Factors Influencing Accuracy of Cost Estimates for Early Building

Question: Discuss about theFactors Influencing Accuracy of Cost Estimates for Early Building. Answer: Introduction During estimation, various factors need to be put under consideration in that the market condition produces a grave effect on the estimation. These many market factors that pose an influence to the cost estimates include the material quality, material prices, and material availability. Also, there comes a number of methods that can be put to use in conducting cost estimation. These methods include a functional unit, cubic method, floor area unit and Storey enclosure(Austroads Elisa, 2014). Factors influencing accuracy of cost estimates in early stage building Material Prices This factor is an example of the very fluctuating factors present in the wide market. The materials used in construction have a range starting from large items that include gravel, steel, bricks, concrete, timber, electronic and plumbing fittings to the smaller more basic materials that are the screws and nails. The cost of buying the materials named above is heavily affected by the production ability of the manufacturer. The manufacturers ability affects in a way that when these materials are bought during times that their orders are many, then their prices are set to be higher than the times when their orders are much lesser. Prices of materials also are affected by the volume of buyers present to the volume of materials present. When the buyers are more the materials prices get high(Chudley Greeno, 2016). Material Quality In estimation, material quality in the used materials also need to be added to the considerations in that when a higher quality material is used, the cost is directly affected and increases. However, there are incidences that the cost of construction increases due to the use of low-quality materials. This incidence is due to the overall material loss in the construction process. Low-quality materials tend to damage easily when used. Thereby forcing more funds to be routed for repair hence increasing the material estimate. The easily damageable material occurs due to the lacking standards in the material and management systems. An example can be taken from the Mara large Project case scenario. It is therefore concluded that a profitable construction is doable by use of high-quality materials that meet minimum standard required in the construction job that ultimately evades repair of construction materials. High-quality materials reduce the overall cost estimate of the project being un dertaken in that the material will last for a longer duration of time before it collapses. Faulty materials should be avoided(Ashworth Perera, 2015). Material Availability In availability, the ease of finding any raw material that is to be used in construction affects cost estimation. For example, if raw construction materials like stone or timber are obtained easily, then the cost estimation of the construction project is reduced. In cases where the materials required are difficult to obtain in the surrounding area, the cost estimation is increased(Spain Bryan, 2010). Material sustainability is also an influencing factor. An example is when a material is found commonly in the surrounding area then the cost reduces but if it is difficult to locate, the cost sky rockets. Take the teak tree, the tree is not easy to grow and lack of conducive climate in the neighboring are makes it not be grown thereby it requires transportation to the site(Goodman, et al., 2016). This, therefore, increases the cost per meter. Hence it is advisable to use materials commonly present and inexpensive. One more advice is the need to locate the constructing area in places nea r material sources to avoid transportation costs. Availability in terms of quantity is critical when buying materials. If materials are bought in bulk from one supplier they become cheaper than if bought from a variety of suppliers. Moreover, the bulk buying reduces the loss of materials. Loss due to thievery and wastage is avoidable. An example such as the buying of yard lumber from a yard supplier, bricks supplied by brick-makers and screws supplied by store owners would increase cost rather than buying all these from one supplier. Regularity and adequacy in supplying materials is a very crucial issue since irregular or late delivery or delivery of wrong material types in project construction might affect the utilization of other relating resources. Material availability can be calculated and estimated by the wastage anticipation technique, thievery anticipation, and anticipation of uninsured material theft or making a contingency plan by increasing estimate by a small percentage. These techniques allow cover of unforeseen events hence securing cost estimation(Curtis Veechi, 201). Comparison of commonly used preliminary estimating techniques ESTIMATING TECHNIQUE DESCRIPTION ACCURACY REQUIRED INFORMATION POPULARITY CONVENIENCE 1. Functional Unit Method Estimates are prepared from a similar project Low accuracy. Adequate historical data of similar project. Limited to public projects. Allows preparation of similar projects 2. Floor Area Unit Method Total floor area between external walls in all storeys is measured without deductions for items. Medium accuracy. The cost of the historical square-meter and the calculated floor area. Most popular. Used in projects with simple designs. 3. Cubic Method Cost of the building is related to its volume Low accuracy. Buildings volume and related cost. Less used. It is simple 4. Storey Enclosure Method. An estimation system uses buildings shape, vertical and horizontal floor areas. Most accurate. Buildings horizontal and vertical plane areas. Little application Used in designs requiring huge data amounts. Conclusion. The cost estimation in project construction is heavily affected by the material quality, material prices, and material availability. Material quality being the influence of minimum standards required for construction materials, the material prices being influenced by the proximity of the construction site to raw resources and the orders being placed at the moment(Smith, et al., 2016). Material availability is affected by the sustainability of raw materials required. All these factors in materials influencing the cost estimation in early stage building. The cost estimation in construction projects can be approximated by applying the various methods indicated such as cubic method, storey enclosure method, floor area unit method and the functional unit method(Pratt David, 2011). Reference List Ashworth, A. Perera, S., 2015. Cost Studies of Buildings. 6 ed. Townsville: Taylor Francis. Austroads, L. Elisa, C., 2014. Building and Construction Procurement Guide: Principles and Options. Perth: Austroads Limited. Chudley, R. Greeno, R., 2016. Building Construction Handbook. 11 ed. Hobart: Routledge. Curtis Veechi, 201. Small Business For Dummies. 3 ed. Melbourne: John Wiley Sons. Goodman, R., Buxton, M. Moloney, S., 2016. Planning Melbourne: Lessons for a Sustainable City. 1 ed. Melbourne: Csiro Publishing. Pratt David, 2011. Estimating for Residential Construction. 2 ed. Sydney: Cengage Learning. Smith, J., Jaggar, D. Love, P., 2016. Building Cost Planning for the Design Team. 3 ed. Sydney: Routledge. Spain Bryan, 2010. Spon's First Stage Estimating Handbook, Third Edition. 3 ed. Mackay: CRC Press.

