Leadership & Management on Hampton court Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership & Management on Hampton court - Essay Example According to Thurley (2003, p.124), unlike most common mazes that are normally characterized by a single spiral path winding to a center point, Hampton court maze is widely known for intriguing and confusing visitors with its numerous turns, twists, or dead ends and is often referred to as a puzzle or multi-cursal maze. The Action Plan to Hampton Court The planned maze exercise took place on Friday December 6, 2013. Our group included Mwansa, Iqura lashan and I with Iqura lashan being the nominated leader of the group. We used public transport to reach Hampton court maze. The actual venue is located at A308 and is accessible through major local roads and by train (Wright, 2001, p.98). This schedule includes a detailed account of the times, costs, visited locations, contingency as well as a critical risk assessment. Fig.1: A photo of our group members making their way inside the Hampton court maze Itinerary 8.30am: The leadership maze exercise began in the morning hours and we were sc heduled to meet our team leader, Iqura at exactly 8.30 am at Stratford. The journey began at Bromley station where we got the Victoria line to Green Park in the Jubilee line and finally got off at Stafford station where we met the team leader. After meeting, with Iqura, we took the route to Bank station from where we took the Waterloo and city line. Once at Waterloo underground station, we took the south west train towards basing stroke rail station before getting off at substation and taking the south west train to Hampton Court at around 9.15am. 9.30 am: Having successfully made our way into the historic Hampton Court Palace, we paid our entry fee of ?4.00 per each individual group member before briefly assembling under the team leader to discuss the various modalities of our leadership maze exercise. We were also provided with a costumed guide who was not only tasked with escorting our group but also making knowledgeable commentary assisting with practical issues throughout our t our of the maze. The entire duration of the maze exercise was timed and scheduled to allow for as few non program activities such as photo opportunities and a one hour lunch break. 10:00am: We picked a map at the entrance to the Hampton court maze and proceeded with the maze exercise. Despite experiencing many false trails, pitfalls and occasional dead ends, our nominated leader successfully guided the group through the maze through the turnings until we eventually reached the center of the maze. Although it did not seem that long, our path through the maze covered nearly half a mile which took us nearly 45 minutes including the time we spent taking photographs. 12.00 pm: We made our way to the exit of the maze at around noon after successfully making our way out. Our team leader quickly arranged for a light lunch and refreshments at Tiltyard Cafe situated just outside Hampton Palace grounds. After lunch, the group concluded the trip. Cost The accurate figure of the actual cost of t he trip depended on a number of factors. Having used public means of transport to get to the Hampton court maze, transportation was one of the biggest costs we incurred during the entire trip. This was particularly attributed to the distance each of the group members had to cover before reaching our final destination at the Hampton court palace maze. On the other hand, a considerable part of our budget during our leadership ma

Organization and Behavior Essay Example for Free

Organization and Behavior Essay 1. Understand the Relationship between Organizational Culture and Structure 1.1. Compare and contrast three different organizational structures and cultures. The long term success and failure of every company depends on its structure – no matter how vague it may sound, structure of a company decides where the company will be in the near future. The three types of structures are: Functional structure – under this kind of structure, the company is divided into different groups, who are then assigned different tasks – like the accounts, the sales and admin, and the marketing departments. Divisional structure – this kind of structure is followed by companies with huge geographical area coverage. Each part of the area has a smaller division within the same umbrella group. Matrix structure – this is a combination of both the divisional and functional structures, and operates upon theories imported from these two structures. But, this structure is associated with ego clashes among the top positions, and power clashes. The different kinds of organizational cultures are as follows: Power culture: organizations following this kind of culture may be able to respond to crisis very quickly, but the problem is that the system is very centralized. This kind of culture relies heavily upon people rather than committees (Harris, 1994). Role culture – position is main criteria in the role culture. The organization is controlled by senior management at the top of the pyramid, and the system is also highly formalized. Task culture – this type of culture is practiced more often by organizations with a matrix structure. Main emphasis in this structure is given to completion of tasks. It strongly believes in the unified power of a team (Harris, 1994). 1.2. The relationship between an organization’s structure and culture There is a very strong relation between organizational structure and its culture, as only the perfect match of the two factors will lead to a good working environment in office. At TESCOS, as a store manger, it is  definitely a priority to look at the kind of attitude and behavior the employees are having, and how clean and suitable the culture is. If the structure of a company id hierarchical, with all the decisions being made at the top, the employees will have no or less freedom, and there will lack of autonomy at the lower level of the pyramid. On the other hand, if the power is divided between all the sections, the company culture will be lot more friendly, with the employees at all levels enjoying equal freedom (Parker, 2000). 