Management Principles in the Construction Industry

Management Principles in the Construction Industry Task 1 Management Techniques (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) Define and attribute three established definitions of management Fredrick Taylor observed that workers were often working beneath their potential and he designed a four stage method to overcome this problem; Break the job into its smallest elements Select the most qualified employees to do the job and train them to do it. Monitor the employees to ensure that they follow the prescribed methods. Continue in this way, but only use the employees that perform the work well. In 1911, Taylor published principles of scientific management in which he described methods of work designed to increase productivity. Many studies were performed at the Bethlehem steel company in Pittsburgh where he examined the time and motion details of work operations. He developed better methods for performing specific tasks and trained the workers to perform them. In one experiment he increased the output of a worker loading pig iron onto a rail car. He broke the task down into its smallest operations, timing each one with a stopwatch. The task was then redesigned, reducing the number of movements as well as the effort required and the potential sources of error. Work breaks were introduced at specific intervals for a specified duration and a differential pay scale was also used to improve the production rate. The workers output rate increased from 12 to 47 tons per day! Taylor was known as the father of scientific management. Frank (1868 to 1924) and Lillian (1878-1972) Gilbreth The Gilbreths, a husband and wife team, developed ways to increase workers output. They believed that it was possible to design work methods whose durations could be estimated in advance, rather than using time studies based on observation. One of his studies related to bricklaying. He filmed all of the required movements to perform the task. This enabled him to determine the tasks that made up each stage of the process. As a result, he designed and patented special scaffolding to reduce the amount of bending and reaching. This changed an 18 stage process into a five stage process, increasing productivity by around 200%. The Gilbreths defined motion study as breaking work down into its fundamental elements, studying the elements both separately and both in relation to each other so as to minimise waste. They defined time study as a scientific analysis of methods and equipment used for a task, development of the best way of doing it and determination of the time required to perform it. Frank Gilbreth is known as the father of time and motion studies. Administrative Management Administrative management considers the running of the total organisation. Some of the major contributors are: Henri Fayol (1841 to 1925) was a French engineer. Fayol was the first to distinguish the four management functions: Planning Organising Leading Controlling Fayol was known as the father of modern management His principles of management included, division of work, authority and responsibility, discipline and order, unity of command and direction, subordination of individual interests to general goals, job security and remuneration of personnel. Max Weber (1864 to 1920) was a German sociologist and economist Weber outlined the concept of bureaucracy. He saw bureaucracy as the most logical and appropriate structure for large organisations. Bureaucracies are based on authority which comes from law, procedures, rules, etc. He believed that efficiency in bureaucracies comes from: Hierarchical structure Clearly defined and specialised job functions Use of strict and systematic rules and procedures Appointment of employees to job based and technical expertise Promotions of employees based on competence Clearly defined career paths His work is the foundation of contemporary organisation theory. Mary parker Follett (1868 to 1933) was an American lecturer and management consultant Follets concepts included: The universal goal The universal goal of organisations is an integration of individual effort into that of the whole company. The universal principle The universal principle involves reciprocal response emphasising feedback to the sender, ( the concept of two way communication). The law situation The law of the situation emphasises that there is not a single best way of doing anything, but that it all depends on the situation. Behavioural orhuman relationsManagement, which appeared in the 1920s, dealt with the human aspects of the organisations. Initially, it was a reaction to the shortcomings of the classical theories of management. Behavioural research began with the Hawthorne studies which were conducted between 1924 and 1933 at the Hawthorne plant of the western electric company in Cicero, Illinois by Elton Mayo and his colleagues. Elton Mayo (1880 to 1949) Mayo believed that work satisfaction depends more on working conditions and attitudes than on the level of remuneration. He rejected Taylorism and that work should be considered as a group activity. He proposed that workers needed recognition of their efforts and tnat a sense of belonging was more important than the physical working conditions. Mayo identified the Hawthorne effect. This is the bias that occurs when people know that they are being observed. The Hawthorne studies The Hawthorne studies included the Illumination experiments. The aim of these studies was to investigate the effect of operating conditions on productivity. Illumination experiments were carried out to establish whether better lighting conditions would lead to increased productivity. It was found that employees productivity increased whether the light were turned up or down. However, the increased productivity was found to be a result of the attention received by the group, not the working conditions. Another study found that employees do not work as fast as they can when they are being paid piece rate wages. Instead, they will perform informally to a level set by the group. The conclusion was that there was no direct cause and effect between operating conditions and productivity. Worker attitude and peer pressure was found to be more important. 