Modern Myths

Modern myths still pervade North American societies. Many of these modern myths were the products of Indian folklore or pre-modern American society. Although many claimed that such myths were a form of religious fanaticism or fervor, it can be argued that they were the result of historical speculation of early North American societies of their immediate environment. These modern myths are nonetheless powerful and to some extent influenced the behavior of many noted American personalities. Here is an example of a modern North American myth.Urban Legend: Bloody Mary (Schlosser, 2006)There was a young woman who sleeps deep in the forest. Her livelihood was selling herbal medicines in a nearby village. The townspeople though regarded her as a witch; hence no one dared to approach her, even the hardest criminal in the area. Many believed that whoever talk or approach her would be cursed or sold to the devil. She was feared indeed. Then, little girls in the town began to disappear. No trac es of the girls were found. Families of the disappeared girls began to search; in the farms, barnyards, and even the forest. Some of the men went to the house of Bloody Mary, but altogether she denied all allegations.The men noted that Bloody Mary looked younger and more attractive. They became suspicious of Bloody Mary, although no proof cold be found. Then one night, the daughter of the miller rose from her sleep and began to walk outside as if following an incantation. The wife of the miller saw the incident and reported it immediately to her husband. The two restrained the girl indiscriminately in order to prevent her from breaking away. Many people were awakened by the cries of the couple. Then, a farmer shouted that the cause of the incident is coming from the woods.Then, some people saw Bloody Mary holding a magic wand pointed to the house of the miller. When Bloody Mary saw the angry townspeople, she fled to the woods. A keen shooter farmer loaded his gun with silver bullets and shot the witch in the hip. Bloody Mary was carried by the townspeople to the field, where a large bonfire was awaiting her death. As Bloody Mary burned, she screamed a curse. If anyone mentioned her name before a darkened mirror, she would send her spirit to revenge upon them for her death. Unmarked graves of the little girls were found by the townspeople. They learned that Bloody Mary used to drink the blood of her victims to make her young again. It was passed on from generations to generations that whoever chants Bloody Mary three times on a darkened mirror, this would summon the vengeful spirit and rips the body and soul of the person.Social Significance of the Myth (Bloody Mary)The social significance of the myth discussed above can be seen in the various movies and accreditation the myth received from the movie industry. The myth is a powerful tool of revenue creation as with this specific industry. In the past 30 years, there were about 500 versions of this myth, all foc using on the â€Å"horror† part of the film, that is, the darkened mirror and the chanting of the words â€Å"Bloody Mary.† It is of no doubt that because Bloody Mary films became successful ventures, it is right to assume that its basis, the original myth, still exerts considerable influence on the part of the audience.According to the Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature, urban legends and myths are usually defined as â€Å"apocryphal contemporary stories, told as true and usually attributed to as friend of a friend.† In most instances, the myth of Bloody Mary is perceived to be true by virtue of the fact that the story is assumed to be true by the storyteller. Although the story is non-existential or in short not real, the audience may find it true because of the way the â€Å"channel.† Because the channel presents the story as â€Å"true†, the receiver nonetheless assumes it to be also true.The channel here maybe defined as â€Å"the means of acquiring the information about the particular myth or urban legend (as in this case).† Movies and bonfire storytelling are the most efficient and effective means of transmitting the myth from one person to the other, without losing the track of credibility. It is no wonder that most Bloody Mary films are inconclusive, that is, they left the audience wondering whether the myth was true or not (to make a room for affirmation of the myth). Now it is safe to assume that even in North American societies, particularly in the United States, the myth of Bloody Mary pervades in some aspects of life.Children, particularly girls, are told of the story of Bloody Mary by their parents as a means for exacting obedience (negative reinforcement). For those in their teenage years, the story of Bloody Mary serves as a background check for their behavior.   They prevent themselves from going to forests without the guide of adult individuals. They also stay away from dark places with mirror s for fear that the myth may prove to be true. Although for them, the story of Bloody Mary is factual since there were individuals who reported that they saw Bloody Mary ripping the body of their friends.Going back to the definition of a myth or urban legend, the storyteller assumes that his/her story is true in order for the audience to feel its negative effect (affirmation of the story). There were reported cases when robbers were scared to their â€Å"pants† when they entered a house (without electricity) with a darkened mirror in the entertainment room. There were also reported cases when a man brushing her teeth in a nightclub and jokingly uttered Bloody Mary three times.A face appeared before him. He ran outside the club shouting that Bloody Mary did exist. He promised that he would never visit the nightclub. The woman who appeared to him was a prostitute, not Bloody Mary. This proves that even though the myth is not real, people usually perceives it as real. The primar y cause of such behavior is the channel that make the story real or â€Å"seem real.† The myth is as powerful as before. Although it can be assumed that its effects on the values of an individual may be accidental and in many cases derived from the characters of Bloody Mary films.ReferencesSchlosser, S.E. 2006. Bloody Mary. URL http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2009/10/bloody_mary.html. Retrieved September 19, 2007.1800 Myths, Legends, and Folklore Links. URL http://www.mysteries-megasite.com/. Retrieved September 19, 2007.

Nervous Conditions Response

White Man’s Burden and Nervous Conditions The â€Å"white man’s burden† was a narrative created by Europeans as a part of a civilizing mission (lecture, 3/4). Above all it meant education and Christianity. These two things were brought to the African continent under the assumption that they would bring wellbeing for Africans. Yet that was not always the case. In many instances, these assumptions were contested by the real life experiences of many Africans and manifested in nervous conditions. We see examples of this in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s work.The various relationships Babamukuru has with different characters throughout Nervous Conditions are emblematic of the multi-faceted and complex relationships colonizers had with Africans especially when analyzed in the context of the ‘white man’s burden’ as related to education, Christianity, and control. Many Africans were convinced of the â€Å"white man’s† promise that a Western education was key to breaking the cycle of poverty and a means to a better life. Babamukuru is a shining example of this, especially the ways in which he uses his education in relation to others.The first case this is present is in his decision to bring Nyasha and Chido to England for his own education because he did not want them to experience the â€Å"hardship that he had experienced as a young child† on the homestead (14). This choice suggests that he viewed his education as a way for his children to indirectly benefit and promote their wellbeing. A more direct example is Babamukuru’s vested interest in the wellbeing of his extended family. He declares, â€Å"we need to ensure that at least one member form each family is educated† (44).Babamukuru feels that it is his duty, as an African educated in the West, to provide opportunities of education for his family. This feeling of obligation—or burden—to provide is rooted in his own education as i t relates to his colonial experience. This is not to pass judgment on his offer, rather, further analyze the relationship between wellbeing and education as it relates to the colonizer and the African more generally. Although Babamukuru’s gift is well received by the family, it is necessary to consider the notion that western education, as a means to wellbeing truly is a colonial conviction.Moreover, western education is not necessarily valued in traditional Africa the way that is often taken at face value. Consider the fact that on page 15 Jeremiah said to Tambu, â€Å"Can you cook books and feed them to your husband? Stay at home with your mother. Learn to cook and clean. † As is evident, the type of education Babamukuru is offering his family is strictly colonial and influenced as such. It is not the panacea that is often considered at face value. Moreover, it the experience with education cultivated nervous conditions that challenged the traditional African identit ies of some characters.This is evident in characters like Tambu and Nyasha which will be discussed in more detail shortly. In sum, western education as a means to wellbeing under the mindset of the white man’s burden is often contradictory. This is evident from the standpoint of Babamukuru through the examples provided. On one hand it was a means to a better life. However, in this offer to and aspiration toward higher education came struggles with identity and what it meant to be African. Yet this is not the only example of Babamukuru’s relationship with characters in the book as emblematic of the â€Å"white man’s burden†.Just as Europeans were convinced Africans needed to be educated, they were also convinced that Africans needed Christianity in order to be saved by the grace of God. In the same way â€Å"white men† felt burdened to facilitate this relationship, Babamukuru internalized this attitude. His conviction that Jeremiah and Ma’Shi ngayi need a proper Christian wedding shows this. He says, â€Å"Jeremiah†¦you are still living in sin. You have not been married in a church before God. This is a serious matter† (149). Babamukuru’s imposition of a Christian wedding on Jeremiah and Ma’Shingayi symbolizes how colonial values of religion manifested in African life.It was imposed from the outside inward as if to suggest African religion before colonialism was inherently flawed. In demanding a Christian wedding Babamukuru challenged traditional African ways of ceremony and union which, consequently, presented struggles in the life of various characters. One particular case is with Tambu in her refusal to attend the ceremony. In response to this Babamukuru exclaims, â€Å"I am the head of this house. Anyone who defies my authority is doing an evil thing in this house, bent on destroying my authority† (169).Two important modes of analysis come out of this. The first is how the colonial tr adition of a Christian wedding seemed to disturb Tambu. The second is the element of control that Babamukuru exhibits. For him, just as for the colonizers, it was more than a wedding. It was a way to impose European values and traditions in order to change what it meant to be African. In short, Christianity as part of the white man’s burden was an imposition that challenged African traditions. As symbolized in the case of Tambu’s refusal to attend the ceremony, this created tension for many Africans.Moreover, the way in which Babamukuru handles the situation with Tambu exemplifies the element of control that was pervasive in living out the white man’s burden. Finally, this analysis of the white man’s burden through the scope of Babamukuru’s relationship with other characters in the book culminates with the theme of control, specifically his relationship with Nyasha. This is a good example because their relationship highlights the multifaceted aspec ts of the relationship between the colonizer and African. First, there is thecare and concern of wellbeing Babamukuru has for this daughter.He takes her to England then enrolls her in school so as to provide her with a better life. At the same time he places high pressure on her to perform well and become more â€Å"English†. He has high expectations for her and, in many ways, expects her to become more â€Å"white† by adopting European customs and disciplines. All of this pressure creates nervous conditions for Nyasha and consequently puts strain on her relationship with her father as exemplified through the tensions and fights between the two. This issue of pressure and control manifests prominently in the scene where Babamukuru forces Nyasha to eat.He demands, â€Å"Sit down and eat that food. I am telling you. Eat it! † (192). After consuming the food like a maniac she forces herself to vomit. Further, this marks the beginning of an eating disorder. Using th is as a metaphor, the European control many Africans felt from the white man’s burden led many to feel starved of an identity that was essentially African. Some populations became subservient and assimilated, like many French colonies (lecture, 3/11). Still others rebelled and/or broke under the pressure in a way similar to Nyasha.One example of this would be rebellions in the Congo in the 1960s as well as the Mau Mau Rebellion (lectures, 3/4; 3/6). What persists, though, is the pressure Africans felt in the manifestation of the white man’s burden created nervous conditions that led to neuroses of entire populations. In conclusion, the various relationships Babamukuru has with different characters throughout Nervous Conditions are emblematic of the multi-faceted and complex relationships colonizers had with Africans especially when analyzed in the context of the ‘white man’s burden’ as related to education, Christianity, and control.Babamukuru as an African educated in the west internalizes many European values that are subsequently projected on other characters in the book. As is clear, these manifest in different ways. However, is also clear is the assumption of African wellbeing through colonization under the â€Å"white man’s burden† is contested. In fact, the â€Å"white man’s burden† created nervous conditions for many Africans.

Pricing The Sneaker Pricing Wars (Adidas

Pricing The Sneaker Pricing Wars (Adidas Introduction Price is a very essential aspect in every business as it is the fundamental determinant of the profit to be achieved after the sale of a commodity or service and therefore influences the success or failure level of the business. Pricing is the process of determining the cost of a product or a service so as to identify what a business will obtain in exchange of its products or services.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Pricing: The Sneaker Pricing Wars (Adidas-Nike) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is one of the components of the marketing mix, the other ones being; product, place, and promotion. The factors associated with pricing are; the production cost, competition, the market place and condition, and also the quality of the product or service. Value of the product towards the customers should also be considered in determining a price to ensure that the customers pay what is equivalent to t he value gained (Pratt, n.d). Pricing Strategy According to Phillips (2005), pricing strategy is a logical choice from a list of alternative prices that seeks to maximize profit within a specific period of time under a certain situation. There are various approaches that can be adopted by companies or businesses in pricing their goods and services and there is no single model identified for the purpose of pricing. However, every pricing strategy should seek to maintain fairness and integrity throughout the pricing process. Here is a guideline on how a company may undertake its pricing process. The company or business should undertake a marketing strategy which involves carrying out a marketing analysis, segmentation, targeting, and positioning of the product in relation to its quality and that of other products in the market. Decision on the market mix is then made where the definition of the product or service is done, and distribution and promotion strategies identified. The other step involves analyzing the demand curve as pricing is directly affected by the prices of the particular products. Calculation of cost is also crucial and the company should put into consideration all costs associated with the product, the fixed and variable costs, so as to make sure that profitability is achieved. The surroundings factors like competition and legal conditions should be considered too. In pricing the product, a business should assess the influence of its pricing towards the pricing of competitors. The price should be in line with that of competitors to avoid unhealthy competition and should also adhere to price control aspects of the government. The business should also establish pricing objectives so as to come up with the most favorable price of the product.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The objectives may touch on aspects like maximi zation of profits, revenue, quantity and quality of the product among others. It is after consideration of all the above that that the price is agreed upon. Classification of Pricing Strategies Pricing strategies can broadly be categorized according to the business objectives and consumer distinctiveness. On the basis of business objectives, there is differential pricing which entails selling a product at different prices to different consumers, competitive pricing where prices set aims at exploiting the competitive position and product line pricing that involves selling related products at prices that maximize reciprocated dependency. In regard to the characteristics of the customers, their uniqueness is identified and pricing based on it. There are those customers that are ignorant of where they can locate the products they require and may buy from any place to avoid wastage of time in tracing the best suppliers at affordable prices. Some consumers are however very sensitive on co st issues and would rather take a lot of time looking for a business that offer the product at the lowest price than buying the commodity at a convenient place but at a higher cost. The last categories of consumers consist of consumers that may incur extra costs and risks for example transportation cost and investment costs (Phillips, 2005). Methods Used In Pricing Different businesses adopt different pricing methods depending on the particular situations and the expected or desired results. The common pricing methods are; psychological pricing which aims at evoking a customer’s emotional rather than rational decision on buying a product by setting the price just a little bit lower than those of competitors for example a shoe worth 20 dollars may be priced at 19.99 dollars. P rice skimming involves a business setting the price of its products higher than that of competitors especially when the business has a competitive advantage though the price usually lowers after many com petitors come in and lower their prices. Economy pricing entails keeping the production and marketing cost at a minimum.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Pricing: The Sneaker Pricing Wars (Adidas-Nike) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Penetration pricing is achieved by introducing the new products at a relatively low price to capture customers’ attention after which the prices of the commodities go up but the business still retains the customers. Premium pricing on the other hand entails charging a high price where the products involved are unique in nature thus giving the business a competitive advantage over the others (Dean, n.d). Customers Customers are a very important element in any form of business for the reason that there cannot be a business transaction in the absence of customers. They are the reason for the production of goods and services without which no business could take place. Busine sses should therefore put the consumer in mind when undertaking any process concerning goods and services from production to final sale not forgetting pricing. It is for this reason that the business should at all cost invest in determining what best suits the customers and try satisfying their needs by providing the value they require. When the customers are served well they develop loyalty towards the business and may be willing to do any good deed on it’s behave for example doing some marketing by inviting other consumers to the business. Poor or lack of satisfaction of consumers on the other hand leads to lack of trust on the company and may lead to loss of many customers (Hoek and Evans, 2005). Pricing War A price war can be defined as an unhealthy competition whereby competitors seek to increase their market share by lowering the prices of their products and services. There usually exist pricing wars whenever there is a new introduction of products in the market. This i s usually so because the products are introduced at a relatively low price and this is not received in appreciation by the existing competitors as they see the business as a threat on the grounds that it may take customers from them. This forces the other businesses offering the same product to cut down their prices hence reducing their profit margins. Another version is where a new business offers similar products and services but which posses some unique features at a price higher than the existing competitors. This will attract a large pool of customers because of the competitive advantage associated with the products and the business at large. This is perceived negatively by the other existing businesses and they may react by also raising their prices to attain much profit.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This however affects them negatively as the possibility of loosing their customers due to switching costs is too high while the possibility of the new business retaining its customers is high as the prices, though high, do not increase. Switching costs in the market leads to price wars and may subsequently lead to limitation in pricing options. Another cause of a price war is the existence of consumers who do not have a specific business from where they buy their products and services. The consumers are therefore swayed by many factors and lowering of prices by one business may attract and capture them and if well served and satisfied, they can continue to be customers to the particular business entity. Deviation of customers from the market and introduction of new customers also lead to price wars. Some customers may also feel deceived when there are switching costs as they expect that the low costs at the entry of the business will be maintained even in future and so raising of th e prices result in price wars (Klemperer, 1989). Adidas versus Nike Pricing War Nike is the world’s biggest shoe company in regard to its market share and investment on capital. Nike is involved with the manufacture and marketing of athletic shoes, casual footwear, and other sports accessories and equipment. It was founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Adidas is the second largest in the world, after Nike. Nike and Adidas have for long led in the shoe industry because of the quality of their products, brand names, and image. There has been however war between these two companies over advertising and superstar support agreements. The war can for example be seen clearly in regard to the 2010 world cup through their sales and influence. Before the world cup, the Nike Company made better sales of soccer shoes than Adidas did. This was brought about by the influence of the advertisement by Nike which read; write the future. This influenced a lot of soccer fans and consequently increased the sales of the Nike soccer shoes. When the world cup commenced, Adidas sales went higher than the sales made by Nike. This was due to the domineering aspect of Adidas as it occupied the billboards in the football field attracting all the attention to it. Success in the sales of the soccer shoes also followed Adidas as it supported Spain which had many funs due to its good performance. Adidas and Nike compete in production of quality products. Adidas seem to be fast to meet demands of various teams especially soccer in regard to sports facilities, for example, the Major League soccer relies on Adidas for its supplies. It has gained competitive advantage because of its popularity in producing unique footwear for different sports especially soccer and most countries make use of Adidas footwear. Nike is also popular and its brand name has been known for ages in the world of sports. Its popularity has also been drawn from its support for various sports teams and athlete grou ps all over the world. Nike has particularly gained much favor accrued to its latest design of the Mercurial Vapor, which is the lightest shoe that is efficient in enhancing speed and reducing friction. There has been stiff competition between Nike and Adidas with each struggling to outdo the other. The major guiding principles are; attitude, this is the view and affiliation people feel towards either Nike or Adidas. Quality is also a contributing factor as people usually value the quality of the products they purchase. Competitive advantage is as well a key element for example Nike has been recognized for being the best in basketball shoes while Adidas is known for better football shoes though not all. Pricing is also a very critical element in determining the success of the companies. It influences the consumers in making their final decisions about purchase of various products produced by different companies. The pricing strategies adopted by the Nike and Adidas companies are a c ontributing factor towards the sales they make as price is directly dependent on demand. When one company reduces its shoes prices and still retains the quality it is likely to attract more customers than the other. This will cause pricing war between the two as the other one will be forced to lower its prices so as not to lose its customers to the other. Nike for example is expected to launch low-priced products following its defeat by Adidas in the 2010 world cup. The lowering of prices is aimed at attracting many customers toward its variety of footwear, equipment, and accessories. This will also enhance its positioning in the market. This is a form of price war and although it will attract many customers, it may lower its profitability margins. Nike also employs strong marketing strategies that helps keep its brand name and image high through gaining trust and loyalty of the consumers (Anonymous, 2010). Dealing with Price War Since price war is a negative impact especially to bu sinesses, certain strategies should be employed to curb the effects of price war. They include; anticipating the reactions of the competitors; one should asses how the competitors may react if he/ she lowers the products’ prices as this will definitely affect the sales and the profit to be made. Another step is giving some indications to the competitors that there may be price changes to alert them and make them aware of your intention in adjusting the prices. A business should also try to construct unique price structures to reduce the likelihood of consumers comparing terms (Rao, Bergen Scott, 2000). Conclusion Pricing is an important aspect in the business sector and care should be taken in making any pricing decisions. The customer should be the focus and the price should directly reflect the value accrued to the product or service provided. Price war is a phenomenon that occurs when businesses wish to increase their market share at the expense of lowering their profit m argin. It should however be avoided since it is to the disadvantage of the business as it reduces their profits though to some extent is an advantage to the consumers as they can buy products at cheaper prices. Reference List Anonymous, (2010). Heated War Between Nike Air Max 2010 And Adidas Begin From World Cup. Web. Dean, J. (n.d). Pricing Policies for New Products; Pricing Strategy. Web. Hoek, V.R., Evans, D. (2005). When Good Customers Are Bad. Harvard: Harvard business school publishing. Klemperer, P. (1989). Price wars caused by switching costs. Review of economic studies Vol. 56, 406-420. Phillips, L.R. (2005). Pricing and Revenue Optimization. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Pratt, A. (n.d). The Price Is Right (or is it?). New York: Director Publications ltd. Rao, A. R., Bergen M, E., Scott, D. (2000). How to Fight a Price War: Analyzing the Battleground. Web.

Free Essays on Panic Disorder

The purpose of this paper is to understand Panic Disorder and symptoms, types of the disorder, treatment, and relation to other disorders and how it affects people in general. Included, is a case study of â€Å"Sarah† who suffered with a panic disorder. Panic Disorder is when someone experiences unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of persistent concern about having another panic attack, worrying about the possible consequences of the panic attacks, or a behavioral change related to the attacks (Millon, 1996, p.559). Panic Disorder is not a disease. It may be assessed, but not definitively diagnosed. This disorder is distressing and disabling, physically, psychologically, and socially (Harvard, 2000, p.1). One symptom of Panic Disorder is unexpected panic attacks. At least two panic attacks are required for diagnosis. Attacks may last from several seconds to several minutes. Doctors believe that every attack has a situational trigger and an essential feature (Morrison, 1995, p.402). Another symptom of the disorder is constant concern and worry. The most common trait found in all Panic Disorder patients is a fear of being embarrassed. When a person takes an attack once they are paranoid for up to three months about going into public for fear of taking another attack. People diagnosed with panic disorder experience great anticipation and are very anxious when they look forward. They often worry and think of the worst possible outcomes, and at night, nightmares often occur. Panic disorder patients often assume that they have an undiagnosed disease or think they are going crazy (Harvard, 2000, p.8). Sarah, also experienced severe anxiety in social situations. She had a terrible fear of having another attack, fear of losing consciousness, and a fear of embarrassment in social situations. Sarah had suffered in her sleep as well. Constant nightmares persisted, causing lack of sufficient sleep. Sarah felt she was going cra... Free Essays on Panic Disorder Free Essays on Panic Disorder The purpose of this paper is to understand Panic Disorder and symptoms, types of the disorder, treatment, and relation to other disorders and how it affects people in general. Included, is a case study of â€Å"Sarah† who suffered with a panic disorder. Panic Disorder is when someone experiences unexpected panic attacks followed by at least one month of persistent concern about having another panic attack, worrying about the possible consequences of the panic attacks, or a behavioral change related to the attacks (Millon, 1996, p.559). Panic Disorder is not a disease. It may be assessed, but not definitively diagnosed. This disorder is distressing and disabling, physically, psychologically, and socially (Harvard, 2000, p.1). One symptom of Panic Disorder is unexpected panic attacks. At least two panic attacks are required for diagnosis. Attacks may last from several seconds to several minutes. Doctors believe that every attack has a situational trigger and an essential feature (Morrison, 1995, p.402). Another symptom of the disorder is constant concern and worry. The most common trait found in all Panic Disorder patients is a fear of being embarrassed. When a person takes an attack once they are paranoid for up to three months about going into public for fear of taking another attack. People diagnosed with panic disorder experience great anticipation and are very anxious when they look forward. They often worry and think of the worst possible outcomes, and at night, nightmares often occur. Panic disorder patients often assume that they have an undiagnosed disease or think they are going crazy (Harvard, 2000, p.8). Sarah, also experienced severe anxiety in social situations. She had a terrible fear of having another attack, fear of losing consciousness, and a fear of embarrassment in social situations. Sarah had suffered in her sleep as well. Constant nightmares persisted, causing lack of sufficient sleep. Sarah felt she was going cra...

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Project To Report To The Project Board And Critical Reflections On The Role Of Being A Project Manager

Recommendations have also been made to seek to ensure the ongoing success of the project and to seek to ensure that these types of issues do not arise again. 1. Introduction This report has been compiled to seek to inform the project board of how our stakeholders may be perceiving delays which have arisen during the Brandenburg Airport project (BBC, 2013). In recent news coverage (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013) it has become apparent that a number of stakeholders have become critical of the project delays, therefore it may be necessary to engage with these groups to seek to positively influence their options in regards to this project (Atkinson, 1999). 2. Stakeholder Perception of repeated delays A number of dissatisfied stakeholders have been identified through recent news reports (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). This is concerning as to ensure that the project is an ongoing success (Wang and Huang, 2006) it is important that we seek to positively influence their opinions (Bourne, 2005). Each of these stakeholders has to varying degrees expressed concerns over the delays (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). Therefore, we must seek to enhance their opinion, though as these groups are so diverse a number of means will need to be utilised (Bourne and Walker, 2008), suggestion solutions for the Project Board to consider are outlined in Table 1. StakeholderDefinition of their RoleStakeholder GoalsStakeholder concerns The proposed effective means of engagement with timescales for implementationReferences Potential PassengersPotential passengers arriving or departing or transferring through the new airportMove quickly through the airport Be able to plan flights from the new airport in advanceAirport will not be ready to receive them when they have planned to fly through therePress releases which may encourage potential passenger to not worry about the delays to date on the project. This should be implemented by the end of this week by the new project manager.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Possible Air carriersNational and international organisations planning to be based from the airportMaximise planning for future passenger and traffic volumes Maximize planning for the number of destinations served and the frequencies of those servicesThe delays in the project have affected the carriers’ ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Potential Aviation usersAir Taxis and Corporate or Business Aviation SuppliersMaximise planning for future passenger and traffic volumes Maximise planning for the number of destinations served and the frequencies of those servicesThe delays in the project have affected the aviation user’s ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks(Rhoades et al. 2000) Airport Operations/ OrganisationStaff responsible for the management and operations of the airportPlan to achieve high security and safety Plan revenue streams Plan for passenger numbers Ensure service infrastructure is sufficient The delays in the project have affected the operations and organisational teams ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next three months.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Investors in the developmentIndividuals, organisations or credit ratings agenciesTo optimise the financial returns on their investment The delays in the project have affected how quickly investors will see a return and the extent to which profits can be made due to the increased costs of the project.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next weeks(Neufville Odoni 2003) Potential franchises or concessionary ownersOperators of passenger services in the airport Plan for services for passenger to generate revenue streamsThe delays in the project have affected the teams ability to plan ahead to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next eight weeks(Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Potential service providersProviders of services to air carriers, such as fuelPlan to maximise traffic volumes and turnaround of services for aviation users and air carriersThe delays in the project have affected the service providers ability to plan ahead to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next eight weeks(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Federal governmentPlanning consents, planner whom operates operator of air traffic control and security, and system regulator.Plan and monitor airport development and growth Make ensure all safety and security and efficiency measures are met. The delays in the project have affected the government’s ability to plan operations to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next four weeks(Upham 2003; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Local officials or political organisationsLocal entities Maximise financial gains Minimise impacts on local populations The delays in the project have affected the financial planning and negatively impacted upon local residents due to the increased construction timeline.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks(Upham 2003; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Local communities affected by the developmentResidents near the airportMaximise economic gains. Minimise noise and emissionsThe delays in the project have affected the financial planning and negatively impacted upon local residentsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays. This should be planned an implemented within six weeks(Upham 2003) Table 1. Identified stakeholders, their goals and how and when each group should be engaged. This plan should be considered and approved by the Project Board as soon as possible (Hillman and Keim, 2001; Karsen et.al. 2008). 3. Lessons Learnt A number of lessons may be learnt from the implementation of this project (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). It’s important the Project Board reviews what has gone well, what could have gone better and how things may be undertaken differently in the future (Kerzner, 2012).. This will help to ensure that the project is implemented in light of the lessons which have been learnt far. The most important lessons which have been learned so far should be considered at the next Project Board meeting. These have been identified by reviewing the project’s progress to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). Therefore the lessons that need to be considered are: The importance of maintaining ongoing communication with all stakeholders (Wang and Huang, 2006). The importance of contingency planning (Anderson and Grude, 2009). The importance of feasibility studies and the appraisal of various management systems e.g. for fire safety or for baggage transportation (Kerzner, 2012) (based on BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). At the next Project Board meeting each of these three factors should be considered, as each one has had a detrimental effect on the project to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). The Board should consider how ongoing communication is managed with stakeholders, as to date the project failures have been widely published (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). This has led to concerns being raised over the project’s implementation and the capabilities of the project team (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). It’s well documented that stakeholder engagement is a key factor which may affect a project’s success or failure (see as an example; Phillips et.al. 2012; Wang and Huang, 2006; Yuan et.al. 2009). Therefore, it is imperative that the Board considers the ongoing stakeholder engagement and seek to learn from our recent experiences. Additionally, another important factor that the Board should consider is the implementation of contingency planning for the remainder of the project. To date, a number of technical issues have arisen, however due to the lack of contingency planning in the early stages of the project the costs have now risen and the delivery timeline has increased (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). If contingency planning was utilised in the early stages of this project it is more likely that it could have been delivered (Thamhain, 1986) in line with the programme and on budget with the required quality standards (Anderson and Grude, 2009). Furthermore, another important lesson that the Board should consider is the importance of undertaking feasibility studies (Soderlund, 2002) and the appraisal of various management systems e.g. for fire safety or for baggage transportation. To date, the delays in this project have stemmed from critical systems failures (Kerzner, 2012). The importance of undertaking meaningful feasibility studies to achieve project success is well documented (see as an example: Mackenzie and Cusworth, 2007; McNulty, 2004). Therefore, to ensure that these problems do not arise again, it is imperative that the Project Board seeks to review and plan how feasibility studies will be conducted for the remaining duration of this project. Each of these factors and the impacts that they have had on the project’s implementation to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013) must be considered by the Project Board at their next meeting (Anderson and Grude, 2009). If these issues are considered, discussed and plans are implemented to seek to redress these (in line with the recommendations that have been outlined for each one above) it is possible that the project will be delivered within the revised programme, to budget whilst meeting the quality standards that are necessary (Mackenzie and Cusworth, 2007; McNulty, 2004). This is imperative to seek to ensure that no more delays are caused by the project team and to ensure that the costs and project programme do not need to be increased further (Thamhain, 1986), as this will have a detrimental impact on how our stakeholders view the project. 4. Critical Reflections of the Role of a Project Manager Project managers need to have a variety of skills in order to successfully implement projects in a variety of settings. The key skills that are pertinent to them being able to attain success are as follows: Be organised (Frame, 1999) Be able to multi-task (Kerzner, 2013) Being able to prioritise (Atkinson, 1999) Be able to disseminate information clearly (El-Sabaa, 2001) Be a leader of people (Pinto and Trailer, 1998) Be able to foresee issues and seek to mitigate them (Kerzner, 2003) Be able to understand costs and predict when these may increase. Be able to plan a project and manage its programme (Brown, 2000) Be able to engage stakeholders positively (Verma, 1996) Understand and communicate priorities so that the project team delivers on time (El-Sabaa, 2001). Be aware of quality standards and ensured that they are adhered to throughout the project (Atkinson, 1999) Each of these factors affects the successful implementation of projects (Kerzner, 2013). To date, many of these skills have been learnt from practically implementing projects, as project manager’s gain experience through undertaking these their skills improve (El-Sabaa, 2001). Through my experience, I have already gained many of these skills. However, it is necessary for me to improve my communication and engagement skills as most of the work that I have undertaken has been away from relevant stakeholders or insider my project team. Therefore, it would be useful to engage with some external stakeholders so that I could enhance my communication and engagement skills in practice (Brown, 2000). 5.Conclusion In conclusion, this report was compiled to seek to inform the project board of how our stakeholders may be perceiving delays which have arisen during the Brandenburg Airport project (BBC, 2013). A number of solutions have been provided for the Project Board to consider. It is hoped that the implementation of these will enable the project to be completed to quality standards, on time and to budget. 6. References Andersen, E. S., Grude, K. (2009). Goal directed project management: effective techniques and strategies. Kogan Page. Atkinson, R. (1999). Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. International journal of project management, 17(6), 337-342. BBC (2013) Troubled Berlin airport opening delayed yet again. Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20936798.(Accessed 05/05/2013) Bourne, L., Walker, D. H. (2005). Visualising and mapping stakeholder influence. Management Decision, 43(5), 649-660. Bourne, L., Walker, D. H. (2008). Project relationship management and the Stakeholder Circleâ„ ¢. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 1(1), 125-130. Brown, K. A. (2000). Developing project management skills: A service learning approach. Project Management Journal, 31(4), 53-58. El-Sabaa, S. (2001). The skills and career path of an effective project manager. International journal of project management, 19(1), 1-7. Frame, J. D. (1999). Project management competence: Building key skills for individuals, teams, and organizations (p. 232). Jossey-Bass. Hillman, A. J., Keim, G. D. (2001). Shareholder value, stakeholder management, and social issues: what’s the bottom lineStrategic management journal, 22(2), 125-139. Karlsen, J. T., Gr?e, K., Massaoud, M. J. (2008). Building trust in project-stakeholder relationships. Baltic Journal of Management, 3(1), 7-22. Kerzner, H. (2003). Advanced project management: Best practices on implementation. Wiley. Kerzner, H. (2012). Project management case studies. Wiley. Kerzner, H. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Wiley. The Local (2013) Now Berlin Airport won’t open before 2015. Available from http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130117-47393.html#.UYXds7WTiio (Accessed 05/05/2013) Mackenzie, W., Cusworth, N. (2007, June). The use and abuse of feasibility studies. In Proceedings of the Project Evaluation Conference (pp. 1-12). McNulty, T. P. (2004). Minimization of delays in plant start-ups. In Improving and Optimizing Operations: Things That Actually Work! Plant Operators’ Forum 2004 (pp. 113-120). Neufville, R.D. Odoni, A.R., (2003). Airport systems, McGraw-Hill Professional. Phillips, J. J., Bothell, T. W., Snead, G. L. (2012). The project management scorecard. Routledge. Rhoades, D.L., Jr, B.W. Young, S., (2000). Developing a quality index for US airports. Managing Service Quality, 10(4), 257 – 262. Sarkis, J., (2000). An analysis of the operational efficiency of major airports in the United States. Journal of Operations Management, 18(3), 335-351. Sarkis, J. Talluri, S., (2004). Performance based clustering for benchmarking of US airports. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 38(5), 329-346. Soderlund, J. (2004). Building theories of project management: past research, questions for the future. International journal of project management, 22(3), 183-191. Thamhain, H. J., Wilemon, D. L. (1986). Criteria for controlling projects according to plan. Project Management Journal. PN11. Drexcll Hill. PA. Upham, P.J., (2003). Towards sustainable aviation, Earthscan. Verma, V. (1996, January). The human aspects of project management: human resource skills for the project manager, volume two. Project Management Institute. Wang, X., Huang, J. (2006). The relationships between key stakeholders’ project performance and project success: Perceptions of Chinese construction supervising engineers. International Journal of Project Management, 24(3), 253-260. Yuan, J., Skibniewski, M. J., Li, Q., Zheng, L. (2009). Performance objectives selection model in public-private partnership projects based on the perspective of stakeholders. Journal of Management in Engineering, 26(2), 89-104. Berlin Brandenburg Airport Project To Report To The Project Board And Critical Reflections On The Role Of Being A Project Manager Recommendations have also been made to seek to ensure the ongoing success of the project and to seek to ensure that these types of issues do not arise again. 1. Introduction This report has been compiled to seek to inform the project board of how our stakeholders may be perceiving delays which have arisen during the Brandenburg Airport project (BBC, 2013). In recent news coverage (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013) it has become apparent that a number of stakeholders have become critical of the project delays, therefore it may be necessary to engage with these groups to seek to positively influence their options in regards to this project (Atkinson, 1999). 2. Stakeholder Perception of repeated delays A number of dissatisfied stakeholders have been identified through recent news reports (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). This is concerning as to ensure that the project is an ongoing success (Wang and Huang, 2006) it is important that we seek to positively influence their opinions (Bourne, 2005). Each of these stakeholders has to varying degrees expressed concerns over the delays (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). Therefore, we must seek to enhance their opinion, though as these groups are so diverse a number of means will need to be utilised (Bourne and Walker, 2008), suggestion solutions for the Project Board to consider are outlined in Table 1. StakeholderDefinition of their RoleStakeholder GoalsStakeholder concerns The proposed effective means of engagement with timescales for implementationReferences Potential PassengersPotential passengers arriving or departing or transferring through the new airportMove quickly through the airport Be able to plan flights from the new airport in advanceAirport will not be ready to receive them when they have planned to fly through therePress releases which may encourage potential passenger to not worry about the delays to date on the project. This should be implemented by the end of this week by the new project manager.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Possible Air carriersNational and international organisations planning to be based from the airportMaximise planning for future passenger and traffic volumes Maximize planning for the number of destinations served and the frequencies of those servicesThe delays in the project have affected the carriers’ ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Potential Aviation usersAir Taxis and Corporate or Business Aviation SuppliersMaximise planning for future passenger and traffic volumes Maximise planning for the number of destinations served and the frequencies of those servicesThe delays in the project have affected the aviation user’s ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks(Rhoades et al. 2000) Airport Operations/ OrganisationStaff responsible for the management and operations of the airportPlan to achieve high security and safety Plan revenue streams Plan for passenger numbers Ensure service infrastructure is sufficient The delays in the project have affected the operations and organisational teams ability to plan ahead to reach their goals.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next three months.(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Investors in the developmentIndividuals, organisations or credit ratings agenciesTo optimise the financial returns on their investment The delays in the project have affected how quickly investors will see a return and the extent to which profits can be made due to the increased costs of the project.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next weeks(Neufville Odoni 2003) Potential franchises or concessionary ownersOperators of passenger services in the airport Plan for services for passenger to generate revenue streamsThe delays in the project have affected the teams ability to plan ahead to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next eight weeks(Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Potential service providersProviders of services to air carriers, such as fuelPlan to maximise traffic volumes and turnaround of services for aviation users and air carriersThe delays in the project have affected the service providers ability to plan ahead to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next eight weeks(Upham 2003; Rhoades et al. 2000; Neufville Odoni 2003) Federal governmentPlanning consents, planner whom operates operator of air traffic control and security, and system regulator.Plan and monitor airport development and growth Make ensure all safety and security and efficiency measures are met. The delays in the project have affected the government’s ability to plan operations to reach their goalsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next four weeks(Upham 2003; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Local officials or political organisationsLocal entities Maximise financial gains Minimise impacts on local populations The delays in the project have affected the financial planning and negatively impacted upon local residents due to the increased construction timeline.Meetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays and to share the new project programme. This should be planned an implemented within the next six weeks(Upham 2003; Neufville Odoni 2003; Sarkis Talluri 2004) Local communities affected by the developmentResidents near the airportMaximise economic gains. Minimise noise and emissionsThe delays in the project have affected the financial planning and negatively impacted upon local residentsMeetings should be arranged with the project team to discuss the delays. This should be planned an implemented within six weeks(Upham 2003) Table 1. Identified stakeholders, their goals and how and when each group should be engaged. This plan should be considered and approved by the Project Board as soon as possible (Hillman and Keim, 2001; Karsen et.al. 2008). 3. Lessons Learnt A number of lessons may be learnt from the implementation of this project (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). It’s important the Project Board reviews what has gone well, what could have gone better and how things may be undertaken differently in the future (Kerzner, 2012).. This will help to ensure that the project is implemented in light of the lessons which have been learnt far. The most important lessons which have been learned so far should be considered at the next Project Board meeting. These have been identified by reviewing the project’s progress to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). Therefore the lessons that need to be considered are: The importance of maintaining ongoing communication with all stakeholders (Wang and Huang, 2006). The importance of contingency planning (Anderson and Grude, 2009). The importance of feasibility studies and the appraisal of various management systems e.g. for fire safety or for baggage transportation (Kerzner, 2012) (based on BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). At the next Project Board meeting each of these three factors should be considered, as each one has had a detrimental effect on the project to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). The Board should consider how ongoing communication is managed with stakeholders, as to date the project failures have been widely published (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). This has led to concerns being raised over the project’s implementation and the capabilities of the project team (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). It’s well documented that stakeholder engagement is a key factor which may affect a project’s success or failure (see as an example; Phillips et.al. 2012; Wang and Huang, 2006; Yuan et.al. 2009). Therefore, it is imperative that the Board considers the ongoing stakeholder engagement and seek to learn from our recent experiences. Additionally, another important factor that the Board should consider is the implementation of contingency planning for the remainder of the project. To date, a number of technical issues have arisen, however due to the lack of contingency planning in the early stages of the project the costs have now risen and the delivery timeline has increased (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013). If contingency planning was utilised in the early stages of this project it is more likely that it could have been delivered (Thamhain, 1986) in line with the programme and on budget with the required quality standards (Anderson and Grude, 2009). Furthermore, another important lesson that the Board should consider is the importance of undertaking feasibility studies (Soderlund, 2002) and the appraisal of various management systems e.g. for fire safety or for baggage transportation. To date, the delays in this project have stemmed from critical systems failures (Kerzner, 2012). The importance of undertaking meaningful feasibility studies to achieve project success is well documented (see as an example: Mackenzie and Cusworth, 2007; McNulty, 2004). Therefore, to ensure that these problems do not arise again, it is imperative that the Project Board seeks to review and plan how feasibility studies will be conducted for the remaining duration of this project. Each of these factors and the impacts that they have had on the project’s implementation to date (BBC, 2013; Local, 2013) must be considered by the Project Board at their next meeting (Anderson and Grude, 2009). If these issues are considered, discussed and plans are implemented to seek to redress these (in line with the recommendations that have been outlined for each one above) it is possible that the project will be delivered within the revised programme, to budget whilst meeting the quality standards that are necessary (Mackenzie and Cusworth, 2007; McNulty, 2004). This is imperative to seek to ensure that no more delays are caused by the project team and to ensure that the costs and project programme do not need to be increased further (Thamhain, 1986), as this will have a detrimental impact on how our stakeholders view the project. 4. Critical Reflections of the Role of a Project Manager Project managers need to have a variety of skills in order to successfully implement projects in a variety of settings. The key skills that are pertinent to them being able to attain success are as follows: Be organised (Frame, 1999) Be able to multi-task (Kerzner, 2013) Being able to prioritise (Atkinson, 1999) Be able to disseminate information clearly (El-Sabaa, 2001) Be a leader of people (Pinto and Trailer, 1998) Be able to foresee issues and seek to mitigate them (Kerzner, 2003) Be able to understand costs and predict when these may increase. Be able to plan a project and manage its programme (Brown, 2000) Be able to engage stakeholders positively (Verma, 1996) Understand and communicate priorities so that the project team delivers on time (El-Sabaa, 2001). Be aware of quality standards and ensured that they are adhered to throughout the project (Atkinson, 1999) Each of these factors affects the successful implementation of projects (Kerzner, 2013). To date, many of these skills have been learnt from practically implementing projects, as project manager’s gain experience through undertaking these their skills improve (El-Sabaa, 2001). Through my experience, I have already gained many of these skills. However, it is necessary for me to improve my communication and engagement skills as most of the work that I have undertaken has been away from relevant stakeholders or insider my project team. Therefore, it would be useful to engage with some external stakeholders so that I could enhance my communication and engagement skills in practice (Brown, 2000). 5.Conclusion In conclusion, this report was compiled to seek to inform the project board of how our stakeholders may be perceiving delays which have arisen during the Brandenburg Airport project (BBC, 2013). A number of solutions have been provided for the Project Board to consider. It is hoped that the implementation of these will enable the project to be completed to quality standards, on time and to budget. 6. References Andersen, E. S., Grude, K. (2009). Goal directed project management: effective techniques and strategies. Kogan Page. Atkinson, R. (1999). Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. International journal of project management, 17(6), 337-342. BBC (2013) Troubled Berlin airport opening delayed yet again. Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20936798.(Accessed 05/05/2013) Bourne, L., Walker, D. H. (2005). Visualising and mapping stakeholder influence. Management Decision, 43(5), 649-660. Bourne, L., Walker, D. H. (2008). Project relationship management and the Stakeholder Circleâ„ ¢. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 1(1), 125-130. Brown, K. A. (2000). Developing project management skills: A service learning approach. Project Management Journal, 31(4), 53-58. El-Sabaa, S. (2001). The skills and career path of an effective project manager. International journal of project management, 19(1), 1-7. Frame, J. D. (1999). Project management competence: Building key skills for individuals, teams, and organizations (p. 232). Jossey-Bass. Hillman, A. J., Keim, G. D. (2001). Shareholder value, stakeholder management, and social issues: what’s the bottom lineStrategic management journal, 22(2), 125-139. Karlsen, J. T., Gr?e, K., Massaoud, M. J. (2008). Building trust in project-stakeholder relationships. Baltic Journal of Management, 3(1), 7-22. Kerzner, H. (2003). Advanced project management: Best practices on implementation. Wiley. Kerzner, H. (2012). Project management case studies. Wiley. Kerzner, H. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Wiley. The Local (2013) Now Berlin Airport won’t open before 2015. Available from http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130117-47393.html#.UYXds7WTiio (Accessed 05/05/2013) Mackenzie, W., Cusworth, N. (2007, June). The use and abuse of feasibility studies. In Proceedings of the Project Evaluation Conference (pp. 1-12). McNulty, T. P. (2004). Minimization of delays in plant start-ups. In Improving and Optimizing Operations: Things That Actually Work! Plant Operators’ Forum 2004 (pp. 113-120). Neufville, R.D. Odoni, A.R., (2003). Airport systems, McGraw-Hill Professional. Phillips, J. J., Bothell, T. W., Snead, G. L. (2012). The project management scorecard. Routledge. Rhoades, D.L., Jr, B.W. Young, S., (2000). Developing a quality index for US airports. Managing Service Quality, 10(4), 257 – 262. Sarkis, J., (2000). An analysis of the operational efficiency of major airports in the United States. Journal of Operations Management, 18(3), 335-351. Sarkis, J. Talluri, S., (2004). Performance based clustering for benchmarking of US airports. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 38(5), 329-346. Soderlund, J. (2004). Building theories of project management: past research, questions for the future. International journal of project management, 22(3), 183-191. Thamhain, H. J., Wilemon, D. L. (1986). Criteria for controlling projects according to plan. Project Management Journal. PN11. Drexcll Hill. PA. Upham, P.J., (2003). Towards sustainable aviation, Earthscan. Verma, V. (1996, January). The human aspects of project management: human resource skills for the project manager, volume two. Project Management Institute. Wang, X., Huang, J. (2006). The relationships between key stakeholders’ project performance and project success: Perceptions of Chinese construction supervising engineers. International Journal of Project Management, 24(3), 253-260. Yuan, J., Skibniewski, M. J., Li, Q., Zheng, L. (2009). Performance objectives selection model in public-private partnership projects based on the perspective of stakeholders. Journal of Management in Engineering, 26(2), 89-104.

Critical Review to Listening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Review to Listening - Essay Example The chapter explains various listening strategies which teachers can employ and adapt according to the requirements and characteristics of their class. The author has introduced very creative and innovative teaching methodologies, for instance music and films. The plentiful illustrations suited to different levels and skills make this book a practical teaching resource. Listening is categorized into extensive and intensive listening, both integral for becoming proficient in language. The author emphasizes that like extensive reading, extensive listening helps one to build up vocabulary, rectify grammatical errors and concentrate upon how others deliver words, thus improving their own pronunciation. Extensive listening adds an extra dimension to learning since it encourages students to learn outside the class from a wide variety of sources such as CDs, television, radios. Putting curriculum on oral media will revolutionize study methods and present an opportunity for laid back students who despise reading through lengthy course books to switch to listening. Moreover, when a teacher will exhibit trust by making students responsible for the oral study media, it will establish a bond between them. The more he accentuates the worth of extensive listening, the greater the number of students who will pay heed. A similar purpose would be accomplished by as signing tasks and welcoming feedback from their end. Intensive listening despite its numerous disadvantages is an imperative teaching strategy as it breaks the monotony of the conventional teaching methods and also because of the portability and availability of audio material. Although, the author advocates that replaying audio would enhance the confidence of students; however, we should bear in mind that there are no replays in reality so it s crucial to tutor them to extract relevant information from a single hearing. The methodologies enumerated to regulate audio speed

SPC3301 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SPC3301 - Assignment Example Accordingly, assertive communication is preferable over aggressiveness, which is self-oriented and denies others rights. 2. Gregors parents asked him how he liked the concert last night. Gregor responded with, Wow, it was totally bad! Im going out to get their CD. His parents wonder, If the concert was bad, why would you want to get their CD? Explain the language barrier most likely involved in this exchange The exchange between Gregor and his parents is marred by a language barrier. His response about the concert shows how he liked it, but the words state otherwise. His intention to buy the CD, further, shows that he enjoyed the concert. He intends to state that the concert was good, but uses the opposite word due to lack of the right word. Worldview refers to the personal or cultural perceptions of people about key beliefs and issues such as life, God and death which influence the interaction with others. Personal worldview may be so pervasive that many may not even be aware of it (Steven A. Beebe, Susan J. Beebe, Mark V. Redmond, 2013). The world view shapes all aspects of peoples’ lives, their seeing and thought patterns. As such, it affects how people interpret their experiences. One, non sexist language is beneficial in the sense that it removes gender discrimination in communication. Besides, it creates neutrality in communication which is professional and good especially at workplaces (Steven A. Beebe, Susan J. Beebe, Mark V. Redmond, 2013). Nonsexist communication is also beneficial as it recognizes the equality of both genders thus makes both sexes