Explain how the corporate guided market mitigates the threat of Essay

Explain how the corporate guided market mitigates the threat of under-consumption in the system of abundance - Essay Example Many people may fail to engage in consumption because they lack the necessary information about the available commodities. Therefore, by engaging in activities like branding and advertising, the potential consumers would be equipped with the information about the production, use and benefits of various commodities in the market. Through this, they would be lured to buy them thus increasing their consumption levels to match the level of production (Keynes 75). Apart from intensive marketing of the available commodities, the corporate guided market should consider reviewing the labor market. Since under consumption is attributed to low or stagnated wages, the employees should be offered higher and reasonable wages that correspond with the kind of work that they offer. This can help in empowering them to have enough income that they can use in purchasing all the available commodities in the market (Sullivan & Steven 29). After all, they are produced to be fully

Todays Changing Families Essay Example for Free

Todays Changing Families Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Parents play a crucial role in almost every aspect of a child’s development, especially because they are the first people who get to teach them basic knowledge from the time of their birth. They are the ones who teach them, or at least, helped them learn, basic skills such as walking, speaking, and other things that they can use for the development of other skills. Aside from directly teaching or training them to these basic skills, the presence of the parents also contributes to the child’s emotional state. Parents who give their children their full attention would be a factor for to the child’s happiness, usually resulting to children who are generally more lively and expressive of their own feelings. The emotional state of a child is extremely important to give time to because it ripples almost to all the other areas of the child’s life. It affects the child’s motivation to do other things, including the manner by which he or she deals and intereacts with peers. Lack of proper nurturing may result in an unhappy child and may develop in other behavior problems. In recent years, depression in children, from infants to pre-schoolers, had been recognized as a clinical disorder similar to depression in adults. This can be characterized by a child’s lack of facial expression, temper problems, frequent tantrums, and other symptoms. Usually, this condition arises because of the lack of time devoted by the parents for their children. Another reason could be various family problems that can even prove to be traumatic to a child’s memory, resulting to fears and other behavior problems. Family problems are commonly attributed to conflicts between parents for different   reasons. These conflicts may develop into bigger and chronic relationship problems that could lead to divorce and separation whose unpleasant effects would fall on the child, as such problems would render the important development stages unattended to. This is to add to other traumatic experiences that the child may experience along the process. Not only quarrels between parents can affect the child’s emotional state. When both parents are working, they may not be able to spend quality time with their children. Usually working parents seeks the help of caretakers during the day which would take the place of the nurturing that should have come from the parents. There are available daycare schools that offers this services, but it is argued that the development of a child is still better handled by his or her own parents. Parents who work during the day most probably would not get to know their children well, as they are not physically involved in taking care of the child, and this proximity plays an important role in the development of their relationship. When a child is inflicted with depression, it can manifest in different ways. Usually this would come in the form of tantrums or anger, and would try to get the parents’ attention as much he or she could. The child would try harder to do get their attention when the parents do not give it already, but when they child was still not able to get the attention he or she wants, the child may give up and go to a state where the child distances himself from the parents. This is considered as the children’s defense mechanism against the possible future emotional pain that can be inflicted once the attachment grows and the parent does not give enough attention to the child. Quality time as an important factor Spending time with children is vital in order to achieve a healthy relationship between parents and their children. This will not be possible if the parents themselves are not ready to parenting life, or are just plainly immature to handle the responsibilities that being a parent entails. Raising children requires a lot of time and sacrifices for both parents and should be very well planned as part of family development. Some even consider parenting as a career choice and deems it necessary to choose between a job and being a parent. Quality time could be difficult to come by when both parents are busy doing their own jobs. As such, the relationship between parent and child may not be well enough for a healthy growth of the child, as it could end up as the child feeling unloved and neglected. Usually the parents try to compensate their lack of time by rewarding the child with material things, but it is only a matter of time before the child realizes that it’s not really what he or she wants. These are the cases in which the parents may not know a lot about the child’s personal life, even when the child has grown to an adult, as personal involvement was not encouraged nor practiced. Also, when both parents are too preoccupied with their own concerns against each other, such as feelings of jealousy and anger out of his or her partner, they may both end up neglecting the social and emotional needs of their child. Coupled with traumatic quarrels, this may well mark to the child’s memory and something he or she does not want to look back on. Effects of Divorce Usually the main issues during during events of divorce are the differences between the parents. But the effects of divorce to a child’s mentality is different, and would require a close inspaction. Divorce needs to be viewed as a permanent condition that goes far beyond the issues about custody and arrangements between their parents. During a study, it is found out that children who had divorced parents got into drugs and alcohol. Also, it was found out that these children have the fear of intimacy and generally became loners. Aside from this, it is revealed that one-third of these children finished only up to high school education. Role of parents with the child’s education   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since the parents are considered the first teachers of their children, they play vital role in the schooling of the child. It had been studied that the involvement of parents with school activities greatly improves the children’s learning abilities. In this regard, schools are encouraged to foster and maintain activities involving the parents of the students. These activities includes family days where the parents would visit the school for a gathering and get to know the other parents of the students. Also, some schools have associations for teachers and parents that serve as a venue to air concerns and suggestions as how to improve the leadning processes of the school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This is true for all levels, including elementary, high school and university. Activities are not limited to those inside the school as parent-involvement through helping in school work taken at home can also help. Aside from it creating a bond between the child and the parents, it helps in the child’s education. During times that the parents visit the school, it is vital that they get to communicate with the teachers so they can form an understanding and assessment as to how a child had been doing. This way, any problems can be discussed and addressed accordingly. References CBC News. (May 4, 2004) Fewer Canadian marriages end in divorce. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/05/04/divorce040504.html Child Development Institute. Research Shows Parent Involvement in Education Important To Student Success. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/ Divorce Law FYI. What is Divorce? Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.divorcelawfyi.com/ Divorce Magazine. Divorce Statistics. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsUS.shtml Divorce Source Website. Stark Legacy of Pain for Kids of Divorce. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.divorcesource.com/CA/ARTICLES/starky.html Madison Libraries. Children of Divorce Research Guide. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.college.library.wisc.edu/research_guides/childdivorce.shtml

