Evolution Of The Video Essay Example for Free

Evolution Of The Video Essay Abstract The ubiquitous development of technology and computers has changed the way people live, work, play and interact. The profile of business has also changed dramatically throughout the years. With the development of faster bandwidths, videos were also introduced as part of the myriad of services that cyberspace had to offer to its growing patrons. Raynovich (2005) wrote that the video is slowly migrating into cyberspace to cater to the more sophisticated demands of the tech savvy. Several technological innovations in the video-Internet interface are streaming, Internet TV, video conferencing and online gaming. The interface between the Internet and video is inexorable as customers demand better quality and easy access to the medium. The development of the video on the Internet is still in constant flux. The current video Internet protocol still needs more time to evolve. It is apparent that video on the Internet is the wave of the future and something to look forward to. Introduction The ubiquitous development of technology and computers has changed the way people live, work, play and interact. The profile of business has also changed dramatically throughout the years. Technological advancements dominate the shift in business strategies of many firms and made traditional business models obsolete. Upheavals wrought by these developments have forced many corporations to restructure and seek new directions. Financial markets are not spared from the upheaval. World capital markets throughout the globe are now interlinked via satellite, networks and technology. Globalization has linked formerly independent economies. When a cataclysm occurs within a globally linked financial system, the entire global market feels the ripples of the event. Businesses are no longer isolated entities that operate autonomously. People can live and work in virtual reality. It is no longer important that one be physically present in a given work area. Because of computers and connectivity, people can choose to work where they like, when they like and how they like to do their job. With the click of a mouse, an ordinary worker can communicate with his counterpart elsewhere in the globe to discuss work and exchange ideas. The development of computers gave birth to the Internet. In the early 1960’s, a few visionaries saw great potentials in information exchange within the scientific and military circles (Howe, 2005). By 1969, ARPANET originally conceived by Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) became online. Only four computers from partner universities in the southwestern US (UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and the University of Utah) were able to establish contact (Howe 2005).The Internet, or simply the Net, is a publicly accessible worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using a standardized Internet Protocol (IP). A few other institutions are liked to network. Initially, the web provided information services like †electronic mail, online chat, and the interlinked Web pages and other documents of the World Wide Web† (Internet, n.d.). With the development of faster bandwidths, videos were also introduced as part of the myriad of services that cyberspace had to offer to its growing patrons. Raynovich (2005) wrote that the video is slowly migrating into cyberspace to cater to the more sophisticated demands of the tech savvy. Legacy video networks like cable television, television broadcasts and the DVD and VHS formats are the prevailing formats for the past decades. However, with the entry of faster bandwidths and improved connectivity, it is apparent that the Internet is the wave of the future in video technology. Developments of the Video in the Internet By mid-1990’s, service providers began introducing photos, audio, video and animations. It had broadened the scope of the Internet from just merely text-based transmissions. Real Audio ver. 1.0 developed by Progressive Networks in 1995 allowed Internet users to view real time images on the Internet without the need for downloading the file. This new technological breakthrough is known as streaming. Streaming allowed consumers to access audio files immediately with less download time. The user immediately received a transmission of the audio files as soon as it was released. In 1997, the same company introduced Real Video. This time, images were streamed and transmitted over the Internet. Microsoft was not far behind when they introduced Netshow 2.0 that used better bandwidths. It was later renamed Window Media Player 6.0 in 1999. The program allowed users to play both audio and video streaming formats. By 2000, the improved program can accommodate MP3 formats. In 2003, an improved version of Window Media Player 9.0 allowed users to queue, cross-fade and playback audio and video clips. A video smoothing technology was also included in the new version that allowed content encoding at lower speeds. This was ideal for slow Internet connections (Shaw, n.d.) In streaming, there are two types of server. One is a streaming server and the other is a regular web server. A streaming server sends data in packets and determines the speed of the user’s connection. The server buffers the data so the video could be viewed continuously even when the speed becomes intermittent. The stream server sends video files in three ways – unicast, multicast or reflected multicast (Streaming video on the Internet, 2000). On a regular web server, the video files are treated as regular file transfer. The files are also buffered to ensure continuous play. The video is played back not on the server’s but on the user’s computer storage. The diagram in figure 1 illustrates the process. Aside from streaming, Live Web broadcasting or live webcast is another way of transmitting video tracks onto the Internet. As a computer playbacks the video content in a computer, a streaming server accepts the broadcast. Anyone accessing the server at the time of broadcast would be able to view the video as it is being played (Streaming video on the Internet, 2000). Figure 1 – Process of video streaming (Streaming video on the Internet, 2000). . Streaming video is particularly useful as a learning tool used in many technology driven classrooms. Shepard (2003) differentiated streaming video from the traditional mediums of video like CD-ROM, DVD or VHS tapes. The publishers of CD-ROM or DVD inadvertently lose copyright control of their products once purchased while in streaming, the publisher can control copyright because video streams may not be stored on the viewer’s computer. Compared to VHS, streaming is more flexible and interactive (p.297). Streaming videos allow students to access demonstration or lecture at their own pace. Some of the important points of a lecture for example are hyperlinked to other sources that students can explore. Video streaming can also be used to facilitate examinations where teachers may post their questions and the students may send their answers. Video streaming presents an alternative form of learning transformation and allows teacher-student interaction. Another development in the video aspect in the Internet is the introduction of Internet television. Internet television allows viewers to access television programs on the Internet. However, the Internet offers more versatility and interactivity. The programs are watched on the user’s computer systems while according user’s more control over what they watch and obtain ancillary information over the Internet simultaneously (Noll, 2004, p.4). Presently, web TV received lukewarm responses from the users. Web TV allows users access to the internet through the use of the keyboard attached to a telephone line and a television set to provide display. The HDTV offers clearer transmission because it broadcasts programs in digital format. The scan lines are doubled compared to a conventional television and uses the UHF band