Building Information Modeling (BIM)

According to Morrison, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a process of organizing and generating building data throughout the growth of a project. Indeed, BIM is an actual-time, three dimensional, vibrant building modeling computer systems where business people can enhance productivity during generating constructions and designs functions (2003, p.4).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Building Information Modeling (BIM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Actually, this process generates BIM that connects geographical information, spatial association, constructing geometry, properties and quantities with all correlated building components. Certainly, â€Å"BIM generate a reliable digital account of an existing building for design management, appropriate construction document invention, cost approximate, construction scheduling and performance forecast† (Larner Walter, 2004, p.36). Moreover, acquir ing the capability to update information and attain an incorporated digital setting enable constructors, engineers’ architects and business owners’ clear objectives of their business organizations and capability to generate informed strategies quickly. The process of BIM entails geographic information, space, properties, capacity (quantity) and geometry of building constituents. Definitely, BIM is a useful course that reveals the whole building life cycle, facility process and construction operation. Why BIM Approach to Revit Revit is an influential BIM system which enhances capability to update, administer and design data for various stakeholders in the entire administration, design and construction segment of building life cycle. Really, Revit is a modeling system which has an influential database in BIM system. Furthermore, Revit is mainly utilized by contractors and designers for building operation. Indeed, Revit is important in building life cycle (BIM). In fact, Revit is a competent device in BIM that facilitate all data which concern building operation on condition that such structures are documented and modeled. BIM Execute Design Process According to Sebastian, design is normally a process where information is sequentially refined in succession stages or phases, each aiming at segment of a design (2010, p.10). Actually, every design process has particular questions and objectives which are normally handled before proceeding to other phases.Advertising Looking for research paper on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Typically, a top-down method is preferred when moving from one stage another. The early phases aim at high-level policies of main effects which influence later phases. Moreover, the later stages aim at exploring and enhancing recognized objectives and accomplishing required task. BIM Managing Information Adoption of BIM devices generate opportunity that totall y transforms and enhances design process in many ways. Though â€Å"BIM adopts the 2D-CAD design technique to enhance output of construction document stage, BIM design operation transforms its process in more effective manner through developing design information in the entire project stages† (Devuyst, Hens De Lannoy, 2001, p.20). Indeed, BIM supports design team to analyze and assess output of their design at earlier phases of project. The early response enables fundamental and influential design policies to be enacted in the process. These give more possibility to form greater effects at affordable costs. Project Definition; when BIM Project starts and ends Project definition is an activity that has particular objectives and conditions, with defined duties, starting date and ending time, strategic plan, budget outline and stakeholders involved. BIM is a project that is focused to organize and develops digital account of efficient and physical features of a facility. Indeed , the consequent BIM project becomes a resourceful facility that supports strategies from earlier phases, through building and design process, to lifecycle operation prior to its termination period. Larner Walter expressed that: â€Å"BIM was started when Bernstein Phil, an architect adopted the term BIM (Building Information Modeling). Moreover, Laiserin Jerry supported Phil to popularize the term as a typical notion of digital account in building operation. Indeed, BIM was started in 1987† (2010, p. 38) Nevertheless, the termination period of BIM is not certain at the moment. However, BIM’s future is anticipated to play an important role in construction documentation. Many people have claimed that BIM provide enhanced visualization. Moreover, BIM has offered enhanced output due to effective recovery of information. BIM has improved operation efficiency hence has reduced expenditure costs.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Building Infor mation Modeling (BIM) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Actually, BIM provide important information such as particular materials needed, amount requested for tendering and locality where such materials can be obtained. However, the end of BIM technology is not certain, though its project operation is only for a temporary basis. The Uses of AutoCAD and Revit â€Å"Revit device is a BIM resolution tool for plumbing, mechanical and electrical engineers† (Morrison, 2003. p.2). Indeed, Autodesk revit software offers an incorporated documentation, design and evaluation device to facilitate building operations. There are several software applications which contribute for valuable design systems. Autodesk revit is just one of such application in BIM operation. Actually, Revit is the major BIM application; however, other application serves particular important functions. On the other hand, AutoCAD is helpful as it supports expertise to p recisely document, design and draft building operations (Larner Walter, 2004, p.34). Furthermore, AutoCAD system is invented to enable people who draft design in order to accomplish their tasks effectively. AutoCAD is system used by engineers, architects and designers. Actually, AutoCAD is capable to generate informational documents and device plans; it