The Doctrine Of Judicial Precedent Law Essay

The Doctrine Of Judicial Precedent Law Essay Judicial precedent also called case law. It is the system adopted by judges where the judges follow previous decisions.1It simply means that the previous decision made by judges in similar cases are binding upon future cases depending on the hierarchy of the court. Therefore, under judicial precedent, a lower court is bound to follow the decision made by a higher court when there is a case which has similar material facts to a case that has decided by a higher court. Whether or not the decision is correct, a court is bound to follow the ratio of any decision by a court above it in the hierarchy. For example, according to the hierarchy of the court system in Malaysia, Court of Appeal, High Court and Sessions Court is under Federal Court. Therefore, Federal Court decision automatically binds the Court of Appeal, High Court and Sessions Court. The diagram of hierarchy refers to appendix 1. In English Law, the system of binding precedent is called stare decisis. The principle of stare decisis involves ratio decidendi and obiter dictum. Ratio decidendi is the legal principle of the case which is binding on the lower courts. It is also the reason for deciding.2 Nevertheless, obiter dictum is not binding on the lower courts. Obiter dictum is comments made by the judges.3It means that incidental remarks by a judge which is persuasive only.4 Therefore, the judges have the choice whether to follow or not to follow. If the judges is setting a new precedent and merely making new law because there is a case before him is without precedent then it is called original precedent. However, is the judges is just merely applies an existing rule of law then it is called declaratory precedent. In the case of Donoghue v Stevenson 5, it is about the plaintiff, Mrs Donoghue went to a cafà © with a friend, who had bought her a drink of ginger beer. She had poured some of the drink into a glass and consumed it. After drinking most of it, she found a decomposed snail inside the bottle while she drinking the ginger beer. After that, Mrs Donoghue became unwell and ill. So, she decided to sue the manufacturer of the ginger beer who is the defendant. On that time, the usual remedy for damage caused by a defective product would be an action in contract. Nevertheless, Mrs Donoghue did not have any contract with the manufacturer of ginger beer even the cafà © owner. The one who have contract with the cafà © owner is Mrs Donoghues friend. This is because the ginger beer is bought by her friend but not Mrs Donoghue herself. Although Mrs Donoghues friend have contract with the cafà © owner, her friend also cannot sued for remedy damage because her friend did not get hurt by the ginger beer. As ginger beer was not a dangerous product, and the manufacturer had not fraudulently misrepresented it, the case also fell outside the scope of the established cases on product liability. 6 The House of Lords had state that the manufacturer of ginger beer owed a duty of care to the Mrs Donoghue. The manufacturer of ginger beer must have duty of care to the end customer of its products. In this case, the manufacture of ginger beer had breached the duty of care. Therefore, Mrs Donoghue is entitled for the remedy of damages. This case is binding on the lower courts because this was a unique case it was decided to first establish. Once this ratio or legal precedent was established other similar claims are followed. After that, there is another case which is Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd .7 This case is closely related to the Donoghue v Stevenson case. In Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd case, Dr Grant, the plaintiff had bought an undergarment from a retailer. The undergarment is manufactured by the defendant, Australian Knitting Mills Ltd. Dr Grant was contracted dermatitis. The undergarment was in a defective condition owing to the presence of excess of sulphite. It was found that the manufacturer had been negligently left in it in the process of manufacture. In this case, the buyer sued the retailer in contract and the manufacturer in tort. The Privy Council held that the defendants were liable to the plaintiff although there is no privity between Dr Grant and the manufacturer. The decision of this case is bound to the Donoghue v Stevenson case since there are similar cases. Here, In 2010, Mr. Justice Peter, a higher court judge sitting alone in deciding a case which has similar material facts to one decided by the Court of Appeal in 2009. Based on the explanation of doctrine of judicial precedent and the example of cases above, therefore, he is bound to the decision made by the Court of Appeal. ______________________________________________________________________________ TAR College Note TAR College Note TAR College Note Text book, Principles of Business and Corporate Law, Malaysia, pg 20 [1932] AC 562 Text book, Principles of Business and Corporate Law, Malaysia, pg 339 [1936] AC 85 Question 1(b) There are some strengths and weaknesses of case law as a source of law. The first advantage is uniformity. Everyone is treated equally1 and will get same punishment for the same case or offence. For example, in the case of Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) AC 562, the decision is Mrs Donoghue is entitled for the remedy of damages in the case. Therefore after that, this