1.3. Overview of four factors that can influence individual behavior at the Irish TESCOS Environment – more emphasis put on building a friendly and mutual environment in the workspace will ensure that team work and productivity of the company increases. Technology – the better the prevailing technology at the core of the company, the lesser the employees will have to work, and hence, better streamlined workflow and productivity can be ensured. Locus of control – employees who have an external locus of control will constantly criticize people, find faults, and also depend on others for their success. On the other hand, people with internal locus of control think that their own destiny is in their own hands. Customer Demand – though and external factor, but it is to be noted, that the more the demand, the more the sales, and greater the growth of the company (Parker, 2000). Task-2 2. Understand the Relationship between Organizational Culture and Structure 2.1. Compare three different leadership styles for three different business  organizations Leaders are different, and so are their leadership styles. Leaders are meant to motivate their team, and hence, leadership styles sculpt the outlook of the staffs. Here are the various leadership styles: Laissez Faire – in this kid of leadership style, the leaders allow a certain level of freedom is given to the staff, and trained directors are appointed to coordinate efficiently between the high level managers and the working staff (Antonakis et al, 2004). Autocratic style – under this style of leadership, the leaders keep an eye on the employees at all time, and face time is increased. There are a lot of arguments over this style of leadership, as there exists no or little freedom for the employees, and they sometimes find it extremely uncomfortable to work under these situations. But when practiced in a controlled manner, this style can be effective, especially under tight deadlines (Antonakis et al, 2004). Participative – This is a good balanced style, and a mix of both the autocratic and Laissez Faire styles. This gives a little bit of freedom to the employees, while the managers are still around supervising at all times. 2.2. How organizational theory underpins the practice of management for the Irish TESCOS In the Irish TESCOS scenario, organizational theory has a vital role to play. The authenticity and practicality of organizational theory has been questioned by many modern scholars, but the fact remains that these theories underpin and supports the stability of an organization. These theories, apart from helping the managers to find out the prevailing problems in the company, also help them to find the right method to deal with the problem, and ultimately solve it. There are a lot of these theories – they have been created in different  periods, with different economic and socio economic conditions – and the real art for managers’ lies in finding the best method out of these, and applying them in the present context. Some of these theories may seem to be obsolete these days in the age of ever changing technology, but it is to be understood that they form the base and foundation of companies across the world. 2.3. Evaluate four different approaches to management used by different organizations. The four different managerial approaches are as follows: Participative- Under this approach, the managers discusses and collaborates with his team managers about the decision making process. [pic] Bureaucratic- Bureaucratic is opposite to participative process, where the manager forces the team members to follow strict rules, and to obey a chain of commands (Tittemore, 2003). Autocratic – An autocratic manager is almost a ‘dictator’ who supervises his people at all steps and ensures job is done at the right time. Hands off approach- This is the friendliest approach of all, where the manager gives complete freedom to his men in all respects (Sapru, 2008). Task-3 3. Understand ways of using motivational theories in organizations 3.1. How different leadership styles impact employee motivation in periods of change Periods of change are often the periods when crisis happens. Hence, good leadership techniques are to be adopted by the leaders to protect the company from sudden jerks. Here are the most commonly practiced leadership  styles: Autocratic – managers following this style will never allow the team members to contribute towards the decision making process, and will try to establish huge confidence towards their own decisions. Democratic – totally opposite to autocratic style of leadership, when special attention is paid to what the team members think. The point of views of the employees is hence at least heard before making the final decision. Quiet – in this process of decision making highly trained employees are recruited by the manger, and then leaves day to day decision making to them, as he remains ‘quiet’. Transformational – as the name suggests, the manager practicing this method tries to encourage and motivate his team about the bright future of the company, and hence tries to extract more productive work from them (Robbins and Judge, 2008). 