is a multipurpose program that manages various professions. Indeed, AutoCAD is renowned for its capability to generate blueprints easily through consuming less time. Furthermore, constructors and architects can utilize AutoCAD to plan for building features and details for building operations. BIM Focusing on Project Communications Management The function of BIM is beyond design and planning stages in an operation. BIM technology is engaged in facility management, building stage and post-building stages. Indeed, BIM notions visualize virtual facility building before its real physical building operates in order to minimize uncertainty , enhance safety, resolve challenges, and motivate and evaluate potential consequences (Morrison, 2003, p. 5). From contractors, information team, and management, BIM are in a stable situation to track information loss that may have happened in the project operation schedule. This strategy can be carried out through enabling every team members to add and retrace information obtained during the project management. This would generate positive contribution to the project and facility owner.Advertising Looking for research paper on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Benefits of Revit Adopting revit enhances and designs building that give a plethora of societal, environmental and economic advantages that are more useful than AutoCAD. Actually, Devuyst, Hens De Lannoy viewed that: â€Å"Revit minimizes wastage of resources on project operation; enhances on-site renewable opportunities; able to identify errors and alleviate risks; enhances stewardship self-assurance in general public; promotes workers productivity; discovers ways to minimize Field Cycle Time; and is cost effective. Revit has become a building word in the BIM technology. Revit has transformed modeling, design and drafting processes; it is the most recognized market share in the BIM technology, demonstrating its approval and reputation in the comprehensive fraternity of building† (2001, p.17) An industry Presentation of BIM-Implementation Sebastian viewed that BIM implementation is cost-effectiveness, painless and easy when handled with appropriate quantity of preparation an d strategy (2010, p. 11). Indeed, the appropriate quantity is reached based on aims and functioning of individual firms. Moreover, BIM implementation needs critical strategy and committed accomplishment of plans. Indeed, firms should know techniques that are capable to assess failures and to achieve BIM implementation strategies and policies. Furthermore, BIM implementation needs knowledge of both long and short term project strategies. Assessing failures and achievements of BIM implementation can be analyzed through revisiting previous designs while adopting new technology and measures. BIM Training Levels BIM technology has adopted software education to achieve victory in building information modeling. Indeed, the BIM training systems is ‘a balanced act’; teaching appropriate skills for qualified people. BIM technology strives for change; BIM focus for transformation of work techniques, project management and staffing, and how a company utilizes available resources in the building models. Moreover, BIM uses productivity payback to increase efficiency while minimizing losses. In case application is simple to learn, like Revit, there is tendency to skip some training levels. Productivity payback thus ensures that all training levels are covered to avoid negative outputs. Devuyst, Hens De Lannoy illustrated the following three BIM training levels: visualization with BIMx, Artlantis, Piranesi and ArchiCad; revit and AutoCAD training programs; and sketchUP and Google Earth training programs (2001, p. 20). BIM Myths â€Å"Due to recent achievement of BIM programs after American government approved BIM modeling, several building firms perceived underlying myths about BIM technology† (Sebastian, 2010, p.8). The first myth is that people thought that BIM modeling is simple and easy task to accomplish. â€Å"Such people are blinded by propaganda of clever marketing† (Sebastian, 2010, p.9). Actually, BIM requires skilled expertise and dedica tion experiences. The second myth is that â€Å"BIM is automatic† (Sebastian, 2010, p.7). People think that BIM is organized by â€Å"isolated CAD engineers who mindlessly build figures in computer systems† (Sebastian, 2010, p.7). Indeed, BIM is more than technology; it is a practice which virtually signifies building and much BIM information focuses on building designs. Another myth is that BIM is functional. This actually is true but BIN technology would soon become obsolete. Obstacles of BIM Adoption Residential building industry is encountering obstacles toward BIM adoption. To begin with, the perception has always existed that fewer issues translate to small scale project management. Thus, the issue is design complexity. Actually, BIM is recognized as more profitable and appropriate for huge building projects. Such opinion has been an obstacle of BIM practice on smaller residential projects. Secondly, â€Å"lack of ambition and marketing; business BIM mostly conc entrates on marketing† (Devuyst, Hens De Lannoy, 2001, p.24). Indeed, BIM suppliers like Autodesk mainly concentrate on commercial construction projects. BIM residential clients are rarely targeted; therefore BIM prospective is still unknown to residential owners. Thirdly, economies of scale: â€Å"Profits between commercial and residential BIM projects are different. Residential projects normally attain lesser profit as compared to commercial projects. As a result, residential owners are not willing to invest their resources in projects associated with BIM† (Larner Walter, 2004, p.39) BIM Paradigm Shift BIM is a paradigm shift that is similar to revit organization. Adoption of revit system is useful as it offers important data which are vital for sustainable designs. BIM is a paradigm shift that uses vital construction software such as Autodesk and revit. â€Å"BIM is unique system that supports construction, design and engineering industry† (Sebastian, 2010, p.9). Reference List Devuyst, D., Hens, D., De Lannoy, W 2001, How Green is the City? Sustainable  Assessment and the Management of Urban Environments, New York: Columbia university press. Larner, W., Walter, W 2004, Global Governmentality: Governing International Spaces,  New York: Routledge. Morrison, D 2003, E-learning Strategies: How to get Implementation and Delivery Right first time. New York: Wiley. Sebastian, R 2010, â€Å"Integrated Design and Engineering using Building Information Modeling: a Pilot Project of Small-Scale Housing Development in the Netherlands†, Architectural Engineering and Design Management, vol. 6 no 3, pp. 7-10. This research paper on Building Information Modeling (BIM) was written and submitted by user Eliza Hogan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Alfred Hitchcock

