Middle Ages vs Renaissance Art Periods Essay Example for Free

Middle Ages vs Renaissance Art Periods Essay When seeking two art periods to compare and contrast, fewer artistic examples provide a starker depiction of radically changing ideas and mentality than the art of the Middle Ages against that of art from the Renaissance. First, art originating from the Middle Age will be thoroughly analyzed for context. Afterward, art from the Renaissance period art will be analyzed next to it for its departures on from Middle Age techniques and thinking, before the two are finally systematically compared and contrasted. First, art from the Middle Ages, also called art from the Medieval period, characterized a European period of little social change, general poverty, and few scientific advances. The Catholic Church remained an imposing force upon Midieval society, and dominated much of daily life. Art clearly served the role of worship above all else, and the Catholic Church actually commissioned much of the artwork of the period. Much of this art filled churches and monasteries, and took the form of sculptures, paintings and drawings, stained-glass windows, metalwork and mosaics, among other forms. The iconographical nature of the art is substantial, as it above all served the purpose of perpetuating the Catholicism of the early church. It was largely confined to Europe and areas that the Byzantine and Roman empires had once occupied, such as parts of northern Africa. It lasted almost a thousand years, from approximately around 500 C.E. to perhaps as late as 1400 C.E. The depictions within the art reflected its purpose – worship. Religious icons such as saints, the Virgin Mary, Jesus and his disciples, and other depictions provided clarity and images for believers. The images portrayed onto the media arguably reflect the times, lacking in brightness, movement, or attitude. The characters shown rarely appear upbeat. An excellent example that validates some of these generalities is Pietro Cavallini’s The Last Judgment. This painting in the Santa Cecilia in Rome uses drab colours to show what appears to be an angry Jesus overlooked by six angels, three on each side. While a beautiful work of art no doubt, the painting has little passion or movement and does not inspire anything more than fear from a fiery God. This Medieval Art from the Middle Ages contrasts sharply with the Renaissance-era works in many key ways. First, Renaissance Art, while not entirely secular to be sure, had certain overtones of the humanism sweeping Europe. Next, its style exuberates brightness, passion, and an appetite for life that cannot be found easily in Middle Age art. Renaissance Art effectively superseded and ended art period progressing during the Middle Ages, and this mirrored social trends of increasing wealth and prosperity, upward mobility, and technological advances of the time. While no doubt heavily influenced by the preceding art of the Middle Ages and often building off of some of its topic such as Christianity, Renaissance Art has a strong hint of humanism which afflicted its artists. This philosophy sought to change the nature of man’s relationship with God to exist outside the church’s realm, and the â€Å"Renaissance men† often meaning that these artists were not only artists but commonly philosophers and scientists as well. Michelangelo, who was a painter, architect, poet, engineer, and sculptor, exemplified these characteristics. His masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, provides us a great comparison to Cavallini’s work on the same topic and contrasts the vastly different techniques and focuses of the two art periods. While Cavallini’s work lacks a variety of colours and could be described even as plain, Michelangelo’s work gives a clear view into his mind’s eye, filled with numerous angels and men moving through the heavens. While Jesus is still at the top and the Madonna next to him seems to cower in fear at his wrath, many nonetheless are lifted upward. The bright colours, quick movements, and in fact original nakedness of the characters (later covered up, at the church’s request) reflect the technique and thought process of Renaissance-era art. So taking the topic of the Last Judgment, the second coming of Christ as a comparison subject matter for extrapolation between Medieval and Renaissance art periods, the Renaissance’s brightness, liveliness and energy shine clearly. First, we saw that Middle Age art was dreary, using drab colours and little dynamism that reflected the harsh realities of life in Europe at the time. Second, Renaissance Art ended this period with the new opportunities and advances made during the Renaissance, reflected in art from the period. Multitalented Renaissance men of the period such as Michelangelo contributed simultaneously to multiple artistic fields at once. Their art reflected the optimism of the times, the great advances being made philosophically and technologically, and their work captured their excitement for mankind’s newfound humanist relationship with God. What was once seen as an angry God hell-bent on punishment was now an opportunity for a chance into the heavens, and often Renaissance Art was even entirely secular, such as masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. Therefore, the Renaissance period of art departed from the Middle Ages period of Medieval Art not simply in technique or media, but also in subject matter, philosophy, and use. The art periods correspondingly reflected their equivalent time frame as either bleak and dowdy or upbeat and energetic. References Finnan, V. (2013). The last judgement. Retrieved from http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Last-Judgement.html Gortais, B. (2003). Abstraction and art. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences , 358(14-135), 1241-1249 . Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3558216 The last judgement. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/8284-the-last-judgement-pietro-cavallini.html

Uber Business Model Analysis and CSR