Online social networks

Table of Contents Introduction Appropriateness of social network services Governing social networks Benefits of social networks Demerits of social networks Conclusion Reference List Introduction Social networking is perhaps the most popular computing phenomenon in the contemporary society. It is a relatively new phenomenon and thus most governments have few or no legislations for regulating its use.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Online social networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has made social networking services counterproductive because some people may misuse these services. The issue of whether social networking services are appropriate in the society has therefore attracted a lot of controversy with both the supporters and opponents of social networking services giving good reasons for their standpoint. This paper is an analysis of social networks using a utilitarian approach. Appropriateness of social network services The feelings of utility that a person gets in a social networking environment will indubitably affect his/her attitude towards social networking. If the user finds fulfilment in interacting with people on social networks, he/she will be enjoying a utility in that fulfilment, and thus he/she will value the use of social networks. The utility in this case is brought about by the various applications that provide services in the social networking environment (Swire, 2011). Such services include platforms for sharing information with family members, workmates, school mates and other contacts.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Others include gaming applications, online chatting applications, applications for sharing pictures and videos, etc. The aforementioned applications and services are appropriate for use in social networking environments depending on wh o uses them and how he/she uses them. This is because users of social networks can choose the applications and services from which they get utility. The utility in this case may be negative or positive. For instance, if a young adult’s main need in social networking is to communicate effectively with his/her partner, he/she may find more utility in the online chatting applications in some social networking sites. In addition to the online chatting service, the young adult may find utility in the direct messaging service in order to cut down on cell phone costs. This implies that these services are appropriate for him/her in this scenario. As mentioned above, the appropriateness of social networking services depend on who is using the services, and also on how he/she uses the services. For instance, there have been cases of adults posing as teenagers to teenage girls in order to molest them. There have also been cases of murderers planning their crimes using social networks. I n these cases, it can be argued that social networking services are inappropriate.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Online social networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because despite the fact that the criminal gets utility by undertaking his/her criminal activities, his/her actions result in community disutility. Therefore, the appropriateness of social networking services depends on who is using the services. Governing social networks There are a number of legal issues associable with social networking. One of these issues is the need to protect the providers of social networking services legally. There is also the issue of online defamation in social networks, and also the issue of posting illegal content (Long, n.d., p. 1). In countries where there are laws governing social networking interactions, the law is seemingly more lenient on the users of social networks than on the content providers. Thi s is especially the case in issues like posting of defamatory news and other related inappropriate social network activities (Long, n.d., p. 1). The government should take a lead role in governing of social networks. Responsible government Ministries/Departments/Agencies (MDAs) should develop legislation governing social networks (Diagle, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The MDAs should follow all the steps of legislation and thus before application of the legislation, it should be approved by parliament. After the legislation comes into force, the government should create a body/agency responsible for online communications. This agency will ideally be responsible for communications on social networks and other online platforms like websites and blogs. Benefits of social networks One of the advantages of social networks is the fact that social media networks have worldwide connectivity. This allows people to find their contacts easily no matter the distance. It also gives people convenience in their lives by helping in issues like finding romance, getting advice, getting assistance, getting jobs, etc (Cosmato, 2012, p. 1). Another advantage of social networks is the fact that the social networking environment is designed in such a way that it is easy to identify people with common interests. This will enable people to share resources like game resou rces, and it can also help people to unite for a common cause. An example of the latter is the political transformation that occurred in Egypt recently. Facebook, a social networking site, made a key contribution in this revolution. Almost all social networks have a feature for instant messaging. This means that users can exchange information