Films were a great form of entertainment from their debut in the early 1900’s and continued to grow more popular over the years. The film making business hit a growth period in the 1920’s. In Hollywood, the assembly line â€Å"studio† system of producing a movie was changed and refined, and the famous studious that dominate Hollywood production today, such as Universal Studious, were being put together. Censorship regulations were being formulated for the first time, and Wall Street began to take a more prominent, powerful role in film making. It was the era of short silent films that were backed by organists who could play a variety of famous composers such as Beethoven, and Sousa, and who mastered other sound affects for further enhancement of the movie. It was a time when movies came and went quickly and films that had no pretense of being art were made in mass. Nobody ever expected a movie to have an afterlife. They were made only for entertainment and to mak e money, and were considered disposable back then. It took decades to develop movies as a concept of art. During this time of rapid change in the film making business, a certain aspiring director began his dream of working with cinema. Eventually, the talented and mysterious director, Alfred Hitchcock, played a huge part in establishing his and others’ masterpieces as an art. Born on August 13th, 1899, in London, England, Hitchcock’s childhood was that of a lower class Roman Catholic child who attended church regularly. His parents were greengrocers, William and Emma Hitchcock. A strict man, William once told a five year old Albert to go to the police station with a note from his father after some mischief making. Upon reading the note, a sergeant put young Alfred in a cell and left him there for ten minutes. The policeman returned only to tell him, â€Å"This is what happens to naughty boys.† This story and Hitchcock’s Roman Catholic background encompassed all the the... Free Essays on Alfred Hitchcock Free Essays on Alfred Hitchcock Films were a great form of entertainment from their debut in the early 1900’s and continued to grow more popular over the years. The film making business hit a growth period in the 1920’s. In Hollywood, the assembly line â€Å"studio† system of producing a movie was changed and refined, and the famous studious that dominate Hollywood production today, such as Universal Studious, were being put together. Censorship regulations were being formulated for the first time, and Wall Street began to take a more prominent, powerful role in film making. It was the era of short silent films that were backed by organists who could play a variety of famous composers such as Beethoven, and Sousa, and who mastered other sound affects for further enhancement of the movie. It was a time when movies came and went quickly and films that had no pretense of being art were made in mass. Nobody ever expected a movie to have an afterlife. They were made only for entertainment and to mak e money, and were considered disposable back then. It took decades to develop movies as a concept of art. During this time of rapid change in the film making business, a certain aspiring director began his dream of working with cinema. Eventually, the talented and mysterious director, Alfred Hitchcock, played a huge part in establishing his and others’ masterpieces as an art. Born on August 13th, 1899, in London, England, Hitchcock’s childhood was that of a lower class Roman Catholic child who attended church regularly. His parents were greengrocers, William and Emma Hitchcock. A strict man, William once told a five year old Albert to go to the police station with a note from his father after some mischief making. Upon reading the note, a sergeant put young Alfred in a cell and left him there for ten minutes. The policeman returned only to tell him, â€Å"This is what happens to naughty boys.† This story and Hitchcock’s Roman Catholic background encompassed all the the...

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING - Essay Example â€Å"Costing is a powerful tool that helps managers to discover the true costs of products† (Ledgerwood & White 2008, p.317). Relying on the given case of the building firm â€Å"Home improvements and Extensions Ltd† we can consider different constructive costs. A firm may incur various types of operational costs during the course of their day to day business operations. In order to design situational business strategies and thereby fit the organizational interests into the persisting demand conditions, every corner of operational costs has to be essentially identified by a firm. According to Truett & Truett (2008), a firm may experience different types of costs such as ‘historical costs, opportunity costs, fixed costs, variable costs, incremental costs, private costs, and social costs’ (p.223). The explanations and reasons of variations of these costs are described below with suitable examples from construction industry. Historical cost: It is the cost incurred by the firm during the course of their operations for which the firm has either paid completely in the past or promised to pay in future. Historical cost is recorded in the books of accounts of the firm and is used for the preparation of income statement at the end of the financial period. It includes rent and interest payments, wages and salaries to the labors, and cost of raw materials. Historical cost may vary according to the market demand for the services of the construction firm. Opportunity costs: It is the implicit cost incurred by the firm if the business had employed to next best opportunity. Although opportunity cost is an imaginary cost, it is necessary for calculating the net income from operations. Implicit salary income to the directors and implicit interest income on capital are some of the examples for opportunity costs. It may fluctuate according to management strategies and