3.2. Identify the application of three different motivational theories within the workplace. Listed below are three different motivational theories: Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs – Maslow states that human needs can be graphically represented as a pyramid, and they move from the bottom to the top; as the needs at the bottom are satisfied, man focuses on the next need at the top. These needs range from love needs, social needs, to self actualization (Maccoby, 1998). Carrot Stick – this theory was coined by Bentham, and explains that human is motivated by either of the two forces – fear or incentives. Either he will work to fulfill his money, security and other material needs, or he will work due to pressure and fear. The motivation – hygiene theory – this theory was introduced by Herzberg in 1959, and stresses on the fact that employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction is caused by some ‘hygiene factors’ (Maccoby, 1998). 3.3. The usefulness of a motivation theory for managers at the TESCOS in Ireland. Companies like the TESCOS do rely on their employees for not only production, but also for proper distribution and even product quality control. But to get exceptional performances from them it is required for the managers to provide proper motivational incentives. Motivational theories can help the TESCOS managers to properly motivate their employees and provide them proper job roles for increased productivity. Organizational Management – organizations use motivational theories to promote favorable working conditions at the organizational and departmental levels. Rewards – The reward system takes a lot from the expectancy theory, and helps motivating the employees to work even harder, as they see their work being appreciated. Perception of the employees in the equity theory, it ca be learnt that employees perceive the rewards given to them in exchange of the work that they need to do. When the perception and actual incentive matches, the employee gets motivated to perform better in the future (Robbins and Judge, 2008). Productivity – a lot of company incorporate goal setting as a fine tool to increase the productivity level of the employees. Task-4 4. Understand mechanisms for developing effective teamwork in organizations 4.1. Explain the nature of groups and group behavior within organizations. A group may be defined as a collection of individuals who have similar aims and are set to achieve the same goal. Groups are mainly of two types: Formal Groups – these groups are designed by companies, and each group is assigned different and specific tasks. Informal groups – these are groups formed by individuals themselves. Hence, they are not properly arranged, and not at all structured (Butler 1986). Groups are formed over a series of steps. They are: Forming – the initial stage of group formation. In this stage, the resources and other details required to form the group are procured. Storming – much like ‘brain storming’, in this stage, the individuals in each group challenge and try to find answers. Conflicts are common in this stage. Norming – in this stage, all conflicts are resolved, as the answers to the questions asked by the members are found. Performing – in this stage, coordination, and team work starts taking place between the different team members, and they start becoming a single unit. 4.2. Factors that may promote the development of effective teamwork in organizations The factors that can improve teamwork are: Good leadership – A good leader ca motivate his men in performing better and reaching greater heights. Hence, leadership is a factor that should never be underestimated. Leaders are adept in different theories and motivational methods, and the best leaders are those who can take spontaneous decisions (Parker, 2000).. Diversity – good teamwork develops as and when the members embrace diversity in terms of age, sex, religion and culture. Communication – if communication is strong among all the team members, everyone will be on the same page, and will also be equally informed. Great communication is the key to effective team building. Team Building Exercises – proper training is to provided for effective team building; and the training is to provided with the help of professionals who can indulge the team in proper drills and exercises. 4.3. Impact of technology on team functioning within TESCOS in Ireland. In the modern era, no organization can work without upgrading to the latest technological trends. Technology not only makes sure that the employees have to work less, but also ensures that the results are always accurate, and there is no repetition of jobs. While emails can help the employees to communicate with themselves and the third parties, devises like the Blackberry and Smart phones enable them to properly communicate. Teleconferencing allows the team to communicate over distances effectively without being physically present there. And of course, computers are, the more advanced, the better. Not only TISCOS, but every company these days understand of the important role that technology plays, and hence have started to upgrade to the latest technological updates. References Antonakis, J., Cianciolo, A. T. and Sternberg, R. J., 2004. The Nature of Leadership. New York: Sage Publications, Inc. Butler Jr., J.K., 1986. A global view of informal organization. Academy of Management Journal, 51, 3, 39-43. Harris, S. G., 1994. Organizational Culture and Individual Sensemaking: A Schema-Based Perspective. Organization Science, Vol. 5,(3): pp. 309–321. Maccoby, M., 1998. Why Work: Motivating and Leading the New Generation. New York: Simon Schuster. Parker, M., 2000. Organizational Culture and Identity. London: Sage. Robbins, S. and Judge, T., 2008. Essentials of Organizational Behavior. 9thEd, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Sapru, R.K., 2008. Administrative Theories and Management Thought. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, p 276 Tittemore, J. A., 2003. Leadership at all Levels. Canada: Boskwa Publishing.

