Saturday, December 28, 2019

Customer Request Listening Quiz

You will hear a customer asking for help in a shop. Write down the answers to the questions concerning what she wants. Click on the listen here link. Once you have listened twice, return to this page and take the listening quiz. Write or type the answers. After you have finished, find the answer key at the bottom of the page to see if you have answered the questions correctly. Listen here.   What did the woman receive as a gift?What kind of gift was it?Why does she not want it?Why cant she get her money back?What can she do with it?What would she like?What kid of handbag would she like?What kind of handbag was she looking for?Where is the handbag that she likes?What is the problem with the handbag she likes?What can she have instead of a refund?Who would she like to speak to?What does the man think the manager will say?Where has the manager been? Answer Key: A briefcaseA birthday giftShe doesnt like it and she already has one.She doesnt have a receipt.She can exchange the briefcase.A handbagSomething black, smallish, and not too expensiveSomething more classicalIn the windowIt costs less than the briefcaseA credit noteThe ManagerHe will say the same thing.At lunch

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Understanding the American Wealth Disparity End of the...

A Fragmented Pie Money is what makes the world go around. From day one, people are assimilated with the idea: to consume, one must spend a medium sufficient enough to receive an object that is desired. Every country has that medium. The Europeans have the Euro, the Japanese have the Yen, Chile has the Peso, and the United States has the Dollar. However, this idea of â€Å"getting and spending† has done more harm than good in specific countries. Particularly, in the United States there has been a growing issue of income inequality. The textbook definition of income inequality states: the difference between individuals or populations in the distribution of their assets, wealth, or income. The political problem itself, nevertheless, is deeper and†¦show more content†¦According to Robert Reich from his article, â€Å"Why Inequality is the Real Cause of Our Terrible Economy†, in the era between 1947 and 1977 median wages soared because big name corporations and the top one percent took home less. This national prosperity soon ended with President Nixon cutting the dollar to gold convertibility on August 15th, 1971 (Delmastro). The dollar became a currency that is ultimately backed by nothing. The tangible object of gold became insignificant. This created issues of corruption, inflation, and crony capitalism. Beginning in the 1980s, the income gap in the U.S. significantly started to widen because of this. Reich in his documentary, Income Inequality for All, further states that during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, Reagan lowered the tax rate on the rich from seventy percent to an outstanding percentage of a low thirty five. Regrettably this is not the worst issue, as most of the one percent invests in stock which in turn makes their capital gains subjected only to a fifteen percent tax rate (Reich, Income Inequality for All). These are not coincidences but the unfortunate fact that the American government is influenced by and catered for the top one per cent. The truth of the matter is the history of the dollar is only one factor behind the ever increasing income gap between the wealthy and the poor. Shady legal tactics will keep the situation stagnated until a solution is made clear. Most people dread taxes and some,

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Organization Its Successful Implementation â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Organization Its Successful Implementation? Answer: Introduction The report will discuss in detail about the significance of portfolio management in an organization and its successful implementation. Large companies do not have the luxury to treat the project in an isolated manner. Since there are hundreds of projects in operations at point of time, a more strategic kind of approach in the management of portfolio is important in order to sideline any kind of duplicate efforts with number of complex and conflicting issues and challenges in allocating the resources (Kaiser et al, 2015). The report will discuss in detail about the Multiplex Construction Australia. This company is considered as one of the leading and global construction company and headquarter of the company is in Sydney, Australia. The company is an international company and the operations are expanded in places like India, Australia, Europe, Canada and The Middle East. Organization investment As per the analysis, the Multiplex Construction company has been able to propose the acquisition of Multiplex which valued the company at $7.3 billion. The offer that has been given by Brookfield to the shareholders is $5.05 per security. Here, there are other remaining 10% of the Multiplex securities and the delisted company formats from the ASX. The company focus on building the skills and the capability of the people which focus on the innovation and collaboration. The investments are settled with the property subject where the current processes are based on resolving all the outstanding commercial issues. Organization optimization The organization optimization is based on having the workforce where the reflection is based on the diversity of the communities which it operates and are set in the local and the globalized area. The labor force employees, with the customers, clients and the partners is generally depending upon the coverage of demographics like the age, caring and the responsibilities. The ethnicity, and the race with the individual diversity is set to include the employees who are valued to handle and work towards the potential plan. The optimization is also through evaluating the issues and