Small Group and Team Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Small Group and Team Communication - Essay Example Effective group decision making is based on cooperation and mutual agreements, trust and effective communication between team members. Salaman (2001) underlines that the ideal decision-making (group or individual) is unrealistic because change leads to uncertainty, and there is less uncertainty in the short run than in the long run. He uses examples of business failures to portray ineffective decision-making processes based on decision-making norms rather than careful analysis of the situation. Salaman (2001) states that: "central to decision-making is the notion of rationality. Rationality refers to the quality of thinking and decision-making" (p. 2). Organizations can be pretty sure that whatever long-term guesses they make will be wrong. Unfortunately, most worthwhile achievements are carried out in the long run and consequently require a long-term outlook (Fitzsimmons & Fitzsimmons 2004). Also, the ideal decision-making is impossible because of substantive rationality. Following Weber: "[decision-making] conveys only one element common to all the possible empirical situations" (Salaman 2001, p. 3). The departure often leads to painful changes in the project requirements, which are in turn important contributors to time and cost overruns. In this situation, long-term considerations are sacrificed to short-term exigencies. The corporate culture must extol the virtues of a long-term outlook. ... The best way to let people know the importance of this outlook to the organization is to create incentive systems that reward long-term behavior and to develop organizational structures that make it difficult to be a short-termer. A customer-focused culture requires a new attitude toward customers. Team and group decision making involves co-acting members with specialized knowledge, interacting to arrive at some valued decisions or outcomes. Teams have accountable membership, often work in unpredictable ambiguous environments, and process information (or enact various functions) for variable lengths of time. Team decision making is further complicated when it is supported by technology, such as decision support systems that are comprised of decision aids, informational data bases, computers, intercoms, telephones, video, and so forth. Decision making, as a term, no longer adequately fits the expanded activities that the team undertakes to solve a problem or reach an intended goal. In tellectual teamwork is possibly a better term to describe team decision making in technologically supported environments (Jeynes, 2002). Within this process, ethics becomes a crucial part guarding and controlling decision-making process. Ethics is as a set of moral principles that govern the action of an individual or group. Business ethics are concerned with truth and justice and include aspects which society expects. Two themes which emerged in literature are the role of the victim in the criminal justice system and the use of the criminal law as a resource. Decision analysis is a set of models and methods for helping people deal with difficult and stressful decisions (Hicks, 2004). The operating assumption of decision analysts is that a decision maker wishes to select the

Doing Business In Latin America

Doing Business In Latin America Introduction Todays world is ever changing. National borders are becoming less important in times of global capital movements, cross-border migration and highly interwoven transnational trade relationships. Globalisation is since the 1990 and the collapse of the bipolar world a well-known phenomenon and it is beyond question that nation states will have to adjust to its influences in the long run. The governmental response has so far been the creation of international free trade agreements and multilateral institutions like the WTO for instance, which are to oversee global trade systems and which also have as their task the liberalization of markets around the world. Advocates of trade liberalization claim that the eradication of trade barriers ultimately leads to an increase in a countries overall wealth, whereas more leftist opponents stress that free trade predominantly benefits multinational corporations and the corporate ruling class. As a matter of fact, States themselves or Governments do not trade. Consequentially, companies and corporation are most likely to benefit from free trade Areas and investment opportunities abroad. However, doing business in third countries underlies varying circumstances. Taxation, environmental regulations, labour standards and investment regulations are factors of production that vary from country to country. For businesses in order to make use of comparative advantages, it is therefore essential to know about the differences between countries in terms of the local business climate. This paper aims at unfolding those differences for three Latin American countries: Mexico, Belize and Cuba. Furthermore, this paper shall function as a guide to companies who are interested in doing business in the Latino Americas and especially in one of the three countries mentioned above. The paper starts with a general economic introduction of the countries in concern. For this purpose, economic data will be analysed. Then in the second part, the document will focus on unravelling differences in terms of business climate and investment opportunities. Lastly, a conclusion will be drawn. 