1.2  Explain the principles and processes of management: forecasting The Principles and forecasting of Management Principles of Management The principles are; To command Maintain the activity among the personnel. Forecasting To be able to predict the outcomes of business behaviour or industry sector through the use of experience, qualification or with the use of statistics or other previous records. (The go to place for management) Forecasting is an effective practice use as a starting point for management planning and decision making. General types of forecasting include trend examination, regression analysis, Delphi technique, time series analysis, correlation, exponential smoothing, and input-output analysis. Daily business planning Planning is an incredibly effective way for managers to stay focused on achieving their own goals and the goals of the organization for which they represent. Organising Build up the structure, both material and human, of the undertaking. Motivating To encourage and inspire other to carry out tasks or jobs to be completed and maintain momentum or the working pace of the operatives. Controlling Seeing that everything occurs in conformity with established rule and expressed command. Coordinating Binding together, unifying and harmonizing all activity and effort. Communicating Henri Fayol published 14 principles of management these principles are: (Fayol) Division of Work. Specialization allows the individual to build up experience, and to continuously improve his skills. Thereby he can be more productive. Authority. The right to issue commands, along with which must go the balanced responsibility for its function. Discipline. Employees must obey, but this is two-sided: employees will only obey orders if management play their part by providing good leadership. Unity of Command. Each worker should have only one boss with no other conflicting lines of command. Unity of Direction. People engaged in the same kind of activities must have the same objectives in a single plan. This is essential to ensure unity and coordination in the enterprise. Unity of command does not exist without unity of direction but does not necessarily flow from it. Subordination of individual interest (to the general interest). Management must see that the goals of the firms are always paramount. Remuneration. Payment is an important motivator although by analyzing a number of possibilities, Fayol points out that there is no such thing as a perfect system. Centralization (or Decentralization). This is a matter of degree depending on the condition of the business and the quality of its personnel. Scalar chain (Line of Authority). A hierarchy is necessary for unity of direction. But lateral communication is also fundamental, as long as superiors know that such communication is taking place. Scalar chain refers to the number of levels in the hierarchy from the ultimate authority to the lowest level in the organization. It should not be over-stretched and consist of too-many levels. Order. Both material order and social order are necessary. The former minimizes lost time and useless handling of materials. The latter is achieved through organization and selection. Equity. In running a business a combination of kindliness and justice is needed. Treating employees well is important to achieve equity. Stability of Tenure of Personnel. Employees work better if job security and career progress are assured to them. An insecure tenure and a high rate of employee turnover will affect the organization adversely. Initiative. Allowing all personnel to show their initiative in some way is a source of strength for the organization. Even though it may well involve a sacrifice of personal vanity on the part of many managers. Esprit de Corps. Management must foster the morale of its employees. He further suggests that: real talent is needed to coordinate effort, encourage keenness, use each persons abilities, and reward each ones merit without arousing possible jealousies and disturbing harmonious relations. 1.3  Identify the motivational needs of individuals and groups, leadership styles and concepts of team working. Motivational Needs Organization of goals, function within addition to ideals among employees, teams and company is the generally essential part of motivation. The better the arrangement and personal union with organizational aim, the healthier the podium for incentive. Anywhere persons find it hard to support and unite with the organizational aims, and then mainly motivational ideas and actions will have a reduced level of success. Motivation is a difficult subject. It differentiates for each person. Motivational receptivity and potential in everyone differs from day to day, from situation to situation. Get the alignment and values right, and motivational methods work out better. Motivational methods of every sort will not work if some people or organisations are not aligned. People are more interested or gravitate towards something they can relate to and something they can believe in. Times have changed. People want more. Motivational and inspirational quotes, poems, posters, motivational speakers and stories, team building games and activities, all develop employee motivation for sales and business staff in all kinds of organizations. Motivational and inspirational experiences improve employees attitudes, confidence and performance. Leadership styles Charismatic Leadership Charismatic Leaders use a wide range of methods to manage their image and, if they are not naturally charismatic, may practice assiduously at developing their skills. They may engender trust through visible self-sacrifice and taking personal risks