in the 1856 presidential election. However, because a majority of voters in the territories did not vote for Douglas, defeated by Stephen Douglas. The Kansas-Nebraska Act had been passed, which was a deal between President Millard Fillmore and Congress to settle the issue of slavery in the country. The deal allowed slavery in Missouri, but it also prevented it from spreading any further or affecting slavery in other states. After Kansas and Nebraska became free territories, political pressure grew stronger against slavery within that portion of the North that would soon become states (YaleCourses, 2008). In 1854, three years before Kansas and Nebraska became free territories, Stephen Douglas challenged William L. Dayton’s amendment to create an anti-slavery political party at the territory’s convention by stating that these territories were open to slavery. After President Fillmore signed the bill, Kansas and Nebraska became free territories which made them much more appealing than a slave territory. This meant that more people from the north would settle there, thus increasing the chances of those territories becoming free states. The growing controversy surrounding slavery caused immense political pressure within a portion of the North that would soon become states.

When people were talking about Democratic party before the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, most people thought that it was going to be beneficial for all of them. However, in my opinion, when looking at it from this perspective, although the act was passed, it caused a lot of controversy in the country and divided people further. Additionally, it caused a further divide between North and South which led to the creation of the Republican Party.

References

YaleCourses. (2008 November, 21). “A Hell of a Storm”: The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Birth of the Republican Party, 1854-55. [Video file]. YouTube.

The Key Human Resource Challenges Facing Construction Companies In Europe

Introduction

As European countries advance their developments, construction firms play vital roles in the betterment of roads, pavements, houses and other types of buildings to support other developmental projects. Unfortunately, most of the construction companies across the globe, including Europe, face some challenges and problems that could adversely affect their operations (Hussin, Rahman & Memon, 2013). Since the construction industry tend to be large institutions that rely on different parties including construction companies, contractors and subcontractors, and numerous people from varied backgrounds, it (the construction industry) encounters diversified issues that revolve around management of human resources.

Problem

The booming construction industry in Europe has brought along Human Resource (HR) issues related to work safety and finding qualified staff.

Research Question

What are the he key human resource challenges facing construction companies in Europe?

Objectives

To identify the common challenges faced by construction industries across Europe as it relates to Human Resource Management

To identify the specific Human Resource areas that needs improvement so as to combat the issues identified

To assess the contemporary Human Resource Issues issues that have emerged as a result of technological advancement within the construction industry in Europe.

To explore the possible recommended solutions to solve these issues.

Literature Review

Health And Safety Issues

Several deaths and injuries have continually tainted the construction industry. Since construction companies operate with risky equipment and tools that entail heavy machinery and electricity, injuries and deaths among employees tend to be common (Cooke & Lingard, 2011). Besides, exposure to loud noise and poisonous fumes could attract more harmful effects among the workforce.

Finding Skilled Workers

Many construction contractors encounter lots of trouble while trying to recruit appropriate workers for their projects. As more projects emerge in Europe and other parts of the globe, the number of available skilled workers would shrink (Black, Engbersen & Okólski, 2010). Conversely, more than half of construction firms would not find their desired workforce. As a result, some companies may fail to complete their projects on time, and may not deliver high quality projects.

Advancement In Technology

As technology advances, it significantly influences operations and processes in the construction industry. Unluckily, the construction industry tends to be slow with regards to adoption of new and changing technologies (Lu, Huang & Li, 2011). Since construction companies and their subcontractors could use different types of software and programs, it would be a challenge to harmonize and streamline all operations. As a result, productivity and performance of workers could drastically decline when construction firms and their subcontractors embrace unsuitable technologies or fail to adjust and adopt new technologies. Hence, construction firms could fail to embrace the otherwise beneficial technological changes due to prevailing high costs and difficulties.

Workplace Diversity

Although diversity in the workplace could attract some vital benefits to the different industries, certain challenges tend to exist. Workplace diversity could attract synergy that facilitates better performance, problem solving and critical thinking of the workforce. However, such workplace diversity could draw unwanted effects that may entail discriminations, disrespect and hostility due to specific reasons that could include biases and prejudices (Burkard, Boticki & Madson, 2002). Consequently, unmotivated and less-productive workforce would emerge.

Payroll

Since apt remuneration is vital for virtually every employee, firms should endeavor to ensure they attain such an objective to attract and sustain their desired workforces. Unfortunately, some organizations may encounter high employee turnovers, high absenteeism and reliance on less-motivated workforces due to poor remunerations that could exist due to failures of employed payroll software (Kazaz, Ulubeyli & Tuncbilekli, 2012). Faulty payroll systems could lead to unwanted outcomes that could entail unnecessary deductions and overpayments that adversely impact on businesses and their employees. Accordingly, payroll systems which tend to be ever changing pose lots of challenges to construction and other organizations.

Research Design

This research will adopt a descriptive research design. The relevant aspects related to HRM issues within the construction industry will be looked into by gathering data from secondary resources that include articles and books. The qualitative research design would endeavor to describe and explain the major HR issues affecting construction firms in Europe. Luckily, the approach encourages objective analysis and evaluation of the situation as well as presentation of detail information about the subject under study (Pandve, 2016).

Conclusion

Construction firms in Europe are facing certain HR related issues that could attract adverse consequences if the concerned companies fail to adequately address them. The main HR issues facing the construction industry entail payroll, advancement in technology, workplace diversity, finding skilled workers and health and safety factors. Conversely, the otherwise booming construction industry in Europe has brought some HR issues related to work safety and acquisition of skilled staffs.

References

Black, R., Engbersen, G., & Okólski, M. (Eds.). (2010). A continent moving west?: EU enlargement and labour migration from Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam University Press.

Burkard, A. W., Boticki, M. A., & Madson, M. B. (2002). Workplace discrimination, prejudice, and diversity measurement: A review of instrumentation. Journal of Career Assessment, 10(3), 343-361.

Cooke, T., & Lingard, H. (2011). A retrospective analysis of work-related deaths in the Australian construction industry. In ARCOM Twenty-seventh Annual Conference (pp. 279-288). Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM).

Hussin, J. M., Rahman, I. A., & Memon, A. H. (2013). The way forward in sustainable construction: issues and challenges. International Journal of Advances in Applied Sciences, 2(1), 15-24.

Kazaz, A., Ulubeyli, S., & Tuncbilekli, N. A. (2012). Causes of delays in construction projects in Turkey. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 18(3), 426-435.

Lu, W., Huang, G. Q., & Li, H. (2011). Scenarios for applying RFID technology in construction project management. Automation in construction, 20(2), 101-106.

Pandve, H. (2016). Qualitative research in Ergonomics: An added advantage. J Ergonomics, 6, e150.

The Key Human Resource Challenges Facing Construction Companies In Europe

Title page

Title

Introduction

Research Problem

The booming construction industry in Europe has brought along Human Resource (HR) issues related to work safety, finding qualified staff, payroll and advancement in technology.

Importance Of The Problem For Specific Stakeholder Groups

The aforementioned issues is of utmost importance to various stakeholders in the construction industry including Project Managers, contractors, suppliers, architects and clients.

Background to the Research Problem

Considering that the construction industry in Europe is large, many organizations that include the construction companies, contractors, subcontractors, and numerous people from varied backgrounds encounters diversified issues that revolve around management of human resources.

Introduce Research Question

What are the he key human resource challenges facing construction companies in Europe?

Objectives

To identify the common challenges faced by construction industries across Europe as it relates to Human Resource Management

To identify the specific Human Resource areas that needs improvement so as to combat the issues identified

To assess the contemporary Human Resource Issues issues that have emerged as a result of technological advancement within the construction industry in Europe.

To explore the possible recommended solutions to solve these issues.

Research Road Map and Main Argument

The major HRM issues faced by most European based construction companies include health safety issues, finding skilled labor, workplace diversity, and payroll issues. In trying to assess these issues, the literature review will evaluate the previous research related to the same in a bid to gain more insights regarding these concepts and later present a research design for further research.

Literature Review

Health And Safety Issues

International labour organization indicated that health and safety in the construction industry is becoming more extensive than it had been before (Murie, 2007).

Physical Risks

Construction industry involves much of technical work hence prone to physical injuries from the work environment and building materials.