2.0 Introduction to Mexico Mexico lies at the bottom of Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States. It has a population of about 112 million inhabitants. From 1930 to 1970, although starting from a low baseline, Mexico experienced tremendous economic growth. Achievement historians call it El Milagro Mexicano or The Mexican Economic Miracle. The annual economic growth of Mexico hit an average of 3% to 4% during this period, with an estimated annual rate of inflation of 3%. It was not really a miracle however; it was actually a result of the government policy. The policy put an emphasis on primary education which increased the enrollment rate between 1929 and 1949 by 300%. The policy also imposed high tariffs on imported domestic goods, and lastly, the policy publicly invested in agriculture, energy and transportation infrastructure. From the 1940s, foreign immigration into Mexicos cities expanded the countrys urban population. Despite the falling foreign investment of the Great Depression during that period, the economy grew. The assumption of mineral rights and the subsequent nationalization of the oil industry into Pemex during the p residency of Là ¡zaro Cà ¡rdenas del Rà ­o was a widely accepted move. On 1 January 1994, Mexico became a full member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), joining the United States of America and Canada. In 2005, North American economic integration was further strengthened by the signing of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Mexico has a free market economy that recently entered the trillion-dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-quarter that of the United States; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the United States and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA. Mexico has free-trade agreements with more than 40 countries, governing 90% of its foreign commerce. 2.1 State of the Mexican Economy As mentioned before, Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion dollar class. It contains a blend of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has nearly tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has free trade agreements with over 50 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. In 2007, during its first year in office, the Felipe Calderon administration was able to garner support from the opposition to successfully pass pension and fiscal reforms. The administration passed an energy reform measure in 2008, and another fiscal reform in 2009. Mexicos GDP plunged 6.5% in 2009 as world demand for exports dropped and asset prices tumbled, but GDP is expected to post positive growth late in 2010. The administration continues to face many economic challenges, including improving the public education system, upgrading infrastructure, modernizing labor laws, and fostering private investment in the energy sector. Calderon has stated that his top economic priorities remain reducing poverty and creating jobs. 2.2 Doing business in Mexico In 2004 Mexicos securities market was a tiny fraction of what might be expected for an economy of its size. And while Latin America received 9% of global private equity flows, Mexico, with more than a third of the regions income, received only a tenth of that. More companies were delisting rather than issuing new shares on the Mexican stock exchange. It was time for reform. Mexico overhauled its securities laws, with useful input from stakeholders. A new law attacked self-dealing, a major problem in the country, to better protect investors. Mexico also extended corporate governance obligations to subsidiaries. In addition, listed companies were required to set up committees of independent directors. Changes in the law were enacted to help protect investors and boost their confidence in Mexican markets. Although Mexicos economy took a plunge during the 1996 recession, the worst has passed and Mexicos economy is headed towards a recovery. Mexicos economy depends a lot on the United States; it derives a great deal of income and stability from the United States. When purchases, tourism, hiring, and investment from the United States declines, Mexicos economy declines. If the United States continues to suffer from unemployment, tight credit, and general market instability, Mexico will suffer from the same. If unemployment in the United States soars to 10%, Mexicos unemployment will equally increase to follow suit. A simple solution would of course to break away from the dependence on the American economy but it would not be viable. The American economy is a strong one and instead of breaking away from it, Mexico should instead attract investors from other regions of the world (such as the European Union), so that their economy would not be so tightly tied to just one economy. 4.0 Introduction to Cuba Cuba, an island country, is located in the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba has a population of about 11 million inhabitants, most of them living in the cities of Havana, the nations capital, and Santiago de Cuba. The official language is Spanish. Cuba, like Mexico and most of the Latin American countries, has formerly been a Spanish colony, but managed to gain independence in 1902. In the 1950s the world famous Cuban revolution took place, which changed the political system in Cuba towards a regime based on communist socialism. Fidel Castro, Cubas dictator had close ties to the Soviet Union, which was at the same time the countries mayor trade partner and financial contributor. During the Cold war, Cuba took side of its communist allies and became center of public attention, as Soviet nuclear weapons were placed on Cuban territory during the 60s and the U.S felt threatened by this behaviour. It was due to this incidence that the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, which exists in some form up till today. Since the breakdown of the UDSSR, Cuba lost its greatest ally and exports and financial support fell drastically. By now, Fidel Castro who led the Regime for 50 years has been replaced through his brother Raà ºl due to bad health conditions. Rà ¡ul Castro is likely to impose economical and political reforms in the near future in order to open up Cubas economy to investment and international trade. In addition to the world wide economic recession, Cuba suffered in 2008 severe damage due to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The Economist estimated the damage to lie around 10 billion US$, an amount that is hard to bear for a country that weak in terms of productivity and economic stability (The Economist, 2008). 