General Characteristics Of Construction Project Manager Construction Essay

General Characteristics Of Construction Project Manager Construction Essay This report comprehensively discusses about involvement of a Construction Project Manager; describing how to manage a proposed housing Development Complex project through proper construction management techniques. This proposed high rise building complex comprised with twenty storied; luxury housing apartments and six basements to accommodate as car parking area, Multipurpose room, Swimming Pool, Supermarket and required utility services such as storage water tank from main supply, water distribution system and Sewerage System. This Housing Development project will be constructed at Colombo-07 adjoining Park Road. Project investor is a wealthy Sri-Lankan Businessman. Presently, I am appointed in this project as a Construction Project Manger. Clients has emphasized me his objectives, to obtain a maximum turnover of the project, implementing Proper Construction Management System. My responsibility is doing so; to archive the project goals in terms of time, Quality, Cost, Safety and Environmental Sustainability as I have conveyed all the way through this report. I have identified significant project management key measures, to use through overall project, such as construction planning and choice of construction technology and Construction methods influence the selected planning, as well as programming and control methods, schedules and progress control using relative software packages available, and also identified key risk elements in this construction project. MAIN BODY Definition about construction project manager The construction project manager is a responsible person to handle overall construction of projects from start to finish. And his duty will be act as the representative of the employer as well as additional consultation to the overall project for the successful initiation, planning, execution and closure of a project. General characteristics of Construction Project Manager Construction project managers engage with particular management activities for mange construction projects in proper way, hence they have the specialize knowledge for project planning, directing, coordinating and budgeting process. As examples for construction project; Commercial building, Industrial building, Roads bridges, Water treatment plants, Schools hospitals, also particular civil engineering works etc. Further common features can be described as; Supervise and coordinate entire project activities or some part of the project until end of the project. Programming; Scheduling and coordinate all design and construction process. When required specialize trade contractors, select and hire them according to the requirements of the project. Project designs, specifications, contact documents and agreement, Construction Project Manger should supervise them very clearly. Always keep well coordination with project owner, architect, engineers, and with other stakeholders directly who are involved in project. Educational Background Generally they are degree holders or relevant reputed qualifications in field of civil engineering, construction management or construction science, also with adequate experience, some of them are appointed obtaining from supervisor level with particular experiences and they have improved their knowledge studying some specific associates degree program such as, project control and development, site planning, design, construction methods/ construction materials, value analysis etc. Most of universities offer master degree programs for upgrade their knowledge as well. As other qualifications, ability of flexible and clear decision for mange and resolve problems, also good understand about engineering drawings and very familiar to operate computer softwares, as well as talent, good communication skill, leadership skill, good relationship with relevant parties, Construction Project Manager Responsibilities: Significant responsibilities and duties are; Observe construction land and study feasibility studies to get understand what type of land required for the project. Prepare master program to the overall project and agree with the employer. Execute a key role in project planning, budgeting, and identification of resources required. Form the teams, developing the objectives, goals of each and allocate individual responsibilities. Managing budget, team expenses and minimizing exposure and risk in the project Manage/ monitor the construction activities progress according to schedule. Keep well communicate with the contractors and Co-ordinate with all parties which involved in the project Financial advice to the employer and cost control. Monitor strictly budgetary guidelines, quality and safety standards. Periodic inspection of construction sites. Manage the progress meeting and kick off meeting as required Obtaining all necessary permits and licenses Preparations for handover process in respect of agreed master program. There are some specific qualitative attributes in project management roles such as capability to plan and organize a team effort, well client management and kindness building ability, ability to motivate, guide and increase morale of the teams, successful time management and logical decision-making skill, ability to handle work force, physical and mental fitness, physically powerful focus on quality. Specific Duties of a Construction Manager As specific duties, CPMs handle multitude tasks, determining and review that what are the necessary to give prior for finish at the beginning. In a large scale project, generally divide