The advancement of human civilization

The development of products and modernization are in each other’s pocket.   People simply travel by foot before but now, mankind can travel by air, land and sea.A hundred years ago, a company doesn’t need computers to run its business. Today, the need to adopt information technology is a matter of necessity for the survival of business.   The advancement of human civilization is marked by advances in Sciences which is best manifested in the development of products and services available to the people.   As civilization advances, our needs also dynamically change.Advertising is at the core of change because it is primarily the method by which information about new things i.e. products and services are communicated or disseminated for the eventual adoption and acceptance of society. To say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need undermines the important role it plays in introducing and initiating progressive change in society.Moreover, to view advertising in this manner connotes a negative idea because it would distort its static function of information dissemination to a means of manipulating people into believing something that is not true.  Ã‚   Advertising is neither good nor bad but is just a means to an end.Whether that end is good or bad makes advertising good and bad as well.   This on the other hand depends on the perspective of the person who views it or on which side the person is in terms of the information that advertisement carries. An advertising campaign for Nazism is apparently bad for most people but is good in the perspective of advocates of Hitler.Advertising is a component of the marketing process i.e. under product promotion which is designed to inform potential customers about a particular product and service of a company.   Following the essence of marketing, advertisements ultimately tell us about new products that may improve our lives.   â€Å"Marketing is the management process wh ich identifies, anticipates, and supplies customer requirements efficiently and profitably.† (Hoffmann).Products are developed through market research, which involve understanding needs and preferences of customers and finding a competitive edge or differentiating it from the weaknesses and strengths of one’s competitors.   Products are therefore developed ultimately as a response to the identified and anticipated needs of the people.   Advertising functions to communicate how innovations in new products are able to address those needs for the convenience of people and generally to improve life or advance the civilization.Of course, we don’t need cars, computers or any other appliances to survive. Mankind had evolved to have all the resources he/ she needed for basic survival.   However, mankind is also not static.   It is a rational creature in a constant pursuit to improve its life by creating new products and services.   Cars where invented even thou gh we have feet for transport.   Indeed, we don’t need cars for primordial survival, but transportation had definitely and progressively changed how mankind conducted life.Advertising played the crucial role of introducing not the need but the advantage and convenience of transportation or having a car in as much as it did for all other products and services.   Advertising therefore was essentially meant to inform people of new products that are meant to improve our lives because these new products and services where designed to address or respond to our needs and preferences   In which case, advertising partakes in setting social progress by introduction of new products and services.That advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need may have stemmed from the idea of advertising as a tool for propaganda. Because propaganda as a form of communication through mass media is one sided, some modern theorists are critical and wary that this will be used by the powerful elites to impute and infuse values and beliefs which are not necessarily true but are meant to serve their own selfish purposes.   (Perry).In which case, advertisements are meant to persuade or shape people’s thoughts.   Such is the case for products and services that more than just being informative are astutely designed position product and create company image.They effectively incite people to buy things and patronize products in a subliminal and benevolent approach.   For instance, MasterCard’ priceless campaign emphasize on what is priceless; it gives less attention to the cost of what we buy or the need for buying it.   Nevertheless, credit cards indeed provide us the convenience of paying or carrying cash.   In which case, people need to be critical of the information that they receive.   Whether they need the product or service advertised is ultimately up to the consumer to decide.ReferencesHoffmann, Stefanie. Are the 4 P's of Internationa l Marketing of Equal Importance to All Firms? What Factors Might Cause Some to More Or Less Important Than Others? A Short Article, GRIN Verlag, 2008Perry, D. Theory and Research in Mass Communication: Contexts and Consequences. Erlbaum, Publications, 2002   

Major General John Newton in the Civil War

Major General John Newton in the Civil War Early Life Career Born at Norfolk, VA on August 25, 1822, John Newton was the son of Congressman Thomas Newton, Jr., who represented the city for thirty-one years, and his second wife Margaret Jordan Pool Newton.   After attending schools in Norfolk and receiving additional instruction in mathematics from a tutor, Newton elected to pursue a military career and obtained an appointment to West Point in 1838. Arriving at the academy, his classmates included William Rosecrans, James Longstreet, John Pope, Abner Doubleday, and D.H. Hill.   Graduating second in the Class of 1842, Newton accepted a commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Remaining at West Point, he taught engineering for three years with a focus on military architecture and fortification design. In 1846, Newton was assigned to construct fortifications along the Atlantic coast and Great Lakes. This saw him make various stops in Boston (Fort Warren), New London (Fort Trumbull), Michigan (Fort Wayne), as well as several locations in western New York (Forts Porter, Niagara, and Ontario).  Newton remained in this role despite the start of the Mexican-American War that year.   