width. Raynovich (2005) wrote that in the future, improvements in the Internet access and bandwidth would allow integration of the Internet and the video without mimicking existing cable television business models. The future of Internet television would ignore linear programming where the providers control the viewing choice and schedule. The Internet television should allow users to access programs anytime, anywhere and anyway the viewer would want it. Internet protocol television or IPTV is a current development in Internet television. Mike Volpi, senior vice president and general manager, Routing and Service Provider Technology Group, in an interview cited the new developments in Internet television. IPTV is not simply television delivered over the Internet. It uses the same language and technology of internet. The principle of IPTV follows the tradition of traditional television, cable or satellite but delivered with â€Å"a higher degree of personalization and searchability† (Cisco, 2006). On IPTV, the users are allowed to pick their favorite television programs and watch them on-demand. The IPTV’s interactivity differentiates it from traditional television and cable broadcasts. Video and audio conferencing have been in use for many years using a variety of mediums like the telephone, television and the Internet. When using video conferencing on the Internet through streaming. The first video conferencing was â€Å"Ericsson’s demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic LME video telephone calls† (Roberts, 2004). The network video protocol (NVP) was introduced in 1976 and packet video protocol (PVP) in 1981(Roberts, 2004). Video conferencing has also become one of the popular medium of communication but limited in scope. Not all telephone companies offered the service to their customers. The Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS) was developed at Caltech-CERN on July of 1997. The initial intention was to provide the communication tools for researchers and scientists involved in the Large Hadron Collider Project and scientists in the High Energy and Nuclear Physics Community in the U.S. and Europe. It has since been expanded to include other professions like geneticists, doctors, and a host of other scientists that requires such a facility (Roberts, 2004). In 2000, Microsoft introduced the software NetMeeting to support video conferencing using the computer. There are two ways to conduct video conferencing on the web – the point to point and multipoint services. Point to point or P2P can link two locations with live audio and video feeds while the multipoint system can provide a link to three or more locations. The P2P uses a protocol of H.323 to establish contact between two points. When connected, both parties can now exchange audio and video over the Internet. For the multipoint system, a multipoint control unit or MCU is necessary to make three or more connections on H.323 protocol (Hunter, n.d.). When Steve Russell developed the first computer game â€Å"Space War† in 1961, videogames became a byword for many homes in the United States. Entrepreneurs saw an opportunity in the videogames industry. Thus marked the beginnings of major leaders in videogames. Nolan Bushnell, the Atari founder was the first to convert video games into a lucrative venture. He developed games without the need for complicated computing requisites and sold them to the public. A modest 1500 units were sold through a pinball company. In 1972, Atari introduced Pong and generated revenues ten times more than the pinball machine. Bushnell later designed a simpler machine for home use. By 1976, the industry players had grown to twenty and their combined earnings grew from $200 million in 1978 to $1 billion in 1981. The biggest players at that time include National Semiconductor, Fairchild, General Instrument, Coleco, and Magnavox (Aoyama and Izushi, 2003, p.427). After several years of successful ventures, the market for video games crashed in 1983-1984. Aoyama and Izushi (2003) attributed the crash to oversupply and sub-standard designs of software (p.427). With the introduction of 3D and multimedia in the 1990’s, it had revolutionized gaming to include network gaming. By the late 1990’s, the MUD or multi-user domain protocol became a requisite in most videogames to allow multiple players for online gaming (Newman, 2004, p.115). The trend in online gaming is changing so rapidly that what is in vogue today may be obsolete in a few months. In online gaming, the players are allowed to pit against each other despite geographic and spatial distance. The Internet also allows online chat while players are competing against each other. The ubiquitous technology of the Internet had extended videogames from an individual’s living room into a global domain. Issues with Internet Video The main problems that usually hound providers are bandwidth and economics. In streaming technologies, most users have limited capacity modem speed. While the speed rate slowly improves, there are still gaps that need to be addressed. For example, streaming video files require a minimum of 2500 to 5000 compression ratio. A multimedia video consumes about 2.4M bits/second, 80 times more than the bandwidth capacity of a regular 28.8K modem connection (Currier, 1996). To have good transmission, the bandwidth must be slightly higher than the usual. The second issue is the time delay that video and audio content may experience on the Internet. Unpredictable load and traffic may disrupt transmission thereby producing corrupted images or audio. Disruption can cause the loss of data. The solution to the problem is to change the analogue lines into digital ones to increase bandwidth. A time delay of two seconds can render video conferencing useless. TCP/IP drop rate of 5% will inevitably translate to transmission loss. The level of acceptance for IPTV or Internet TV is still low. The proliferation of video and Internet television is also highly dependent on costs. Very few investors at the moment are willing to invest money into the medium. The medium also competes with traditional programming delivery of regular television broadcast and cable service. Conclusion The interface between the Internet and video is inexorable as customers demand better quality and easy access to the medium. The development of the video on the Internet is still in constant flux. The current video Internet protocol still needs more time to evolve. It is apparent that video on the Internet is the wave of the future and something to look forward to. References Aoyama, Y. and Izushi,H. (2003) Hardware gimmick or cultural innovation? Technological, cultural, and social foundations of the Japanese video game industry. Research Policy 32: 423-444. Cisco, 2006. Ciscos vision for the evolution of video communications and entertainment: Mike Volpi discusses the strategic importance of video in communications and media markets. Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/ts_121206.html Currier, B. (1996). Is the Internet ready for video? Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://www.synthetic-ap.com/qt/internetvideo.html Howe, W. (2005) An anecdotal history of the people and communities that brought about the Internet and the Web. Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://www.walthowe.com/navnet/history.html Hunter, J. (n.d.) Video Conferencing An Introduction. Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Video-ConferencingAn-Introductionid=70930 Internet (n.d.) Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet Newman, J. (2004). Videogames, London: Routledge. Noll, M.A. (2004). Chapter 1:Internet Television: Definition and prospects in Internet Television. Darcy Gerbarg, Jo Groebel and Eli Noam – (eds). Mahwah, NJ. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates:1-8. Raynovich, R.S. (2005). Video is the Internet. Retrieved February 19, 2007 from: http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=72472 Roberts,L.P. (2004). The history of video conferencing Moving ahead at the speed of video. Retrieved February 19, 2007 from: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Video-ConferencingMoving-Ahead-at-the-Speed-of-Videoid=5369 Shaw, R. (n.d.). The evolution of rich media. Retrieved February 18, 2007 from: http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/2618.asp. Shepard, K. (2003). Questioning, promoting and evaluating the use of streaming video to support student learning. British Journal of Educational Technology 34(3): 295–308. Streaming video on the Internet. (2000). Retrieved February 1997 from: http://www.dps.com/custserv/doclib.nsf/55f584d47a8fd27585256bf300554e9f/9cb11874854c451c85256aaf00681f80/$FILE/Streaming%20Video%20White%20Paper%20v1-0.pdf

Poor Time Management of Island Students Essay -- internet usage, video

Introduction & Problem The simplicity of life, and the more relaxed environment, does not permit students who grew up on islands, or Island students, to understand the importance of time. There are more than 30 Island students studying on campus. Coming from a carefree society where time is not a major concern is having a great impact on individual students. Poor time management by Island students is a major problem and concern that needs to be improved in order to enhance the effectiveness of study process and academic performance. The main purpose of this research is to find out and reduce the processes or factors involved in contributing to poor time management. The reduction in the time management factors will help Island students to utilize time in manner that is beneficial for academic performance. Processes that contributes to poor time management There are many processes that contribute to poor time management in students. In this context, a major contributor of poor time management for Island students is the use of Internet. Coming from the Islands, where excess to internet is very difficult, students tend to spend hours surfing through the net. Internet is a helpful tool for students but it also wastes time if not used in the way it should be used. Apart from academic reasons, Facebook, YouTube and watching movies online are the main sites visited by Island students. Research Methods Research methods that has been utilized for this process comprises of data collection, observation of students in the computer labs and student accommodation halls. Students were followed on Facebook to see latest updates and activities and face to face interview was carried out to collect the necessary data needed for this... ...he exact number of hours each student spends. The Pie Chart below clearly shows the percentage of average number of student’s time spent on each activities. 20% of students investing private time to Facebook is certainly a factor that needs to be reduced to help students. 14% of YouTube viewers is also much higher than the percentage of students investing time in reading studying and doing assignments. Recommendation As long there is free internet service on campus, Island students will still have access in visiting the above mention sites. The students must be given more workshops to manage time wisely, teaching students about how internet can be used in an effective way that is beneficial for academic purposes. Though the student service, extra tutorials needs to be provided to keep students busy, instead of wasting time on sites such as Facebook.

A Leadership Profile of American Project Managers Essay

Although the needs and demands of clients have always been the highest priority for any project manager, increasing global competition, ever heightening client expectations, and the magnitude of the projects impact on a firm’s bottom line has begun to place greater emphasis on the skills necessary to successfully lead today’s project teams. Historically, strong technical skills and knowledge of the industry would have been the key selection criteria. It was, in many cases, simply assumed that men and women who possessed these qualities would lead the project to a successful completion. Today’s complex project environments require even greater skills at leadership than ever before. â€Å"Cookie-cutter† formula-based management was probably never correct, but in today’s environment it will inevitably lead to disaster. Performance expectations for quality, cost effectiveness, timely delivery, and a host of other client measures are ratcheted-up a notch each year. In the highly competitive arena in which most projects operate, be they external or internal, the requirement to produce results that exceed client expectations has become the norm. As one respondent shared, â€Å"I have not worked on a project in the past five years that was not viewed by the client as being ‘fast track;† The stakes are high, and getting higher. The days when cost overruns and delayed completion were common are history. So are the projects where technical personnel were once allowed to â€Å"experiment† until they got it right. With the managerial practices of outsourcing, downsizing, total quality management and continuous improvement becoming even more prevalent in our organizational environment, it can be expected that project managers are experiencing increased performance pressures. Internal project managers are possibly just as vulnerable to not having their contracts renewed as external consultants and contractors. Recent Literature Jeffrey Pinto and Om Kharbanda shed light on this problem in two journal articles published in Business Horizons, â€Å"Lessons for an accidental profession† (1995) and â€Å"How to fail in project management† (1996). These authors emphasize the increased need for projectmanagers. Increasingly technically complex products and processes, vastly shortened time-to-market windows, and the need for cross-functional expertise make project management an important and powerful tool in the hands of organizations that understand its use† (Pinto & Kharbanda, 1995). In their follow-up article, â€Å"How to fail in project management,† the authors write a stinging criticism of the practices that combine to produce project failures (Pinto & Kharbanda, 1996). Karen Ayas (1996) takes a broader brash to the whole issue through what she describes as a â€Å"project network structure. The design of the system should â€Å"stress the synergies between organizational strategy, structure, culture and systems to allow organizations to build and expand learning capacity. † The application of â€Å"process management view† to project management was reported recently in Harvard Business Review. The study of leading companies such as AT&T, Hewlett-Packard and Raychem over an eight-year time span led the author to report that, â€Å"managers can benefit by applying a process management approach to their product development process. Companies can create an aggregate plan that allows them to assign practices to theirprojects with an estimate of needed resources †¦ managers can eliminate congestion and long hours by evening out workloads† (Alder, Mandelbaum, Nguyen, & Schwerer, 1996). (See also Jungen & Wowalczyk, 1995. ) Bob Lewis (Info World, 1996) sets forth the five keys that he believes differentiate successful projects from the others: scope control; regular, concrete, reasonable results; weekly status meetings; team buy-in to the plan; and walking around. Project management is considered a vital tool for the implementation of business process reengineering. â€Å"Project management allows organizations to break things down into simple processes and assign these activities and modules to individuals. This approach helps organizations identify existing built-in dependencies among processes †¦ A multidimensional forum for enterprisewide visibility is essential and will lead to significant productivity and cost savings. †¦ Project management is the organizational ‘glue’ that binds together dispersed, high accountable teams throughout the organization. Teams will seek and demand a framework to ensure their