several activities segments such as site preparation, including clearing and excavation of the land, installing sewage systems, and landscaping and road construction; building construction, including laying foundations and erecting the structural framework, floors, walls, and roofs; and building systems, including protecting against fire and installing electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, and heating systems. Construction managers may be in charge of one or several of these activities. Construction managers must also inspect and review the construction project on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with safety code and building code regulations. What is a Construction Project? A Construction project is a temporary endeavor to create an inimitable product or service. Construction Projects generally include constraints and risks concerning cost, schedule or performance outcome. Every project has a start and an end. The end of a project is defined by the successful complete of the product or service. There are specific traits that all projects have in common. The most distinguishing feature is a specific time frame. Projects must have a clear, definitive objective and activities tasks. Those are planning, organizing, Control and closure tasks and the resources and execution that is the focus of project management. Key Characteristics of Projects: Unique solution. Project boundaries. One-time effort, usually requiring specified resources. Specified start and end dates. Understand of reached the end of the project. What is the Construction Project Management Process? According to the PM4DEV Project Management for Development Organizations, noted in it, Project management is a process of leading a team of capable people in planning and implementing a series of related activities that need to be accomplished on a specific date with a limited budget. Because of its nature, coordinating all these activities requires a process approach. This management process specially consists of some specific functions such as, Project initiation, Planning, organizing, controlling and managing resources to complete a construction project successfully within on time, cost and quality. The construction project management process need the direct individual, the project manager, to oversee the construction schedule, the allocation of personnel and equipment and the projects budget. General functions of construction project management usually include the following Project objectives and plans; (including definition of scope, scheduling, budgeting, setting performance requirements) Maximizing resource efficiency through procurement of labor, materials and equipment. Implementing various operations through proper coordination and control of planning, design, estimating, contracting and construction in the entire process. Developing effective communications and mechanisms for resolving conflicts The Project manger is the overall responsible person to direct the construction project management process. Also Project manager is the specific professional in the field of project management. Hence project manager has the ultimate responsibility such as, planning, execution and successful completion of the project. A significant component of the construction project management process is maintenance the project on schedule and within the estimated budget as well, to achieve these goals, Further concerning Project management process can be described as follows; Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, and quality and participation satisfaction. (Refer to Figure 2-1) Figure 2-1:Â   Basic Ingredients in Project Management Specific Benefits of Construction Project Management Process There are few specific benefits of Construction Project Management process, these benefits are very essential for the project success. Preferable efficiency in delivering services Improved/increased/enhanced customer satisfaction Enhanced effectiveness in delivering services Improved growth and development within your team Greater standing and competitive edge Opportunities to expand your services Better Flexibility Increased risk assessment Increase in Quality Increase in Quantity When execute the essential project management strategies, Construction Project Manager Intention will focus to reach the desired goals within specific time and cost, Quality. The Top 10 Benefits of Project Management Essential Factors of Project Management Process Generally Construction projects have specific factors for contribute of project success or project fail. Each factors directly effect with other factors in order for a project to be successful. Those are as follows; Project Team and Team Motivation Project Manager Project Planning Avoiding Scope Creep: Risk Management: Project Closure: Read more: Factors for Project Success | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7495173_factors-project-success.html#ixzz26WXLGm8N Eight Key Factors to Ensuring Project Success Author: Duncan Haughey, Version 1.0, project smart.com .UK http://www.pmhut.com/project-management-role-and-responsibilities Project Management Roles and Responsibilities Particularly strong project management skills are very essential to deliver the project successful of project goal. Hence project management process has combined a set of skills and techniques committed under following tasks. Integrate planning and conduct modify control Define and manage the scope of the project Prepare a budget and manage costs Prepare and track schedules Ensure that the right resources are allocated to the project Manage contracts and vendors and procure project resources Facilitate team and external communications Facilitate the risk management process Also document and monitor the teams quality management process makes the final decision on the issue by transitioning into the role of decision leader to enable the project to continue. Hence above roles and responsibilities should be covered within the project management process as well. Project Management Process According to the PM4DEV, Project Management for Development Organizations, as noted in it, There are nine significant management processes under Construction Project Management to be implemented within role of the project manager. The nine project management processes are: Scope Management Schedule Management Budget Management Quality Management Team Management Stakeholder Management Information Management Risk management Contract Management Above management process have divided into two groups: Enabling processes Facilitating processes This management process phases are interrelated with entire project life cycle. Below given graphic chat will shows management process interrelationship with project lifecycle. Enabling Process Project Life Cycle Facilitating processes Figure 4.1 Project Management Processes and Phases Enabling Processes In the construction management process enabling process include with project scope, schedule, budget and quality. Hence these are should enable to direct some specific objectives of the project and for project success within on time, cost, quality. Scope Management In Construction project management process; Scope management is very critical for project success. Also project scope is the way to illustrate the boundaries of the project. Hence project manager should awareness concerning the scope of the project. Therefore project manager be able to co-ordinate with designers to get update and control the project scope and also acknowledge of project team, as well as the contractors about scope of the work accordingly and should monitor and control work executions too. Further about scope management by below given graphic chart will explain briefly; Schedule Management Schedule management is the development of a project schedule that includes all project activities, hence project manager has to stick on starting and completion dates of each trade packages as programmed, and management team also has to monitor progress of construction and forecast the completion date accordingly. If completion date is not matching the master program, control process is required. As example; assumed some work element unable to complete as programmed due to less progressing or late in starting. If so, it will affect to other work sections too and will delay accordingly. Therefore project manager should advice to allocate additional resources to accelerate the delayed work section to complete it as pre programmed. Budget Management Budget management process is required to ensure the project is completed within the estimated budget. Hence this is the vital responsibility of the Construction Project Manager to handle and complete the project within allocated budget of the project. As well as monitor and control the cost of project at both pre post contract stages are also important part of this management process. Cost Controlling Cost controlling system is critical process of the cost management process, to run the project without commercial backlog. (Refer to Chat 1.02) Chart 1.02 Cost controlling and cost management system Pre contract cost management Generally preliminary budget estimate is prepared based on the clients intended budget and also concerning separate trade packages. As well as Cost plan (elemental analysis), Cost check, Tender reconciliation process also important activities for the cost controlling under pre contract stage. Post contract cost management BCIS slandered form is followed (Elemental Standard Form of Cost Analysis Principles, Instructions, Elements and Definitions 4th Edition) to prepare elementary cost analysis method and gaudiness. Further detail herein for cost control, using S- curve methods; (Refer to Chart 1.03) Chart 1.03 Cost control S-Curve (Programmed) Referring to the above diagram; it shows expenditure and income occurred. This is being monitored regularly, to avoid the cost overrun. . Quality Management Quality management is the process to ensure that the project will satisfy the needs of the beneficiaries. Hence project manager has to monitor and control the quality of work and devlpolp the quality paln. also he has to allocate experienced project coordinator to advice force the contractor to maintain the quality of work. Each work element should be approved by a qualified quality controller or an Engineer prior to handover. Also he has to check the quality of materials and should be strict to the contractor to use standard materials for construction as specified in drawings and specification to maintain the quality of work. Hence all materials should be approved by a quality controlling team prior to use for construction. Some of the most important quality tools are; Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, Fishbone Diagram, Pareto Chart, Scatter Diagram, Decision Matrix, Flowchart, Stratification, Control Chart, Histogram, Brainstorming, Tree Diagram etc. http://theconstructor.org/constrution/project-quality-management-in-construction/292/ Facilitating processes This process includes with some specific function such as, Team, stakeholder, information, risk, and contract management, these are facilitating for assist and make possible for the project to achieve its objectives. Team Management Team management is a