setting the excessive conflicts with any unclear roles, shadow groups and the poor work flow with reduced responsiveness. The overdependence on the extra organizational groups and the teams leads to the basic elements of how the enterprise is built up. Organization execution The performance by Multiplex Construction Australia is primarily focus on being a project based companies. In other words, it is called as project oriented organization and it actually depends highly not just on the implementation successfully of one or two projects. But it also depends on the fact that how the complete project is managed in an effective manner (Walker, 2015). There are multiple projects that perceive portfolio project management as the competitive advantage and settle a formal kind of system that make sure that with the time in hand and limited resource, the company is able to select that the best project to achieve success. The company also needs to follow multiple processes to be a function for selecting and evaluating the projects. The selection of decision and the evaluation of the project are made by considering the overall goal and strategies adopted by the business. Ability to absorb changes The company is focusing on the challenging opportunities with the learning and growth plans. With this, there is a proper encouragement of the ideas and the learning that leads to a better support and the combination of the coaching and mentoring. The frameworks are related to the International university and the talent management plans, where the culture is considered to be one of the outperformance, innovation and the collaboration. The culture and the treaty of the employees is set with the accountability where there is a built of the entrepreneurial spirit that is driven to deliver the best quality product. Organization execution on promised benefits With the Multiplex Engineering Innovation, there are forms which include the increasing value for the clients and then benefitting the communities. This applies with the edge of innovation and analyzing how the reduced materials need to handle the safer fabrication, assembling and construction. Portfolio evaluation Methods used to evaluate project portfolio Following is the detailed discussion of the aligning process group used by the company to evaluate project portfolio: - Identification: the main aim in this step is to develop updated list with ample amount of information and new elements that can be properly managed with the help of portfolio management. Categorization: the main aim of this step to properly group all the recognized elements into important business group and a common set of filters and categorization can be application for testing, selecting as well as prioritizing the process along with perfect balance of all elements (Purnus Bodea, 2015). Evaluation: this step is vital for collecting all kind of information in order to test the elements used in project with a motive of properly comparing them to help in the selection process. Selection: the step is crucial to develop a short list of elements which is completely relies on the evaluation or testing process with recommendations along with organizations resource abilities. The evaluation process also decides the overall value of every element and the resources used by the company decided the number of elements that any company can eventually authorize. Prioritization: the motive of this process is properly ranking the elements within every strategic category along with right investment timeline, focus of the company and comparison of risk with return profile. Portfolio balancing: the main aim of this step is to inculcate the element mix of the portfolio with high amount of potential and also properly support the strategic initiatives taken by company and accomplish strategic goals (Kerzner, 2013). Authorization: the main aim of this step to properly communicate the decision of portfolio balancing to the team and also allocate the human resources needs and financial needs selected elements in the project. Justification of practicing chosen method The Aligning process group taken up the company here is considered one of the most active especially at the time when the company refreshes the strategic goals and further lays out the budget along with plan for the company. In traditional sense, this is done at yearly budgeting time and the company like Multiplex Construction Australia refreshes this cycle more than usual. This is primarily because of the constant changes in the business climate (Turner, 2016). Challenges in operating in global environment Concept is one of the vital issues which are being faced by the project manager while executing this process specifically during Initiation phase. This is done to test different kind of new concepts on how project will be executed in long run. A concept can be defined as an effective as well as orderly approach that suggests, evaluate and judge the advantages of the new ideas for project. Right before it, important resources are committed to formal project. Benefits management lifecycle in the evaluation process The benefits management involves the proper planning, measuring and the tracking of the benefits which is important for reaching a specific end. This is incorporated in Multiplex for properly delivering the unique requirements which enable the long term and the cost-effective outcomes Portfolio Management Methods to strategic objective The strategy for the future proofing with the evaluation of the risks activities, like the waterproofing, corrosion, stone and the masonry handling is important. The plan is to handle the constructions with the technical capability to work on the complex building of the projects. Along with this, there is a check on working over the material selection, best practices and minimum standard. Significance of project management office in the organization The standards defined by the company are the basis for describing normally and widely accepted processes which is related with portfolio management. It is important to understand here that portfolio management is a continuous process and the target is having a clear strategic focus which later helps a company to make sure that the decisions are well aligned with the strategy. when the elements of the portfolio are not properly aligned with the business strategy, a company like Multiplex Construction Australia can anytime question the reasons behind the work being undertaken. The portfolio management is discussed with the help of three-phase constant lifecycle (Clough et al, 2015). The company should also define the period which depend on the size as well as complexities of the current business. Any kind of transformation in the strategy may further trigger a review of the whole portfolio. Quantitative and qualitative tools used in organization to manage project portfolio The company is involved in two-tier process in order to collect information. There are two processes, first is literature survey which was used to inform the development of a semi structured guide for interview. This is actually a process to locate, read, obtain and evaluate the researched literature. Another method is interview which is based on purposeful discussion that exists between two or more individual (Hardin McCool, 2015). The usage of qualitative research based interviews helps in getting a detailed set of information. Maturity levels Maturity level for Multiplex Construction Australia There are different types of maturity process levels that are present in every kind of business. It is important to understand that it is a part of the evolution of natural business. Every organization and department is able to evolve along specific level of maturity and it can organic or intentional by nature. The Multiplex Construction Australia is in business for almost fifty five years. The company is at fifth maturity level which is last stage or level in maturity called as Value (Bodie et al, 2014). It is based on numerous connected processes which can be shared as well as well measured by the company. Key best practices to improve the maturity level and right model for it The model taken up by the company to improve the maturity level can be PRINCE 2 which is actually a process for impactful project management. The concept is in fact can be considered as de facto standard primarily used by the government of UK and hence the model is widely recognized as well as adopted by companies like Multiplex Construction Australia on global platform. There are some usual set of questions which needs to be answered while initiating any project and the answer are usually associated with the building blocks of the management of project (Nicholas Steyn, 2017). Structured form of project management is also based on the project which is based on defining different steps to make the whole process more organized. How to implement changes and assistance required from Multiplex Construction Australia As discussed PRINCE 2 model is more of a process based approach for managing different projects. It further helps to function and also involved in project along with different roles and accountabilities. This model has a set of different process in order to work and further explain about the required information. Companies like Multiplex Construction Australia use PRINCE2 as a methodology that initiate with accredited amount of training. Training is important as the system used is complex by nature with different processes as well as angles and the training will also help in providing important knowledge to everyone associated with project (Winch, 2014). The model is adaptable by nature and can further be applied in all kind of projects despite their size. Corporate culture Corporate culture of Multiplex Construction Australia The business was built on the foundation of ability and best skills set of the people of the company. The company has recruited an experience team of employees who deal with issues as well as opportunities with same zeal. The culture of the company has been based on innovation, association or collaboration and outperformance. The company also takes a lot of pride in the culture where employees are treated like families with right kind of values are inculcated in them. The company is also committed to building a workforce that shows diversity of so many societies in which the company can work at local and international level (Guerard et al, 2015). It also focuses on the people it employs, and the consumer or partners it operates with. The main focus is on diversity which is broad by nature since it covers so many criteria like age, disability, demographic, accountability, race and ethnicity and many more. Change management initiative taken by Multiplex Construction Australia Aspects of corporate culture that will support project portfolio management and its sustainability criteria The company believes in providing challenging options for people to learn as well as grow and this is done through training as well as on the job work. The company constantly takes efforts in thinking out of box approach for each project and it also encourages sharing of ideas and effective learning all across the business (Guerard et al, 2015). The learning and development team also support the growth of the people with different development programs that also offers a combination of mentoring as well as coaching with right kind of technical and leadership skills set at every level for the business. Challenge in getting project portfolio management and its sustainability criteria taken up by Multiplex Construction Australia The company has always see the business as an opportunity to offer some high level performance that can develop an environmental, financial and social value for the clients and the communities in which it function. The company is also involved in