4.1 The state of the Cuban Economy Socialism and poor governance have, over the years, hemmed economic development substantially. The countrys annual GDP is with 50 bn comparatively small and close to the poorest 25 % of the worlds countries. Cubas GDP has experienced an unstable development during the last decade (U.S. Department of State, 2010) [3.2 % growth in 2002, 1.4 % in 2001, 3.8 % in 2003, 5.8 % in 2004, 11.2 % in 2005, 12.1 % in 2006, 7.3% in 2007, 4.1 % in 2008, 1.3 % in 2009]. The decline in GDP growth during 2008 and 2007 can be ascribed to the global economic recession and it is apparent that the Cuban economy has been severely hit. According to the an article published by the Guardian, Cuba faces a long, hot summer of discontent. Virtually every key economic indicator is moving in the wrong direction as the global economic slowdown is excerbating deficiencies long been apparent in Cubas economic management (The Guardian, 2009). Cubas GDP per Capita was 4, 450 US$ per year and therewith around 10 times smaller then the capita GDP in the United States. The average monthly salary amounts to 18 $ which would mean that the average Cuban would live of 50 cents a day. As a consequence of this low income, Cubans are obliged to scrimp and hustle on the black market even when things are going relatively well (The Guardian, 2009). However, due to Cubans social policy, citizens receive free food vouchers and other governmental support. About 60 % Cubas labor force, which covers 5 million people, work in the services sector, with tourism being the largest part. The rest of the Cuban workers are either employed within the agricultural sector or the industry with the latter only producing light industrial goods. . The unemployment rate is with 1.7 % considerably low and is in fact the 9th lowest in the world. This , however, cannot be taken as a reliable figure as the socialist government tries to hide away unemployment through public occupation campaigns. The public dept in 2009 amounted to 35 %, according to the CIAs World Fact book (CIA, 2009). Moreover, the industrial production growth rate is declining (-1 % in 2009). Cubas main export partners are China (25 %), Canada (20%), Spain (6%) and the Netherlands (4.53%), importing primarily sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus and coffee. The value of Cubas exports in 2009 was 2.458 billion U.S. $. With imports in comparison being 4 times higher, Cuba runs a steeply negative trade balance. According to the World Fact Book, Cuba mainly imports food, machinery and equipment and chemicals. Summing up, the Cuban economy finds itself in a critical situation and economic reform are utterly necessary to guarantee stable economic growth. Unfortunately, data about Cuba from this years competitiveness index cant be presented here, since neither the World Economic Forum nor the IMF process the Cuban case. 4.2 Doing business in Cuba Since Canada is one of Cubas main trade partners, the Canadian Foreign Ministry releases information on the Cuban business climate as well as import regulations. For U.S. companies, doing business in Cuba is even more complicated as the international relationship still suffers from the trade embargo of the 1960s. Firstly, it turns out that importing can only be undertaken by Cuban government entities and joint ventures holding permits for the specific goods in question. Certain Agents and intermediaries are allowed to handle certain goods, but due to the political regime, these persons are not allowed to import on their own (Government of Canada, 2009). Furthermore, to obtain import licences, Canadian businesses will most likely see themselves forced to cooperate with Cuban partners first before any governmental approval will be issued. For about 4.500 products and commodities Cuba applies its MFN tariff, which is 10.4%. However, for some well protected commodities, Cuba applies a 30 % import tariff. According to the Canadian Government, Entities with foreign partners may be granted duty free status for some or all of those products as part of their economic association or joint venture agreement (2009). Mostly, this clause applies to members of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) in which Canada is not taking part. Canadian exporters are obliged to hire Cuban custom brokers for the carrying out of custom formalities. Moreover, it is essential to fully comply with all regulation and elaborate documentation is furthermore of great importance. According to the Canadian Government, Seemingly minor discrepancies can lead to confiscation of improperly imported goods. Although compliance with these regulations is technically the responsibility of the importer or the agent handling consignment shipments, careful documentation on the part of the shipper will reduce errors and delays (2009). Also, exporters have to comply with labelling, sanitary, phytosanitary and product safety standarts. What is more, due to Cuban investment law, foreign companies will find it difficult to set up representative offices and subsidiaries in Cuba since they are expected to establish a substantial trade relationship with Cuba for at least three years, before being allowed to establisha presence in Cuban national territory (Canadian Government, 2009). Regardless of these restrictions, consignment sales sales in which goods cross the border and are still considered to be owned by the exporter are possible as long as they are covered by a contract for sales of merchandise imported on consignment. Summing up, one can see that doing Business in Cuba is complicated in most of the instances we have addressed here. The Cuban government has to restructure its economy and especially open it up for foreign investment since foreign investment is one crucial factor for economic growth of a country.

Ethics Article Review Essay

This paper seeks to prepare a review of an article discussing ethics in accounting and financial decision making by making a brief summary, relating to assigned reading for the week, relating and applying the concepts to current or former employer’s organization, making improvement for the organization using the article as basis and explaining the importance of ethics in accounting and financial decision making. A description of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley act will also be discussed including its impact on accounting and financial decision making. 2. Discussions 2. a. Brief Summary The article is talking about the importance of ethics in accounting and business. To dramatize its significance in business, it has cited a story of a number of rich people who may have attained their financial rewards in business but ended dying in less meaningful ways impliedly because of missing the principles of ethics. While the article admits that earning money or attaining riches may be an acceptable goal in business, there is still the question of how success in measured in the final analysis and for which the authors were arguing for riches acquired with honor and if a choice would be made between the two, it would be more preferable to have honor rather riches (Smith and Smith, 2003) . 2. b. Relating to assigned readings As to how the article relate to assigned readings for this week, it may be argued that the article has touched on the importance of rules or guides to actions in business. Ethics in business may be asserted to be indispensable if business will have to attain its goals in harmony with other goals of society such as those in economics and politics. 2. c. Application of article to organization As to how the ethical concepts discussed on the article may apply to this researcher’s former or current organization, it may be argued that the universality of principles related to ethics would really make it difficult to exclude this researcher’s organization from any of its application.. Since my organization is part of the larger society where everybody else lives, it cannot isolate itself from the community by doing unethical things. It cannot even argue that any illegal or unethical thing that it may do will not matter in a world where there many players who may be affected by decisions made. In the same way that a member of society can make a difference for the good of the community so with the failure of one organization or even a person in the organization can do to the detriments of many if not all of the members of the community. 2. d. Recommendations for improvement of the organization To make recommendations for improvement on this researcher’s or organization using the article as basis, the organization should encourage simple living among its executives so that they could be more disciplined in the way the company’s resources are being managed not only for the stockholders but even to every stakeholders who stand to benefits from the observance of ethical conduct in the organization. The other stakeholders of course include the employees who aspire for long-term employment (Sears, 2003), the creditors and lenders who resources need to be protected as well, customers who need to have their needs and wants for company’s products and services continuously satisfied and the government who must continue ensuring payment of taxes and compliance with regulations. 2. e. The importance of ethics in accounting and financial decision making and how the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act affects the same The important of ethics in accounting and financial decision making cannot be underestimated. Without ethics there would be no responsibility for right or wrong act can be demanded from people making decisions. The managers who are considered agents of stockholders would instead enrich themselves at the expense of stockholders investments. On the other hand, these stockholders would just exploit whatever they can to the detriment of their principal, this time their debt capital providers. The organization can likewise treat its employees with disrespect and violate the latter’s if there in no ethics that would guide them. Laws will be insufficient to exact compliance if people in the organization were not instilled the proper values when they were still young in the same way that it is hard to teach tricks to an old dog. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is a classic example to legislate rules of conduct that would improve corporate governance (Ali, et. al, 2006) including a more strict compliance of requirements in regulating companies in terms of financial statements and ensuring of ethical conduct of external auditors (Bainbridge, 2007). Although the law is a positive act to ethical practice of doing business, the choice to do what is right is still with decision makers who must have the right sense of values for society. 3. Conclusion: Ethics has a purpose to attain. It is a part of an organization’s life since it is a guide to decision making not only in accounting and finance but even to all other aspect of business operations. A sense or rightness or wrongness offers a choice and that which is good is incidentally consistent with ethics. As the world seems to be painting what are the standards of its success when actually they are not the real and lasting ones, ethics its and principles have much to offer in making the correct decision that will lead real and lasting success for human existence. The article has argued that honor is preferable than riches but riches need not be inconsistent with riches as long as they are ethically acquired. References: Ali, et. al (2006) International Corporate Governance After Sarbanes-Oxley, John Wiley and Sons Bainbridge (2007), The Complete Guide to Sarbanes-Oxley: Understanding How Sarbanes-Oxley Affects Your Business; Adams Media Sears (2003) Successful Talent Strategies: Achieving Superior Business Results Through Market-focused Staffing, AMACOM Div American Mgmt Association. Smith and Smith (2003) Business and Accounting Ethics, {www document} URL, http://acct. tamu. edu/smith/ethics/ethics. htmAccessed September 29,2008

Antigone Study Guide