Antebellum Years Continuing to oversee these types of projects, Newton married Anna Morgan Starr of New London on October 24, 1848. The coupled would ultimately have 11 children. Four years later, he received a promotion to first lieutenant. Named to a board tasked with assessing the defenses on the Gulf Coast in 1856, he was promoted to captain on July 1 of that year. Heading south, Newton conducted surveys for harbor improvements in Florida and made recommendations for improving the lighthouses near Pensacola. He also served as superintending engineer for Forts Pulaski (GA) and Jackson (LA).    In 1858, Newton was made the chief engineer of the Utah Expedition. This saw him travel west with Colonel Albert S. Johnstons command as it sought to deal with rebellious Mormon settlers. Returning east, Newton received orders to serve as superintending engineer at Forts Delaware and Mifflin on the Delaware River. He also was tasked with improving the fortifications at Sandy Hook, NJ. As sectional tensions rose following the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he, like fellow Virginians George H. Thomas and  Philip St. George Cooke, decided to remain loyal to the Union.    The Civil War Begins Made Chief Engineer of the Department of Pennsylvania, Newton first saw combat during the Union victory at Hokes Run (VA) on July 2, 1861. After briefly serving as  Chief Engineer of the Department of the Shenandoah, he arrived in Washington, DC in August and aided in constructing defenses around the city and across the Potomac in Alexandria. Promoted to brigadier general on September 23, Newton moved to the infantry and assumed command of a brigade in the growing Army of the Potomac.   The following spring, after service in Major General Irvin McDowells I Corps, his men were ordered to join the newly-formed VI Corps in May. Moving south, Newton took part in Major General George B. McClellans ongoing Peninsula Campaign. Serving in Brigadier General Henry Slocums division, the brigade saw increased action in late June as General Robert E. Lee opened the Seven Days Battles. During the course of the fighting, Newton performed well at the Battles of Gaines Mill and Glendale.   With the failure of Union efforts on the Peninsula, VI Corps returned north to Washington before taking part in the Maryland Campaign that September. Going into action on September 14 at the Battle of South Mountain, Newton distinguished himself by personally leading a bayonet attack against a Confederate position at Cramptons Gap. Three days later, he returned to combat at the Battle of Antietam. For his performance in the fighting, he received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the regular army. Later that fall, Newton was elevated to lead VI Corps Third Division.   Courting Controversy Newton was in this role when the army, with Major General Ambrose Burnside at the head, opened the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13.   Positioned towards the southern end of the Union line, VI Corps was largely idle during the fighting. One of several generals who was unhappy with Burnsides leadership, Newton traveled to Washington with one of his brigade commanders, Brigadier General John Cochrane, to voice his concerns to Lincoln. While not calling for his commanders removal, Newton commented that there was a want of confidence in General Burnsides military capacity and that the troops of my division and of the whole army had become entirely dispirited. His actions helped lead to Burnsides dismissal in January 1863 and Major General Joseph Hookers installation as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Promoted to major general on March 30, Newton led his division during the Chancellorsville Campaign that May.         Remaining at Fredericksburg while Hooker and the rest of the army moved west, Major General John Sedgwicks VI Corps attacked on May 3 with Newtons men seeing extensive action. Wounded in the fighting near Salem Church, he quickly recovered and remained with his division as the Gettysburg Campaign commenced that June. Reaching the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, Newton was ordered to assume command of I Corps whose commander, Major General John F. Reynolds, had been killed the previous day. Relieving Major General Abner Doubleday, Newton directed I Corps during the Union defense of Picketts Charge on July 3.   Retaining command of I Corps through the fall, he led it during the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.  The spring of 1864 proved difficult for Newton as a reorganization of the Army of the Potomac led to I Corps being dissolved. Additionally, due to his role in Burnsides removal, Congress refused to confirm his promotion to major general. As a result, Newton reverted to brigadier general on April 18.         Ã‚  Ã‚   Ordered West Sent west, Newton assumed command of a division in IV Corps.   Serving in Thomas Army of the Cumberland, he took part in Major General William T. Shermans advance on Atlanta. Seeing combat throughout the campaign at places such as Resaca and Kennesaw Mountain, Newtons division distinguished itself at Peachtree Creek on July 20 when it blocked multiple Confederate assaults.   Recognized for his role in the fighting, Newton continued to perform well through the fall of Atlanta in early September. With the end of the campaign, Newton received command of the District of Key  West and Tortugas.   Establishing himself in this post, he was checked by Confederate forces at Natural Bridge in March 1865. Remaining in command for the rest of the war, Newton then held a series of administrative posts in Florida into 1866. Leaving the volunteer service in January 1866, he accepted a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Corps of Engineers. Later Life Coming north in the spring of 1866, Newton spent the better part of the next two decades engaged in a variety of engineering and fortification projects in New York. On March 6, 1884, he was promoted to brigadier general and made Chief of Engineers, succeeding Brigadier General Horatio Wright.   In this post two years, he retired from the US Army on August 27, 1886. Remaining in New York, he served as Commissioner of Public Works of New  York City until 1888 before becoming President of the Panama Railroad Company.   Newton died in New York City on May 1, 1895 and was buried at West Point National Cemetery.