case is bind. So when there is case which has similar facts with this case Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd (1936) AC 85, the plaintiff is entitled for the claims of damages by following the case of Donoghue v Stevenson. There is uniformity as everyone is treated equally and it is fair for them. The second advantage will be certainty. There is certainty because if the problem has been solved before, the court is bound to adopt or follow the solution.2 Thus, the lawyer can do the research so that they can advise or tell more accurately to their client the punishment of the case. When Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd (1936) AC 85 happened, the lawyer can roughly know what is the punishment or solution to settle up this case as previously there is a similar case Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) AC 562 happened and the judges have to bind and follow the decision. Predictability is the third advantage. This is because when there are cases that have similar materials facts with the previous cases, the lawyers can roughly know what is the outcome of the new case. By forecasting the outcome of the case, the lawyers can tell their clients the percentage of the winning rate. [Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) and Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd (1936)] So, the lawyer can refer to Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) and tell their clients what is the percentage of winning the case and what are the solutions for that case or is it worth to continue up this case. Besides, the other advantage of case law is less legal cost incurred. This is because the case can be resolved and settled quickly3. When there is a decisions made by judges previously on similar material facts, they can save money. This is because there already have the previous examples, so they can settle the case quickly as they can follow the decisions of the previous one. Then this can shorten the duration of the case, and this can help to save up the legal costs that need to be paid. Other than that, personality of the judges will not influence the outcome of a dispute in court as judges will be bound to follow the previous decisions.4 When there is judicial precedent, the judges cannot make the decision by its own thinking or idea which might influence the offender future. This is because every person got their own personalities, included the judges themselves. So one of the advantages is the judges have to follow the previous decisions. So that everyone will get the same punishment and this is fair for everyone. On the other hand, case law has its disadvantages too which we known it as weaknesses. One of the weaknesses is bulky and complex. Sometimes there are too many cases and too many laws that no one can learn all of it.5 When there is a case happened which have the similar material facts with previous one, the lawyer has to refer to the previous case. When lawyer need to read all the cases and refer to them, it is quite complicated for lawyers as they do not know what is the best reference. For example, in the case of Phillips v Brooks [1919] 2 KB 243 Horridge J and Ingram v Little [1960] 3 All ER 332, CA. The results of these 2 cases are different, but there are similarity facts. Then, in the next case [Lewis v Averay [1971] 3 All ER 907, CA] the judges decided to follow the decision of Phillips v Brooks and doubting Ingram v Little. If the lawyer feels that the chance of winning is higher after see the result of case Ingram v Little, at the end it might disappointed them. So, it is so complicated and bulky for the lawyers as they cannot decide which one is the best refe rence for them. In addition of that, sometimes it is rigidity or not flexible which means that it may sometimes cause hardship.6 Once it is created it is binding until it is being overruled.7 When there are bad decisions made on previous cases, the new case which has the similar material facts with it has to follow the bad decision too. It is so unfair for them. Lastly, we know that only the ratio of the case is binding in a case.8 So the weakness of case law is sometimes the ratio decidendi of a case is very difficult to find. So the problem occurs when it is very difficult to tell which part is the ratio decidendi and which is the obiter dictum of the case. For example in the case of Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) AC 562, the House of Lords said the manufacturers had a duty of care to the consumer of their product. Then, this decision that the House of Lords made is certainly encouraging subsequent judges to break out of the shackles of the past, it was thought at the time to be obiter and was regarded as too wide a statement of the law. However, it was approved by Lord Reid in Home Office v Dorset Yacht [1970] 2 All ER 294 by saying that it is ought to apply unless there is some justification or valid explanation for its exclusion. Thus, the principle is now treated as ratio at least in relation to physical injury and damage to property whic h subject to certain limitations. So, sometimes it is difficult for the judges to decide which part is ratio and need to follow or not. ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. TAR College Note 2. TAR College Note 3. TAR College Note 4. TAR College Note 5. TAR College Note 6. TAR College Note 7. TAR College Note 8. TAR College Note