Chemical Risks

Construction raw materials used for production of composites contain harmful mineral binders and high radiation products that affect employees in the companies (Kowalik et al., 2019)

Psychological Risks

Construction companies are susceptible to mental health issues due to the exposure to job-related psychological stress such as high-performance pressures and complex decision making (Oswald, Borg & Sherratt, 2019)

Finding Skilled Workers

Construction work is highly dependent on skilled labour to complete companies’ production operations. However, there has been significant skills shortage affecting time, cost and quality of work (Mohamed, Pärn & Edwards, 2017).

New Technology

Low supply and unavailability of skilled ICT personnel has become a challenge due to high technological innovation and new ICT developments (Brixiova, Li & Yousef, 2009).

Insufficient Trained Workforce

Trained workers in the construction industry is diminishing as the growing population prefer indoor activities and relate construction work to wage inequality.

Constructions Skills Gap

Construction industry has undergone a lot of changes therefore new skills and roles are emerging, with no skilled workforce to cover (“How to tackle the skills gap head on – UK Construction Online”, 2019)

Workplace Diversity

Workforce population spring from diverse platforms, but as they join the company, they have to actively and effectively contribute to a common goal.

Language and Communication

Workplace diversity leads to communication and language challenges, which affect construction companies as conversation is one of the most critical competencies required for high performance (Burkard, Boticki & Madson, 2002)

Gender Equality

Diversity sources may be treating technological and project-based work as masculine hence companies are limited to preferring a certain gender to the other, even if one is competent enough. (Emuze, Smallwood & Han, 2014)

Ethnic and Cultural Differences

Cultural differences reflect on human relation, ethics and habits, which affect workers emotionally, contributing to loss of concentration and poor performance (Mbazor & Okuoma, 2014).

Payroll

Payment is a challenge in the construction industry as most jobs are manual and there are no stipulated payment amounts for each type of job (Grimshaw, 2016)

Tracking Overtime

Lack of a developed technique for tracking overtime workers and dishonesty makes it difficult to get the required information for allocation of payments (Hussin, Rahman, & Memon, 2013)

Late Payments

Workers usually need their payments to be made on time hence late payments demoralize the workforce leading to poor performance (Kazaz, Ulubeyli & Tuncbilekli, 2012)

Misclassifying Employees

Emerging roles in the technological basis lack a specific classification in the companies’ human resource hence lack a specific evaluation of their payments (Grimshaw, 2016)

Research Design

The design are the strategies used to address the question on the challenges facing construction companies in Europe.

Quantitative Research Approach

This approach emphasizes on statistical analysis of the data collected.

Data Collection Methods

The methods used to collect data were physical observations and use of surveys.

Observations

Data on some of the challenges of construction companies such as health and safety issues and workplace diversity could easily be done through observation (Kawuliwich, 2005)

Surveys

Surveys provide actual, broad perspective and reliable statistical data from research conducted on a sample of the construction workforce population (Carrillo, 1994).

Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

The data acquired was in respect of the research question- to find the key human resource challenges facing the construction companies in Europe

Conclusion

The main challenges faced by human resource in construction industries are health and safety risks, lack of skilled workforce, diversity and payment rate issues for the workers.

References

Black, R., Engbersen, G., & Okólski, M. (Eds.). (2010). A continent moving west?: EU enlargement and labour migration from Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam University Press.

Brixiova, Z., Li, W., & Yousef, T. (2009). Skill shortages and labor market outcomes in Central Europe. Economic Systems, 33(1), 45-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ecosys.2008.07.002

Burkard, A. W., Boticki, M. A., & Madson, M. B. (2002). Workplace discrimination, prejudice, and diversity measurement: A review of instrumentation. Journal of Career Assessment, 10(3), 343-361.

Carrillo, P. (1994). Technology transfer: A survey of international construction companies. Construction Management And Economics, 12(1), 45-51. doi: 10.1080/01446199400000006

Cooke, T., & Lingard, H. (2011). A retrospective analysis of work-related deaths in the Australian construction industry. In ARCOM Twenty-seventh Annual Conference (pp. 279-288). Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM).

Emuze, F., Smallwood, J., & Han, S. (2014). Factors contributing to non-value adding activities in South African construction. Journal Of Engineering, Design And Technology, 12(2), 223-243. doi: 10.1108/jedt-07-2011-0048

Grimshaw, D. (2016). Minimum wages, pay equity and comparative industrial relations. New York, NY: Routledge.