in the name of their beliefs. They will show great confidence in their followers. They are very persuasive and make very effective use of body languageas well as verbal language. Participative Leadership A Participative Leader, rather than taking autocratic decisions, seeks to involve other people in the process, possibly including subordinates, peers, superiors and other stakeholders. Often, however, as it is within the managers whim to give or deny control to his or her subordinates, most participative activity is within the immediate team. The question of how much influence others are given thus may vary on the managers preferences and beliefs, and a whole spectrum of participation is possible, as in the table below. Situational leadership The best action of the leader depends on a range of situational factors. When a decision is needed, an effective leader does not just fall into a single preferred style, such as using transactionalor transformationalmethods. In practice, as they say, things are not that simple. Factors that affect situational decisions include motivation and capability of followers. This, in turn, is affected by factors within the particular situation. The relationship between followers and the leader may be another factor that affects leader behaviour as much as it does follower behaviour. Transactional Leadership The transactional leader works through creating clear structures whereby it is clear what is required of their subordinates, and the rewards that they get for following orders. Punishments are not always mentioned, but they are also well-understood and formal systems of discipline are usually in place. The early stage of Transactional Leadership is in negotiating the contract whereby the subordinate is given a salary and other benefits, and the company (and by implication the subordinates manager) gets authority over the subordinate. When the Transactional Leader allocates work to a subordinate, they are considered to be fully responsible for it, whether or not they have the resources or capability to carry it out. When things go wrong, then the subordinate is considered to be personally at fault, and is punished for their failure (just as they are rewarded for succeeding). Transformational Leadership Transformational Leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite and convert potential followers. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. The important factor is the leader buys into it, hook, line and sinker. The next step, which in fact never stops, is to constantly sell the vision. This takes energy and commitment, as few people will immediately buy into a radical vision, and some will join the show much more slowly than others. The Transformational Leader thus takes every opportunity and will use whatever works to convince others to climb on board the bandwagon. In order to create followers, the Transformational Leader has to be very careful in creating trust, and their personal integrity is a critical part of the package that they are selling. In effect, they are selling themselves as well as the vision. The quiet Leader The approach of quiet leaders is the antithesis of the classic charismatic(and often transformational) leaders in that they base their success not on ego and force of character but on their thoughts and actions. Although they are strongly task-focused, they are neither bullies nor unnecessarily unkind and may persuade people through rational argument and a form of benevolent Transactional Leadership. Servant Leadership It is easy to dismiss servant leadership as soft and easy, though this is not necessarily so, as individual followers may be expected to make sacrifices for the good of the whole, in the way of the servant leader. The focus on the less privileged in society shows the servant leader as serving not just their followers but also the whole of society. Servant leadership is a natural model for working in the public sector. It requires more careful interpretation in the private sector lest the needs of the shareholders and customers and the rigors of market competition are lost. Task 2 Leading by Example (2.1, 2.5, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5) 2.1  Describe in outline the main markets, activities and services provided by the construction and built environment sector. The Main Markets New build Housing The housing market is the supply and demandfor homes, normally in a particular country or county, a primary element of the housing market is the average house prices and activity in house prices. The availability of housing and the amount of housing stock fluctuates house prices sectors include the rented sector. Buy to let investment and the requirement from tenants, government intervention controls and Influences the Housing market Interest rates also influence the cost of erratic mortgages market conditions and mortgage activity, plays an important part in whether people are eligible for mortgages financial progress, incomes and unemployment rates population and geographic trends also have influences in this market place The UK Housing Market is habitually unpredictable because of a variety of factors. The UK Housing market often has influence over wider economy. E.g. when house prices are decreasing, consumer spending tends to fall because the housing market always dictates for the economy and individual homeowners, it is essential to try and predict or foresee the future movements in the housing market. Industrial Commercial Markets This industry consists of units generally occupied in the construction and development of commercial and industrial non-residential buildings. This category also consists of elements occupied in carrying out additions, alterations or renovations or general repairs or remodelling to commercial and industrial buildings or in organising or managing the construction. Establishments mainly engaged in the construction of institutional non-residential buildings such as schools hospitals and other government buildings. Infrastructure Markets The general dependable systemsof a community or countries population, including utilities, water, sewage, roads, etc. These systems are considered paramount for enabling growthin an economy. Building and developing an infrastructure often requires huge investment, but the economies of scaletend to be significant. 2.5  Define and explain the application of a mission statement, strategy, corporate planning, policy and objectives to the activities of a practice or firm A mission statement is a formal short statement of the purpose of a company or organisation. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organisation, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision making. It provides the framework or context within which the companys strategies are formulated. Historically it is associated with Christian religious groups; indeed, for many years a missionary was assumed to be a person on a specifically religious mission. The word mission dates from 1598, originally of Jesuits sending members abroad. Corporate planning Corporate planning is the continuas process of making present risk-taking decisions systematically and with the greatest knowledge of their futurity; organising systematically the efforts needed to carry out these decisions, and measuring the results of these decisions against the expectations through organised, systematic feedback. Planning at the highest level in an organisation, involving an analysis of the current situation, the setting of objectives, the formulation of strategies and tactics, implementation and evaluation. 4.3  Describe what is meant by multi discipline non adversarial working in project teams (Lathem Report). Multi discipline means a person firm of group offering multiple disciplines in which they specialize. If a task requires more than one type of specialist/function, it requires multi-disciplined group or person. Non- adversarialmeans there is a spirit of co operation, a passive stance, the parties are willing to reach a mutually satisfying resolution to a problem. There is persuasion rather than coercion. The Lathem report The Lathem report was an influential report written by sir Michael Lathem. Commissioned by the United Kingdom Government and industry to review procurement and contractual arrangements in the construction industry. It tackled the most controversial issues facing the industry during a period of lapse in growth as a whole. The Lathem report of July 1994 was sponsored by UK Government and industry following several poorly performing projects. The inefficiencies identified pointed to the need for partnering and collaboration in the construction sector. The Lathem report 1994 `constructing the team` a joint industry government report was based on a simple concept that through teamwork the construction industry could delight its consumers. The report acted as a wake up with all the urgency of an emergency siren. This was a report that had to be listened to, the industry couldnt but help but hear the cries for reform. The industry was ineffective, adversarial, fragmented, and incapable of delivering for its customers` and lacking respect for its employees` more than just ringing alarm bells the Lathem report set the agenda for reform and gave the industry targets. From this a raft of initiatives flowed. The report led to the establishment of the construction industry board to oversee reform and subsequent initiatives were the Egan report 1998 `Rethinking construction` the construction best practice programme, The movement for innovation` and construction excellence` all designed to drive the industry forward. 4.4  Evaluate the concept of sharing best practice and benchmarking the performance of a practice/firms activities Best practice is a method or technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward that is believed to be more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. When applied to a particular condition or circumstance. The idea is that with proper processes, check, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems or unforeseen circumstances, best practice can also be defined as the most efficient and effective way of accomplishing a task , based upon repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people. A given best practice is only applicable to a particular condition or circumstance and may have to be modified or adapted for similar circumstance. In addition, a best practice can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered. Despite the need to improve on processes as the environment changes , best practice is considered by some as business buzzword used to describe the process of developing and following a standard way of doing things that multiple organisations can use for managements, policy, and software systems. As a team becomes more popular, some organisations have begun using the term best practices to refer to what are in fact merely `rules` causing a linguistic drift in which a new term such as good ideas is needed to refer to what previously would have been called `best practice`. 