Antigone Study Guide 1) Antigone – Daughter of Oedipus, very forward, she goes out to bury her brother even though it was breaking the law of King Creon and gets caught for it and killed, also betrothed to Haemon. Ismene – Another daughter of Oedipus, timid, doesn’t want to disobey Creon. Ismene gets up to speak her mind for her sister when Antigone is faced with the crime of moving their brother body. King Creon – Brother of Jocasta (whom committed suicide. ) Was a captain/general of army and the next ruler of Thebes, very righteous, wants to be obeyed by everyone or results in death for them. Haemon – Son of Creon, betrothed to Antigone, and has a romantic relationship with her. Haemon get very angry when he finds out about the loss of his bride and then kills himself and dies holding her dead body. Tiresias – A seer, comes to Creon and tells him that he needs to release Antigone or more people will die and he will be in a very sorrowful position, Creon doesn’t head his words in enough time and ends up in despair. Eurydice – Wife of Creon; kills herself with a sharp dagger to the heart when she finds out about the death of her son Haemon. A Sentinel – Just informs Creon of happenings around Thebes; and helps him to find Antigone when they are looking for the law breaker. 2) The dramatic effect to show how all of the rest of their family have horribly perished by murder or their own hands, kind of foreshadowing what will happen to these last two children. Ismene’s view of the difference between men and women is that women are born women they aren’t meant to rule they are to be below men, and to be obedient. 3) She will lay with him for as long as needed no matter what. â€Å"The powers of earth will not be as good as the powers of the Gods. She willingly to do anything for her dead brother to bury him, â€Å"do holy things criminally,† is an oxymoron because holy is meant be good and righteous but doing it criminally which is a ‘conflict of values’ between good, holy and bad, criminal. 4) There is a law set by Creon not to bury or touch the body of Antigone’s dead brothe r, but Antigone wants to bury him no matter at what cost. People today want things that are illegal for them to do, for example, when a divorced parent kidnaps their own child from the custodial parent, law says it’s not their child but they do anything for their child they love. ) The Chorus is a group of Thesbian Senators; the use of emotion pulled the reader into the writing and the amazing flow with writing rhyming and tempo made it easy to get more absorbed in the passage, feeling how people listening to this play would feel. 6) He is apologetic for all the trouble people had while they were ruled by Oedipus, uses the comparison to a ship and stormy seas again, tells them they can get a secure footing now. He says that death awaits anyone that goes against him or touches that body. Their beliefs are similar because they are both out for love of something and are not letting anyone get in their way. ) The 1 Senator, suggested, â€Å"This must be something more than natur al,† as to say that it could be something out of the ordinary and abstract. We see that the body is sprinkled with a dust given a ritual then buried, and that disappearing bodies was just crazy. 8) He is describing sin and temptation when he says that it ruins cities, removes/runs men out from their families and homes, leads them on the wrong path, and sets humans on not righteous actions the gods want but just what a human wants and their instincts. 9) He acts a little amazed, then asks her if she will admit to it or not. He questions her without much other conversation and with the answers Antigone gives, Creon gets more angry seeing that she sees him as not high enough rank, and that she will only listen to laws made by the gods, and Creon does not want to be ordered around by a women. 10) I feel that Antigone choice was a foolish religious zealotry. There were laws set by her ruler and she disobeyed them because she felt like only laws created by gods truly mattered, and that disobeying a ruler would have no effect or punishment for her with anyone but Creon. 1) Ismene wants to die with her sister, she does not want to watch her sister die then have to live without her. Even though she was timid and didn’t actually breath the law and touch the body or be involved in its transportation. She tells Creon she was involved and become defiant and stiff wanting what she wants. 12) They tell how the history of family continues down the whole line and one mistake will ruin their heirs forever. They a lso say how much wrong Antigone’s family has created and all after them of their children will be damned as well. The sickle murderous, of the rulers of the dead, and the wild words beyond control, and the frenzy of her own soul, again mow down the shoot. † Explains of what all her family had done and that it needs to end. 13) Haemon goes from simply agreeing with his father to questioning Ceron’s right to do this to his betrothed. Then the two start to quarrel over Creon believing Haemon is following a women rather than him, when he is really just bringing up logical questions. Haemon is just trying to prove that it wasn’t trying to go against Creon’s law when she took her brother, but was just looking out for him because she loved her brother. 14) He changes it so that the blood of her death cannot be traced back to anyone, when she dies alone in a cave with some food provisions. Also to symbolizes that the dead should not be disturbed to be buried like she attempted to do with her brother, and to prove that she is, â€Å"A lost labour to revere the dead. † 15) We see a sad side of Antigone, were she says it will be her last time seeing light and she never had a wedding or a wedding song. The chorus kind of says, ‘be happy, don’t be sad, you did not go to the grave with a plague, or stabbed with a sword, you’re going to the grave alive! ’ 16) When Creon sees Tiresias, Tiresias asks him if he will follow what he says, Creon says he always does, but Tiresias start to scare Creon when he starts to speak. That adds to the dramatic effect, wanting to know what Tiresias will say. He says that it was right to bury the body and that no one should be punished for it. Also that if she isn’t released there will be more deaths then just Antigone’s. 7) Initially Creon is surprised and does not want to do what Tiresias is suggesting. It follows his character and his not wanted to be wrong and his want for power. Creon learns that the laws of the gods are more important than his own, even though he doesn’t want to accept it. 18) Creon went to check for the voice of his son Haemon in the cave before opening the cave, to release Antigone . Doing so caused the deaths of, Haemon, Polynices, and Antigone. If Creon had saved Antigone first it would have most likely saved Haemon when he saw his betrothed. Doing what Creon did proves how much his pride comes before anyone else. 19) Antigone – Hung herself with linen rope in the grave where she was left to die. Haemon – Stabbed himself through the chest with a sword after seeing Antigone’s dead body and holding her in his arms. Eurydice – Dead at the altar of Creon’s house, slain dead with a sharp edged dagger to her hear with her own hands. Polynices – Found dead at the top of a hill, on the hillside with wild dogs all around him taking their shares. 20) Creon learns that by condemning others he condemned his family and they ll tragically saw their fate because he couldn’t let Antigone burry her brother, that many more people close to Creon died. 21) Antigone is a ‘Tragic Figure’ because she dies in the story and makes the audience feel bad for her because she was punished severely for trying to do right by her brother and bury him. While King Creon is the true ‘Tragic Hero’ because he sees his wrong after pride and power set him off course and down the wrong path, and after he saw the light, it was too late to fix what had already begun, and many more people died when no one had to suffer or die at all.