Uber Business Model Analysis and CSR Part 1 Founded in 2009, Uber is a web-based transportation network company headquartered in San, Francisco, California. It offers a taxi-replacement technology platform that connects driver-partners with riders via a location-based app and operates in over 60 countries around the world. As the first ride-sharing business, it has become the term used when describing the service. South Africa is a challenging market to enter because of economic divide, national pride, and high crime. Ubers core competencies are its brand name and reputation from being a first-mover and a corporate culture created from effective talent management that drives entrepreneurship and innovation. This has allowed the young company to effectively organize drivers and vehicles it does not own. By being the first web-based transportation network, Uber has a competitive advantage over similar companies as a first-mover. As a first-mover, Uber has been able to understand its business model, customer problems, and the fast pace of technology. This has given them the ability to be both proactive and reactive to solving issues in a rapidly changing environment. Uber had a three-year head start in the market and took full advantage of it. Its first-mover advantage is firm-specific and used maintain its competitive edge to prevent fast followers from catching up. It has a bold history and used a beg for forgiveness rather than an ask for permission strategy to enter the market. The taxi industry is highly fragmented, deeply regulated and mostly stationary in terms of innovation. It realized consumer frustration with the status-quo taxi industry and solved the problem by building a disruptive business model to execute an aggressive strategy and apply innovation to provide immediate relief to the chaotic situation. Professors Henrich Greve of INSEAD and Marc-David Seidel of the University of British Columbia studied the role of how being a first-mover played in overall success. The two professors realized that first-movers typically had an advantage over rivals, even with an inferior product or service, because they learned from mistakes and became better over time (Greve Seidel, 2014). Only eight years old, Uber is a young company, but has already become a well-recognized brand. Its brand name has become a verb, synonymous with the online ride-sharing service. Ubers name recognition as a first-mover produces loyalty among current customers and attracts new customers to its service even before other firms have entered the market. As a first-mover, Uber benefits from economies of scale and a vast network of established stakeholders and resources (drivers, customers, employees, technology, capital, etc.), which allows it to increase efficiency and decrease cost s. Its first-mover advantage allowed the company to learn rapidly and obtain large amounts of data to create customer-driven marketing strategies, labor specialization and industry cooperation. Because of a longer learning curve, it can create customer value, drive down prices and implement more cost-efficient techniques into its business model. Uber is a cut-throat corporation with a large war chest. Founded in 2009, it is now worth around $70 billion and is the worlds most valuable startup company (The Economist, 2016). Its capital, gained from being a first-mover, allows the company to expand faster and take risks its competitors cant afford to. Uber established itself as tech firm and not a transport company, which allowed it to expand globally and bypass taxicab regulations. If it is not able to enter a specific market because of extensive regulations it implements capital-intensive battle strategy. Uber has been able to spend billions on aggressively fighting and disrupting ta xi industries around the world. It also has spent large amounts of money to boost innovation, diversify its business, and lock in strategic relationships with governments and other businesses. Its first-mover advantage has also been able to attract and retain the top talent shaped that has been able to shape its corporate culture. In business, culture is important because it attracts talented and skilled individuals, increases employee productivity and operational efficiency, and improves quality and reputation. Ubers culture is a core capability and firm-specific because it uses a highly paid, extremely motivated and specialized workforce who keep the companys mission at heart. The company created a customer-centric and data-driven culture that promotes creativity and encourages passion. Its culture is based around value creation and uncovering This culture was created from its differentiating brand identity, which allowed it to capture and preserve a dynamic group of top talent. Its first-mover advantage, cool image and unique brand identity has created a staff of intrapreneurial millennials by attracting and retaining a workforce of intelligent young talent from all over the world to create its dynamic and innovative-driven. Most of Ubers employees are between the ages of 25 and 35. It is also one of the fe w companies in Silicon Valley that hires large amounts of employees with PHDs. Its business model is driven by its culture and has earned it a reputation of providing an enhanced user experience, translating to higher customer satisfaction and increased revenue. Its corporate culture has led to great innovation and Ubers pioneering technology with its verified drivers and cars, its dual-rating system that improves customer satisfaction and user confidence, and has allowed Uber to deliver a premium level of reliable service at an affordable rate. Its intelligent and aggressive culture created the atmosphere to bypass high barriers of entry into the taxi industry. To promote itself, the ride-sharing technology company creates strategic partnerships and uses great advertising and marketing campaigns to promote itself, which has resulted in the companys high visibility and customer awareness. and an unlimited fleet of partners and vehicles has made it a global player in the market. Uber used its strong transferable international brand to enter and disrupt the South African taxi industry. The company implemented its brand and leveraged its current business model into the country by adding programs to address the issues it would face. Ubers brand had the chance of suffering from location disadvantages in South Africa because of high crime and unemployment rates, but Uber was able to address these key issues early on, before they had the chance to hurt its intimable brand name and reputation. It improved safety features concerning its service. In South Africa, all drivers had to be verified and an annual follow-up was required to protect users. In South Africa, public transportation was slow and inconvenient. It low cost attracts mostly poorer citizens. There are safety concerns with the taxi services in the country because of high crime and taxi turf war. This issue is increased because taxi drivers only accept cash payments. Ubers main coemption will be against Zebra Cabs, a South African metered cab service South Africa is a technological country where most citizens are technology-savvy. Uber used its disruptive technologies to enter the country by adapting and offering technology that catered to local needs. Uber uses great technology to bring riders and driver partners together. Africa has a huge potential market for Uber and South Africa is the most economically developed country on the African continent Part 2 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), With the rise of technology, the world and the business environment has become more globalized and transparent. Multinational Corporations (MNC) compete in a global arena. In the realm of rapidly moving business environments and an increased rate of globalization, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become more significant and apparent. The society of the world has put substantial pressure on these global firms to make them responsible for activities and actions. CSR can be simply summarized as doing the right thing. It is concerned with how the activities of firms have an impact of the fundamental, economic, and social impact on society. Still a relatively young subject, CSR Kim Kercher examined History, Research and Writings on CSR The concept of corporate social responsibility is a relatively young subject matter, mainly a product of the 20th century, especially the last 70 years. Its roots can be traced back centuries further, but formal writing on the subject has been a product of recent times. Archie B. Carroll traced the evolution of modern CSR back to 1950s (Carroll, 1999). Before the 1950s, CSR was referred to simply as social responsibility (SR), possibly because these periods preceded the era of corporate influence and dominance. The contemporary idea of CSR was established by Howard R. Bowen, known as the Father of CSR because of his early and influential work. In his landmark book Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, Bowen believed that the worlds largest businesses were vital centers of power and decision making and the activities of these specific firms affected the lives and aspects of many (Morrison Bridwell, 2011). In his 1953 publication, Bowen argued that corporate responsibility encom passes more than following the law and reaches beyond a legal scope. Bowens social responsibility doctrine explained the responsibilities businesses owners had and how they must protect humanity from the harmful side effects of certain business activities by implementing policies and rigorously following them. The 1960s were significant in the history of corporate social responsibility. The depth of CSR began to expand in the 1960s as one of its first and most influential writers, Keith Davis (1960), defined social responsibility as businessmens decisions and actions taken for reasons at least partially beyond the firms direct economic or technical interest and that being socially responsible would pay the company back in the long run, through an increase of economic gain. In his piece, the Iron Law of Responsibility, Davis observed that businessmen were more worried about profit and immediate economic interests than they were about other important subjects. He broadened the thought s of Bowens Social Responsibilities of the Businessman by stating that social responsibilities of businessmen need to commensurate with their social power. Davis argued social responsibility should consider the environment and other issues regarding public welfare issues and that the power of corporations must continuously be checked by social responsibility. The term CSR was first used in the 1970s and became widespread due to globalization. Core Characteristics and Benefits According to Sen and Korschun, CSR is driven by stakeholder relations, social obligations and marketing (Sen Korschun, 2006). Every firm is responsible and held accountable to its stakeholders. In spite of many efforts to create a clear and impartial definition of CSR, there is still no universally correct definition for the concept. While the fundamental features of CSR are visible in the practice and remain the core characteristics of the concept, hardly any definition includes them all. Aminu Ahmadu Hamidu, Harashid Md Haron, Azlan Amran (2015) state that corporate social responsibility has six characteristics: Voluntary, Internalizing or Managing Externalities, Multiple Stakeholder Orientation, Alignment of Social and Economic Responsibilities, Practices and Values, and Beyond Philanthropy. Strategic CSR Corporate social responsibility has become a standard business practice in the business environment, even more so for multinational corporations. CSR has been implemented into global branding and is the core of many business strategies in order to promote long term growth. Jevons and Polonsky (2009) believe that todays multinational corporations must view CSR from a strategic view within the global arena. With an advance of technology and faster communication channels, consumers are more aware on world and business events. Studies have shown that the ethical conduct of firms has a great influence on the purchasing decisions of consumers. In an investigation by Environics International, more than twenty percent of consumers stated their purchases were companies based solely on how they perceived the business (Mohanty, 2008). With increased interest from customers and other stakeholders (employees, suppliers, investors, communities, and activist groups), there is a growing demand for g reater disclosure. Because of this, organizations and the individuals within them must consider its complexity and explore it to better understand how it is related to branding strategies. Because these multinational firms operate in several business environments, they must be able to relate each set of responsibilities at numerous points, encompassing a variety of company activities (Valor, 2007). Strategic CSR is used to help firms achieve a positive impact on society while maximizing the shared value for all the organizations stakeholders. The notion of share value creation derived from Professor Michael Porters theory of competitive advantage (Porter, 2011). This theory suggests that firms need a structuralist view to create a strategic share value for competitive thinking. By implementing this strategy, firms are able to defend themselves against competitors. Firms use strategic CSR in the daily operations of the firm and is central to the activities of the firm value creation system.ÂÂ   Werther and Chandler (2005) examined several multinational companies and found out that global brands are often central to competitive strategy and work by guaranteeing consumers are provided the best in quality, consistency, and security. By delivering customers guarantees, these brands can reduce costs while increasing profits. Studies have discovered the positive effect of CSR practices on profitability and other performance measures (Goyal et. al, 2013). The publics expectation of firms is that they will function in humanitys best interests. With the rise of technology and social media, the importance of CSR is intensified. David Woods studied the correlation of revenue and CSR and found out that CSR is not only ethical, but profitable, especially in regards to long term gains (Woods, 2011). Woods wrote that studies have shown that organisations that had a genuine commitment to CSR substantially outperformed those that did not, with an average return on assets 1 9 times higher. Kellie McElhaney (2007) believes that CSR is more of a strategy than a concept. McElhaney does not believe that CSR is a remedy to the problems that affect the planet, its inhabitants and the global business environment, but a practicable and essential element of overall business strategy. McEkhaney believes to be more effective, strategic CSR needs to be aligned with the core business objectives and core competencies of the organization. Matthews (1982) believes that corporations are not monolithic entities, but organizations administered and controlled by individuals and attached in the societies in which they operate. Because of this aspect, CSR must reflect the human element of firms and contribute to their communities and overall society. Impact of Globalization on CSR Professor Roland Robertson defines globalization as the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole (Robertson, 1992). Consumers are no longer restricted to their smaller-scaled home markets and now have access to a vast international market. Globalization, especially for multinational corporation, brings more opportunities and benefits, but also creates ethical issues and other problems when dealing in foreign countries. CSR covers a wide range of interests and the rapid rate of globalization has led certain corporations and developing countries to become significant players in the world economy. However, developing countries with emerging economies have critically encountered an abundant amount of issues (religious, governmental, social, cultural, environmental, etc.) Rhys Jenkins (2005) studied the effects of globalization on CSR and its influence on society. Jenkins notes that the present movement and concentration of global CSR today dates back to the early 1990s. This movement led to the international rise of CSR, global deregulation, the creation of development agencies, increased foreign investment, and the reduction of poverty, but played a major part in the shrinking role of national governments. With globalization and corporate responsibility intertwined in an increasingly competitive market, the influence and responsibility of business firms is increased while the control of governmental bodies is reduced. Historically, national governments depended on regulatory measures to bring societal and ecofriendly purposes to the business sector. Verma (2015) claims that dwindling government resources, combined with a suspicion of regulations created a search for voluntary and non-regulatory initiatives which reduced the power of governments. Scherer and Palazzo (2011) assert that it is crucial to shift towards a larger, politically-centric concept of CSR, especially in a globalized world. Because of globalizatio n, the authority of national governments is getting weaker when it comes to regulating the activities of global firms. Governments around the world are in a constant battle (and race to implosion) with other countries in order to win the competition. Corporations must practice morally and promote ethical decision making standards in order to avoid political conflict and the societal consequences. Global firms are not only responsible of their in-house activities, but also for the activities of their suppliers and partners. Due to an exploitation of child labor from its suppliers, Nike faced a global consumer boycott and had to make extensive enhancements in the working environments of its various supplier plants (Brause, Locke and Qin, 2007). While some activities and practices may reduce costs and legal in some parts of the world, partaking in these unethical business practices may be considered immoral and damage the publics perception of the company. The Future of CSR Bowen, H.R., 2013. Social responsibilities of the businessman, Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. Hamidu, A.A., Haron, H.M. Amran, A., 2015. Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review on Definitions, Core Characteristics and Theoretical Perspectives. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(4). Jenkins, R., 2005. Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility and poverty. International Affairs, 81(3), pp.525-540. Locke, R.M., Qin, F. and Brause, A., 2007. Does monitoring improve labor standards? Lessons from Nike. ILR Review, 61(1), pp.3-31. MacMillan, D. Demos, T., 2015. Uber Valued at More Than $50 Billion. The Wall Street Journal. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-valued-at-more-than-50-billion-1438367457 [Accessed February 21, 2017]. Matthews, J.B., 1982. Can a corporation have a conscience?, Boston: Graduate School of Business, Harvard University. McElhaney, K., 2007. Strategic CSR. Sustainable Enterprise Quarterly, 4(1), pp.1-7. Morrison, E. and Bridwell, L., 2011, January. Consumer Social Responsibility-The True Corporate Social Responsibility. In Competition Forum (Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 144). American Society for Competitiveness. Mohanty, R.P., 2008. Quality management practices, New Delhi: Excel Books. Polonsky, M. and Jevons, C., 2009. Global branding and strategic CSR: an overview of three types of complexity. International Marketing Review, 26(3), pp.327-347. Porter, Michael E. Competitive advantage of nations: creating and sustaining superior performance. Simon and Schuster, 2011. Robertson, R., 2011. Globalization: social theory and global culture, London: Sage. Scherer, A.G. and Palazzo, G., 2011. The new political role of business in a globalized world: A review of a new perspective on CSR and its implications for the firm, governance, and democracy. Journal of management studies, 48(4), pp.899-931. Seidel, H.R. Marc-David, G.L., 2014. Being Early Beats Being Better. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2014/06/being-early-beats-being-better [Accessed February 23, 2017]. Sen, S. Korschun, B., 2006. The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Strengthening Multiple Stakeholder Relationships: A Field Experiment. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 34(2), pp.158-166. The Economist, 2016. Uberworld. The Economist. Available at: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21706258-worlds-most-valuable-startup-leading-race-transform-future [Accessed February 21, 2017]. Valor, C., 2007. A global strategic plan for corporate philanthropy. Corporate Communications: An International Journal, 12(3), pp.280-297. Verma, L., 2015. Impact of Corporate Social Responsibilities in Modern Business Environment. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, p.580.

Types of Foundations, Building Frames and Partitions

Types of Foundations, Building Frames and Partitions TASK 1.1 Alternative sub-structure solutions: In any building the superstructure, substructure (foundations) and the supporting soil acts in a coordinated way to give structural stability. Therefore the foundations act as connection between superstructure and the ground. Successful foundations should be: Foundations must be at minimum depth and size without exceeding the allowable bearing capacity of the soil. They must be strong enough to provide stability to the supporting structure. They must be able to withstand natural ground movements from corrosive chemicals, frost, moisture and heat. They must be economical and sustainable. For our Englemere Village project we used Strip and Pad foundations. Foundations can be classified as: Shallow Foundations Strip Foundations Traditional Strip Foundations Trench fill Foundations Combined- Stepped Foundations Pad Foundations Rafts Pier and Beam Foundations Deep Foundations Piled Foundations Displacement Piles Replacement Piles Shallow Foundations The foundations which are placed beneath the lowest part of the structure and near to the ground level are shallow foundations. Strip Foundations Strip foundations are the most common foundations used in construction, it is a strip of concrete running under all load bearing walls. The depth and the width of the strip foundations depends on the nature of the soil and superstructure load, they can be 500-700 mm wide and as deep as per the nature of the soil/ground. Strip foundations can be either traditional strip or trench fill and both can be stepped. Traditional Strip Foundations Strip foundations are used where soil has good bearing capacity. Load is transmitted at 45 degrees angle from the base of the wall. The width of strip foundation is three times the width of the wall. Thickness should be at least 150 mm, but 300 mm is most commonly used. Depth should be 450 mm minimum measured from finished ground level to protect from frost attack. See Appendix 1. Trench fill Foundations Trench fill is quicker and more cost effective than traditional strip. The thickness should not be less than 500 mm and should finish 150 mm below ground level. Trench should be dug to a depth where subsoil provides sufficient load bearing capacity, usually it is 1m deep. See Appendix 2. Stepped Foundations Stepped foundations are used on sloping sites. As top of foundation has to be level and on slopping sites foundations can end up too deep. Stepped foundations reduce the amount of excavating and cost. The step should not be bigger than the thickness of foundation and should work with heights of the bricks. Overlap should be at least twice the height of the step. Raft foundations Reinforced concrete raft is used when bearing capacity of soil is low. It spreads the load from structure over a large area. Reduces the amount of excavating. Concrete raft is usually at least 150 mm thick. Sometimes the raft is thickened under load bearing walls. See appendix 3. Pad foundations Pad foundations are used when isolated loads need to be supported, spreading the load to the ground below. They are used for columns or framed buildings. Pad foundations are constructed from reinforced concrete. See Appendix 4. Pier and beam foundations Pier and beam foundations are made from brick, block or timber piers on concrete pads. Beams sit on the piers and are usually raised above the ground to create a crawl space underneath. Pier and beam is a cost effective foundation for smaller buildings. See appendix 5. Deep Foundations The foundations that are constructed below ground level while using artificial arrangements such as piles can be termed as deep foundations. Pile foundations Pile foundations are used to transfer load of superstructure through weak soil onto strong soil or rock. Piles can be displacement or replacement. Pile caps or beams sit on top of the piles. See appendix 6. Displacement piles are driven into the ground by pushing the soil out of the way. They are friction piles. This method is very noisy and vibrating. But there is no soil to be removed from site. One of displacement methods is helical screw piling. A helical pile consists of a galvanised steel shaft onto which is welded a series of circular steel plates. They are power drilled in to the ground. Advantages are: fast installation, vibration and noise free, sustainability (can be removed and reused). Replacement piles remove soil and replaces with reinforced concrete. They are end bearing piles. All soil needs to be removed from site but it is less vibrating and noisy than displacement pilling. Causes of Foundation Failure Failure in transferring the load between superstructure and soil can lead to building movement and cracking, but failure of foundations cannot be held alone responsible for cracking there can be other reasons for these kind of damages. Seasonal movements, chemical attack, building alterations, trees, soil creep and variable ground conditions are few causes of foundation failures. Alternative systems for structures, envelope and roof coverings Constructed structures start with architectural and engineering plans, however all structures follow basic design steps as follows; Preparing the site Installing foundations Building the framework Enclosing the structure Finishing the exterior and interior Completing the site Building the Framework The framework depends on the foundations as foundations provide base for building the framework. Floors, interior and exterior walls, ceilings and roof are included in the building process of framework. Therefore framework provides a rigid shape and structure to the buildings. Brick and block is a traditional method of building. Brick and block houses use a cavity wall construction with a gap filled with insulation. These walls are load bearing, they support floor joist and roof. In MMC (modern method of construction) systems for structures framing process is mostly done offsite and are only erected on site. MMC system provides much quicker way of building. There are different types of frames as listed below are used in MMC systems for structures. Steel frame Timber frame Portal frame Concrete frame Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) Insulated Concrete Framework (ICF) Steel frame Steel frame construction is a quick way of building as all the parts are manufactured offsite. It is a lightweight structure compared to traditional masonry or block work. Steel frame can be used from domestic housing to really tall skyscrapers and it is a sustainable way of building as steel can be recycled many times. The skeleton is formed from vertical steel columns and horizontal I beams. All the loads are transferred to foundation through columns. Timber frame Timber frame panelling system is another fast construction method used in domestic housing. All panels and roof trusses are made offsite and erected on site in a number of days. It has 30% shorter building times than brick and block. This means the house is water tight more quickly and other trades can start work sooner. Timber frame has higher insulation properties than brick and block. Portal frame Portal frames are used for a single storey construction which requires a large floor space for example: warehouse, factories or supermarkets. It has no intermediate columns that mean large open space areas can be created within the structure. It is manufactured offsite – fast construction. Concrete frame RC (reinforced concrete) frame is a very common type of building. The skeleton is made out of vertical columns, horizontal beams and slab in between. Concrete is cast into formwork. SIP (structural insulated panels) SIPS have very good insulation value and structural strength. SIPS panels can be used in walls, floors and roofs for domestic, industrial and other constructions. SIPS are made from Polystyrene (EPS) sandwiched between two Oriented Strand Boards (OSB) making them lightweight and quick to erect by interlocking them together. ICF (Insulated Concrete Framework) ICF involves building a site with laying a series of hollow blocks, made up of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and then are pumped with ready-mixed concrete. EPS provides a high insulation wrapping around the concrete once the structure is finished. This framing system not only provides speedy construction but also it gives a protection against sudden climatic changes. Although adopting ICF will cost higher than an average timber frame build but it can provide reduced construction times and lower energy bills. Thin Joint Thin joint provides improved thermal performance and building accuracy over conventional brick and block construction. The structures are made with large aircrete block and quick drying mortar. 75% less mortar is used. This thin joint framing can be erected in no time, furthermore it provides a stability to the overall structure and an adaptation to extend the building at later date. The MMC building systems are used in order to save construction time and the cost of the construction but they must be used after reviewing the local construction laws and other weather conditions. Building Envelope The building envelope acts as a physical separator between an exterior and interior environment, therefore it can be termed as the building enclosure. It provides a shell to maintain an indoor environment of any building, it also helps in facilitating the climate control. Building envelope is exterior skin of the building that separates interior from exterior. It protects building from rain, wind and sun. Envelope includes external walls and roofs. External walls used in an envelope can be classified as follows Cavity Walls Stone cladding Load bearing stone masonry walls Glazed concrete blocks Wood cladding External walls in making an envelope must provide the bearing, insulation and shape to the building. To give more insulation to the external walls they must have insulating fillings, separate insulating layer and air insulating layer. Roof coverings Roof covering must bear the following functions; Protection of the building against rainfall, snowfall etc and other weather conditions. Protection against cold, heat, overheating, wind and noise. Protection against fire. To cover all these protections roof covering must have the following items in its architectural design Water proofing insulation Thermal insulation Wind stability Sound insulation Roofs are divided into Flat and Pitched. Flat roofs could be: Ash felt, felt, EDPM, Fibre glass, glass. Pitched roofs could be: lean to, couple, purlin, mansard, trussed, hipped, trussed rafter, attic truss. MMC alternatives for partition walls Partitions are the vertical walls or panels that are used to divide portions of the building and they can be classified as load bearing or non-load bearing. Traditionally timber was used as partitions but with the advancement in construction methods and the use of light weight partitioning and light weight insulation block, its use as a partition is decreasing significantly. Partitions can be constructed using various materials, but the most common types of partitions are: Timber Stud Partitions. Metal Stud or Dry wall Partitions. Glass Partitions. Sliding Partitions Room dividers Re-locatable office Partitions Timber Stud Partition Timber stud partitions are non-load bearing and light weight partitions. Timber stud partitions consist of wooden framework between horizontal head and sole pieces at the top and bottom of the framework and a series of uprights called studs holding the whole framework. The noggings are intermediate stiffening material placed between the studs to ensure the overall stability of the framework. Timber frame partitions are formed with butt joints or framing anchors to significantly facilitate the low labour cost and speed of erection. Plasterboard is usually used as a covering material for timber partitions. Metal Stud or Dry wall Partitions Metal stud partitions are non-load bearing partitions consisting of a metal studding framework. This metal studding makes the partitions light weight but comparatively strong and stable than timber stud partitions. They can be covered with ordinary plasterboards or special fire resistant sheets, which on final sealing can make these partitions sound proof as well as fire resistant. Metal stud partitions are quick and easy to erect, they are cost effective, sustainable for all types of buildings and they are available in variety of finishes. Due to these strong characteristics metal stud partitions are mostly used in public buildings and hospitals. The metal studs are manufactured from galvanised steel sheet folded into various shaped sections which slot into each other. The sections are produced in various lengths ranging from 2.4 m to 6 m in length and widths ranging from 50 mm to 146 mm. Glass partitions Glass fulfils an important role in creating divisions between indoors and out as well as between individual interior spaces. The technical advances in the material mean that it is suitable for a wider range of applications than ever before. †¢ Double single glazed options †¢ Excellent acoustic performance up to 47db (Rw) †¢ Attractive and Stylish †¢ Full range of manifestation options †¢ Wide range of profile colours †¢ 10mm and 12mm glazing †¢ Option of standard height or full height doors Single glazing can be used where clean lines and an aesthetically pleasing design are essential. The partitioning is designed with the minimum amount of framework to give a frameless appearance. To maintain the open feel of the office environment frameless doors or framed glass doors are fitted within the system using floor pivots and patch fittings or floor springs if required. Where desired or in order to comply with building regulations, fully glazed panels have manifestation film applied to them. These can be used to simply highlight the presence of the partitions, create individual designs or incorporate company logos using either 10/12mm toughened glass depending on the height of the partition, glazing is achieved with the use of clear glazing gaskets that remove the need for silicone around the perimeter of the system. Vertical silicone joints maintain the visual simplicity of the product or clear plastic jointing sections to provide dry joints between glass panels. Appendix 1 Traditional strip foundations Appendix 2 Trench fill foundations Appendix 3 Raft foundations Appendix 4 Pad foundations Appendix 5 Pier and beam foundations Appendix 6 Pile foundations

The Virtues of Apathy Essay -- Essays Papers

The Virtues of Apathy â€Å"I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.† Morgan Freeman speaks these words in the movie Se7en after declaring that he is going to quit his job as a detective. His character sees crimes of hate, aggression and murder every day, and he also observes the public’s reaction to them. People turn a blind eye; they no longer care. What has happened to society? Why has what used to be considered incredibly shocking dissolved into what is considered an everyday and usual activity? Apathy has become the common response of American society towards what should be considered shocking because these activities have become unshocking and â€Å"everyday†. In searching for the cause and extent of the problem of social de-shockification, one must begin with the group of writers who devoted themselves to intermixing the shocking and strange with the everyday: the surrealists. The original intention of the Surrealists was not to normalize shocking activities, but instead to make strange the â€Å"normal† and the â€Å"everyday†. These writers took the shocking and taboo items and subjects and introduced them into common circumstances so that readers would take a closer look at the circumstances, not the items introduced. Cultural analyst Ben Highmore describes it as a â€Å"juxtaposing of disparate elements† (Highmore 46). Surrealists took the evil, they took the wickedness and the debauchery, and they placed it in with the â€Å"clean† and the â€Å"good†. Opposites have the optimal effect of bringing out the different qualities of two objects. In order to defamiliarize what was good and normal, Surreal ists had to place it in juxtaposition with what was evil and unusual. One Surre... ...ly receive notice. The only problems that are solved are the ones the affect individuals. That in itself is a problem that plagues society, and it will not be fixed until apathy ceases to control the everyday lives of the American people. Works Cited - Bataille, Georges. Blue of Noon. 1957. New York: Marion Boyars Publishers, 2002. - Camus, Albert. The Fall. 1956. New York: Vintage Books, 1991. - Highmore, Ben. Everyday Life and Cultural Theory: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. - Isidore, Chris. â€Å"NCAA Rating Sag.† 25 Mar. 2003. CNNMoney. . - Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. - Se7en. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey. New Ling Home Entertainment. The Virtues of Apathy Essay -- Essays Papers The Virtues of Apathy â€Å"I just don't think I can continue to live in a place that embraces and nurtures apathy as if it was virtue.† Morgan Freeman speaks these words in the movie Se7en after declaring that he is going to quit his job as a detective. His character sees crimes of hate, aggression and murder every day, and he also observes the public’s reaction to them. People turn a blind eye; they no longer care. What has happened to society? Why has what used to be considered incredibly shocking dissolved into what is considered an everyday and usual activity? Apathy has become the common response of American society towards what should be considered shocking because these activities have become unshocking and â€Å"everyday†. In searching for the cause and extent of the problem of social de-shockification, one must begin with the group of writers who devoted themselves to intermixing the shocking and strange with the everyday: the surrealists. The original intention of the Surrealists was not to normalize shocking activities, but instead to make strange the â€Å"normal† and the â€Å"everyday†. These writers took the shocking and taboo items and subjects and introduced them into common circumstances so that readers would take a closer look at the circumstances, not the items introduced. Cultural analyst Ben Highmore describes it as a â€Å"juxtaposing of disparate elements† (Highmore 46). Surrealists took the evil, they took the wickedness and the debauchery, and they placed it in with the â€Å"clean† and the â€Å"good†. Opposites have the optimal effect of bringing out the different qualities of two objects. In order to defamiliarize what was good and normal, Surreal ists had to place it in juxtaposition with what was evil and unusual. One Surre... ...ly receive notice. The only problems that are solved are the ones the affect individuals. That in itself is a problem that plagues society, and it will not be fixed until apathy ceases to control the everyday lives of the American people. Works Cited - Bataille, Georges. Blue of Noon. 1957. New York: Marion Boyars Publishers, 2002. - Camus, Albert. The Fall. 1956. New York: Vintage Books, 1991. - Highmore, Ben. Everyday Life and Cultural Theory: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. - Isidore, Chris. â€Å"NCAA Rating Sag.† 25 Mar. 2003. CNNMoney. . - Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1929. - Se7en. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kevin Spacey. New Ling Home Entertainment.

Dictating Lies and Deception Essay -- Terrorism, Bush

September 11, 2001 marked a tragic day in the history of the United States; a terrorist attack had left the country shaken. It did not take long to determine those who were behind the attack and a call for retribution swept through the nation. Citizens in a wave of patriotism signed up for military service and the United States found resounding international support for their efforts in the war on terror. Little opposition was raised at the removal of the Taliban regime and there was much support for bringing Osama Bin Laden and the leaders of al-Qaeda to justice. Approval abroad diminished approximately a year and a half later when Afghanistan became a stepping stone to the administration’s larger ambition, the invasion of Iraq. The administration would invent several stories and in some cases remain silent of the truth where would prove positive for the Iraqi invasion. It seems they were willing to say anything to promote the largely unpopular and unnecessary war they were resolved on engaging in. Bush had been eager to go to war with Iraq from the moment he stepped into office and the administration's focus was chiefly on Iraq even before the war in Afghanistan had begun. In Where Men Win Glory, the text reveals that â€Å"in November 2001, President Bush and Vice President Cheney had instructed Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to secretly create a detailed plan for the invasion of Iraq† (Krakauer 192). Though it is almost unthinkable, the United States had been attacked this very month by al-Qaeda. The government should have been duty bound on capturing Osama Bin Laden and disbanding the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Instead, they were fashioning Iraqi invasion plans. Krakauer establishes additional proof of this stating, â€Å"th... ...n Iraq to be over. Yet, the war was far from over and Iraqis were still fighting against what they perceived as an occupation of their country by the United States. As poignantly realized five years later when over 10,000 Iraqis assembled at the very location of the statues toppling for a truly historic event. The New York Times describes that â€Å"[the Iraqis] gathered in Baghdad’s Firdos Square †¦ to protest the security agreement with the United States that is scheduled for a vote† and â€Å"demonstrators hanged a black-hooded effigy of President Bush from a column with powerful symbolism: it supported the statue of Saddam Hussein that was toppled by American troops in April 2003† (Farrell et al.). In May of the following year the Bush Administration would revisit its previous devices to conceal the truth of the circumstances surrounding the death of Patrick Tillman.

Learned Skills in Written Communication Class

1) One of my favorite parts of this class was the confusing words. I loved to be able to look them up and discover which words meant what. This skill will help me along the way of my career because I learned that when I am unsure about something I can look it up and not feel bad that I do not know the meaning because our English language is very confusing. 2) I also learned how to properly write letters and emails in business settings. I will keep a copy of the samples so I know how much white space goes where. I also learned that I need to use black or blue ink and it has to be professional blue or black. 3) I am also really interested in learning more about business etiquette in different regions. I was very impressed with the different ways that different countries used the hand shake. I was also intrigued with the fact that women are allowed in business but in some countries they have to still be ‘under’ men. 4) The ‘you’ view was an interesting section to me as well because I never would have realized the difference in the views. The ‘you’ view is so much nicer to explain something to someone it makes them feel important and like they mean something to the person writing to them. 5) The other skill I learned and am continuing to learn is editing. I like the bookmark that shows me how to correctly mark what is incorrect. I am getting better at finding what words are placed wrong and the misspelled words but and still struggling with how the prepositional phrases work. 6) I think the most difficult part of written communication for me was the editing which is why I am stating that I am still learning it. I am trying to figure out what words belong where and where to place commas or other marks. 7) I believe the easiest part for me was the confusing words. I felt this was the easiest because I really like to look up what I do not know. I am always in the mood to learn new words and always love to teach my children new and bigger words. I get a kick out of the fact my ten year old walks around telling people she loves to read the Amelia Bedilia books because there are so many idioms in them. 8) Two future uses I believe I will use are the confusing words. That I will use so I can remember to look up what I do not know and not feel bad that I have to look anything up. The second thing I believe I will use is the lists I was very interested on learning these; I believe I will use them in school and in work. I will be making proposals and writing letters to people that will need to explain things with lists.

Global Promotional Strategies Essay

The global companies try to achieve a strategic position on each market they are present in. To reach that goal, companies need to differentiate the products from competitors, while holding the costs of market communication activities at lowest level. Also global companies have to make an effort to sustain advertising campaign in all the markets in which there are present, because wherever they live people tend to react positively to companies and products they know about. In this point, global promoting strategies help brand familiarity, which plays an important role in the market. Global promotion strategies can use a standardized theme globally, but may have to make adjustments for language or cultural differences. Advantages: -Adaptation: Fully adapting an advertising message for local markets. Changes may have to be made due to media availability. -They have a high level of coordination of its market communication. -The companies can modify products for different countries. Also new products are designed for foreign markets. -To incorporate all the differences into one product design and introduce a global product. -Standardization provides benefit such as cost saving in production and marketing. Disadvantages: -It can cause communication issue based on verbal, pictorial, symbolic, idiomatic languages. -The product gives the consumer an identity so they can put the consumer in bad situations, if the products have a problem. -Cultural differences have to realize by the companies before entering the market. For example, when Barbie doll imported to China, consumer did not even buy one. Barbie was not related with Chinese appear, that is why kids did not want to play t with Barbie. After that, the company made new Barbie just looked like Chinese people; at that point they got consumer interest. In conclusion, global promotions strategies are your weapon in this economy and it is up to you to use them for your benefits or failure.