4.5  Explain how sustainable Construction and environmental Management/Conservation Issues impact on the organisation and operation of a project/organisation. Sustainable construction Environmental management The strategy for sustainable construction is a joint industry and government initiative intended to promote leadership and behavioural change, as well as delivering benefits to both the construction industry and the wider economy. The output of the construction industry has a major impact on our ability to maintain a sustainable economy overall and has a major impact on our environment, moreover, it is clear that we cannot meet our declared environmental targets without dramatically reducing the environmental impact of buildings and infrastructure construction, we have to change the way we design and build. The business case for sustainable construction agenda is based upon increasing profitability by using resources more efficiently, firms who offer sustainable products and ways of working are more likely to secure building contracts, by enhancing their company image and profile in the market place by addressing issues related to corporate and social responsibility, and sustainable construction. Construction companies competing in this market place must address issues such as: Design quality Energy Health and safety Materials Procurement Skills Social responsibility Surface water management Waste Water use Facilities management Task 3 Organisation (2.2, 2.3, 2.4) 2.2  Identify the roles of the different professions/disciplines within the design construction and installation team and the main cycle of work activity. Design Client, lead consultant, CDM coordinator, Cost consultant, Lead designer, Architect structural engineer, services engineer, contractor Construction Principle contractor, managing director, contracts manager, project manager , site manager, assistant site manager, foreman. Labourer. Installation teams Surveyor, setting out engineer, groundworks subcontractor, brickwork subcontractor, steel frame subcontractor, concrete slab subcontractor, floor screed subcontractor, carpentry subcontractor, mechanical and electrical subcontractor, cladding contractor roofing contractor, telecoms contractor, scaffolding contractor, dry lining subcontractor, British gas southern electric. 2.3  Produce an organisation structure that includes examples and explanations of direct line, lateral functional and staff relationships and also explain with examples, span of control chain of command centralised versus decentralised and job design. Directors Managers Managers Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Section heads Managers Explanations of direct line. The director Directors have many business responsibilities for ensuring the success of their company, in areas such as health and safety, employment law and tax. The contracts Manager He / she will be responsible for the successful procurement, progress and completion of several contracts at any time. Planning and Control Planning Designing a methodical process for accomplishing the goals of the organisation / preparing the organisation for the future Organising Arranging the resources to carry out the plan / the process of creating the company structure, establishing relationships and allocating resources to achieve the organisational goals. Directing Guiding, leading and supervising employees to achieve the organisational goals Controlling Verifying that actual performance matches the plan/ if it does not match the actual plan then corrective action needs to be taken. Lateral functions There are also lateral functions in the job functions and personal roles in the areas of design, planning and construction there are senior managers and operative in all areas who need to liaise and work together to achieve the goals of the organisation. 2.4  Identify project based organisation structures. Health Safety Consultant CDM Coordinator Subcontractors Employees Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Subcontractors Assistant Manager Site Manager Project Manager Section heads CDM Coordinator The CDM co-ordinator is there to advise and assist with CDM duties  on notifiable jobs. They will: advise on selecting competent designers and contractors; help identify what information will be needed by designers and contractors; co-ordinate the arrangements for health and safety during the planning  phase; ensure that HSE is notified of the project; tell if the initial construction phase plan is suitable; and prepare a health and safety file (this contains useful information  needed to enable future cleaning, maintenance and alterations to be carried out  Safely). The appointment of the CDM co-ordinator is better done soon as possible, but no later than the initial design/preparation stage. Health and Safety consultant Normally familiar with working within a construction site environment, roaming various sites to ensure that health and safety standards are being met according to statuary regulations and company and client standards. The Project Manager A project manager is often a client representative and has to determine and implement the exact needs of the client, based on knowledge of the firm they are representing. The ability to adapt to the various internal procedures of the contracting party, and to form close links with the nominated representatives, is essential in ensuring that the key issues of cost, time, quality and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized. The Site Manager He /She will be responsible for the day to day running of the site the job normally involves Producing the site layout plan Setting up the dimensional control of the works Interpreting the drawings and specifications Liaising with the architects and engineers Checking the quality of the work Ensuring a safe site environment Planning 3.1  Describe techniques used to organise the layout, resourcing and accommodation of the project The techniques used to organise the layout of the project is called a site layout plan. All construction projects of any notable size require the provision of substantial amounts of temporary facilities (TF). One of the initial tasks to be undertaken on any construction site is the construction of the temporary accommodation and associated site compound. The compound is required for safety and security whilst various types of temporary facilities are required the most common being, Office Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚   (Reception, General Office, Engineers Office, Project Managers Office etc.) Welfare Facilities Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Canteen, Toilets, Showers, Drying Rooms etc.) Storage Accommodation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Valuable and Hazardous Materials storage facilities) 3.2  Describe with examples, methods of work planning, monitoring and progress control u