by means of chatting in real-time. This is advantageous because people can exchange large volumes of information in a short period of time. Social networks also offer a platform for free advertising. This can be resourceful for non-profit organizations and other organizations with limited resources (Cosmato, 2012, p. 1). Demerits of social networks One of the disadvantages of social networking is the fact that it eliminates or reduces face-to-face interactions among individuals. This has made several people to assume personas that are different from whom they really are. The lack of face-to-face interaction has also brought about a lot of evil in social interactions because it is easier to be rude, arrogant, unreasonable and abusive in an instant messaging platform than it is in face-to-face interactions. The â€Å"use of social networks can expose individuals to harassment or inappropriate contact from others† (Cosmato, 2012). For instance, children are vulnerable to paedophiles who may pretend to be teenagers living in their neighbourhood. Children may also access inappropriate content that get posted on social networks by unreasonable users. This content can be in the form of pornographic images and videos, or even erotic language. Information that is posted online is easily available to people who are clever enough to get it. If a fraudster gets the personal information of their target, he/she can use it to steal from that person and this can prove to be very costly to the targeted person. In addition to all these disadvantages, social networks waste a lot of time for people and thus they make people to spend t ime unproductively. Conclusion From the discussion above, it is clear that social networks and their services are appropriate. It is the unethical users who use these networks inappropriately. Due to the consequences of the actions of unethical users, it is important that governments reign in the social networking phenomenon by developing legislation that will govern social networking. By doing this, the advantages of social networking will be maximized while minimizing the disadvantages. Reference List Cosmato, D., (2012). Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking. Web. Diagle, E., (2010). Social Networking Policies: Just Another Policy? Web. Long, H.  Social Networking Sites and Legal Issues. Web. Swire, P., (2011). Social Networks, Privacy, and Freedom of Association. Web. This essay on Online social networks was written and submitted by user Amy Mcpherson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Glass Menagerie free essay sample

This paper is a literary analysis of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. (more)

Inspiring Quotes to Share on International Womens Day

Inspiring Quotes to Share on International Womens Day International Womens Day is an annual observation on March 8 that celebrates women and their achievements. The event, first held in the U.S. in 1909, is observed today across the globe, as well as by the United Nations.   The first International Womens Day was held to commemorate the 1908 Ladies Garment Workers Union strike in New York City when some 15,000 women walked off the job to protest their working conditions. The event, sponsored by the Socialist Party of America, inspired Socialists in Denmark to declare an international counterpart in 1910. Following the outbreak of World War I, International Womens Day rallies in the U.S. and Europe became a platform for anti-war activists as well as womens and workers rights. More than a century after the first International Womens Day, women have made tremendous progress toward a more just and equitable society in the U.S. and elsewhere. Much still needs to be done to advance womens issues around the world. Let these quotes inspire you to celebrate the women who have been important in your life. Maya Angelou â€Å"I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.† Bella Abzug The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes. Anne Morrow Lindbergh By and large,  mothers  and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacation-less class. Margaret Sanger Woman  must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression. Joseph Conrad Being a woman is a terribly difficult  task since it consists principally in dealing with men. Barbara Bush Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the Presidents spouse. I wish him well! Margaret Atwood Does feminist mean a  large unpleasant person wholl shout at you or someone who believes women are human beings? To me, its the latter, so I sign up. Anna Quindlen Its important to remember that feminism is no longer a group of organizations or leaders. Its the expectations that parents have for their daughters, and their sons, too. Its the way we talk about and treat one another. Its who makes the money and who makes the compromises and who makes the dinner. Its a state of mind. Its the way we live now. Mary Mcleod Bethune Whatever glory belongs to the race for a development unprecedented in history for the given length of time, a full share belongs to the womanhood of the race. Anita Wise A lot of guys think the larger a womans breasts are, the less intelligent she is. I dont think it works like that. I think its the opposite. I think the larger a womans breasts are, the less intelligent the men become. Rudyard Kipling A womans guess is much more accurate than a mans certainty. Charlotte Bunch Feminism is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of womens issues.