Do Violent Video Games Cause Aggressive Behavior? :: Media, Violent Video Games

Does playing video games cause aggressive behavior? Because children and teenagers spend an increased amount of time each day playing video games, they are shaping their values, attitudes, and behaviors. For people who do act out aggressively, the results can be deadly. Monthly, the news is filled with blood-chilling accounts of crimes committed due to a copy-cat obsession with violent video games. This paper will present a brief review of literature and reveal the difficulties in answering this question with certainty. For the past 40 years, since the first video games were created, the gaming industry has developed games that would surpass other games before it. Since the late 1970’s, when the first two games of â€Å"Pacman† and â€Å"Space Invaders† were created, video games have changed tremendously over time. The late 1970’s through the 1980’s video game makers used what was called an 8-bit graphic system, which limited many features they could put in video games (Porter & Starcevic, 2007). Violence was not realistic, blood was not red, and so violence in video games was not incorporated into the new games that appeared on the market. In the early 1990’s, video game makers began using a 16-bit graphic system which would enable them to incorporate much more detail of violence and blood into video games. This caused an increase in violent video game demand and an increase in realistic violent events incorporated into these games (Porter & Starcevic , 2007). With technology in video games enhanced, the productivity on violent videos games moved up as well. When a game called ‘Mortal Kombat’ was released in the early 1990’s with a gruesome death seen in the game, the US Congress had to intervene. They told the gaming industry they had to come up with an accurate grading system to rate the games on age-appropriateness and content-appropriateness. This brought on the â€Å"Entertainment Software Rating Board.† While rating each video game and posting that rate on them has improved access by small children, teens and young adults can still buy and view very violent scenes(Porter & Starcevic, 2007). In 2007, there was a tragic event at Virginia Tech University. A young man by the name of Seung Hui Cho went on a rampage on the campus and killed a total of â€Å"32 students and faculty† (Ferguson, 2007).

Profile Essays Profile Essays - Grandfather, Grandpa :: Personal Narrative Profile

Profile Essays Profile Essays - Grandfather, Grandpa By definition, my grandfather is handicapped. However, he doesn't act as though he is, and he certainly does not want to be treated in any special way. In fact, most of the handicapped people in society do not appreciate being treated in a way different from anyone else. They just want to be accepted as human beings. Some people become handicapped as a result of an accident. Others are born with their disabilities. My grandfather was asleep one night on a Coast Guard cutter when another ship, a destroyer, appeared in the distance. The destroyer hit my grandfather's ship in the exact spot where he was sleeping. When he awoke, he found himself in the freezing water, watching his friends swim ashore to safety. They were leaving my grandfather there to die. Luckily, an angel in the form of a Coast guard chef rescued him and sought out help. The next thing he knew, he was in a hospital bed without legs (from the kneecap down) and with a broken neck. I admire the fact that my grandfather resumed a normal life-style after being released from the hospital two years after his accident. Not only did he get married, but he raised six children. He used artificial limbs for a number of years while holding a job at IBM. After a while, though, he ceased using them because they felt too unnatural. Now, while enjoying the "retired life," his mode of transportation is a wheelchair. As a young child, I remember how my grandfather's disability affected my life. I don't think that I even knew what the purpose of his wheelchair was. To me, it was just a toy, just another toy that my cousins and I could play with. I almost always received a wheelchair ride around the house. I can't recall my grandpa ever complaining about those long wheelchair journeys down the hall to the bedrooms and the bathroom. I am lucky for such a wonderful role model while growing up.