5 Strategies That Will Help You Build Strong Workplace Skills

5 Strategies That Will Help You Build Strong Workplace Skills As we look at a brand new year, you might have the classic resolutions lined up: eat better, sleep better, be better. If your revamped goals also include being better at your job (or stepping up your game so you can nab a new job), there’s a great way to make progress without changing everything at once: build your workplace skills. This can mean bolstering skills you already have, or seeking out new ones. Saying â€Å"go forth and build skills† is one thing, but how to actually do that? Let’s look at some strategies for how to start your growth process.1. Be realistic.If you decide you want to brush up your Spanish language skills, don’t expect to be fluent in six months’ time (no matter what that app tells you). Make sure you’re setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Bound). Make sure your skill-building goals have concrete steps that can be achieved in the time and brainspace you have available.For exampl e, if you’ve been saying you’ll take that management seminar when you have a magical period of free time that never materializes, chances are you’re not going to do it this time around, either. Make sure you have the time and space in your life to work on these skills before you dive in.2. Focus on quality over quantity.Making a little progress on 10 skills is nice, but wouldn’t you rather make tons of progress on 2 skills? Pick a few areas where you can really dig in and put in the work, with the time you have available.3. Focus on process over end result.Let’s say your current plan (realistically) looks like this:1. Improve communication skills.2. Yada yada yada.3. †¦Promotion!That’s a system that isn’t going to work. It’s great to envision where you want to end up (that’s a key part of any goal setting exercise), but you can’t let the details in the middle get muddled while you focus on the end. Make sure you know exactly how you’re going to get to that endpoint by creating specific steps and touchpoints along the way. Where do you want to be in two months with this? Six months? A year?4. Pick skills that will be useful.Don’t learn Swahili because hey, why not learn Swahili? Learn Swahili because your company just opened an office in Tanzania, or because your boss’s boss is fluent, and you’d love to drop some key phrases at next year’s office holiday party. Focus on skills that will be useful to you in the short term, and that are specific to your career path. For example, if the next level at your job involves presentations, work on your public speaking skills. If data analysis is an emerging trend in your field, seek out online lessons for some ninja tricks to improve your Excel game.5. Know your existing strengths.Yes, the whole point of this exercise is to learn new things. But it will be very difficult to learn these new things if you’re going too far outside your comfort zone, and want to give up because your new skill is hard. It could very well be that you’re just not learning the skill in a way that makes sense to you. Make sure that you understand how you learn best. If it’s by watching other people do things, take online tutorials. If you process information by hearing it, seek out lectures. If you would rather read about it, head to the library. If you try to align your skill-building with your best learning style, you increase your chances of success.So what skills will you be building in the new year? We’d love to hear about your progress!

Reliability of Standardized Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reliability of Standardized Testing - Essay Example If we take into account the basic ideology of standardized testing, it deals with providing information about performance of individual students and also provides an evaluation of the program. In short, we can say that standardized testing makes not only teachers accountable for the poor performance of the students, but also holds the administration equally accountable for the result as well. This is quite pertinent, because the administration is responsible for providing the teachers the basic facilities in order to carry out their jobs, hence the teachers cannot be made scapegoats under this system. Hence this system does have reliability in the sense that every body involved in the education system is accountable to some extent. The reliability of standardized testing has been put under the scanner several times in the past, in fact, as early as in the summer of 1977, at the National Consortium on testing. In this consortium it was decided to "promote a wider understanding of standardized testing among educators, legislators and public at large" (p.2). At that point itself, there was a lot of criticism from a segment of educators and administrators who felt that there had to be changes made in the system. According to Monroe (1924), the standardized tests provided "scientific" and "standard units" (p.7) for measuring the achievements of a student. These arguments are totally valid and indicate the reliability of standardized testing. However, considering there have been enormous changes in the education system, since these comments were made. If we take the current scenario into question, we have to address a host of issues in order to answer this question. There have been a number of testing methodologies that have emerged since then, and in the current scenario, we have to take these into consideration while evaluating the reliability of standardized testing. One of the strongest proponents of standardized testing was Atkinson (2001), who had argued that for use of only standardized tests in admission process in U.S Universities, as he believed that they were quite reliable and provided were fair. He was right in the sense that standardized tests not only provide comprehensive evaluation of the performance of the student, but also strengthen the basic foundation and principles involved in teaching. There are may be varying opinions over standardized testing, but there is no doubt that standardized testing is quite effective efficient. The reliability has often been questioned partly due to the efficiency and effectiveness of this methodology. As mentioned before standardized testing not only evaluates the performance of student, but also tests the efficacy of the teachers, administration and the school itself. In this way everybody involved in the system is accountable and that raises doubts that people involved may get desperate and adopt illegal mechanisms, so that they are not held accountable and this is the reason why the reliability of standardized testing has been questioned. However, the opponents of standardized education system believe that the problem with accountability is that it could cause a cascading effect; in the sense that the teachers may be influenced to design the

Software testing issues Related to project Failure or Success Essay

Software testing issues Related to project Failure or Success - Essay Example Such is the case that if the defects are transferred all the way to the final acceptance testing phase of the project life cycle, the greater risk of time consumption and costing increases. Consequently, small effort advanced towards quality assurance will help reduce expenses to a greater degree with regard to detecting and rectifying the defects. To better understand the effectiveness of the processes of agile software; it is important to gather facts on defects identified in the previous projects and also examine how the same defects can be eliminated following process improvements and application of newer methodologies. This paper presents comprehensive view on the defect prevention techniques and practices that can be followed in agile software development. In handling this topic the paper will look into related work and further discusses the need for defect deterrence. Additionally, the work will address handle issues of improvement workflow along with the illustration of various stages, the root cause analysis and determination of precautionary action. Agile software defect simply refers to â€Å"Imperfections in agile software development process that would cause agile software to fail to meet the desired expectations†. During the long and complex process of agile software development, lot of defects frequently occurs. One misleading notion is that defects crop into the process at the start of the cycle and is eliminated all through the remaining development phases. The truth is that defects form part of the development process from the very beginning to the end, a factor that makes its prevention an essential part in the agile software process quality improvement. Defect prevention (DP) refers to quality improvement process whose aim is to discover regular causes of defects and prevent their reoccurrence through alteration of the relevant process (es).

Lupin Marketing Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Lupin Marketing Plan - Essay Example Perceptual map has also been prepared to analysis the competitor’s position in the industry so that Lupin can implement strategies accordingly along with the 4Ps. Finally to measure the effectiveness of the business plan, balance scorecard will be used which will determine the working and effectiveness of the strategies adopted and if any changes to be made in the business plan. Contents 1.Executive Summary 2 Contents 3 2. Introduction 5 3. Situation Analysis 5 4. SWOT Analysis 8 5. Evaluation of Alternative Strategies 10 6. Objectives 11 7. Recommended Strategy 12 8. Economic Evaluation 15 9. Implementation and Control 16 9.1 Managing, measuring and controlling 16 9.2 Contingency plan 17 Reference 18 Bibliography 19 Appendix 20 25 2. Introduction With globalization acting as a permanent as well as irreversible part of the economy and economic life providing the firms with both opportunities as well as challenges to prove themselves and compete in the competing market environm ent. Therefore international expansion has become one of the prominent strategic responses towards global dynamics for organizations. International expansion can be defined as a process through which the multinational enterprise enters and also invest in some foreign country in pursuit of strategic objectives (Luo, 1999, p. 5). The project report highlights the process of internationalization and the benefits involved in the process of going global. The company taken into consideration is Lupin pharmaceuticals which is among the top five pharmaceuticals companies in India. Lupin Pharmaceuticals plans to enter America with its product generic, specialty and API. The reason behind choosing America is that US is the largest market for pharmaceuticals and is also global leader in biopharmaceutical research. The US market provides a free pricing market and a favorable and also regulatory environment (Select USA, n.d). By entering the US market particularly America, Lupin aims to capture the market share and build in brand value in the international market. 3. Situation Analysis 3.1 Business Environment Political Pharmaceutical industry has over the years gathered political focus as well as pressure from the government across the globe and its impact has been highly experienced in US industry. The US pharmaceutical industry tends to operates differently as compared to other national industries. Consumers and patients do not pay for their drugs directly, but receive them through government run healthcare systems. Political factors play a huge role in the regulation of distribution, manufacturing and also sale of the pharmaceutical with regards to safety of its consumer. The Food and Drug Administration is the regulatory body in the US and sets a standard of quality (Castner, Hayes & Shankle, 2007). Economic The US pharmaceutical industry has been for decades among the most profitable and also growing sector encountered by the American economy.

Timber Frame Housing Construction

Timber Frame Housing Construction Timber frame housing a viable alternative to masonry Construction 1.1 Introduction Chapter one of this dissertation will review relevant articles of primary and secondary data to evaluate the hypothesis: Timber Frame construction a viable alternative to masonry construction. The main objective of this literature review is to increase the knowledge and understanding of the research and to critically apprise all that has been researched on timber frame construction in comparison to masonry construction. The literature review will be categorised into the following areas: Environmental impact Factors effecting Construction Costs. ( time savings, prelim costs Barriers effecting timber frame Fire resistance, acoustic, Thermal etc The literature review compares the opinion of other researchers and what they have discovered and done in relation to such aspects in timber frame construction 1.2 Environmental impact of timber frame construction in comparison to masonry construction. 1.2.1 Materials Roaf (2004 p.13) quotes buildings are our third skin. To survive we need shelter from the elements using three skins the first is provided by our own skin, the second by a layer of clothes and the third is the building. In some climates it is only with all three we can provide sufficient shelter to survive, in others the first skin is enough. The more extreme the climate, the more we have to rely on the building to protect us from the elements. Just as we take off and put on clothes as the weather and the climate changes so we can alter our buildings to adopt climate change Therefore one must investigate which method of construction is best suited to ones needs taking into account costs, environmental consequences and aspects such as thermal, acoustical and fire resistance so therefore they can life in a comfortable dwelling There appears to a be a huge demand in the construction industry to improve the efficiency in buildings, therefore to control climate change and to make this happen one must look firstly on the construction of our buildings and what method has the best impact on the environment. The author feels there is a strong case for investigating the timber frame approach as it has a potential for creating sustainable homes. Practices such as energy efficiency, recycling and the use of sustainable materials and products need to become inherent parts of the design and construction process and in some cases, displace traditional construction process and practices sustainable homes (2000), As Some materials used in construction can damage the environment: they can create pollution, while others are produced in an energy intensive process. Reclaimed material and products made from recycled material are less likely to cause environmental damage. It is important that materials should be judged on their lifecycle and their performance once they are installed. Buchann and honey, (1994) also suggest that there is a growing awareness that in the choice of building materials, the designer must not only consider the traditional requirements, but also the resource base and the effects on the environment of extraction, manufacture and processing of the building material, as the amount of primary energy used can have huge effects on greenhouse gas emissions. Borjesson and Gustavasson (2000) agrees with this statement as he suggests that, The substitution of sustainability produced wood material for other construction materials can reduce net Co2 emissions, Quack (2001) is in support of this statement with after the results of his study show that the life cycle of each house is independent of the construction materials. Sustainable homes (2000) discuses that timber is possibly the only renewable resource in the construction sector. According to Timber construction (2007) timber frame construction is the only environmentally friendly material available, as it claimed to be a carbon neutral. Claiming 800 kg of carbon dioxide is saved for every cubic meter of wood used. Stating that when comparing a 100m2 timber frame and masonry house, a total of 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved as a timber frame dwelling contains 5-6 cubic meters mores timber IPCC (1996) agrees that the manufacture of wood products normally requires less energy than that of alternative product which in results compares to the statements made above. Noren (2001) studied timber frame and traditional masonry houses over their lifecycle and claims that timber frame houses are a better environmental change to implement as carbon dioxide is reduced on every stage of the buildings life. Sutton (2007) is in agreement with this statement, claiming timber frame emit 16.5 % less carbon dioxide over the life of the building in comparison to its counterpart masonry construction. But However Brunklaud and baumann (2002) suggest after having examined reports on the environmental impacts of different materials on timber frame and masonry construction that wood has the lowest environmental impact in terms of embodied carbon dioxide emissions, but however over a complete lifecycle, building operational emissions is the most important factor regardless of the materials chosen, and that it is improvements to reduce operational emissions that will benefit the overall environmental impact of a building. Bjorklund and Tillman (1997) also agree as results show that timber frame has a better environmental impact at manufacture stage but however masonry can match timber frame over the life of the building Sustainable homes (2000) indicates that buildings accounts for 50% of all co2 emission and on average a house produces 7.5 tonnes of co2 every year, four tonnes if built to current regulations. It is not therefore, difficult to see the benefits of increasing the insulation capacity of the building envelope as one mechanism for reducing the amount of fossil fuels required in running our homes This statement above agrees to such statements from the majority of authors such as Buchann and honey, Borjesson and Gustavasson, Brunklaud and baumann, that much thought should be put into materials such as the fabric, structure of your house and your insulating materials therefore reducing the need of burning fossil fuels Although timber frame has a better environmental impact at manufacture stage from reports above it can be argued that masonry can achieve as a good an impact on the environment as timber frame over the life of the building. 1.2.2 Waste Impact A dictionary definition of environment waste is that of any substance, solid, liquid or gaseous for which no use can be found by the organisation or system that produces it for which a method of disposal must be devised. (RICS, 2009) However (Mnyani 2003, pg4-5) describes it as any waste that is generated during the process of construction, leftovers that are to be disposed post construction and this includes demolition debris. The construction industry is one of the largest industrial sectors in the UK, Construction and demolition waste represents roughly 17 per cent of total waste production in the UK, making the construction industry the largest generator of controlled waste in the country (DETR, 1999). It is estimated that some 70 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste arise annually (Environment Agency Website, 2000). Ekanaye Ofori 2000 indicate from their study on 230 different building sites, they found that waste levels for specific materials is consistently higher than the estimated level for all materials studied. New purchases to replace wasted materials rework to correct mistakes, delays and dealing with generated waste cause heavy financial losses to the contractor. Therefore the author feels the use of timber frame construction will play a good role in reducing waste as the timber frame panels arrive on site and are erected in a matter of hours in support of this (Glynn, 2000) points out that Arrival on site timber frame kit and erected in less than a week, approx 1 4 days This therefore cuts out on materials been damaged as a result of lying around the site, but however (Johnson, 1981p6) states that Waste occurs on site for a number of reasons, most of which can be prevented, this waste can occur form the Misinterpretation of drawing, Overestimating of quantity required, Faulty workmanship and Careless handing of materials. From this statement timber frame construction exceeds masonry as wastage on site can be reduced significantly by the maximum use of prefabricated units. As well as reducing wastage, quality control and efficiency during manufacture of standard materials in the factory means that the net amount of material required for production of the final component is minimised. Factory conditions make the use of off cuts more likely. Recycling and reuse of materials have long been associated with wise construction practises. Experienced contractors are now reaping the economic advantage of construction waste management. Many of the contractors that have embraced waste management have made changes to their operation and practices to take advantage of reduced waste disposal costs and revenues derived from recycle, reuse and salvage materials. Utilizing, reuse and salvage methods on site reduces materials that end up in the landfill, creates a cleaner and safer project site and improves community relations. 1.3 Factors effecting costs. Mark Windsor spokesperson for Design and Materials Company suggests that costs for masonry are the same for timber frame houses http://www.designandmaterials.uk.com/materials/brick-and-block.html To evaluate this statement Glynn (2000) demonstrates a construction programme in the following charts. Timber Frame Programme Foundations for kit are prepared, approx 1.5 weeks. Arrival on site timber frame kit and erected in less than a week, approx 1 4 days. External doors and windows fitted to seal house from external elements, approx 1 week. During phase three the roof is erected, felted and battened and tiled, approx 1.5 weeks. External cladding completed approx 1.5 weeks. During phase five, first fix electricity, plumbing and carpentry can begin, approx 2.5 weeks. Internal wiring and pipe work to be complete, approx 2 3 days. Drying out period, approx 2 4 days. Start second fix services, approx 2 3 weeks. Decoration can now begin and client takes over. This concludes timber frame programme at twelve weeks. Source (Kenneth Glynn, Prefabricated timber frame construction, 2000) Traditional masonry programme Foundations for kit are prepared, approx 1.5 weeks. Masonry envelope can commence approx 4 5 weeks. About one week after envelope commenced, fixing and glazing the doors, approx 3 weeks. During phase three, the roof is erected, felted and battened and tiled, approx 1.5 weeks. Note scaffolding will be on site for the majority of the above. During phase five, first fix electricity, plumbing and carpentry can begin, approx 2.5 weeks. Internal wiring and pipe-work to be complete, approx 2 3 days. Start second fix services, approx 2 3 weeks. Decoration can now begin and client takes over. This concludes traditional masonry programme at about twenty weeks. Source (Kenneth Glynn, Prefabricated timber frame construction, 2000) In examination of the construction programmes, there is a large differential in time scale between inception and move in dates. It is possible to come to the conclusion based on the solid facts that the programmes portray to us that the development of the timber frame house is by far the most efficient in terms of speed in completion. The difference in weeks is quite substantial with the programme of development comprising of the timber frame method of construction far more efficient with an overall saving of about eight to nine weeks. A timber house is usually watertight by week five of the build; by contrast a traditional masonry house is not watertight for nine or ten weeks. Traditional construction methods are extremely vulnerable to inclement weather conditions. Such inclement weather conditions will cause delay to the overall completion of the project, this is not a factor for timber frame construction as all internal works can began at week five, despite any external weather c onditions. By Glynn 2000 contrasting these two construction programmes it shows that the timber frame programme would offer a rapid development construction to meet market demand thus providing a return on your development almost of immediate effect. In support of Glynn an article in built it magazine states When comparing timber frame to masonry, masonry is generally the slower of the two. However this article indicates one must factor in time it takes to get a timber frame onto site from the date it is ordered, which can take up to 16 weeks ( Build It magazine, published May 2008.) However from examining Glynn 2000 construction programme there are direct costs saving advantages such as reduced construction time, overheads and less waste. Other factors that should be considered when carrying out a cost benefit analysis are the preliminaries costs as early off-hire of cranes and scaffolding due to reduced construction times and also reduced on site labour which saves money. With brick and block, build costs are spread over a longer period of time. However one must consider the overall programme cost reductions by timber frame construction. Timber Frame is touted to have the following advantages: That it is a faster method of construction with the ability to halve the total on-site construction duration; That it requires less on-site labour; That large number of units can be constructed within a short time; That the faster construction and reduced on-site work brings financial benefits to the developer in terms of shorter period of financing the project and completed buildings being put up for sale much faster. Factory-produced homes are usually erected on site in a matter of days. Once up, the internal finishes can be started right away, which can produce further time savings. However, there may be lengthy delays involved in getting the frame built. Also bear in mind that thin-joint masonry promises many of the speed advantages of timber frame. The NHBC estimates up to a three-month time saving by choosing timber. On Price For many years, timber frame used to be thought of as a little more expensive, but advocates claimed that you could claw back any extra expense by shortening the length of the job overall, thus reducing overhead and finance costs. However, more recently the picture has become confused. Blocklayers became very expensive, eroding the cost differential; while timber frame factories became very busy, lengthening the time taken to process the orders, and thus losing much of the speed advantage. The fact is that there really isnt that much cost difference. As a rule, masonry sits better (and cheaper) behind a brick or stone skin, whilst timber frame comes into its own behind a lightweight external skin such as timber. Representatives of both timber frame and brick and block would agree that there is relatively not much of a difference in the cost between the two constructions techniques. If timber frame is chosen for its quick build time, One believes that overall the cost benefits of timber frame houses offer better value as the proposed development would include rapid construction to meet market demand thus providing a return on your development almost of immediate effect. . The speedy construction of timber framed houses enables the contractor to construct a large number of houses in a relatively short period of time. A timber frame house owner would also have the added benefit of a more energy efficient home 1.4 Perception of timber frame and its barriers: The use of timber frame construction of houses has faced many challenges in recent years as other materials such as sandcrete blocks, concrete blocks and brick replaced timber as main building construction materials due to many barriers such as psychological barriers mainly form general public. The public perception of timber frame construction in comparison to the traditional masonry construction. B.k. Baiden, E. Badu, F.S Menz (2004) is as follows Timber can consumed by fire if used in building construction, Durability is relatively poor structural ability The lack of understanding and cynical views expressed by the public on the fire resistance, durability and structural properties of timber frame structures initially made Timber frame construction to received negative comments throughout the last few decades and has came under scrutiny which has influenced the negative perception the general public have adopted The timber frame industry was effectively killed off overnight in the early 1980s, after the world in action programme raised a number of doubts about the standards of construction Barrys (2002) Timber frame construction has received negative comments throughout the last few decades and has come under scrutiny which has influenced the negative perception the general public have adopted. Some members of the public associate timber with been a fuel for fire and therefore timber frame structures are more liable to ignite. The author feels this is a harsh and unjust assessment, which has restricted the growth of timber frame housing during the 1980s and the early 1990s when it could have gained a valuable foot hold in the housing market during this period. However in recent years the only slight concerns remain in the public domain and this has helped timber frame housing to gain a 30% share in the domestic housing market. Many professionals in the timber frame industry believed that consumers no longer had doubts regarding fire, which will be illustrated later in the questionnaire conducted by the author. Government reports indicate that There are some residual reservations about timber frame among architects, engineers, builders, administrative bodies, financial institutions and insurance companies as well as with end users. Perceived problems with timber frame construction in the housing market from both the end users and local authorities would include a perceived greater risk of fire, issues of sound attenuation in a timber structure and the impact such a structure might have on the security of the end user. however Narty 1971 states that Timber constructed houses can be built to last for a period of 40-100 years, this suggests that timber frame construction is every bit as good as the traditional masonry method. Most people perceive a brick block house to be more solid than timber frame http://www.buildstore.co.uk/mykindofhome/events/different-building-systems-weekend-in-detail.html Traditional masonry cavity walls, most commonly brick with an inner structural leaf of concrete block, have dominated house building in the UK for the past eighty years, but there are a number of other systems that are gradually making inroads, including timber frame, http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/files/constructionmethods.pdf One question that perpetually raises its head is which is cheapest of the two most prevalent systems timber frame or brick and block? The author will look in great detail at the properties in timber frame buildings to evaluate the perception in the industry towards timber frame and why they think masonry is the better construction overall. 1.4.1 Fire resistance: Barry (1998) states that although timber is a combustible material, it can function as a structural member for a longer period than an unprotected metal member provided it is of adequate section White (1999) agrees with this statement saying The relatively good structural behaviour of timber in fire is due to the fact that it has uniform strength through the mass. The load bearing capacity is therefore reduced in proportion to the loss of the cross section, the unburned section, however, retains a full high strength Forest products research institute (1988) also agrees with this; as the results from a study showed that timber of sufficient size is difficult to burn because of cross sections decompose relatively slowly due to its low thermal conductivity and the formation of charcoal on the outer sections Sustainable houses (2000) agrees with the above as it states that timber frame homes tested to BS476 demonstrate that they exceed these requirements BRE structural survey (2002) indicates that in the TF 2000 BRE project no evidence to suggest that timber frame construction suffers disproportionally form problems of poor workmanship or that it is exposed to higher risks of fire spread than traditional masonry counterpart. In support of this TRADA and BRE fire safety research concluded that Timber frame performs as well as other construction in fire and life safety is at no greater risk. 1.4.2 Thermal: Sustainable (2000) suggests that one of the most commonly identified advantages of timber frame systems in relation to thermal performance, The most important factor by far being the structural envelope. The most basic timber frame home will exceed current building regulations requirements In support of this statement Doran (2008) BRE states timber frame insulation solutions lend themselves to going significantly beyond the minimum thermal performance requirements Timber frame can easily meet current regulations by increasing stud size therefore increasing the amount of insulation, giving a better U-value. With the governments publication of new regulations in 2006 part L relating to energy conservation and ventilation in new homes Timber frame uk suggests that with the introduction of these new part L regulations for new built homes timber frame housing has increased because of its suitability for modern building and it can comply with the new regulations so easily and cost effectively With timber being a poor conductor of heat Barry (1993), the thermal conductivity is very low making it a natural insulator which is two to four times of common insulating materials Simpson (1999) However Doran 2008 indicates that to achieve the expected thermal performance in timber frame dwellings requires good workmanship 1.4.3 Acoustic: Sound is a form of energy which can be transmitted over a distance from its source through a medium, such as air or a solid element of construction e.g. a wall or a floor. A construction based website Homebuilding.Co.uk indicates that heavyweight building techniques have a clear advantage here. But in detached housing, the chief area of concern is noise between floors and most masonry homes actually have timber intermediate floors, so in this respect there is little difference http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/feature/construction-systems-masonry-vs-timber Sustainable (2000) indicates that timber frame masonry outperforms masonry party walls by some margin In support of this Trada (2000) agrees with this statement indicating lightweight timber frame party walls between semi-detached or terraced houses and flats and party floors between flats meet the current requirements of the building regulations for sound insulation. However many authors argue this (.) stating that building mass is the only way to provide high sound insulation. An article by Clive Fewins, published in home building and Renovating magazine agrees with the above statement with regards to the public perception, where the public perception of masonry built is strong and durable A masonry structure gives a house a feeling of solidity, as the density of the blocks provides a high level of acoustic mass Trada state Its interesting that even our standard 140mm timber frame walls are 20 per cent more thermally efficient than current building regulations demand. Sound insulation is more efficient too with a timber frame, compared with other methods of construction. This public perception of the acoustic performance of timber frame has also played a role in hindering the growth of timber frame housing but these unsubstantiated views have been contradicted by a number of independent assessments within the industry. However BRE are in favour of timber frame building stating, If all dwellings had sound insulation as good as that measured in party walls of timber frame homes, the problems of noise from neighbours would be greatly reduced. Just like any other new homes, when built with good standards of workmanship, timber frame homes will meet all current Building Regulations and Standards on sound insulation and acoustic performance. It is commonly assumed that only solid walls that are found in traditional masonry houses can guarantee you peace and quiet. In 2003 tests were carried out by (BRE) the Building Research establishment on Robust Details that can be used by any designer and house builder, this research proved that timber frame houses performed best out of any construction method. This research was also reviewed on the UKs largest database of test cases on sound performance going back over 17 years, by Dr Sean Smith of Napier University who also stated the superior sound performance of timber frame houses. A statement from Dr Sean smith in a recent website article on timber frame construction shows after researching on acoustical performance how he personally feels timber frame can easily outperform current regulations Our research shows that timber frame party walls are the best performing in the industry for current and future regulations. The (Irish timber frame association) suggest the importance of mass has always been perceived as been vital to achieve good sound insulation, however reliance on mass alone would be impractical and a largely unpopular method of improving sound performance. In recent years other characteristics have became more important such as isolation, stiffness, absorbency and air tightness. Isolation makes it more difficult for sound to propagate through the building by introducing physical breaks, this is an important for good sound insulation, and the cavity walls in both house types perform this function. Stiffness of structural members, gives greater resistance to structure borne vibration caused by sound. Absorbency in voids helps dampen sound and finally by ensuring the separating structures are totally sealed, sound leakage through gaps is avoided. It is widely accepted that timber frame construction is exploiting these characteristics and is well ahead of other methods when the regulatio ns change in the future. Noise nuisance within homes is becoming a more widespread concern in modern times as ownership televisions, stereos and game consoles are at an all time high and this is causing conflict among neighbours. The findings of BRE have contradicted the public perception that mass is essential to gain high-quality acoustic performance. Durability: Narty (1971) argues that The Durability of timber is often discussed with reference to fungi, or insect attack. In absence of these, timber is remarkably resistant and will survive for long periods of time; the author has found such evidence as the Egyptian tombs which are over 200 years old. BRE (1996) conducted two large scale independent surveys and found no instances of rot caused by water ingress. And all timber exposed areas (Cavity) that are preservative treated shall cause little trouble In support of this Simpson (1999) agrees with this statement suggesting that timber kept constantly dry does not decay and a large proportion timber used is kept dry and can last for very long periods 1.5 Advantages of timber frame over masonry: Timber frame offers a number of advantages compared to most other forms of construction The previously stated the u turn for the rise in popularity for timber frame methods of construction has not been unfounded, with large benefits to the client and contractor been identified as the basis for this success. Many of the countrys contractors in the housing are now seriously considering this technique because it, provides high quality houses, quickly and cost effectively Source (Prefabrication-solution to an overstretched industry, Nov 2001, The Irish construction Industry Magazine) The greater use of well-designed timber frame houses will help ease the pressures on traditional construction trades, it also has the benefit of helping to speed up projects and help ensure cleaner and safer sites Source (Webb, M., The construction magazine, Prefabrication Report) On Speed Factory-produced homes are usually erected on site in a matter of days. Once up, the internal finishes can be started right away, which can produce further time savings. However, there may be lengthy delays involved in getting the frame built. Also bear in mind that thin-joint masonry promises many of the speed advantages of timber frame. The NHBC estimates up to a three-month time saving by choosing timber.