techniques, processes and tools for organizing and coordinating a group of individuals working towards a common goal, there are few critical factors for success of the team management process, identify the roles responsibilities, reporting relationships and getting the people that will be allocate to the project, develop the team. As well as team evaluation is very important part to identify the staff performance and their skill level and required improvement. Stakeholder Management Stakeholder management include stakeholder identify, analysis, planning and communication. Project stakeholders are very important people for the project success, hence project manager has to mange them in proper way, because of all of them interest to the project success. As example donors, beneficiaries, local government organizations, partners or organizations are the stakeholders of construction project. As well as managing them keeping good relationship between stakeholders and project. Information Management Risk Management Identification of possible risks in advance is important and major responsibility of the Construction manager. The project management team will be able to take necessary actions to avoid or minimize the risks by identifying them early. Safety of work, Economic matters, Weather conditions, political matters etc also includes in risk management. Hence it is important to take insurances for the construction, material on site, employees; third party etc. Contract Management Safety of Work Safety of work is very important at the site to avoid delays in construction. Hence all employees should educate about safety matters and should provide safety equipments, safety wears etc to employees. Required safety instructions should be display on public notice boards. Fire fighting equipments such as fire extinguishers, water, sand, hose real etc should install at site and well trained fire preventing team also should be there. First AID boxes, clinics, Ambulance etc also should available at the site. Problem Solving Identify problems arise from trade contractors is essential to take necessary actions as required to avoid unnecessary delays. As example; Suspended ceiling contractor has to coordinate with MEP contractors to identify his requirements such as voids at ceiling to fix diffusers at the ceiling. Also design problems, practical problems should solve immediately as soon as those arise by using communicating, coordinating and negotiating techniques with related parties Closing and Handover the Project Final inspection should carry out by the Construction Project Manager after completion of constructions of the project. He must re-check all approval for quality of work, testing and commissioning reports, scope verification etc. Then the project is ready to hand over to the client. All related claims, cost proposals and Final payment application etc should be finalized on time.

The Character of Torvald Helmer and Nils Krogstad in A Dolls House Ess

Torvald Helmer is the least likeable character in A Doll's House, a play by Henrik Ibsen. Torvald is sometimes portrayed as a sexist pig. Such a reading does an injustice to Torvald. There is more depth to his character if one follows the hints that he had actively covered up for Nora's father. The first hint came when Nora told Kristina that Torvald had given up his government post because there was no prospect of advancement. It may be that there was no opportunity for getting ahead because promotion was slow in the bureau, but it may have been because his most intimate co-workers (those who would have used the familiar Du with him) were aware of what he had done. While the management did not prosecute him (just as Krogstad was not prosecuted), those acquainted with the incident could prevent his advancement into an office where his larcenous tendencies could do real harm. A second hint is that Helmer saw Krogstad as a threat to his new post in the savings bank: "he seems to think he has a right to be familiar with me." Did he suspect that Krogstad knew the one awful secret that could destroy him? The third hint follows that trail: Krogstad expected that Nora had sufficient influence to persuade her husband not to dismiss him. Why did he believe this unless he had some su spicion of her past influence? A further hint comes when Helmer remarks: "I pretend we're secretly in love--engaged in secret--and that no one dreams that there's anything between us." Why does he want that? Is this not a reference to the conflict of interest regarding her father? Lastly, after reading Krogstad's letter, almost immediately Nora's father comes to mind; he exclaims, "So this is what I get for condoning his fault! I did it for your sake, and t... ...e Artist. Coral Gables, Florida: University of Miami. Koht, Halvdan. 1971. Life of Ibsen. New York: Benjamin Blom. Meyer, Michael. 1971. Ibsen. A Biography. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Company. Northam, John. 1965. "Ibsen's Search for the Hero." Ibsen. A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Â   Notes: 1. Clurman (1977:115, 117). Brandes (1964:77-78): "The man is thoroughly honourable, scrupulously upright, thrifty, careful of his position in the eyes of strangers and inferiors, a faithful husband, a strict and loving father, kind-hearted. . . ." 2. Brandes (1964:49) says that Ibsen views Helmer as a stupid and evil man, whose "stupidity arises solely from his self-righteous egoism." 3. Clurman (1977:115-116) presents the traditional interpretation of Krogstad: "a soft man driven to hardness."

Comparing Frankenstein, Origin of the Species and Decent of Man Essay

Comparing Frankenstein, