Research Topics: Significance Of The Study

A Sample Thesis : Significance of the Study

Significance of the Study             This study will be a significant endeavor in promoting good work environment in the workplace and motivations of its employees. This study will also be beneficial to the students and instructors in strategic management, corporate strategies when they employ effective learning in their classroom setting particularly in different concepts related to the use  of effective human resources management. By understanding the needs of the students and benefits of quality education, these instructors and students be assured of a competitive advantage. Moreover, this research will provide recommendations on how to evaluate the performance of a certain institution in accordance to human resources management.   Moreover, this study will be helpful to the retail industry and business practitioners in training and informing them in the area of human resources management, objectives, and strategies. It will also serve as a future reference for researchers on the subject of human resources and corporate companies. And importantly, this research will educate clients in deciding on whether an industry e.g. business industry is really fulfilling its responsibility to the community or is just showing off to promote its business.   Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

A Sample Thesis : Significance of the Study

Significance of the Study This study will be a significant endeavor in promoting good work environment in the workplace ...

A Sample Significance of the Study

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY               The study is significant to OEDC and other developing countries because it may emphasize to them the importance of investing in key infrastructures such as rails, roads, water systems, and electricity systems. The results may show a good comparison of communities with infrastructures to those without, which may be a key point in influencing local government officials in developing countries to build strategies on how such infrastructure community demands can be met.             The study is also significant to citizens of the developing countries that will be covered because as it may influence the development of infrastructures in their community, their quality of life may be improved.             Overall, the study will be important as it will provide an overview of how infrastructures can aid a Third World country socially and economically. It is hoped that through this study, many local governments and national governments from different developing countries will realize the importance of investing to infrastructures and will realize how much it can contribute to the development and progress of their country.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

A Sample Significance of the Study

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study is significant to OEDC and other developing countries because it may emphasize to t...

Positive and Negative Impacts of Mental Models

Statement of the Problem             It is said that mental models both have positive and negative impacts in web tracking technology. Hence, these impacts must be investigated and lessons must be learned and derived from this study. Purpose of the Study This study will be conducted in order to determine the positive and negative impacts of mental models in web tracking technology, and provide meaningful lessons.             This study will also aim to increase the awareness and provide a better understanding of the issues and problems concerning most mental models in order to contribute an effective approach in addressing their problems. Significance of the Study If the positive and negative impacts of mental models in web tracking technology will be determined, this study will be a benefit to other multinational companies employing mental models in their technologies and are experiencing problems gaining ground to other parts of the world. Also, if effectiveness is supported, this study will be significant in developing mental models as productive and effective bodies of knowledge in the future.   Research Questions Specifically this study will address the following questions: 1.      What positive and negative impacts of mental models in web tracking technology were determined? 2.      What specific alternatives or measures can be done to help improve the performance of mental models in web tracking technologies? Assumptions The research will be based on the following assumptions: (a) all participants will be utilizing the correct procedures as outlined in the guidelines for the specific methodology employed, and (b) all participants will answer questions honestly to the best of their ability. Limitations Time will be the greatest limitation to this research, which could hinder long-term outcome objectives. Environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, will not be controlled, and this could create many variables within the research. As this study will utilize a small sample of respondents, the results may not effectively represent the general population.     Conceptual Framework     REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Mental Model Defined Mental models describe one’s fundamental worldview, which is reinforced by structures, experiences, cultures, and belief systems. Mental models guide and direct people as they make decisions, and are used to filter ideas and possibilities. Mental models are very difficult to change because they encompass one’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions.  Mental Models and Learning Theories and literature regarding mental models flourish leadership, training, efficiency, customer orientation; the record goes on and on. One of the mainly recent and widely accepted notions is that of the mental models, characterized by a culture, pervasive throughout the firm, dedicated to improving workers, their productivity, and overall business performance via continuous lifelong learning through mental models. Yet it was not thought that the tenets of the mental models represent the epitome of organizational development. Although learning is a prerequisite to development, it is not the desired outcome; simply increasing an organization’s reservoir of knowledge through mental models does not necessarily produce better business results. Taking learning to its highest form to development through mental models enables employees to reach their full potential, while organizations focus on outcomes that produce better business results. Thus, the final phase of organizational transformation is that of the developmental organization.  Mental models and their evolution                    There is an evolution that every organization can experience the transformation from a traditional to a developmental organization through the use of mental models. Three identifiable types of organizations that use mental models exist along this evolutionary plane: the traditional organization, the learning organization, and the developmental organization. What separates one type from another is the importance of mental models in achieving strategic business goals and objectives, the organization’s capacity for renewal, and the firm’s desire to improve competitive readiness through mental models. As with every evolutionary process, it may be difficult to determine exactly where one is at any given period. Often, only when the evolutionary phase has been completed does one know for sure that he or she has passed through it. Much has been written recently about the nature of the mental models, particularly the importance of learning to the development. Beyond the mental models lie the epitome of individual and organizational growth and performance. Learning itself does not guarantee employee or business growth and development. Developmental organizations extend themselves further along the evolutionary plane, engaging in mental models that promote and reward long-term individual and organizational growth. Mental Models and Learning Organization The second phase of evolution is the learning organization. According to (Morgan:1986), the learning organization is an institution that learns powerfully and collectively through the use of mental models, continually transforming itself to better manage and use knowledge for corporate success, empowering people within and outside the organization to learn as they work and to utilize mental models to maximize learning and production. In recent years, several business leaders have begun to focus attention on the use of mental models for organizational learning. The management of organizations must alter the environment to support and encourage learning through mental models, link mental models to business operations, communicate the importance of the learning organization and mental models, demonstrate their commitment to learning, transform the organizational culture to one of continuous learning and improvement through mental models, and establish organization-wide mental model strategies for learning in order to make the transition from the traditional to the learning organization. In addition, eliminating organizational bureaucracy, encourage employee involvement and embrace continuous, adaptive improvement-oriented learning approaches throughout the organization is also important in changing organizational phase. The management must focus on improving learning capacity through mental models as well as encouraging self-directed learning behavior for all employees. Learning organizations are as concerned about market share, productivity, and profitability as the traditional organization; they understand that learning is the key to acquiring greater business results. Nevertheless, the orientation of the learning organization is simply learning through mental models.               BMHS management incorporates several important dimensions and characteristics: • Learning is accomplished by organizational systems as a whole, almost as if the organization were a single brain.  •  Organizational members recognize the critical importance of ongoing organization-wide learning for the organization’s current and future success.  •  Learning is a continuous, strategically used process, integrated with and running parallel to work.  •  There is a focus on creativity and generative learning.  •  System thinking is fundamental.              Andersonc and Fornell (1994) focus on the individual’s role in learning organizations, maintaining that real, effective learning isn’t individual, but social. They also explain that true learning is anything but a passive activity, and the most important stuff for people to learn in organizations is not the explicit stuff of rules, procedures, and so forth, but tacit (intuition, expertise, common sense, core competencies, and the like). They further assert that real learning takes place as part of the work itself, not in sterile training environments or in solitary.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Positive and Negative Impacts of Mental Models