How to tackle the skills gap head on – UK Construction Online. (2019). Retrieved 4 January 2020, from https://www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk/features/tackle-skills-gap-head/Hussin, J. M., Rahman, I. A., & Memon, A. H. (2013). The way forward in sustainable construction: issues and challenges. International Journal of Advances in Applied Sciences, 2(1), 15-24.

Kawuliwich, B. (2005). Participant Observation as a Data Collection Method. FQS, 6(2).

Kazaz, A., Ulubeyli, S., & Tuncbilekli, N. A. (2012). Causes of delays in construction projects in Turkey. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 18(3), 426-435.

Kowalik, T., Logoń, D., Maj, M., Rybak, J., Ubysz, A., & Wojtowicz, A. (2019). Chemical hazards in construction industry. E3S Web Of Conferences, 97, 03032. doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/20199703032

Lu, W., Huang, G. Q., & Li, H. (2011). Scenarios for applying RFID technology in construction project management. Automation in construction, 20(2), 101-106.

Mbazor, D., & Okuoma, O. (2014). Multicultural Work Force in Construction Organisation-Issues of Health, Safety & Environment. Researchgate, 6(10), 24.

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The key theme in this episode is policing and society. After watching episode seven of The Rookie, I came to realize that police officers face challenges similar to civilians. They have loans that they are paying, sick relatives and so on. For instance, Wesley has a hard time trying to keep it together under the pressure of his debt to Elijah. Society needs to realize this and show love and compassion to police officers while doing their job. Police officers need to be given the respect they deserve. We cannot disrespect them, or else there will negatively impact our society and us as individuals. There seems to be discrimination against cops by civilians today. Episode seven of The Rookie was one of the most interesting episodes of this series because it has a special meaning for me.

The relationship between the police and the public should be encouraged to enhance respect and love. The Rookie has depicted this very well in this episode. Not only do I feel proud to have watched the seventh episode, but I also feel very lucky because it came at a time when I needed some inspiration. During my short time watching the show, I have become more aware of the challenges and dangers police officers are exposed to while they are on duty. Police officers get threatened and hurt on their duty. Officer Nolan gets hurt bad, and his house is put on fire. He is also kidnapped, beaten up and threatened.

The Khoikhoi People of South Africa

Student’s name

Institutional Affiliation

The Khoikhoi People of South Africa

Introduction

The word “Khoikhoi or ‘Khoi’ spelled as Khoekhoe is loosely translated to mean men of men. The Khoikhoi represent a historical division of the larger Khoisan ethnic group of the South westerns in Africa that are closely related to the San. The Khoikhoi have resided in Southern Africa in the fifth century. At the time of the arrival of European settlers, they practiced pastoral agriculture at a large scale in the Cape region. The Europeans referred to the Khoikhoi as Hottentots which is an Imitation of the clicking sound they made as they spoke in their local dialect. Worth noting, this term is considered offensive today hence it is rarely used. Factors including disease, racial discrimination, loss of land, and disease taking place during apartheid disrupted the Khoikhoi’s pastrolistic way of life and hence they were unable to continue living as traditional nomads (Hochstrasser, 2016). The Nama forms the largest Khoikhoi group that is remaining today. They secured a section of their homeland in Richtersveld National Park and here, they have managed to maintain their lifestyle. The lineage pride is slowly returning along with the recognition of their identity. Notably, they are finding a place in a world that values and accepts traditional lifestyles while continuing their technological advances that benefit all. The purpose of this text is to point out the obvious; that pre-colonial South Africa had a great civilization, culture, and economic system before the arrival of the Europeans. Further, the text explains how Europeans are to blame for the disappearance of African history and the struggle for development throughout the African continent.