Benefits of Cost Accounting Information

Cost accounting offers benefits for manufacturing companies. A cost accounting information system offers benefits for many companies. Cost accounting is a type of accounting method concerned with the cost of goods manufactured and /or sold. Many factors are taken into consideration when cost accountants analyze business costs . The information determined by these accountants is used for inventory valuation , financial statements and decision making . Inventory Valuation Cost accounting offers the benefit of having an accurate inventory valuation of all inventories on hand . This includes all raw products used to make goods , all work-in -process inventories and all finished goods ready for sale. Cost accountants take all costs into consideration and are able to determine the value of all of these inventories on hand . This information is useful for financial statements and for management of the company . Managers use this information to determine selling goals and production needs . Maximum Efficiency Cost accounting is beneficial to determine the maximum efficiency production amounts . Cost accountants take all costs into consideration when calculating this amount . Manufacturing costs consist of direct labor , materials and manufacturing overhead. These costs are all calculated and added up to find a per- unit cost price for manufactured items. When the cost price is calculated, these accountants begin determining a hypothesis of production rates . Many times cost accountants determine that if production is increased slightly, overhead costs remain the same. If this is the case, increasing production actually results in a lower per -unit cost for production , and the end result is a higher profit . Decision Making The information determined by cost accountants is used for decision making for future company needs . Short -term goals and decisions are made as well as long-term strategic decisions. The analysis of cost information is used to compare projected costs to actual costs . This is useful for businesses when budgets are created . Often times, unforeseen costs occur with production , and they are determined in this way. Unforeseen costs are added into the future budgets at rates calculated by cost accountants . Cost accounting also helps companies establish approximate future cash flows . Short -term production goals and marketing decisions are set based on this information. Long -term production plans are also calculated.

Role of Project Manager

NICMAR ASSIGNMENT ON â€Å"ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS† SUBMITTED BY: JHA PRAVIN KUMAR JOSHI SOURABH MALANI GOVIND 221071 221074 221094 GUIDED BY: Prof. T. K. GANGULI ACM 22-SECTION 2 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH, PUNE ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 1 NICMAR INDEX Contents 1. Introduction 2. Role of Project Manager 2. 1 Planning 2. 2 Organizing 2. 3 Controlling 2. 4 Leading 2. 5 Communicating 2. 6 Cognitive functions 2. 7 Self management functions 2. 8 Motivational and personal development functions 2. 9 Customer awareness functions 2. 0 Organizational savvy functions 2. 11 Project Manager’s Unofficial Job Duties 3. Conclusion Page no. 3 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 2 NICMAR 1. Introduction 1. 1 Project A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to achieve a particular aim. At the most basic level, a project is actually the response to a need, the solution to a problem. Further it is a solution that promises a bene fit especially financial benefit. The fundamental purpose for most projects is to either make money or save money, hence projects should be financially justifiable. A project is temporary in nature; that means that it has a specific start and finish. A project consists of a well defined collection of small jobs and ordinarily culminates in the creation of an end product or products. A project is a unique, one time undertaking; it will never again be done exactly the same way, by the same people, and within the same environment. There will always be some uncertainty associated with the project. This uncertainty represents risks to your ability to make definitive plans and predict outcomes with high level of confidence. All projects consume resources in the form of time, money, materials and labour. 1. 2 Project Management Project management is the application of knowledge, skill, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirement. The project management process calls for the creation of a small organizational (project team), which is often a microcosm of larger organization. Once the team has produced desired outcome, the process then calls for the decommissioning of that small organizational structure. The project form of organization allows the manager to be responsive to: †¢ †¢ †¢ The client and the environment Identify and correct problems at an early date Make timely decisions about trade-offs between conflicting project goals ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 3 NICMAR †¢ Ensure that managers of the separate tasks that comprise the project do not optimize the performance of their individual tasks at the expense of the total project- that is, that they do not suboptimize. 1. 3 Project Manager A project manager is usually responsible for the success or the failure of the project. They first need to define the project and then build its work plan. If the scope of the project is not very clear, or the project is executing poorly, the manager is held accountable. However, this does not mean that the manager does all the work by himself (which is practically impossible). There is an entire team under the project manager, which helps to achieve all the objectives of the project. However, if something goes wrong, the project manager is ultimately accountable. Apart from this, depending on the size and the complexity of the project, they may need to take on multiple roles. The project manager may need to assist with gathering business requirements, help to design a database management system or may prepare project documentation. They may work full time on a large project, or may work part-time on various projects of a smaller nature; or may alternatively handle various projects as well as handle other responsibilities like business analysis and business development. At times, they may have accountability but not authority. For example, he or she may be using certain resources but might not have direct control over those resources. At such times, the manager might find certain limitations over task execution, which might not take place as they might have liked. Not having direct control over the state of finances and finance allocation might cause ambiguity. Project managers use project management software, such as Microsoft Project, to organize their tasks and workforce. These software packages allow project managers to produce reports and charts in a few minutes, compared to the several hours it can take if they do not use a software package. ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 4 NICMAR In order to be successful, the project manager must be given support and authority by senior management. 2. Role of Project Manager It is the responsibility of project manager to make sure that the customer is satisfied and the work scope is completed in a quality manner, using budget, and on time. The Project Manager has primary responsibility for providing leadership in planning, organizing and controlling the work effort to accomplish the project objectives. In other words, the project manager provides the leadership to project team to accomplish the project objective. The project manager coordinates the activities of various team members to ensure that they perform the right tasks at the proper time, as a cohesive group. The different roles of project manager are as follows: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Planning Organizing Controlling Leading Communicating Cognitive functions Self management functions Motivational and personal development functions Customer awareness functions Organizational savvy functions ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 5 NICMAR 2. 1 Planning First, the project manager clearly defines the project objectives and reaches agreement with the customer on this objective. The manager then communicate this objective to the project team in such a manner as to create a vision of what will constitute successful accomplishment of the objective. The project manager spearheads development of a plan to achieve the project objectives. By involving the project team in developing this plan, the project manager ensures more comprehensive plan than he or she could develop alone. Furthermore, such participation gains the commitment of the team to achieve the plan. The project manager reviews the plan with the customer to gain endorsement and then sets up the project management information system-either manual or computerized-for comparing actual progress to plan progress. It’s important that this system be explained to the project team so that the team can use it properly to manage the project. 2. 2 Organizing Organizing involves securing the appropriate resources to perform the work. First, the project must decide which tasks should be done in-house and which tasks should be done by subcontractors or consultants. For tasks that will be carried out in-house, the project manager gains a commitment from the specific people who will work on the project. For tasks that will be performed by subcontractors, the project manager clearly defines the work scope and deliverables and negotiates a contract with each subcontractor. The project manager also assigns responsibility and delegates’ authority to specific individuals or subcontractors for the various tasks, with the understanding that they will e accountable for the accomplishment of their tasks within the assigned budget and schedule. For large projects involving many individuals, the project manager may designate leaders for specific group of tasks. Finally, and most important, the task of organizing involves creating an environment in which the individuals are highly motivated to work together as a project t eam. ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 6 NICMAR 2. 