success under the new rules of rapidly changing intensely competitive markets. Project management provides the framework, encourages dispersed leadership and provides visibility of effort to stakeholders throughout the organization† (King 1996). Clearly, project managers are being viewed as pivotal leaders in the introduction and implementation of both operational and behavioral managerial changes. Are project managers viewing their roles and responsibilities in the same light as the authors of leading journal articles? What do practicing project managers believe are the critical characteristics necessary to be effective? On the other hand, what factors contribute to producing ineffective project managers? On the operational side, what do they see as the primary causes of projects that fail to meet budgetary and time constraints? What do they see as the most effective project management â€Å"tools,† and the extent to which these â€Å"tools† contribute to the success of a project? Finally, how powerful is â€Å"the leadership factor† in the success of a project and what are the specific characteristics and behaviors of leaders that will have a positive influence on organizational effectiveness in the next decade? The authors found no research that specifically addressed these questions nor reported results obtained directly from project managers. Research Instrument Design The research instrument was compressed of both open-ended and forced-answer questions. In addition, the respondents were asked their agreement or valuation of several statements through the application of a traditional five-point Likert scale ranging from a high of 5 to low of 1. The completed instrument was then pretested by 12 project managers and executives in a number of firms. All suggestions were incorporated into the final research instrument. The research instrument was then mailed to a selected sample of 100 senior-level project managers who, it was assumed, would possess a wealth of experience regarding the issues being studied. The authors received 76 usable responses to the research instrument from the mailing of 100. The extremely high response rate was due in part to an aggressive premailing and postmailing telephone campaign. The respondents were all relatively senior project managers with a minimum of 10 years experience in projectmanagement. All of the project managers surveyed were employed in large architectural and engineering consulting companies. Research Results and Discussion What Are the Characteristics of Effective Project Managers? The following results (presented in Table 1) were obtained from an open-ended question that asked respondents to list, in rank order, the characteristic that they believed was essential for effectiveness. Possibly the most interesting aspect of the project manager’s responses to this question was the fact that technical competence was the third highest rated characteristic. Eight of the nine characteristics were managerial in nature, reflecting a basic understanding that effectiveness is directly related to the ability of theproject manager to lead and manage more than simply possess exceptional technical skills. This finding is consistent with the academic literature, but is more powerful when drawn from open-end responses of experienced practicing project managers. What Factors Contribute to Ineffectiveness Among Project Managers? In order to examine the question of effectiveness in a different light, the project managerswere then asked, via open-ended questions, the specific nature of personal flaws of project managers that directly contribute to ineffectiveness, as well as the organizational factors that produced the same results. The intent of these questions was to identify how both personal flaws and organizational factors contributed to producing an ineffective project manager. To a large degree the personal flaws are a reverse image of the characteristics of ffective project managers from Table 1. There seems to be a good deal of internal consistency among the respondents (see Table 2). The organizational factors that contribute to becoming an ineffectiveproject manager are equally relevant, but not surprising. Lack of upper-management commitment and support is a well-documented source of project problems. Theproject management literature has addressed each of the organizational barriers to effectiveness and it is again reinforcing to discover that the responses document that practicing project managers’ perceptions fully support the literature. The past few decades have not seen the elimination of these classic sources of organizational ineffectiveness, although their negative impact on project performance has been known for some time. Resistance to change and a reactive approach to environmental turbulence are signs of a firm struggling with adjusting to new competitive conditions. Traditional reward systems are generally not well suited toproject management. Traditional reward systems tend to have very little direct linkage between the performance criteria of a project and compensation. With competition being very intense in some sectors, some projects are priced and sold at dangerously thin multipliers with little opportunity to show a significantly positive return. When the realistic expectations for the project are not considered in the compensation plan, it can be expected that dissatisfaction with the compensation or reward systems are bound to be voiced. Project managers know that under difficult competitive conditions, jobs are taken to keep the staff utilized and the expected profit margin is possibly at breakeven. It is often just as difficult to manage a project with no expected profit than one with above average profit expectations. In addition, reward systems seldom reflect the nature and varying degrees of difficulty of the task and often focus solely on the final profit numbers. Failure to develop a reward system that reflects the specific nature of the project can create potential long-term conflicts. Consider how new market entry is normally achieved: the firm â€Å"buys† a project. The firm intentionally bids a project below what established competitors minimum bid to get the work and, hopefully, enter a new market successfully. Logic would suggest that a firm would want one of its best project managers to lead such a project to ensure success. But if the projectaffords no opportunity to earn a performance bonus based on project profitability who would volunteer to â€Å"take on† a known loser? In too many cases, organizational insensitivity to the negative realties created by poor organizational practices and policies are not understood or simply ignored. The result of these negative practices and policies is the eventual erosion of a potentially high-quality professional staff. The lack of upper management support and commitment results in a complete breakdown of trust and respect. One of the sure killers of motivation is when project managers become conditioned to being abandoned by their management at the first sign of client conflict. As one project manager described the situation: â€Å"it’s like discovering that your management is sitting on the client side of the table at every meeting, and that you are left alone to defend every decision. † It doesn’t take too many such experiences beforeproject managers modify their style of management to protect themselves. Under these conditions one is not likely to find that the project team is performing to the maximum potential. What Are the Primary Reasons That Projects Experience Budgetary and Timely Completion Problems? Table 3 reports the respondents’ reasons for why projects run into budgetary and timing problems. The most frequent responses reflect both organizational and managerial problems. As an example, â€Å"failure to utilize the toolsavailable to manage a project to completion in a timely fashion and within budget† was the most frequent response. Poor leadership on the part of the projectmanager† was the second most frequently reported cause of problems. â€Å"Lack of effective interorganizational communication† and a â€Å"lack of timely decisions and corrective action† were also reported. The only external factor mentioned by the respondents was â€Å"the client’s failure to respond in a timely fashion. † Almost everyproject manager has dealt with clients who seemed unable or unwilling to make timely decisions yet retained their expectations that the project would be completed on time and within budget. It seems that managing the client is an art that only experience can teach. This need to learn the diplomacy of client management becomes increasingly important as a client-oriented strategy is recognized as essential to survival. What Are the Project Management â€Å"Tools† Most Often Used and How Effective Are They? Managing the project requires the skillful application of projectmanagement tools that are designed to assist the project team complete the project on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the client. Table 4 reports the responses from experienced project managers regarding the extent to which they use eight recognized project management tools and the extent to which the tools contribute to the success of a project. As you would expect, the two highest rated tools (actually tying for first) were the project schedule and theproject budget. Irrespective of project size or complexity, these project tools were rated highest in use and first and second in terms of contribution to the success of the project. Of the eight project management tools that the respondents were asked to evaluate, none were reported to be of no value. Some of the more detailed tools were used less often and consequently may have been perceived as less valuable to project success. Despite the discussion in the projectmanagement literature regarding the need to increase the degree of accuracy in the determination of the percentage of project completion, the â€Å"earned value reporting tool, was rated the least used and correspondingly reported to have made the least contribution to the success of a project. The top five projectmanagement tools most often reported as used (project schedule, project budget, project cost system, project execution plan, and client communication log) were also rated as making the greatest contribution to the success of the project. Clearb; more effective project managers exercise managerial discipline in the consistent application of what they have found to be the most valuable project management tools for achieving success. What Are the â€Å"Other† Factors That Contribute to the Success of a Project? In addition to the direct managerial actions that project managers can take through the implementation of project management tools, project managers focus on their managerial and leadership skills as controlling sources of influence that contribute to the successful completion of projects. Table 5 reports the source of influence on successful completion of a project as reported by the project managers surveyed. As expected, â€Å"the decision made by the client† was the strongest influence, with â€Å"responding to the changing client request† second. The third source of influence on the successful completion of a project is the â€Å"desire to excel,† reflecting the strong positive personal motivation of project managers to make every project they lead a success. â€Å"The decision made by the project team† and â€Å"the pressures from inside the project† were the next highest rated sources of influence reflecting the need for the project manager to focus on the leadership of the project team. Equally interesting are the lowest rated sources of influence on the success of aproject. Respondents give little or no credence to â€Å"luck† or â€Å"external politics† as barriers to success. How Critical Is the â€Å"Leadership Factor† to Project Success? Given the many factors that can directly or indirectly influence the success of a project, do projectmanagers believe that there is one overriding factor that contributes to whether a project will be a success or a failure? In fact, the answer is yes. When asked to weigh the percentage of success or failure of a project that can be contributed directly to the pressure of either positive or negative leadership the responses were powerfully revealing (see Table 6). Positive leadership contributes almost 76% to the success of a project. Consider what this response means. Variation in projectsuccess can be contributed to the leadership displayed on the project by 76%. Equally meaningful is the second statistic: negative or poor leadership contributes 67% to the failure of projects. Clearly, firms that fail to train and reinforce the need for project managers to practice positive leadership seem to run an unacceptable risk. In a recent interview with five vice presidents of major engineering consulting firms, a question was posed regarding the number of projects in the past five years that failed due to a lack of technical competence on the part of the project manager or the project team. In what was estimated by them to be more than 1,000 projects, both large and small, the executives could recount only 10 failures due to lack of technical competence. Yet, when you ask most company executives what the most critical criteria for promotion to project manager is, technical competence generally leads the list of responses. Possibly what is absent is the recognition that technical competence must be supported by persons who are capable of managing a project and providing positive leadership to the team. All the evidence of recent research supports the idea that successful projects are led by individuals who possess a blend of technical and management knowledge, but beyond both, leadership skills. Sensitivity to the client’s needs, the composition of the project team, the strategic importance of the project to the firm, and the technical requirements of the project reflect themselves in a continuous stream of communication and personal interactions that serve to reveal the true nature of theproject manager. Project managers were asked to rate 50 characteristics or behaviors that they believed, based on their experience, would have a positive influence on organizational effectiveness in the next decade. Tables 7 and 8 highlight the highest and lowest rated characteristics and behaviors and reveal some very interesting findings. The highest rated characteristics and behaviors build a profile of an individual that most of us would wish to work for. The profile reveals a leader who recognizes that it is absolutely essential to build aproject team, reinforce positive behavior, communicate, demonstrate trust and respect, develop team members and empower them to perform and set goals while remaining flexible to respond to the inevitable changes. Important by their absence from the â€Å"golden dozen† are characteristics and behaviors such as technical expertise, individualistic, effective organizational politician, or detail oriented. The profession has moved beyond the mind-set that the best-qualified individual to promote to the project manager’s position is the best technical person or some flashy politically savvy character with the â€Å"right contacts. † Table 8 reports the characteristics and behaviors that practicing and experienced project managers rated as the 12 least important characteristics for the achievement of organizational effectiveness. Some of these responses were a surprise to the researchers while others were not. Project managers rated â€Å"strategic thinker† very low. This may be explained by the fact that many project managers are totally operations-oriented and become involved only when the job is sold. In terms of preparation for promotion into the firm’s executive ranks this shortcoming could be costly. Yet, this lack of recognition of the need for the practice of strategic thinking may explain the managerial practices of some firms who employ project managers.

Health At Stake . There Has Been A Recent Event Where The

Health at Stake There has been a recent event where the House of Republicans defunded an organization for one whole year, which can save many lives. People rely heavily on Planned Parenthood, being the nation’s health care provider, as it provides them with reproductive health benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to, access to contraception, cancer screenings, and basic preventative care. However, there are numerous amounts of people who concur with the decision to defund this organization. This issue is highly debated as Planned Parenthood provides abortions. Sometimes people fail to notice all other benefits provided by the organization and the consequences of defunding Planned Parenthood, when they encounter abortion.†¦show more content†¦In an article on the website, â€Å"Teen Vogue,† they share stories of ten young women, where they explain how Planned Parenthood made a difference in their lives and â€Å"why it’s so important the doors stay open,† demonstrating the feelings of comfort young women may find in Planned Parenthood. If protection is not easily accessible to these women, â€Å"it could lead to unwanted pregnancy and perhaps abortion.† Keep in mind that Planned Parenthood is also a place to prevent abortions, which is why they provide easy access to contraception and offer family planning. Without Planned Parenthood, there could be an increase in unplanned pregnancies among age groups, especially teenagers. In a Planned Parenthood study, â€Å"80% of the clients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancy and they prevent about 516,000 unintended pregnancies each year,† this demonstrates that Planned Parenthood is needed and has been doing a superior job in preventative care, in terms of pregnancies. According to an article in Time magazine, â€Å"The Congressional Budget Office estimates that thousands of women on Medicaid would end up having children they would not othe rwise have had if Planned Parenthood funding is cut,† which displays how women rely on Planned Parenthood for family planning. Many women who become pregnant unintentionally end up aborting the fetus, but calling to defund this organization, women may undergo life-threatening methods for terminating their pregnancy (â€Å"DoShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Global Warming On North Carolina1728 Words   |  7 PagesCarolina one has to understand the basics of this particular phenomenon. What exactly is Global Warming? According to EPA.gov: â€Å"Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth s surface. It is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change. However, global warming itself represents only one aspect of climate change† (Climate Change, EPA.gov). What has been said on thisRead MoreWorking in Partnership in Social Care1087 Words   |  5 PagesUnit 505 Working in partnership in Health and Social care or children and young people’s settings Outcome 1 1.1 Identify the features of effective partnership working A partnership is an arrangement between two or more groups, organizations or individuals who work together to achieve common aims or who have common interests. It is sometimes applied to situations where one powerful organization is doing no more than consulting with others, or where one organization is simply buying somethingRead MoreEffects Of Childhood Immunizations On Children Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pageshave shown that childhood immunizations nonmedical exemptions have been increasing in many states. This issue creates a public treat. With the utmost concern, when a public treat continues to be a challenge for the public health, further actions on the policy level need to be initiated and actively maintained to ensure public safety. Growing concern shows that higher incidents of nonmedical exemptions calls for new and improved health policies that can lower theses occurrences. New and innovative approachesRead MoreCoca Cola Company As The Objective1218 Words   |  5 Pages1984, then the special bottle has become a symbol of COCA-COLA. TRADE MARKS COCA-COLA’s trade mark was registered with US patents Trademark Office in 1893. It is regarded as the most valuable assets for COCA-COLA. Now, as long as people see the trade mark â€Å"COCA-COLA†, they prefer this brand than others. This small symbol helps consumers to cultivate their strong brand loyalty. Market condition External environment: In recent 10 years, carbonated soft drinks industry has appeared on an unfavorableRead MoreThe Roman Catholic Church And Caribbean Cultures Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluencing our health practices, therefore impinging on our future. As for this, in this paper I will be analyzing my two cultures as an individual. The experiences and practices that I have endured have made me the woman that I am today. Thus, my two cultures that I have chosen to address are the Roman Catholic Church and Caribbean cultures. Namely, the first one that I will be spiel is my Roman Catholic Church culture. The Roman Catholic Church culture has been an important stake in my life. AsRead MoreReview Of Sir Isaac Newton s First Law Of Motion Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesmore they sit around. There have been a great many advancements that have led to lifestyle changes, specifically, we now live much more sedentary existences. The perpetuation of a cycle of extremely negative behaviors has emerged. The adverse effects are beginning to show, and we need to take action. An excellent starting place is with our children in their daily school activities. The importance of Physical Education classes (PEHD) has progressively been marginalized. Budgetary issues emergedRead MoreThe World Of Aboriginal And Or Torres Strait Islander Communities1585 Words   |  7 Pageswith the Aboriginal culture than me over the years. Quite simply, until (relatively) recent years the Aboriginal culture has been largely unrepresented in Tasmania. There are recent improvements, for example members of State Government will sometimes acknowledge the traditional owners or an elder may give a welcome to country at events. When white man colonised Tasmania they massacred the local tribes where possible as part of their colonisation. It is with a sense of irony then, that white TasmaniansRead MoreStakeholder Concerns : Corporate Management1619 Words   |  7 Pagesmajor concern for an overwhelming majority of investors is the amount of risk they take on. These investors consider the amount of risk an ownership stake in a company entails and choose not to invest in companies that are over exposed to a single industry, have a track record of inefficient management or are operating in a dying industry etc. Calfrac has recently disclosed that its board of directors have approved a $12 million plan to further the expansion in Latin America (Healing, 2015). This showsRead MoreThe Ban Of Tobacco Companies Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pagesways to publicize their brands to young people. Some tobacco companies also decided to use indirect methods which include sponsoring sporting events and teams; promoting rock concerts and discos; placing their brand logos on t-shirts, rucksacks and other merchandise popular with children; and giving away free cigarettes and brand merchandise in areas where young people gather. The article states that the ban of tobacco is already going on globally and countries like Finland, Norway and France haveRead MoreIn The August 8Th And 15Th Issue Of The New Yorker, Mark1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe runner in bright red compression shorts and shirt is the only particular runner being attacked. The Cover of the New Yorker illustrates how the Olympic games helped brighten the spotlight on what is going on in the world that is effecting the health concerns in developing countries. Mark Ulrikesen love for the games can help countries all over the world. His love for the games brought the concerns of many, and also helped the world understand what is going on behind a closed door. â€Å"I’ve always

Health At Stake . There Has Been A Recent Event Where The

Health at Stake There has been a recent event where the House of Republicans defunded an organization for one whole year, which can save many lives. People rely heavily on Planned Parenthood, being the nation’s health care provider, as it provides them with reproductive health benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to, access to contraception, cancer screenings, and basic preventative care. However, there are numerous amounts of people who concur with the decision to defund this organization. This issue is highly debated as Planned Parenthood provides abortions. Sometimes people fail to notice all other benefits provided by the organization and the consequences of defunding Planned Parenthood, when they encounter abortion.†¦show more content†¦In an article on the website, â€Å"Teen Vogue,† they share stories of ten young women, where they explain how Planned Parenthood made a difference in their lives and â€Å"why it’s so important the doors stay open,† demonstrating the feelings of comfort young women may find in Planned Parenthood. If protection is not easily accessible to these women, â€Å"it could lead to unwanted pregnancy and perhaps abortion.† Keep in mind that Planned Parenthood is also a place to prevent abortions, which is why they provide easy access to contraception and offer family planning. Without Planned Parenthood, there could be an increase in unplanned pregnancies among age groups, especially teenagers. In a Planned Parenthood study, â€Å"80% of the clients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancy and they prevent about 516,000 unintended pregnancies each year,† this demonstrates that Planned Parenthood is needed and has been doing a superior job in preventative care, in terms of pregnancies. According to an article in Time magazine, â€Å"The Congressional Budget Office estimates that thousands of women on Medicaid would end up having children they would not othe rwise have had if Planned Parenthood funding is cut,† which displays how women rely on Planned Parenthood for family planning. Many women who become pregnant unintentionally end up aborting the fetus, but calling to defund this organization, women may undergo life-threatening methods for terminating their pregnancy (â€Å"DoShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Global Warming On North Carolina1728 Words   |  7 PagesCarolina one has to understand the basics of this particular phenomenon. What exactly is Global Warming? According to EPA.gov: â€Å"Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth s surface. It is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change. However, global warming itself represents only one aspect of climate change† (Climate Change, EPA.gov). What has been said on thisRead MoreWorking in Partnership in Social Care1087 Words   |  5 PagesUnit 505 Working in partnership in Health and Social care or children and young people’s settings Outcome 1 1.1 Identify the features of effective partnership working A partnership is an arrangement between two or more groups, organizations or individuals who work together to achieve common aims or who have common interests. It is sometimes applied to situations where one powerful organization is doing no more than consulting with others, or where one organization is simply buying somethingRead MoreEffects Of Childhood Immunizations On Children Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pageshave shown that childhood immunizations nonmedical exemptions have been increasing in many states. This issue creates a public treat. With the utmost concern, when a public treat continues to be a challenge for the public health, further actions on the policy level need to be initiated and actively maintained to ensure public safety. Growing concern shows that higher incidents of nonmedical exemptions calls for new and improved health policies that can lower theses occurrences. New and innovative approachesRead MoreCoca Cola Company As The Objective1218 Words   |  5 Pages1984, then the special bottle has become a symbol of COCA-COLA. TRADE MARKS COCA-COLA’s trade mark was registered with US patents Trademark Office in 1893. It is regarded as the most valuable assets for COCA-COLA. Now, as long as people see the trade mark â€Å"COCA-COLA†, they prefer this brand than others. This small symbol helps consumers to cultivate their strong brand loyalty. Market condition External environment: In recent 10 years, carbonated soft drinks industry has appeared on an unfavorableRead MoreThe Roman Catholic Church And Caribbean Cultures Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluencing our health practices, therefore impinging on our future. As for this, in this paper I will be analyzing my two cultures as an individual. The experiences and practices that I have endured have made me the woman that I am today. Thus, my two cultures that I have chosen to address are the Roman Catholic Church and Caribbean cultures. Namely, the first one that I will be spiel is my Roman Catholic Church culture. The Roman Catholic Church culture has been an important stake in my life. AsRead MoreReview Of Sir Isaac Newton s First Law Of Motion Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesmore they sit around. There have been a great many advancements that have led to lifestyle changes, specifically, we now live much more sedentary existences. The perpetuation of a cycle of extremely negative behaviors has emerged. The adverse effects are beginning to show, and we need to take action. An excellent starting place is with our children in their daily school activities. The importance of Physical Education classes (PEHD) has progressively been marginalized. Budgetary issues emergedRead MoreThe World Of Aboriginal And Or Torres Strait Islander Communities1585 Words   |  7 Pageswith the Aboriginal culture than me over the years. Quite simply, until (relatively) recent years the Aboriginal culture has been largely unrepresented in Tasmania. There are recent improvements, for example members of State Government will sometimes acknowledge the traditional owners or an elder may give a welcome to country at events. When white man colonised Tasmania they massacred the local tribes where possible as part of their colonisation. It is with a sense of irony then, that white TasmaniansRead MoreStakeholder Concerns : Corporate Management1619 Words   |  7 Pagesmajor concern for an overwhelming majority of investors is the amount of risk they take on. These investors consider the amount of risk an ownership stake in a company entails and choose not to invest in companies that are over exposed to a single industry, have a track record of inefficient management or are operating in a dying industry etc. Calfrac has recently disclosed that its board of directors have approved a $12 million plan to further the expansion in Latin America (Healing, 2015). This showsRead MoreThe Ban Of Tobacco Companies Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pagesways to publicize their brands to young people. Some tobacco companies also decided to use indirect methods which include sponsoring sporting events and teams; promoting rock concerts and discos; placing their brand logos on t-shirts, rucksacks and other merchandise popular with children; and giving away free cigarettes and brand merchandise in areas where young people gather. The article states that the ban of tobacco is already going on globally and countries like Finland, Norway and France haveRead MoreIn The August 8Th And 15Th Issue Of The New Yorker, Mark1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe runner in bright red compression shorts and shirt is the only particular runner being attacked. The Cover of the New Yorker illustrates how the Olympic games helped brighten the spotlight on what is going on in the world that is effecting the health concerns in developing countries. Mark Ulrikesen love for the games can help countries all over the world. His love for the games brought the concerns of many, and also helped the world understand what is going on behind a closed door. â€Å"I’ve always

Health At Stake . There Has Been A Recent Event Where The

Health at Stake There has been a recent event where the House of Republicans defunded an organization for one whole year, which can save many lives. People rely heavily on Planned Parenthood, being the nation’s health care provider, as it provides them with reproductive health benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to, access to contraception, cancer screenings, and basic preventative care. However, there are numerous amounts of people who concur with the decision to defund this organization. This issue is highly debated as Planned Parenthood provides abortions. Sometimes people fail to notice all other benefits provided by the organization and the consequences of defunding Planned Parenthood, when they encounter abortion.†¦show more content†¦In an article on the website, â€Å"Teen Vogue,† they share stories of ten young women, where they explain how Planned Parenthood made a difference in their lives and â€Å"why it’s so important the doors stay open,† demonstrating the feelings of comfort young women may find in Planned Parenthood. If protection is not easily accessible to these women, â€Å"it could lead to unwanted pregnancy and perhaps abortion.† Keep in mind that Planned Parenthood is also a place to prevent abortions, which is why they provide easy access to contraception and offer family planning. Without Planned Parenthood, there could be an increase in unplanned pregnancies among age groups, especially teenagers. In a Planned Parenthood study, â€Å"80% of the clients receive services to prevent unintended pregnancy and they prevent about 516,000 unintended pregnancies each year,† this demonstrates that Planned Parenthood is needed and has been doing a superior job in preventative care, in terms of pregnancies. According to an article in Time magazine, â€Å"The Congressional Budget Office estimates that thousands of women on Medicaid would end up having children they would not othe rwise have had if Planned Parenthood funding is cut,† which displays how women rely on Planned Parenthood for family planning. Many women who become pregnant unintentionally end up aborting the fetus, but calling to defund this organization, women may undergo life-threatening methods for terminating their pregnancy (â€Å"DoShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Global Warming On North Carolina1728 Words   |  7 PagesCarolina one has to understand the basics of this particular phenomenon. What exactly is Global Warming? According to EPA.gov: â€Å"Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth s surface. It is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change. However, global warming itself represents only one aspect of climate change† (Climate Change, EPA.gov). What has been said on thisRead MoreWorking in Partnership in Social Care1087 Words   |  5 PagesUnit 505 Working in partnership in Health and Social care or children and young people’s settings Outcome 1 1.1 Identify the features of effective partnership working A partnership is an arrangement between two or more groups, organizations or individuals who work together to achieve common aims or who have common interests. It is sometimes applied to situations where one powerful organization is doing no more than consulting with others, or where one organization is simply buying somethingRead MoreEffects Of Childhood Immunizations On Children Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pageshave shown that childhood immunizations nonmedical exemptions have been increasing in many states. This issue creates a public treat. With the utmost concern, when a public treat continues to be a challenge for the public health, further actions on the policy level need to be initiated and actively maintained to ensure public safety. Growing concern shows that higher incidents of nonmedical exemptions calls for new and improved health policies that can lower theses occurrences. New and innovative approachesRead MoreCoca Cola Company As The Objective1218 Words   |  5 Pages1984, then the special bottle has become a symbol of COCA-COLA. TRADE MARKS COCA-COLA’s trade mark was registered with US patents Trademark Office in 1893. It is regarded as the most valuable assets for COCA-COLA. Now, as long as people see the trade mark â€Å"COCA-COLA†, they prefer this brand than others. This small symbol helps consumers to cultivate their strong brand loyalty. Market condition External environment: In recent 10 years, carbonated soft drinks industry has appeared on an unfavorableRead MoreThe Roman Catholic Church And Caribbean Cultures Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluencing our health practices, therefore impinging on our future. As for this, in this paper I will be analyzing my two cultures as an individual. The experiences and practices that I have endured have made me the woman that I am today. Thus, my two cultures that I have chosen to address are the Roman Catholic Church and Caribbean cultures. Namely, the first one that I will be spiel is my Roman Catholic Church culture. The Roman Catholic Church culture has been an important stake in my life. AsRead MoreReview Of Sir Isaac Newton s First Law Of Motion Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesmore they sit around. There have been a great many advancements that have led to lifestyle changes, specifically, we now live much more sedentary existences. The perpetuation of a cycle of extremely negative behaviors has emerged. The adverse effects are beginning to show, and we need to take action. An excellent starting place is with our children in their daily school activities. The importance of Physical Education classes (PEHD) has progressively been marginalized. Budgetary issues emergedRead MoreThe World Of Aboriginal And Or Torres Strait Islander Communities1585 Words   |  7 Pageswith the Aboriginal culture than me over the years. Quite simply, until (relatively) recent years the Aboriginal culture has been largely unrepresented in Tasmania. There are recent improvements, for example members of State Government will sometimes acknowledge the traditional owners or an elder may give a welcome to country at events. When white man colonised Tasmania they massacred the local tribes where possible as part of their colonisation. It is with a sense of irony then, that white TasmaniansRead MoreStakeholder Concerns : Corporate Management1619 Words   |  7 Pagesmajor concern for an overwhelming majority of investors is the amount of risk they take on. These investors consider the amount of risk an ownership stake in a company entails and choose not to invest in companies that are over exposed to a single industry, have a track record of inefficient management or are operating in a dying industry etc. Calfrac has recently disclosed that its board of directors have approved a $12 million plan to further the expansion in Latin America (Healing, 2015). This showsRead MoreThe Ban Of Tobacco Companies Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pagesways to publicize their brands to young people. Some tobacco companies also decided to use indirect methods which include sponsoring sporting events and teams; promoting rock concerts and discos; placing their brand logos on t-shirts, rucksacks and other merchandise popular with children; and giving away free cigarettes and brand merchandise in areas where young people gather. The article states that the ban of tobacco is already going on globally and countries like Finland, Norway and France haveRead MoreIn The August 8Th And 15Th Issue Of The New Yorker, Mark1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe runner in bright red compression shorts and shirt is the only particular runner being attacked. The Cover of the New Yorker illustrates how the Olympic games helped brighten the spotlight on what is going on in the world that is effecting the health concerns in developing countries. Mark Ulrikesen love for the games can help countries all over the world. His love for the games brought the concerns of many, and also helped the world understand what is going on behind a closed door. â€Å"I’ve always