How World War One presented in poetry by Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon Essay

A comparison of the ways in which World War One is presented by Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon in their poetry with close reference to â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est† and â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† by Owen and â€Å"The General† and â€Å"Base Details† by Sassoon. * * * The First World War marked a significant turning point in poetic tradition and history by the revolutionary styles and ideas expressed by the poets. Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon are probably two of the most well known war poets and their poetry was instrumental in this change. Prior to 1914, much poetry was written about wars such as the Crimean War in 1854-56 (The Charge of The Light Brigade by Tennyson who says, â€Å"Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.) but the great majority of the poets had not experienced war first-hand. Thus, they reinforced the poetic tradition of glorifying war and death. Both Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, who both fought through most of the First World War, use their poetry in the hope that they can give a more realistic impression of war than the pre-twentieth century poetry. Both Owen and Sassoon present World War One as unheroic, in direct contrast to pre-twentieth war poetry such as The Destruction of Sennacherib by Byron. At the very beginning of Dulce et Decorum est Owen describes the soldiers as ‘Bent double, like old beggars under sacks’. That image is the complete opposite of what we would consider to be a heroic and romantic figure, an attribute that was always given to soldiers in pre-twentieth century poetry. Owen goes on to describe the soldiers as ‘knock-kneed’ and ‘coughing like hags’. Neither of these images can be associated with the glorified, smartly dressed soldier that would be fixed in almost all of the minds of women and children back home. The comparison of the soldiers to hags is not a pleasant one as hags are often scruffy and dirty. The mention of the coughing portrays the many illnesses that soldiers suffered from in the trenches. Although both of them present war as unheroic, they do so in very different ways. The style of Owen’s poetry which is much longer and contains more description than that of Sassoon’s, allows him to expand on the simple description of the horrors of war that he experienced. In Dulce et Decorum est, he describes in graphic and horrific detail the death of a man who was not able to fit his helmet in time during a gas attack. He uses words such as ‘flound’ring’ ‘guttering, choking, drowning’. The word ‘flound’ring’ gives the impression of the helplessness of the man.The onomatopoeic effect of these words gives an image that adds relaism to the horror of war. This makes it more realistic and moreover, more chilling to read. Owen goes on, in the final stanza of this poem to describe the dead man in greater detail. His varied use of language allows him to create shocking imagery which means that the reader can visualise the man. Owen uses phrases such as: â€Å"watch the white eyes writhing in his face† and â€Å"the blood/Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs† The first of these phrases is particularly chilling as it makes the reader think of snakes writhing in his face. This gives the impression of a crazed person, driven insane by what he has seen and what he had suffered before dying. The alliteration of the ‘w’ is also effective as it emphasises the phrase. Owen wants to present the reality of the First World War and in slowing the reader down, he makes them think about what he is actually describing and change the way in which it was brushed over before World War One. The second phrase is also shocking and the use of the onomatopoeic word ‘gargling’ makes it all the more visual and makes the reader feel more chilling. This image of a man choking on his own blood because of gas is very unheroic and it is this that Owen wants to portray – the unheroic nature of war however brave the soldiers may be. This is in comparison to many pre-twentieth century war poems where they emphasise the heroic nature of war such as in a speech in Henry V where Henry says that the man who survives the battle will ‘remember with advantages what feats he did that day’, emphasising the heroic nature of war. Owen’s second poem, Anthem for Doomed Youth also presents World War One as unheroic and unromantic. The very first line of his poem epitomises Owen’s feeling about the young men sent off to war. â€Å"What passing bells for those who die as cattle?† The use of the word ‘cattle’ immediately robs all glory from the idea of war as a whole. The simile compares how cattle are slaughtered for meat to soldiers dying for their country. This is a very unheroic comparison and is effective in what it is trying to portray. On the other hand, in the two poems by Sassoon that I have chosen to discuss, Sassoon does not present World War One as unheroic. His poems, which are short and concise, deal more with the unfairness of war and protest against the generals and commanding officers. However, in The General, Sassoon briefly presents the soldiers in an unheroic way, telling us that Harry and Jack ‘slogged’ up to Arras, instead of the quick, efficient marching of the soldiers that had been frequently portrayed prior to the First World War such as is described in The Charge Of The Light Brigade where Tennyson conveys the riders riding quckly by the phrase, ‘Half a league, half a league, half a league onward.’ The rhythm of these lines show the quick pace of the soldiers. Sassoon’s poetry presents the unfairness and inequality between the front-line privates and the generals who sat in comfort behind lines. Sassoon attacks the establishment of the country and the tone of his two poems is very sardonic, making fun of the generals in quite a light-hearted way but with a pointed message to his poetry. In The General Sassoon presents â€Å"The General† as incompetent and responsible for the deaths many men. â€Å"Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of ’em dead, And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine.† The very last line of the poems refers to Harry and Jack who are named in the poem. This makes the general’s attitude and incompetence more poignant and personal to the reader. â€Å"But he did for them both by his plan of attack.† This short last line is to the point and cuts right to the quick. Sassoon does not play with words like Owen but presents World War One is his poetry in the most succinct way. The majority of his poems are no longer than three short stanzas whereas Owen’s can be eight verses long. However, Sassoon’s message is just as worthy as Owen’s is. Base Details is probably Sassoon’s best poem for attacking the generals as using harsh humour it describes them sitting in luxury hotels while men are starving on the front-line with rationed food. He presents the generals of the First World War as ‘scarlet’ and fat. Although the poem is short, he describes the generals so effectively that we have an image of the generals in our head which does not conform to what we might expect, or certainly not what was generally thought of generals before the war. The title of the poem can be read on different levels – the first being the simple meaning of the word as in headquarters, or on another level, the meanings of ‘in short’ or ‘unworthy’. This emphasises their unworthiness of the elevated positions that they hold. Sassoon’s first line seems to sum up all that he is trying to say: â€Å"If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,† This one line immediately gives us a humorous image of a general which is almost like those we see in cartoons today of blustering, half drunk generals sitting in offices wheezing with a pipe in hand. In Base Details Sassoon continues his theme of their unworthiness by describing the generals’ table manners which according to him, are disgusting. He presents them as ‘guzzling and gulping’. These onomatopoeic words give the effect of pigs eating at a trough, especially ‘guzzling’. It also conveys them ‘stuffing their faces’ when the soldiers on the front-line are risking their lives day after day with little to eat. We associate these words with animal behaviour and this is indeed what Sassoon is trying to present. He also presents the generals as naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and frivolous, spending the war in the ‘best hotels’ and when their presence was required after a battle they brushed off the importance of war calling it a ‘scrap’. Sassoon’s bitterness is also displayed when the general says ‘I used to know his father well’. This emphasises his bitterness effectively towards the upper classes and old boy network, angry that whether you survive the war depends on class and connections. This bitterness is integral to many of his poems and is also evident, in a less direct way, in The General. Both Owen and Sassoon present the loss of youth in their poems. In Dulce et Decorum est, Owen is bitter towards those who tell ‘children’ – a word which emphasises their youth – the ‘old Lie’ ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ or in English, ‘It is sweet and honourable to die for one’s country’. The use of the Latin here emphasises the traditional nature of war and the patriotism that the Latin evokes in men. The idea of the loss of youth is more evident in Owen’s second poem, Anthem For Doomed Youth, where the very title shows all that Owen thinks about sending boys off to war. He himself was only twenty-two when he joined the army and thus would have known about how terrible it was. The words of the title, ‘Anthem For Doomed Youth’ has the theme of a funeral and says how not only youth itself is doomed but youth as an idea. Owen also mentions, in the second stanza, the words ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ which stresses once again the youth of the soldiers and perhaps of their nurses or their girlfriends. Only Base Details mentions the loss of youth in Sassoon’s poems saying near the end that ‘youth’ is ‘stone dead’. Taken out of the context of the poem, this phrase is disturbing – the loss of a whole generation of men and also the loss of innocence of those who survived. In context, the phrase becomes even more disturbing, that more of the fat, drunk generals of sixty, have survived the war, while boys of seventeen have died. The whole line reads: â€Å"And when the war is done and youth stone dead† The casual nature of this line is shocking and represents how Sassoon pictures the generals’ view of the loss of millions of boys. A whole generation has been lost or affected so badly by the war and the majors would ‘toddle’ safely home to bed where they could die. The word ‘toddle’ is very visual and humourously conveys the generals ‘waddling’ back to England as they are so fat. It also shows their child-like nature and their frivolity. The bitterness that Sassoon feels is clearly evident in this poem. In contrast, The General mentions nothing of the idea of youth but concentrates more on the inept nature of ‘The General’. These poems are very different to the nature of those by Rupert Brooke, a young soldier who was killed at the beginning of the war and had experienced little fighting. The first stanza of his poem Peace he describes how wonderful it is that he is alive at this time and he can fight for his country â€Å"Now God be thanked Who has matched us with his hour† He also describes going to war ‘as swimmers into cleanness leaping’, very different to the dirty and horrific conditions that Owen describes. Owen and Sassoon differ very greatly in the