3 Controlling To control the project, the project manager implements a management information system designed to track actual progress and compare it with planned progress. Such a system helps the manager distinguish between busy-ness and accomplishments. Project team members monitor the progress of their assigned tasks and regularly provide data on progress, schedule and cost. These data are supplemented by regular project review meetings. If actual progress falls behind planned progress or unexpected events occur the project manager takes immediate action. He or she obtains input and advice from team members regarding appropriate corrective actions and how to replan those parts of the project. It’s important that problems and even potential problems, be identified early and action taken. The project manager cannot take a â€Å"let’s wait and see how things works out† approach- things never works out on their own. He or she must intervene and be proactive, resolving problems before they become worse. 2. 4 Leading Project manager fosters development of a common mission and vision to the team members. He should clearly define roles, responsibilities and performance expectations for all his team members. He uses leadership style appropriately to situation or stage of team development. He should be able to foster collaboration among team members. He should provide clear direction and priorities to his team members. He should be efficient enough to remove obstacles that hamper team progress, readiness or effectiveness. He should promote team participation in problem solving and decision making as appropriate. He should pass credit on to team, and promotes their positive visibility to upper management. He should appreciate, promote and leverage the diversity within the team. 2. 5 Communicating ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 7 NICMAR The Project Manager should be able to communicate effectively with all levels inside and outside of the organizations. He should be able to negotiate fairly and effectively with the customers/subcontractors. He should be able to bring conflicts into the open and manages it collaboratively and productively with the help of other team members. He should be able to able to influence without relying on coercive power or threats. He should be able to convey ideas and information clearly and concisely, both in writing and orally to all the team members. . 6 Cognitive functions The project manager should identify the problem and gathers information systematically and seeks input from several sources. He should then consider a broad range of issues or factors while solving these problems. For this he collects the appropriate quantity of data for the situation and discusses it with all the team members before making a decision. He then draws accurate conclusions from quantitative data and makes decisions in an unbiased, objective manner using an appropriate process. For this process of decision making he understands the concept of risk versus return and makes decision accordingly. 2. 7 Self management functions The project manager should be able to maintain focus and control when faced with ambiguity and uncertainty and should be able to show consistency among principles, values and behavior. He should be resilient and tenacious in the face of pressure, opposition, constraints, or adversity. Being the head of the project he should manage implementations effectively and should recognize as someone â€Å"who gets things done. He should continuously seek feedbacks from the team members and modify his behavior accordingly. He should take keen interest in learning and self development opportunities. 2. 8 Motivational and personal development functions Project manager should consider individual skills, values and interest of all his team members when assigning or delegating tasks to them. He should allow team ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 8 NICMAR me mbers an appropriate amount of freedom to do the job. He should accurately access individual strength and development needs of his team members to complete the work effectively. He should continuously offer opportunities for personal and professional growth to his team members. He should arrange for training program and continuously seeks support to his team member when needed. He should pass credit on to the individuals and promote their positive visibility to upper management. He should give timely, specific and constructive feedback to all his team members. 2. 9 Customer awareness functions Project manager should be able to anticipate customer’s needs effectively and proactively strives to satisfy them. He should be able to accurately translate the customer’s verbalized wants into what they actually needs. He should be able to understand customers and their business and actively build and maintain strong customer relationships. He should understand customer’s issues, concerns and queries and try to resolve them effectively. He should actively strive to exceed customer expectations. 2. 10 Organizational savvy functions Project manager should involve the right people at the right time for a particular job. Understands, accepts and properly uses power and influence in relationships. He should build and leverage formal and informal networks to get things done. He should know the mission, structure and functions of the organizations and others. He should understand profitability and general management philosophy. He balance interests and needs of team/project with those of the broader organization. 2. 11 Project Manager’s Unofficial Job Duties The functional competencies listed above represents official duties of the typical project manager. In fact, if organization has developed a job description for project managers, it probably includes many of these functional competencies. What we won’t find in job description are the unofficial duties that Project Managers perform in the course of carrying out their mission. Let’s examine some of the key ones: ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 9 NICMAR Babysitter: This refers to the apparent need to provide close guidance or detailed instructions to certain individuals. This situation results from any number of root causes. The target may be under qualified, lack of confidence or simply crave attention. Salesperson: There will be times when they will have to rely heavily on their ability to influence thers to sell an idea, sell themselves or perhaps sell the virtues of Project Management. Most of the selling situations will be helpful and have positive outcomes. However if he find himself spending too much time selling Project Management, they may signal deeper underline problems such as issues of trust or confidence. If most of the selling he does to his management, he is in trouble; this is a signal that l ife as a project manager may be exceptionally challenging. Teacher: This is an example of an unofficial role that actually yields positive roles. In fact, superior project managers will be able to educate and develop those they work with as they manage the project. Friend: Maintaining friendship and professional relationship with the same people is difficult. However if they can do it they will benefit greatly. An open, informal and comfortable communication linkage is much more likely to keep them supplied with more of the information they need than formal, rigorous and stiff team meetings. Finally avoid the trap of believing that he is been put in charge of a project so he has risen above his peers and friendship no longer matters. . Conclusion â€Å"The Project Manager is a key ingredient in the success of a Project. In addition to providing leadership in planning, organizing and controlling the Project, the manager should possess a set of skills that will both inspire the project team to succeed and win the confidence of the customer. Effective Project Managers have strong leadership ability, the ability to develop people , excellent communication skills, good inter personal skills, the ability to handle stress, problem solving skills and time management skills†. ROLE OF PROJECT MANAGERS Page 10