Statement of the Problem It is said that mental models both have positive and negative impacts in web tracking technology. He...

Medical and Hygiene Textiles Production Research Proposal

Research Proposal       Medical and Hygiene Textiles Production     Introduction   According to research, nowadays the technical textiles are one of the faster growing sectors of the global textile industry that is moving rapidly toward the manufacture of high-added value textile structures and products such as medical textiles, protective textiles and smart textiles. Textile materials used in the medical and applied healthcare and hygiene sectors are an important and growing part of the textile industry. During the year 2004, the number of people aged over 60 amounts to 40 percent of entire population. Aside, during the year 1980, there were only 22 percent of the Europeans belonged to such group age as the textiles represent an absolutely ideal interface between man and medical treatment facilities and it can be a one loss not to make use of the possibilities of any offers made (Hofer and Swerev, 2003).     This research proposal will be explaining and investigating on medical and hygiene textiles particularly in terms of production and with a sense of factual information as there can be ample usage and relevance of the medical and hygiene textiles into the health care functioning particularly on the medical staff or personnel of certain care areas of hospitals for example, those medical team that comprises the operating room in general. The need to create research aims, objectives and questions to amiably understand how the process of research studies and supporting materials to gather puts an ideal literature vigor and stance that it can bring balanced to what is intended to investigate upon and how it provides parallelism to qualitative and quantitative methods in utilization path. The main method is to use, collate and analyze core contents of several research articles/journals, probably 4-6 related studies as acknowledge by various authors will be okay and can serve as the direct research basis for achieving and understanding medical and hygiene textiles production into the field of health care process and ways. There is a need to know useful characteristics medical textiles market as well as trends to fully attain enough purpose and evaluate research weight through literature review organization and methods application that need causal link to the academic proof of medical and hygiene textiles emphasized in case study approach with in-depth literature support.     The research focus which can serve as one good objective for the study is ideally to be able to determine, recognize and apply certain research studies within the domain of academic journals and articles integrating a preliminary literature review that will assume reliable and valid points in support to general information, ideas or concepts by some of the proponents who has a better cup of knowledge when it comes to medical and hygiene textiles, the latter implies medical clothing and its manufacturing stance for medical hygiene realization.      The presuming aim of this can be to determine literature balance from within the medical textile market in international scenario and the category of where points of relevance to medical textiles are based on useful applications. The need to discuss the process of production of such textiles as there can be sense when knowing that, medical textiles are one steady sector of the textile market as prospects for medical textiles are desirable and better to use such as for nonwoven materials and disposable medical textiles being used into the surgical areas.   Literature Review True, that one of the basic functions of medical clothes is to protect the medical personnel against a risk of biological infection by micro-organisms and it is a must to maintain the hygiene of such clothes like in the OR area and that medical clothes should have the whole complex of consumer and operational properties and should meet the requirements of health care standards and managing documents on the protection of work (Abreu, Silva, Schacher and Adolphe 2001; CEN 2001). ‘The core functions will allow one to consider medical clothes as the original barrier between human’s body and environment. Furthermore, clothes should rule out the possibility of an opportunity to forecast an occurrence of cross infection and if the special measures are not undertaken, these clothes can be the basic centres for infections in a hospital environment as well as rendering of better influence on occurrence and distribution of infectious diseases transmitted by contact and by air’, as one definite example imposed by some study findings (Marques and Silva, 1999; Mounter, 1999).     The one approach determine rigid requirements for designing medical clothes, choice of textiles for their manufacture, selection of package of clothes, maintenance of correct conditions for their operation and methods of cleaning. The correctly chosen medical clothes and accessories provide the effective way of protection for medical personnel and patients (Abreu, Silva, Schacher and Adolphe 2001; CEN 2001). In addition, the creation and crafting of comfortable working conditions, by having useful touch of a positive influence on the personnel. The textile materials of new generation with the given properties, being well selected, ensure rational combination of required qualities of medical clothes. Currently, into the market of modern medical clothes, textiles used are made from materials consisting of mixtures of natural and synthetic fibres. Until now, traditional clothes from cotton fabrics are highly appreciated by the medical personnel for their comfort. However, cotton fabrics have the ability to accumulate pollution and micro-organisms from air and with their high hygroscopicity they provide a favourable medium for the duplication of micro-organisms. The big advantage of medical clothes over synthetic and mixed fabrics is in their high resistance for friction, stability of appearance and low crumpling (Feedonia Group Inc. 1996; Rigby, 1997).         