History

Originally, the Khoikhoi formed part of a pastoral language and culture found in Southern Africa. They originated from the northern area of modern-day Bostwana. They steadily moved towards the south until they reached the Cape. This is approximately 2000 years ago. The Khoikhoi have various subgroups including the Namaqua of the west, the Khoikhoi of the south and the Korana of mid-south Africa. Since the Khoikhoi practiced husbandry of goats, cattle, and sheep, they had access to a balanced and stable diet that allowed the Khoikhoi to live in big groups (Philip, 1828). This was not the case with the San, the original inhabitants of the region. They grazed herds in the fertile sections of the valley in the region until the third century when Bantus managed to encroach their initial and traditional homeland. As a result, the Khoikhoi had to retreat for a long time in the areas that were more arid. Worth noting, the Khoikhoi bands that intermarried with San migrated and today live in what is called Cape Town, a city in South Africa. However, the groups have managed to remain culturally distinct; the Khoikhoi still graze livestock while the San have become hunters and gatherers. The Khoikhoi first encountered European merchants and explorers in the fifteenth century. Despite efforts made by the British to develop and maintain amicable relationships, the Khoikhoi still encountered violent experiences. The population of the local people declined significantly when the Europeans exposed the Khoikhoi to smallpox. Active warfare and resistance were encountered after the Dutch East India Company decided to used grazing land for farming. In the centuries that followed, the Khoikhoi were driven steadily off their land which marked the end of the traditional life that the Khoikhoi led.

Khoikhoi’s social organization became deeply damaged and in the end, it was destroyed by land seizures and expansion of white colonialists taking place from the late seventeenth century moving onwards. With the collapse of their social structures, some KhoiKhoi people decided to settle in farms while some became farmworkers or bondsmen. Others were integrated into already existing family groups and clans of the Xhosa people. In the 1920s, diamonds were discovered at the mouth of the Orange River. As a result, prospectors decided to relocate into the region and established a town at Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay. This move improved the appropriation of traditional lands which was encountered during the colonial period. Under the apartheid policy, the pastoralists that remained behind were encouraged to leave their traditional lifestyle and adopt a village life. Worth noting, Khoikhoi women were displayed publicly in Europe following the assumption of sexual powers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Charles White, a racial scientist, in his book Regular Gradations of Man written in 1799, made claims that black people were halfway apes and whites in the chain of being. Charles used the example of Khoikhoi women to demonstrate the supposed primal-like sexuality of people of color.

Khoikhoi Culture

The Khoikhoi had religious mythology that gave special significance to the moon, which is likely to be viewed as the physical demonstration of a supreme being linked to heaven. They believed that Tsui’goab is their creator and health guardian. Further, they believed in Gunab an evil being that causes death or sickness. Generally, the Khoikhoi practiced a policy where land was owned by everyone, that is, communal land ownership. In the Nama culture, a sub-section of the Khoikhoi people poetry, storytelling, and music were of importance. Further, many stories were passed down to generations using the word of mouth. The Nama culture is rich in the literal and musical abilities of its people. Traditional folk tales and music, praise poetry, and nomads have been passed down to generations. They provide a base for their culture. Further, the Khoikhoi are known for their crafts that include skin karosses, leatherwork, matte jewelry, musical instruments, tortoiseshell powder containers, and clay pots. Today, the women from the Nama group still wear Victorian traditional fashion. The style of dressing was introduced in the 1800s by missionaries and their influence is still present in the Nama culture existent today.

Khoikhoi Religious Mythology about God and Heroes

Khoikhoi believed in a supreme being called Tsui-Goab. They believe that Tsui-Goab created humankind, the world, and all elements in it. Further, they maintain he is the source of happiness and health. He resides in heaven above the stars, as the god of the sky. They believed that he created clouds, lived in them, and brought the rain. Further, the Khoikhoi believed that heaven, where their creator resides, is beautiful, full of sunshine and light. Notably, the Khoikhoi always pray every morning while facing the east where the first light of their creator first appears. Moreover, they believe in Guanab, the god of evil. They further believe in U-tixo, a legendary and powerful chief who was also a powerful sorcerer in the Khoikhoi community. He is believed to have made war and killed Guanab, a powerful chief that had killed many Khoikhoi people. In the final fight, U-tixo won after Guanab landed his last blow on U-tixo knee. From that day people regarded U-tixo as Tsui-Goub which means wounded knee. He is regarded as extraordinarily powerful and after his death, he was invoked as one who could bring protection and help. With time he was even regarded as God. In an alternative version, Tsui Goab was not regarded as a man at all and was believed to have made the first woman and man from a rock. The Khoikhoi also believed in Heitsi, a famous hero who was an offspring of magical grass and a cow. He was regarded as a warrior, hunter, and sorcerer that killed Ga-gorib. He was a figure of life, death, and rebirth as a result of the number of occasions he has died and resurrected. Worth noting, cairns from his funeral are today found in various parts of Southern Africa and is regarded and worshipped as the hunting god.