Compensation Plan for Sales Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Compensation Plan for Sales Team - Essay Example osal, mild assumptions are made regarding the company’s objectives where the strategic function of the sales tram can be patterned with, then the compensation scheme is made in order to back up those strategies. Personal selling (or sales) is just one of the functions of marketing communications which helps a company carry on a strategy in order to fulfill a certain goal. In marketing’s case, the goal is market share in order to support a larger goal of the company such as increase in shareholders’ wealth. Since personal selling in InterClean, Inc. is assumed to be a primary function of marketing communications to reach the marketing objective, we have to look first at the company as a whole. Another assumption derived from the instruction, since the sales team is new, is that the company is new in the industry. Given this, we can assume that the company’s marketing strategy is to build market share, being a new player in the industry. Building market share as the marketing strategy calls for some personal selling/sales function strategies which will be of support it—this includes building sales volume. The personal selling function then breaks the objective down into smaller and more specific sets depending on the nature of the job which will handle it. In order to meet these objectives, one factor which is designed to motivate the team is to give rewards in the form of the compensation package. In this paper, we present two kinds of pay that constitute the whole compensation package: fixed pay and variable pay. The whole compensation package includes three components: the base pay for the fixed pay, and the bonus pay, like commissions, and long term compensation for the variable pay. We will see the difference in proportions of these for the compensation package for each job design in the later discussion. Pay structures differ from each job to another as pay as a form of reward aims to reinforce behaviors that are essential to meet the objectives

GDP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

GDP - Essay Example As per the UN system, presentation of statistical record of GDP is the basic requirement for receiving financial loan or World Bank aid. The positive change in the GDP level, after consuming such loan is an indication that the financial aid has really helped the country. Around a few decades back, the military might was an indicator that displayed the country’s superiority and well-being perfection. However, now it is the economic independence and power, which has taken this place. Hence, an administrator or chief executive of any country is judged by the change in GDP levels that the person could manage, while heading the affairs of the country. During 1930s and 1940s, Gross National Product (GNP) became the tool to measure the country’s progress and prosperity level. GDP has carried this legacy to measure the nation’s living standard in terms of Gross Domestic Product. GDP is a good tool to analyze any country’s output and consumption data. This gives an indication of the goods produced in that country along with the rate of consumption of these goods by the people of specific country. However, this measurement was more accurate during the days when different nations had closed economy. With globalization, the world trade has received new boost, which encourages almost all nations to throw open its economy. This has resulted in synchronization of world economies. Hence, GDP can now be seen as a tool that measures economic prosperity of any nation in terms of change in the volume of trade conducted by the country within a specific period. However, GDP does not take into consideration the amount of domestic work for calculating the figures. The early inventors of GDP like Simon Kuznets and John Maynard Keynes did not take into account the amount of work done for doing different domestic chores like dish washing or laundry and

Hair-hashish thesis and analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hair-hashish thesis and analysis - Assignment Example The lyrics demonstrate the perception held by people on drug use and scene as well as the counter dissociative culture in the sixties. In the song, Hair Cast talks about drug use among the generation and addresses the revolution. The drug problem has been intensively addressed as a proliferation in the community of all mood altering, illicit and physically dangerous drugs. The drugs also lead to problems such as crime, threat of crime, disease, violence, loss of productivity, growing number of users in welfare of the public, over-crowding of the penal institutions, congestion of court system, diversion of tax from productive areas, erosion of our civil rights, and corruption of law enforcement agencies. Hair Cast in â€Å"Hashish† song, addresses the theme of drug scene through the aspects involved such as remorseful mood and depressed tone featured in the lyrics. In summary, this research paper will be carried out through listening to the song and researching two other sources which will be cited properly in the paper. The paper will consider addressing the themes of the song in detail and illustrate how the aspects of the song such as tone and lyrics represent the mentioned