Furthermore, World Market Forecast (2001), indicated as based on DRA’s research, that there were over 1.5mn tons of textile materials as being consumed within manufacturing of medical and hygiene products during the year 2000. Thus, there is predicted to increase in volume terms by 4.5 percent per annum to 2010 to reach 2.4mn tons with value, sector probably offers the greatest scope for the development of the most sophisticated and highest value textiles for niche applications (Technical Textiles and Industrial Nonwovens: World Market Forecast to 2001’, article taken from DRA Service http://www.davidrigbyassociates.com).   Technical textiles will find many different kinds of application with medical and hygiene products in the healthcare sector. The diversity of applications encountered in medical and healthcare products is quite remarkable, e.g. simple bandages, biocompatible implants and tissues, antibacterial wound treatment material, prosthetics, and intelligent textiles. Moreover, there covers wide range of applications, and the many end-uses with disparate requirements create opportunities for some good kinds of textile such as fibres, mono- and multi-filament yarns, woven, knitted, nonwoven, braiding and composite fabrics (Anand, 2003). Medical textiles embrace all those textile materials used in health and hygiene applications in both the consumer and medical markets. As such, it comprises a group of products with considerable variations in terms of product performance and unit value. Because of the nature of their application, many medical products are disposable items. Nonwovens account for a high part of the sector overall in terms of tons of fibre used (Technical Textiles International, 2003; DRA Service in 2001). Thus, another feature of the medical textile market will be the growing proportion of composite materials used in wound management products. This will mean the combination of textiles with such materials as films, foam and adhesives to form structures for the treatment of wound and healthcare products (Fischer and G. Fischer, 2003).     The increased use of textiles in composite applications will provide major growth fibre consumption in terms of volume. Indeed, there accounts recognizing the fact that, European producers are world leaders in the market for technical/industrial textiles and nonwovens, for example industrial filters, hygiene products or in the medical sector. Although the textile sector is marked by small and medium-sized enterprises and local developments, it is important that research efforts take place in a more integrated way so as to achieve critical mass and be competitive on the global market. The European technical textile sector should continue to develop highly specialised products. This is the case as happened in medical textiles based on biomaterials, interactive and intelligent textiles provided for textile sensors and improving test methods (Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, 2003).         Among the textile materials used for manufacturing medical clothes, it is necessary to select fabrics from ultra thin polyester and polyamide fibres having complex of unique properties. They are water-repellent, but at the same time pass the outgoing moisture from the human body, thus providing comfort.   There can be discussions pertaining to medical and hygiene textiles such as the following points based from various case explanations:   There can be presence of a textile sponge for use in medical and hygienic applications there then resides a method for the production of a nonwoven, textile sponge for medicine and hygiene, having at least one absorbent fiber layer containing, in some cases, binding fibers, and at least one external layer containing water-repellent fibers, said water-repellent fiber layer having at least 80 percent synthetic heterofil filaments (Rajendran and Anand,, 2002; NWDA Northwest Textile Cluster, 2001).     Absorbent textile pads known as sponges are needed in medicine and in hygiene for use as surgical bandage and as protective or wiping material. In wound treatment, woven cotton gauze has the disadvantages that it adheres to the wound and has an unsatisfactorily low ability to absorb wound secretions. To reduce the tendency to adhere, unfolded compresses of the absorbent layer of first-aid bandages are covered with moisture-repellent woven synthetic fiber layers. For instance, adhesion to the wound is effectively prevented by the moisture-repellent fiber overlay, which may be smoothed in some cases. Moreover, the sponge can be folded repeatedly without harm, and can easily be sealed thermally in this state to form a very bulky sponge. Due to the content of thermoplastic fibers in the outer layers, it can be welded along its margins, after a single folding in the case of two-layer configurations, to make an absorbent pad at whose sides any undesirable escape of fibers from the absorbent layer is thus reliably prevented. The process of production of the sponge of the invention consists first in the laying of at least two fiber layers one on the other, one of which contains the known absorbent fibers and the other moisture-repellent thermoplastic heterofil filaments. For the outer moisture-repellent layer or layers, at least 80%  (Fisher, 2008) of heterofil filaments are used. The fiber sandwich is then exposed to thin water jets of such low energy that no substantial fiber entanglement takes place, but only a hydraulic perforation.  For the achievement of high rate of production and thereby economical manufacture, fiber slivers are usually laid down with a longitudinal orientation. The very low transverse strength which this entails can, if necessary, be increased simply by laying down each layer at right angles to the layer beneath it as especially for surgical sponges for the operating room where great resistance to tearing is required (Fisher, 2008). Production of hygiene and medical textiles is on the increase, as is the variety of applications in this important sector. Geoff Fisher, then surveys recent developments in products, markets and technologies and during 2005, hygiene and medical textiles are projected to be at US around 12 percent of the global technical textiles market and true that when good production increase, the applications of medical textiles continue to expand into areas such as the following:   -       textile structures are to be used in tissue engineering -       smart fibres loaded with drugs are being developed for the treatment of wounds and ulcers -       wearable products will open up new avenues in health monitoring   Meanwhile, falling birth rates, death rates have also declined due to continued improvements in food, sanitation, hygiene and medicine. While Western demand for baby diapers has stabilized, older consumers will increasingly spend more of their disposable income on personal care articles. In developing countries, demand for medical textiles, and especially for disposable absorbent products, is also expected to rise significantly as better result of fast-growing, increasingly urbanized, young population and the uptake of disposable bed sheets and surgical drapes, gowns and caps is also increasing and these are now widely used in hospital wards.   The Monitoring Sophisticated medical textiles are developing into inter-disciplinary, high-technology products. In future, people will be able to monitor bodily functions and keep track of their personal health with the assistance of advanced electronics such as smart bandages, computers and the Internet (Technical Textiles International, Intelligent textiles for medical and monitoring applications, 2001 pages I I – 14).  Wearable body-monitoring products are now on the market. These include armbands and body garments that provide the means for measuring vital parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, pulse, and skin and body temperature. Data is downloaded wirelessly to a personal computer or other device for further analysis. Research Questions How will the textile production can be advantage to medical field of areas like OR when it comes to standards of medical and hygiene ways? What will be the effect of characteristics and trends of its underlying market?  Will demand for disposable absorbent products continue to rise in care settings? In what way? Will environmental issues affect the use of medical and hygiene products as for example, recognizing  concerns over infection prevention in the operating room increase demand for reusable surgical clothes/textiles? What effect will intelligent textiles have on the medical and hygiene sectors?   Expected Outcome and Schedule     Event     February 09     Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Problem Identification           Literature Search           Review of Lessons           Data Collection           Prepare Report Draft           Data Analysis           Finalize Report           Submit                   Event     February 09       Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Problem Identification           Literature Search           Review of Lessons           Data Collection           Prepare Report Draft           Data Analysis           Finalize Report           Submit                       Event     February 09       Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Problem Identification           Literature Search           Review of Lessons           Data Collection           Prepare Report Draft           Data Analysis           Finalize Report           Submit                           Planned Methodology Research design awareness and understanding from formation of in-depth case content analysis from such academic journals and articles such as those linked through Emerald insight and other reliable databases. The encounter of organized examples is to be applied such as Example 1, Example 2 and so on and so forth. Thus, survey interviews maybe used to determine the level of norms and standards by the medical personnel particular, surgical team regarding medical and hygiene textiles and how it fits to the modern usage and function in today’s health care setting.   Significance of the Study The study can be another addition to the existing information and studies regarding textiles production emphasizing medical and hygiene advantage. The researcher aims to present a thorough literature that will be able to inform and educate medical team, authorities and some parties involved for making the study a good reference for medical students for example. The study will particularly gives in-depth information about textile production and market centering on medical and hygiene pointers as there may facilitates more efficient research paradigm for health care value and application that safety should at firsts and nothing more despite health issues and pressures of today’s fierce environment.          References Abreu, M.J., Silva, M.E., Schacher, L., Adolphe, D. (2001), “New developments and innovations in the field of OR garments”, paper presented at the 2001 International Textile Congress, Terrassa CEN (2001), “prEN 13795: Surgical drapes, gowns and clean-air suits, used as medical devices, for patients, clinical staff and equipment – Part 1: General requirements for manufacturers, processors and products”, CEN/TC 205/WG 14 Feedonia Group Inc. (1996), “Medical plastics and non-wovens”, Medical Device Technology, No.January/February, pp.38-40 Fisher, Geoff “Medical and hygiene textiles-continuing in good health“. Technical Textiles International : TTI. . FindArticles.com. 25 Dec. 2008 Höfer, D and Swerev, D. ‘The Future of Medical Textiles: High-tech For the Well-being of the Patient’, Journal of Textiles and Apparel, Technology and Management, 2003 Marques, M.J., Silva, M.E. (1999), “New materials for medical and surgical applications (non-active medical devices)”, paper presented at the Materiais 99 Conference, Guimarães, 21-23 June Mounter, S. (1999), “Enforcing medical device regulations for medical textiles”, paper presented at the Index 99 Congress-Medical Session, Geneva, 27-30 April ‘Opportunities for healthcare and medical textiles growth’, Technical Textiles International, 2003 ‘Technical Textiles and Industrial Nonwovens: World Market Forecast to 2001’, article taken from DRA Service http://www.davidrigbyassociates.com A. Fischer, G. Fischer, ’Composite materials in healthcare and wound management’ Technical Textiles International, Vol. 12, 2003. ‘The future of the textiles and clothing sector in the enlarged European Union’, Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, 200 S. Rajendran and S.C. Anand, ‘Development in Medical Textiles’, Textile Progress, 2002, pp.10-13. ‘NWDA Northwest Textile Cluster, Mapping Project’, DRA, 2001. Rigby, D. (1997), “The world technical textile industry and its markets: prospects to 2005″, Techtextil, .     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Medical and Hygiene Textiles Production Research Proposal

Research Proposal Medical and Hygiene Textiles Production Introduction According to research, nowadays the t echnical t...

Comparative Analysis: Quality, Time and Cost Efficiency of Dry Construction and Wet Construction Techniques Research Proposal

Comparative Analysis: Quality, Time and Cost Efficiency of Dry Construction and Wet Construction Techniques   1.0  Introduction Dry construction refers to the use of dry materials including gypsum board, plywood or wallboard in construction, minus the application of plaster or mortar whereas wet construction refers to any construction which makes use of that are installed or applied in other than a dry condition. Aside from plaster or mortar, concrete is also used as agent in wet construction. Dry construction can only be performed in soil formations which are inherently stable and where ground water is not present. As such, any intrusion which may degrade the structure of the surrounding soil could reduce the capacity of the infrastructure to be built. Wet construction, on the other hand, implies that slurry is placed capable of maintaining positive pressures, and can be mineral, synthetic or natural (Gunaratne, 2006). This exploratory study aims to compare the efficiency of dry construction vis-à-vis wet construction techniques in terms of three fundamental efficiency measures as quality, time and cost.   2.0  Statement of the Problem The control mechanism of construction projects falls into five categories including time, cost, quality, function and conflict. In this study, the first three categories will be considered. The documentation of construction programs, the bills or financial statements and the specifications differ based on which construction technique the project manager and also engineers and architects will decide to use. Time is a major influence surrounding the success of any construction venture. However, time is influenced by several factors hence the necessity to making timeframes and/or schedules of activities unambiguous. The question is: To what extent does time efficiency is achieved between dry and wet construction method? Cost control, further, is framed with reference to the financial scheme of the project. The changes in the circumstances relating to the project is reflected on cost plan and cost performance. Between dry and wet construction, under what circumstances does cost efficiency is realized is the question to be answered. Topical at the moment are quality control and quality assurance issues. Quality could be defined in two ways: characteristics and perception. As such, a construction project must have specified and quantifiable characteristics and depend on the subjective reaction of the people regarding the project. Quality efficiency is a must in the construction and building industry. The question worthy of researching is: How do dry and wet construction techniques sustain the quality of construction produce? Will there be similarities and differences in quality efficiency if dry or wet construction technique is employed? Likewise, will there be similarities and differences in time and cost efficiency depending on the technique to be used. Other issues that the study will address are: 1)    What are the benefits and detriments of using dry construction techniques? of wet construction techniques? 2)    Are there specific applications of dry construction techniques? of wet construction techniques? 3)    Why do industry experts and practitioners prefer dry construction? wet construction?   3.0  Research Aims and Objectives The main purpose of the research is to develop comparative arguments based upon sound practices in the construction and building industry by means of outlining the comparison between the performance of dry and wet construction. The three areas by which the researcher will build insights upon are quality, time and cost efficiency. In lieu with this, the study purports to: §  Evaluate levels of similarities/differences in areas of quality, time and cost between dry and wet construction §  Assess how dry or wet construction will proved to be beneficial in completing a construction project §  Decide on which construction technique is preferred by industry experts and practitioners   4.0  Significance of the Study This study is undertaken to advance the awareness in various construction techniques which will provide greater efficiency to the industry and the relevant stakeholders including society in general. Motivations for improving construction quality are ongoing because of the heightened pressures on decision-makers. Based on the findings of this research, decision-makers including builders, designers and project managers will be provided with guidelines/recommendations in optimizing resource utilization plans that will minimize the construction cost and time while also maximising the quality of construction projects. Construction optimization could only be achieved if decision-makers relating to construction projects are educated enough on what specific technique will provide them with much efficiency especially in terms of time, cost and quality. The study is also important as it can relate the factors affecting the likelihood of success in completing a construction project.     5.0  Research Plan The research will operate within the cross-sectional design, as I will be collecting data using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, structured observation, and document analysis. The benefit of this would be that Ì would be able to focus on the breath of the research. Exploratory research will enable the study to look at the problem in both descriptive and exploratory manner. This approach is a preferred mean of finding out “what is happening to seek new insights” or “to ask questions or to assess phenomena in a new light” (Saunders et al, 2003; Robson, 2002). This study will use the principal ways of conducting an exploratory research, which include: literature search; talking to experts about the subject; participative observation and conducting survey and interview. The research will utilise both primary and secondary research. In primary research, a semi-structured questionnaire will be used as the survey tool for the study. Accordingly, semi-structured interview questions will be developed to provide the researcher the opportunity to ‘probe’ answers, which can be done in instances where there is a need or want for the interviewees to explain further or build on their responses. It is planned that the questionnaire will have open-ended and probing questions aside from the 5-point Likert scale ranking questions. A secondary research will also be conducted in the study. Sources in secondary research will include previous research reports, newspaper, magazine and journal content. Existing findings on journals and existing knowledge on books will be used as secondary research. The interpretation will be conducted which can account as qualitative in nature. Further, exact and sophisticated observation will be also employed during the data collection process. Non-participant observation will be conducted and the observer will make use of audio and visual devices for recording observations. Observation guide will be prepared to aid observers during the process. A resource person with construction expertise will be contacted to assist in observation. Observation encounters will include mostly of implementation of wet and dry construction. What will be observed is the process of completing a project using dry construction techniques and wet construction techniques. Prior to observation, written consent and interview forms will be accomplished.  The research shall be divided into five chapters in order to provide clarity and coherence on the discussion. The first part of the dissertation will be discussing the problem uncovered by the researcher and provide ample background of the topic. The chapter shall constitute an introduction to the whole dissertation, the hypothesis, and the statement of the problem in order to present the basis of the study. The second chapter shall be discussing the relevance of the study in the existing literature. It shall provide studies on proper waste treatment, storage and disposal and how the environment can be affected in the process. After the presentation of the existing related literature, the researcher shall provide a synthesis of the whole chapter in relation to the study. The third part of the study shall be discussing the methods and procedures used in the study. The chapter shall comprise of the presentation of the utilized techniques for data collection and research methodology. Similarly, it shall also contain a discussion on the used techniques in data analysis as well as the tools used to acquire the said data. The fourth chapter shall be an analysis on the tabulated data. After the said tabulation, the data are statistically treated in order to uncover the relationship of the variable involved in the study. With the said data, the chapter seeks to address the statement of the problem noted in the first chapter. The last chapter shall comprise of three sections, the summary of the findings, the conclusions of the study, and the recommendations. With the three portions, the chapter shall be able to address the research problem stated in the initial chapters of the study.         References Effective Controls of Construction Projects. Paper to 7th Annual ARCOM conference. University of Bath.   Gunaratne, M. (2006). The Foundation Engineering Handbook. CRC Press.   Robson, C. (2002). Real world research. (2nd edn). Oxford: Blackwell.   Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2003). Research Methods for Business            Students, 3rd Ed. London: Prentice Hall Financial Times.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Comparative Analysis: Quality, Time and Cost Efficiency of Dry Construction and Wet Construction Techniques Research Proposal

Comparative Analysis: Quality, Time and Cost Efficiency of Dry Construction and Wet Construction Techniques 1.0 Introduction Dry co...