The Economic System of the Khoikhoi

The Culture of Hunting and Herding

Archeological excavations undertaken reveal that hunting and herding were the main sources of livelihood. The Khoikhoi gathered meat, hunted, and herded for their daily nourishment. Bones of cattle, seals, and sheep dating as early as 2,000 years reveal that there was coexistence between hunting and herding. According to Professor Andrew Smith from the Department of Archeology at the University of Cape Town, whenever herders lost their stock from drought or theft, they could always bounce back to hunting as a backup plan and after recouping the losses, they could return to hunting and gathering (Viljoen, 2001). Further, the Khoikhoi were driven by their pursuit of water and pasture for their animals hence their pastrolistic way of life. They kept enormous herds of long-horned, fat-tailed goats and cows. They used their livestock mainly for milk and only slaughtered them in ritual celebrations. Worth noting, it was considered a custom for men that did not have livestock to work as servants for the people that had livestock. In return for taking care of the animals, the servants would have free access to milk. It was seen as a form of payment and at times they received small amounts of livestock as payment.

Growing Crops

In the Khoikhoi community, livestock such as goats, sheep, and goats were seen as a sign of wealth. The Khoikhoi that used the land to farm and make a living were considered to be of a higher socioeconomic status than those without livestock who were considered of a lower socioeconomic status. The farmers, often regarded as bushmen did not receive respect or recognition in the Khoikhoi society because they were not regarded as successful people. The SOS Villages Worldwide maintains that a major section of the Khoikhoi population relied on agriculture as a source of livelihood particularly sheep and cattle. Since they used the cattle for milk, a balanced was equally important. They used techniques such as cattle count and breeding to ensure a balanced diet.

Lifestyle

The European colonization, the Khoikhoi community was driven to the west and northern areas of South Africa. In these areas, the land was less productive hence forcing them to become laborers. Their nomadic lifestyle changed to become more of a settled experience as the former tribal chiefs ended up becoming village leaders. Today, although some Khoikhoi people have maintained their pastrolistic lifestyle, keeping livestock is more dominant than hunting. The chief control the nomadic tribes that occupied the territory. Cattle remain to be the main source of food and the primary foundation of trade. Prestige and wealth distinction were attributed to the number of cattle a person possessed.

The Khoikhoi Society and Language

The Khoikhoi society often consisted of the poor, rich, and animals. Animals were viewed as a sign of wealth because they provided transport, food, and clothing. The wealthy people in the Khoikhoi community were considered important and they shared products including milk with less advantaged members of the society. Further, they rubbed animal oil all over their body a symbol of wealth. The Khoisan language is characterized by click or implosive consonants linked with the language of Bantu speakers. The Khoikhoi used dialects that are closely related but belonging to the same language. Nama, previously referred to as Hottentot is the most widespread and populous language of the Khoikhoi. It is categorized in the Khloe language is widely spoken by the Namaqua. Haiom, and the Damara of South Africa.

The Resettlement of the Khoikhoi in Kat River and Cape Colony

The Khoikhoi that had remained by the early 1800s became victims of restricted civil rights and discriminatory land ownership practices. With this pretext, Andries Stockenstorm, the Commissioner of the Eastern Districts facilitated the creation of Kat River, a resettlement scheme located near the frontier of the Cape Colony. The initial motive was to create a buffer zone on the frontier, but the far-reaching fertile land in the area made it possible for people to own land and build communities peacefully. The settlements expanded and thrived and the Kat river became a successful and region along the came which substituted more autonomously. Initially, it was predominantly occupied by Africans that spoke Gonakua but it began attracting other diverse groups of people. At the time the Khoikhoi were known to be very good marksmen and were invaluable allies during the frontier wards. During the Seventh Frontier Wars, the Khoikhoi stood out under the leadership of Andries Botha. Notably, at the time, there existed harsh laws that encouraged the Khoikhoi to leave their land in the river region and work as laborers in the farms of white people. The settlement grew and exploded in 1850. The Xhosa rebelled against the government and the Khoikhoi joined the rebellion for the first time. After the rebellion was defeated, the Cape Colony became a representative of the government. The new government endeavored to give Khoikhoi people political rights to caution them from future racial discontent. William Porter, an attorney general, noted that he would rather meet with a Hottentot at the polling station voting for a representative rather than meeting him with a shoulder on his gun (Elphick, 1977). As such, the government took a step to enact the Cape franchise that decreed all citizens regardless of color had the right to vote and vie for political seats. The non-racial principle however did not hold for long because as it was later eroded by literacy tests and abolished by the apartheid government.