developing an environment friendly sustainable design and constantly innovates to offer best kind of practices answers which can be very little cost for the clients. The company also understands the role the projects that it must be enriching as well as sustainable for local culture. The company is very committed to leaving a positive kind of impact in the areas where it functions and the company also works very closely with societies to understand how all the opportunities should be develop by the project and support all its unique needs (Guerard et al, 2015). Conclusion The report has discussed in detail about different phases of portfolio management and its significance in project management with the help of case study on Multiplex Construction Australia. The aim of the project manager is based on potential clients and there interest or expectation from the construction process. The role of the manager is based in integrating all the activities of the people involving in projects so that every person can easily contribute directly in accomplishing the objective of the client (Guerard et al, 2015). At the same time, there is range of skills that are required and must be used in finishing the project and the accountability of it clearly lies with the project manager. Reference Bodie, Z., Kane, A., Marcus, A. J. (2014).Investments, 10e. McGraw-Hill Education. Brooks, R. (2015). Financial management: core concepts. Pearson. Clough, R. H., Sears, G. A., Sears, S. K., Segner, R. O., Rounds, J. L. (2015).Construction contracting: A practical guide to company management. John Wiley Sons. Guerard, J. B., Markowitz, H., Xu, G. (2015). Earnings forecasting in a global stock selection model and efficient portfolio construction and management.International Journal of Forecasting,31(2), 550-560. Hardin, B., McCool, D. (2015).BIM and construction management: proven tools, methods, and workflows. John Wiley Sons. Kaiser, M. G., El Arbi, F., Ahlemann, F. (2015). Successful project portfolio management beyond project selection techniques: Understanding the role of structural alignment.International Journal of Project Management,33(1), 126-139. Kerzner, H. (2013).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Nicholas, J. M., Steyn, H. (2017).Project management for engineering, business and technology. Taylor Francis. Purnus, A., Bodea, C. N. (2015). Financial management of the construction projects: A proposed cash flow analysis model at project portfolio level.Organization, technology management in construction: an international journal,7(1), 1217-1227. Turner, R. (2016).Gower handbook of project management. Routledge. Walker, A. (2015). Project management in construction. John Wiley Sons. Winch, G. M. (2014). Three domains of project organising.International Journal of Project Management,32(5), 721-731.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Professional Computing Issues in Management and Development Issue

Question: Q1: As discussed in the course that there is no money to be made from open source code, why would a developer release software under an open source license? Q2. Why do employers monitor workers? Do you think they should be able to do so? Why or why not? Q3: Discuss that why information privacy is important on public networks? Answer : 1. The developers sell the code under the open source code because the government grant the authors temporary monopoly when handling the distribution of their work. [1]This is referred as copyright. Other people can download the copy, use their work but they cannot make copies to redistribute them to resell. The developer can sell their royalties such as selling their warranties and other assurances. 2. The employers are monitoring the workers to know if they are doing their jobs appropriately. Moreover, the companies are monitoring the company phones, as well as the internet access to make sure they are being used for only the purpose of the business and not the employees personal use. I think the employers should be able to monitor the employees. The employers have the access to the employees communications while they are on the job.[2] Moreover, the organization should have established a policy in order not to bring any confusion on whether a given form of communication would be monitored or not. There should be a clear policy, which outline what forms of communications are monitored. 3. Privacy of information on the public network is essential for several reasons. A number of them have to do with the outcomes for not having the privacy. People might be debilitated in case there was clearly absolutely no restriction on the public access to of the personal data. Additional reasons tend to be more fundamental, touching on the essence for the human personhood. [3]The privacy could be considered a facet of security. Information privacy is essential to permit people to stop details about themselves to turn out to be recognized by others particularly who are not acquitted to them. Further, it really is for protection from the misuse of private information. There are numerous techniques wherein a person could be harmed in case they have revelation of the sensitive personal information, which could leave a person vulnerable to many abuses. References Bynum, Terrell Ward, and Rogerson Simon. Computer ethics and professional responsibility. 2004. Rogerson, S., and T. Ward-Bynum. "Computer ethics and professional responsibility." Malden, MA: Blackwell (2004): 319-326. Tavani, Herman T. "Ethics and technology: Ethical issues in an age of information and communication technology." (2003). [1] Bynum, Terrell Ward, and Rogerson Simon. Computer ethics and professional responsibility. 2004. [2] Rogerson, S., and T. Ward-Bynum. "Computer ethics and professional responsibility." Malden, MA: Blackwell (2004): 319-326. [3] Tavani, Herman T. "Ethics and technology: Ethical issues in an age of information and communication technology." (2003).