Dissertation on China’s Regional Disparities and the Westward Development

China’s Regional Disparities and the Westward Development   1.0 Introduction            In 1978, Chairman Deng Xiaoping decided to open up China and to reform the Chinese economy. Since then, China has been growing at a rate of about 10 % in average. Economic reform has been a great success, and China has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, most of the rapid development clusters along the eastern coast of China. The socioeconomic difference between the east and the west has been widening significantly over the past 20 years. As a result, in 2000, the Chinese government decided to take a more balanced regional development strategy. As Chairman Deng said in the 80s’, the coastal region will be developed first. When certain level of development is achieved along the coast, the rich coastal region will help the poor interior. The focus of development will shift to the interior region in the west. Therefore, at the end of 1999, the Communist Party of China announced the “Great Development of the West” Program (XiBuDaKaiFa) in the Tenth Five-Year Plan to stimulate development in the western part of China. Development in the western region became the priority of the country. Specifically, five areas of focus are addressed: Constructions of major infrastructure projects, improvement of the ecological environment, economic restructuring, promotions and reforms of science and education, and opening of the region to the outside world. In addition to the early 1980’s of China, Deng had created a numbers of Financial Special Regions (FSRs) along the coastline of China (e.g., Shenzhen and Xiamen); within which Communism was aborted in the financial aspect and private investment was allowed and protected to some extent in order to encourage foreign investment as well as host entrepreneurs starting businesses in China (Huang and Khanna, 2003). Huang and Khanna, (2003) pointed out that it was Deng’s idea to improve the environment of these FSR’s, first, under the premise of “to let a small portion of the country gets rich first”, and eventually, the whole country economics will also improve. In the long run, Deng’s model of FSRs has proven successful, since attracting the foreign investments not only helped China improve her GDP (increased by 31.8% from 1987 to 1991) but living standards (Huang and Khanna, 2003). The increase in living standards has raised the purchasing power in the country. China became a low-cost country for production, and this became the bargaining power of the country, making it important for foreign brands that target important consumer markets. Further, Deng’s FSRs had reinforced the country’s importance in the world economic and political environment generally. One positive outcome is that as compared to the time when foreign invested production facilities started out in the country and manufactured products that were only for export purposes, with the improved economy of China, these foreign production facilities now supply goods domestically as well.   2.0 Objectives of the Study The main aim of this research is to provide the readers a good understanding of the regional disparities and westward development of China. In this paper, I will first analyze the disparities between the coastal and interior regions. Secondly, I will analyze the contributing factors of east- west disparities. Finally, I will use specific cases in the western region to illustrate the determining factors of development. I will argue that the most critical factors of development of the west, especially in the foreseeable future, are human capital, entrepreneurship, and social networking. Rather then relying on central government policies or foreign investment, local leaders or entrepreneurs are the most reliable assets of the region to initiate strong development.    3.0 Significance of the Study             I am interested in the development of western China because, as the Chinese government addressed in the late 1990s’, regional disparity is now the most critical challenge in China. As the gap between the East and the West widens, discontents from the west grew to a notable level. Large flow migrants are moving eastwards; creating heavy pressure and bringing many urban and social problems to the cities in the east such as Shanghai. Political instability arises in different regions; movements of separation increase. Sovereignty and legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party may be challenged by this increasing discontented population from the West. The Chinese government realizes it is time to switch to a more balanced developmental strategy for the country.             Furthermore, this study will be a significant endeavour in promoting effective development strategies in China. In addition, this study will provide recommendations particularly in relation to regional disparities and westward development of China.   4.0 Regional Inequalities             Based on the regional division suggested by the Chinese Communist Party in 1985, China is roughly divided into three regions: eastern (or coastal), central, and western (or interior). According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the east includes 11 provinces and less than 14 % of the total land area of China, has about 41% of the total population in 2000. Central China includes 8 provinces, accounts for 16 % of the total land area, and has 31 % of the total population. In contrast with the east, the western region consists of 12 provinces, includes more than 70 % of the total land area, but only has about 28 % of the total population (National Bureau of Statistics, China 2000: 61).   5.0 Economic Disparities             Since Chairman Deng Xiaoping launched a series of economic reform in 1978, the Chinese economy changed significantly from a central-planned economy to a more market-determined one. China has been growing dramatically. Since then, disparities between the east and the west widen rapidly, both in rural and urban areas. Since the beginning of the economic reforms, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) share of the east increased while the share of the west decreased. Even the eastern region only accounts for about 14 % of the total area, it contributed to the 58 % of the total GDP in 1998, with an increased of 5.5 % in average from 1978. On the other hand, the western region that consists of the largest land area of the country, only accounted for 14 % of the total GDP in 1998, with an average decrease of 2.7 % from 1978 (Chinese Statistical Year Book 1998).             Changes in GDP per capita of different regions are even more notable; these changes allow us to see how people’s welfare changed in different parts of China over the last two decades. In 1978, GDP per capita in the east was 687 yuan, and it was 309 yuan in the west. After twenty years, GDP per capita in the east increased to 8,681 yuan while it only increased to 3, 786 yuan in the west. The gap between the eastern and the western regions increased from 378 yuan in 1978 to 4, 895 yuan in 1998, an increase of 12 times (Chinese Statistical Year Book 1998). Regional disparities are more visible in rural areas than in urban areas. In 1978, per capita annual net income of an eastern farmer was CNY 139, which was 120 % of that of a western farmer. In 1995, the gap between the east and the west widened as the per capita annual net income for eastern farmers was CNY 127 or twice as much as the western farmers’ 61 CNY (Yin 2004: 52). In urban areas, income gap between the east and the west has also been expanding. In 1978, urban residents in eastern region had a per capita annual income of CNY 372, which was 109 % of their western counterparts. However, in 2000 the per capita annual income of the east reached CNY 7,682, which was 140 % of that of the western region. The income gap between regions grew significantly over the two decades (Yin 2004: 52). As the economic indicators showed above, we can see the widening disparities between the eastern and the western regions since China moved towards a more market-oriented economy. In the following, I will analyze the factors that have been contributing to the expansion of regional disparities.   5.1 Contributing Factors of the East- West Disparities Basically, there are three contributing factors with regards to East-West disparities namely geography, government policies and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).                         5.1.1 Geography             The most fundamental factor of the great disparities between the east and the west is the geographical characteristics of China. A basic idea of China’s geography is that is it mountainous in the west and composed of plain in the east. Altitude declined from the west to the east. The highest altitude level is in the Tibetan Plateau where it is 4,500 meters above sea level, and the lowest altitude can be found along the eastern coast of China. First, the eastern region enjoys the economic benefits brought by the lowlands and the coast line. Throughout 3000 years of Chinese civilization, this is the region most developed and economically vibrant. Also, with the advantages brought by the Yang-tze River and the Yellow River, ports and harbors were built in cities along the coast such as Shanghai. Trade has been concentrated in the coastal region since the historical times. Compare to the interior region, the east is also more favorable for farming (Yan 2000: 23).             According to Yin (2004: 54), as the east only accounts for 14 % of the total land area, it is a region with the highest density (in terms of population, development, and infrastructure) in China. As a result, all the constructions of infrastructure and economic development are clustered within a relatively small area. Compare to the vast area of the west, therefore, it is relatively easier and more efficient to foster development in the east.             On the other hand, the geography of the west is characterized by its mountainous feature. Most of the western region is classified as mountain areas, hills, or deserts, and only little lowlands or flat plains can be found. Desertification is also another common feature found in many parts of the west. With about 96 % of non-arable land, the west suffers from the poor natural environment. Agricultural development is far behind from those in the east. With superior technological development, American farmers cultivate 1000 mu of land on average, while Chinese farmers only cultivate 4 mu of land.             In addition, the western region covers a huge landmass of more than 70 % of the total area of China. The vast, underdeveloped land with mountain terrain in the west hinders communication and transportation systems. Infrastructures are poor. In 1998, the densities of railways and highways in the western region were both less than 20 % of the coastal region (Song 2000: 56). Population is sparse, especially inside the mountain regions. As a result, compare to the smaller and densely-populated east, it is more difficult to develop the west, and it is definitely a long term process which may take decades, or even centuries to complete.             Basically, the geographic characteristics of high altitude and large landmass constrained the west to develop its infrastructures and transportation systems. Even though the western region is rich in natural resources, its backward transportation networks keep the transportation costs high and therefore most of the natural resources in the west are underdeveloped as it is not profitable. After all, it is not as easy or as efficient to stimulate development and growth in the western region as it was to the east; because of its remoteness, backwardness, and lack of basic infrastructures, it will take a much longer time to see accomplishments in developing the west.   5.1.2 Government policies             Based on the two basic geographical characteristics of the eastern region, the low altitude and relatively small area provide the east with better potentials to grow. Its better infrastructure systems also allow the region to response efficiently and sensitively to the government’s reform policies. As the Chinese government aimed to get immediate economic growth in the late 1970s’, the eastern region became the first focus. Since 1978, the Chinese government increased its investment in the east significantly. In 1998, the Chinese government spent 61.7 % of the government investment in the east while only 15.2 % was spent in the west. On top of that, regional policies favoring the east have been adopted. First, special areas are planned to attract foreign investments. For examples, 360 Special export zones (SEZs) are established in the east. Singapore Industrial Area is set up in Suzhou province (in the east region). Special investments areas for Taiwanese are build in different cities in the east. Second, various preferential policies are granted to the eastern region, such as tax concessions, and tariff exemptions for foreign investors. Some provinces along the southeastern coast also enjoyed more authority for approving foreign direct investment (FDI). Lastly, improvement in infrastructures and transportation systems allowed the eastern region became the export base of China (Hu 2000: 312).              Apparently, the economic reforms started in 1978, most the government resources, financial supports, and favorable policies are given to the east rather than the west. In 1998, the government spending invested to the west accounted for 15.2 % only ((Lu 1998: 12). Even after the “Great Development of the West” program is launched in 1999 and the Chinese government greatly increase its spending in the west, I argue, the western region does not response to the changes in government policies as the ways the eastern region did. The west is not as sensitive or as efficient in responding to the increase of favorable policies and increase of investment spending. As the west covers a huge landmass and the range of the territory is wide, the responses to the government’s policies are also different in different regions and changes are uneven. Also, lack of infrastructure and underdevelopment dwarf the effects of favorable government policies.                           5.1.3 Foreign Direct Investment Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an extensive cross-border investment between a direct investor (either an individual or business entity) from a stronger economy and a direct investment enterprise in another country conducted by the previous trial purposes only, but to instead acquire a long-term relationship with the latter in order to serve its domestic markets, make the most of its resources, or create a stage that will serve world markets through exports (Capital Markets Consultative Group [CMCG] Working Group, 2003; Jensen, 2003; United Nations, 2003). In the long-term relationship, the direct investor is given an important role in the management of the direct investment enterprise activities, which includes the construction of long-term establishments (such as manufacturing facilities, bank premises, warehouses and other long-term organizations) and conducting investments, joint ventures, cross-mergers and / or acquisitions in the less-advanced economy. If the direct investor already gets hold of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares or voting power of an enterprise abroad, a direct investment is now achieved. In this case, the activities covered include not only the initial transaction that forges the “FDI relationship” between the two parties involved, but extends to all subsequent transactions between them and among affiliated enterprises, reaching beyond the original direct investor and includes foreign subsidiaries and affiliates of the direct investor that are part of the “parent group” (CMCG Working Group, 2003). Meanwhile, flows that make up FDI are capital (either provided by foreign direct investor to an FDI enterprise or received from a FDI enterprise by a foreign direct investor), the three components equity capital (i.e., the foreign direct investor’s purchase of shares of an enterprise in a country other than its own), reinvested earnings (i.e., the direct investor’s share of earnings not distributed as dividends by affiliates, or earnings not paid to the direct investor) and intra-company loans / debt transactions (i.e., the short-term or long-term borrowing and lending of funds between direct investors and affiliate enterprises), and the FDI stock (i.e., the value of the share of their capital and reserves (including retained profits) attributable to the parent enterprise, plus the net indebtedness of affiliates to the parent enterprise) (United Nations, 2003, pp. 231-232).             Apparently, in the paper of Vernon and Davidson (1979), the emergence of the multinational private corporation as a powerful agent of world social and economic change has been a signal development of the postwar era. This evolution has been regarded with mixed opinions by public officials of the investing and the host countries, as well as by observers of international affairs. Due to the favorable government policies in the east, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased rapidly since the reforms. In 1998, FDI in the east was 85.5 %, but in contrast, only 3.5 % of the total FDI flowed in China was invested in the west. Disparity in foreign investments across regions is extreme (Lu 1998: 12).             Because of the geographical differences, the east has more potential to grow fast and therefore, better infrastructures and transportation networks are established. Government policies and foreign investments have also been playing important roles in developing the east. As both government and foreign investments are significantly higher than in the west, qualified labors, entrepreneurs, and advanced technologies have also been flowing towards the east. As a result, the east has been growing at a faster rate than the west; the gap between the east and the west widened sharply over the last two decades. With respect to the previous discussion, dramatic increase in foreign investments in the 1980s’ and 1990s’ was the main driving force of the rapid development in the east. However, it is not the case for the western region as foreign investment level remains low even after launching 1999’s “Great Development of the West” program. Even government policies are implemented to attract foreign investors to invest in the western region, the lack of infrastructures and the remoteness of the west keeps the investors away from the region. Before the Chinese government explicitly switched its developmental strategies to the west, foreign investment level was as low as only 3.5 % of the country’s total foreign investment was invested in the west (Lu 1998: 12). After 1999, investment level increased but remains at the level of 5 % in 2002. Foreign Direct Investment, instead of moving westward to the interior part of the country, has been moving northward along the eastern coast of China (Jiang, 2004: 23). As a result, before large-scales constructions of infrastructures are completed, which are expected to take at least a few decades, foreign investment is predicted to remains at a much lower level than the east.             Because of the high altitude and its vast body of land mass, the western region is considered as remote and underdeveloped. Lack of infrastructures weakens the impacts of favorable government policies and foreign investments in the region. As a result, we cannot expect a dramatic growth in the west from favorable government policies and increase in foreign investments before the constructions of basic infrastructures are completed. Different form the massive, macro-scale, dramatic growth in the east, I aforementioned; it is more reasonable for the west to rely its development on a micro-level, local, and gradually developmental approach, especially in the foreseeable, short future when lack of good transportation systems and infrastructures are still a main issue in the west. Compare to the economic boom created in the east for the last two decades, the west will need to take a more balanced, gradual approach for development. Instead of favorable central government policies or heavy foreign investments, I argue, in this early stage of westwards development, initiatives lead by local government and entrepreneurs is the most important factor in determining the development in the west. I will use two specific cases to illustrate how human capital, entrepreneurship, and social networking can make a difference in the west even infrastructures, foreign investment, and government policies are still lacking behind those in the east.     6.0 Related Studies             6.1 Dayingjie Township, Yunnan Province             Dayingjie is a township located in Yunnan province in Southwest China. It shares a similar physical setting and natural endowment with other townships within the province. Without any significant favorable government policies and any kind of investment from outside, Dayinggjie enjoys a per capita net income of more than 6,000 yuan, while other townships nearby are only making a net income of less than 2,000 yuan. Dayingjie was not different from other townships before three gutsy entrepreneurs Ren, He, and Yang used their social networking skills to establish “guanxi” (relationships) with the fasting growing Hongta Cigrarette Company in Zhoucheung. But since these three entrepreneurs started building their local empire by connecting with the giant enterprise, Dayingjie Township outperformed other rural townships and became the richest township within the region. Ren, He, and Yang are local villagers; just as other traditional Chinese villagers accustomed to a collective life, they give the highest priority to interpersonal connections. They worked for the Dayingjie Brigade Construction team in the 70s’, and they gained the trust of the Hongta Cigarette Company when the team successfully completed a new factory for the company. Ren’s exceptional social networking skills allowed him to build a marketing network for the company. In the late 1970s’, the enterprise moved one of its cigarette filter factories to Dayingjie. Since then many other village industries have taken off. The relationship between Ren and the Hongta Cigarette Factory was mutually benefitial; Ren gained the financial capital from the giant enterprise, while the company benefited from the market and the low labor cost provided by Dayingjie Township. Since the three rural entrepreneurs began to build rural industries in Dayingjie Township by establishing relationships with the Hongta Ciagrette Factory, the living standards and the welfare system in the township greatly improved. Besides cigarette filters, the township also produce furniture, aluminum foil, and solar panels. Dayingjie earned the reputation as a model village (Xu 2004: 810). The Dayingjie success illustrated that development in western China can be achieved in a local scale without significant help from the central government or foreign investment. “Guanxi” or social networking skill is especially important in the Chinese society. Entrepreneurship is also critical. The question of how to promote the growth of entrepreneurship and human capital on a larger scale is essential to the development of the western region as a whole.   6.2 “Glory Project” in Tibet Many private entrepreneurs in China are interested in the economic opportunities offered by the west. They also committed themselves to the social obligations of development in western China. For example, a program called “Glory Project” started by the Chinese Association of Private Scientists, Technicians, and Entrepreneurs in 1995 have completed more than 100 investment and assistance projects in cities such as Lhasa, Xigaze, and Shannan in Tibet. Since the beginning of the program, more than 40 members of the associations visited Tibet with the assessment tours. Millions of yuan have been invested to the constructions of two pharmaceutical plants, two modern farms, several timber mills, a cooking oil plant and real estate development. Entrepreneurs make profit by taking advantages of the unique resources and the low production cost in Tibet; while the enterprising spirits and the managerial skills brought by the entrepreneurs inspired the people in Tibet (Mo 1997, 33).   7.0 Conclusion Since the economic reforms took place in 1978, the coastal region of China in the east gained sharply from a more market- oriented economy. Gap between the east and the west is widened rapidly as the east has been growing at a faster rate than the west. The geographical differences are the fundamental explanations of disparities between the east and the west. Equipped with better infrastructures, favorable government policies and increased foreign investments stimulated economic growth in the eastern region at a significantly fast rate over the past two decades. However, in the west in contrast, the vast landmass and lack of infrastructures are obstacles of development in the region. Favorable government policies and foreign investments are not likely to generate a similar, sharp economic boom as they did in the east. At this early stage of “Great Development of the West” Program, as I suggested, human capital, entrepreneurship, and social networking initiated by local leaders or entrepreneurs are essential for development. A more balanced, gradual approach for development in western China is advisable.   Additional References: Capital Markets Consultative Group (CMCG) Working Group. (2003). Foreign Direct Investment in Emerging Market Countries. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund (IMF).   Huang, Y. and Khanna, T. (2003). Can India Overtake China? In Foreign Policy, July / August 2003.   Jensen, N.M. (2003). Democratic Governance and Multinational Corporations: Political Regimes and Inflows of Foreign Direct Investment. In International Organization, Vol. 57 (Summer), pp. 587-616.   United Nations. (2003). World Investment Report 2003—FDI Policies for Development: National and International Perspectives. Switzerland: United Nations Publications.   Vernon R. and Davidson W.H. (1979), Foreign production of technology intensive products by US based multinational enterprises, Working Paper 79-5, Harvard Business School, Cambridge MA.           Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Dissertation on China’s Regional Disparities and the Westward Development

China’s Regional Disparities and the Westward Development 1.0 Introduction In 1978, Chairman Deng Xiaoping decided to...