Conclusion

The word “Khoikhoi means men of men and represents a historical division of the larger Khoisan ethnic group of the South westerns in Africa that are closely related to the San. They originated from the northern area of modern-day Bostwana. They steadily moved towards the south until they reached the Cape. They believed that Tsui’goab is their creator and health guardian. Further, they believed in Gunab an evil being that causes death or sickness. They practiced communal ownership of land. Further, the Khoikhoi were driven by their pursuit of water and pasture for their animals hence their pastrolistic way of life. They kept enormous herds of long-horned, fat-tailed goats and cows. They used their livestock mainly for milk and only slaughtered them in ritual celebrations.

References

Elphick, R. (1977). Kraal and Castle: Khoikhoi and the Founding of White South Africa. Yale University Press.

Hochstrasser, J. B. (2016). A South African mystery: Remarkable studies of the Khoikhoi. Netherlands Yearbook for History of Art/Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek Online, 66(1), 196-231.

Philip, J. (1828). Researches in South Africa: Illustrating the Civil, Moral, and Religious Condition of the Native Tribes: Including Journals of the Author’s Travels in the Interior; Together with Detailed Accounts of the Progress of the Christian Missions, Exhibiting the Influence of Christianity in Promoting Civilization (Vol. 2). James Duncan.

Viljoen, R. (2001). Aboriginal Khoikhoi servants and their masters in colonial Swellendam, South Africa, 1745-1795. Agricultural History, 75(1), 28-51.

The killings of innocent black Americans by police are causing enormous trauma to the black American community. When a killing occurs, many black Americans are traumatized by the experience. Eva a fitness instructor explains that she gets sick when the news breaks of murder of unarmed black American by police. She also fears for her life and safety as she imagines that this can happen to her or her friends or relatives. Police shooting of unarmed black Americans is causing real trauma. Also, the killing of unarmed blacks is making families to rethink whether they should have children. Eva fears that her child may face the same situation and fears bringing children to experience the prejudice facing black Americans. This is a very serious issue and murder of innocent blacks is causing a serious mental health issue among the black community. Mental health professionals lack the capacity and skills to handle trauma caused by the innocent killings of black Americans. Mental health professionals should take this issue seriously and develop a framework for handling trauma caused by the killing of unarmed blacks. It is affecting many black families and needs the attention of then mental health profession. Whites do not feel the same traumatic experience when their fellow counterpart is killed by police but for blacks, the killing of an innocent black causes’ real trauma to the black community. It reminds them of the kind of society they live in where the racial minority are prejudiced.

The wealth inequality gap in the US is increasing. The rich are becoming richer while the poor are becoming poorer. This is the current reality of many families in the United States. People of color are hardest hit by inequality gap as they lack wealth, income and opportunities like their white counterparts. A shocking statistic is that the median wealth of white family is 41 times more than the median wealth of black American family. This is huge inequality gap shows how the people of color especially black Americans are disadvantaged in comparison with the whites. The whites are becoming more while the people of color are sinking into poverty. Also, a white American family has 22 times more wealth than a Latino family reflecting the lack of opportunities for upward mobility for people of color. There real barriers which event people of color from growing their wealth. The result of this ever-increasing inequality gap is the stagnation of wages since the 1970s while expenses on healthcare, housing and other basic necessities have increased significantly pushing, many more families of people of color to poverty. As many as 37%perent of blacks and 33% of Latinos have negative wealth. The average American wealth decline per household is 3% percent since the 1980s while for blacks it has reduced by more than half. The top 400 billionaires own more wealth than the entire black Americans and a quatre of the Latino community. There should be public policy aimed at reducing this serious inequality gap as it is affecting the competitiveness of the US economy and will

The Issue of Rising Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs have been rising at a rapid rate. The cost of healthcare is a major problem for the healthcare management today. The costs of healthcare rise every year by more than 7%. In the United States, healthcare spending climbed to $3.35 trillion in 2016—or $10,348 GDP per capita (Health Value Hub 2022). The health insurance prices have also been on a steady rise and have doubled since 2001. A major part of current US healthcare is the price on medical services and those which are related to doctor visits like hospitalization or dental care. As a result, many individuals do not use medical services not because they cannot afford it but for fear of future investment cost.