structure of their poems – Owen tends to write longer, more detailed poetry whereas Sassoon writes short and succinct poems. Anthem for Doomed Youth is a sonnet which is traditional style of poetry but the themes that Owen deals with are very modern, contrasting with the style that he has chosen to use. However, the rhyme scheme of a sonnet does not always remain true to its traditional form such as in the last stanza of Anthem for Doomed Youth where it is e.f.f.e.g.g. The rhyme scheme of Sassoon’s poetry is very simple and direct, which reflects the nature of his poems. He generally uses alternate rhyme, except the last lines where he uses a rhyming couplet such as in Base Details ‘dead’ and ‘bed’. In The General the last three lines have the same rhyme – ‘Jack’, ‘pack’ and ‘attack’. The rhyming couplet gives emphasis to the end of the poem. Sassoon’s poetry is short, pithy and succinct, conveying one or several points in maybe two or three short stanzas such as The General, which is only seven lines long compared to Owen’s poetry which is usually longer. The style of Sassoon is more colloquial, using soldiers’ slang such as ‘He’s a cheery old card,’ grunted Harry to Jack.’ and tends to be more vitriolic such as ‘And speed glum heroes up the line to death.’ Conversely, Owen uses descriptive and elaborate words that convey the atmosphere and images that the poems evoke, such as his unforgettable and shocking description of the dead man in the third stanza of Dulce et Decorum est. Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon present different aspects of World War One – Owen, the conditions and horrific deaths of the ordinary soldiers in contrast to Sassoon’s pointed and bitter attack against the majors. They do this in very different ways and despite Sassoon’s influence on Owen, their styles are extremely contrasting but no less effective. Their poetry helped mark a radical change in the way war poetry was written and it is their presentation of their themes that effected this shift.

The South China Sea - 1638 Words

The Environment The South China Sea, a body of water located in the western Pacific Ocean, borders many nations within East and Southeast Asia such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. The topography of the region varies widely. One of the major defining features of the South China Sea is its deep sea basin located in the east which includes reef-filled shoals and sandbanks. These shoals also span the south and northwest regions. While the continental shelf drops sharply towards the eastern side of the basin, the shelf remains broad and shallow towards the northwest side. The south region consists of layers of littoral sediments either composed of clay or volcanic ash, found primarily due to the previous volcanic eruption. The climate of the entire region is tropical, thus incredibly hot and humid, and controlled primarily by the monsoons. Lastly, the vast number of connecting channels, for example the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait, are of utmost importance. Natural Resource Although the South China Sea is located between many countries that claim parts of its waters, it is generally agreed that the sea covers the Spratly islands and the waters surrounding them. The South China Sea lies home to many lucrative resources such as fish and the possibility of oil, but perhaps its most powerful and compelling resource is its location and status as a popular transportation route for trade vessels. A recent study by the SAIS review of International AffairsShow MoreRelatedThe South China Sea Essay1889 Words   |  8 Pages As of today, China has expanded and built over seven artificial islands in the South China Sea since 2014. The South China Sea has recently come to be a major problem in Asia as issues have risen over who has rights of passage and claims in this area. The Chinese of recent have been making territorial claims in the South China Sea that are in areas of free passage for many other Asian countries and the United States. 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The Wild American Ginseng - 623 Words

Wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a medicinal herb thats used for its roots. Ginseng has been used for centuries in treating an array of ailments, and medical researchers have found that ginseng can be beneficial to the body in many ways. Wild American ginseng root can provide an anti-inflammatory effect, help to regulate blood glucose, fight cancer cells and support the immune system. The peeled ginseng root is eaten fresh or dried, taken as an extract, consumed in a tincture or taken as a fluid extract. Boosts the Immune System Several clinical studies have found that American ginseng improves cell function related to boosting the immune system, helping the body resist or fight diseases and infections, says the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Taking American ginseng may also help to fight colds and flu, the UMMC says, citing two studies that found that people who took a product containing American ginseng for four months contracted fewer colds and experienced shorter durations of cold symptoms than people who took the placebo. Ginseng seems to stimulate the immune system by increasing the amount of white blood cells in the blood, according to the Herb Growing Marketing Network. You Might Also Like American Ginseng Benefits for Men Benefits of Korean Ginseng Tea The Benefits of Red Panax... What Does Ginseng Do to... Can Ginseng Help a Prostate? About Ginseng Tea Libido The Benefits of Ginseng on Acne Increase Testosterone With Ginseng SideShow MoreRelatedFor Riches to Rarity: American Ginseng1250 Words   |  5 PagesRarity American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) has a rich history in North America. Native Americans used the roots medicinally for years, and European colonists quickly revered the roots as well. 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