ISSUE DEFINITION AND SITUATION DESCRIPTION

There are various reasons as to why the healthcare costs are still rising. The following are the major reasons why the healthcare costs are rising.

Over treatment of patients: Doctors today try not to leave any stone unturned just in case something is wrong with a patient. This phenomenon of over treatment is one of the major reasons why cost of healthcare is rising.  Although doctors do it for treating the patient it results in increased cost as they get involved in expensive medication, surgery or diagnostic testing.

Another reason as to why healthcare costs are rising is due to unnecessary medical tests. Since hospitals and doctors can have high costs, patients visit them more often which sometimes leads to over testing and over treatment. Patients also tend to ask for expensive branded products which result in an increase in healthcare costs.

The cost of technology: As healthcare costs have increased, so have the prices of medical technology like MRIs and CT scans. In fact, these high-tech medical devices are necessary in treating many diseases but they are also expensive. For example, the MRIs are used to diagnose issues from inside the body. They involve a large amount of radiation which results in an increase in healthcare costs.

There is another issue for rising healthcare costs: The unintended consequences of medical care. It is not just about money; many people who use medical services do so because they think that their conditions may lead them to death anyway so might as well make sure that everything is fine and then die peacefully without any suffering or pain.

Possible solutions to the problem of rising healthcare costs include:

Increase supply of medical technology: The first step to solve the problem is to increase the supply of medical technology which will definitely decrease the prices.

Increase supply of providers: Another solution is to increase the number of doctors, nurses and dentists. This will keep the cost down and will also ensure that there are enough people providing medical services for every patient that comes for treatment.

Decrease Primary Care Physicians’ Hours: The third possible solution would be decreasing the hours of primary care physicians. They should not work long hours as this might end up making their work shift inefficient and irresponsible.

STRATEGIES TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM

Various strategies to solving the problem of rising healthcare costs include:

Increase spending on healthcare: According to recent studies, the average healthcare spend for each person in the United States is huge. In fact, spending on healthcare in the US for each person is more than 75% of their income. This means that if your total income is $100,000 then you spend 75% of it on medical care (Investopedia 2022). All these various expenses can increase costs if done without any proper planning or research.

Reduce medical costs: As mentioned before, a major part of rising health care costs consumes facilities and services at a high rate which results in an increase in prices. If a healthcare provider reduces the prices without affecting their quality, the cost of healthcare may not increase. Improvise medical procedures and services: There are various medical procedures that have been developed with each passing day. These new procedures help in improving health of patients but they also contribute in increasing healthcare costs. Therefore, in order to improvise on existing services, healthcare plans will have to work together and cooperate with doctors as well as hospitals so that they can improvise existing medical procedures so that they can reduce cost while improving the quality of their services.

Obstacles to solving the challenge of rising healthcare costs include:

Lack of cooperation: Healthcare costs are rising due to the fact that different parties do not cooperate with each other. For example, doctors will not allow the hospitals to change processes and procedures if it may raise their costs. A hospital will not allow the doctor drop certain treatments if it may increase costs. There is also a lack of cooperation between healthcare plans and different doctors who often do not work together to solve problems regarding cost or quality of services (Khanna, 2012).

Limited supplies or resources: For example, a doctor can only provide a certain amount of staffs for various procedures at a particular location. If this amount is insufficient then healthcare plans will have to supply more medical staffs so that there is no problem in providing adequate medical care for patients.

References

Khanna, I. (2012). Drug discovery in pharmaceutical industry: productivity challenges and trends. Drug discovery today, 17(19-20), 1088-1102.

Why Do Healthcare Costs Keep Rising?. (2022). Retrieved 9 April 2022, from https://www.investopedia.com/insurance/why-do-healthcare-costs-keep-rising/

@HealthValueHub. (2022). Retrieved 9 April 2022, from https://www.healthcarevaluehub.org/advocate-resources/publications/why-are-health-care-costs-urgent-problem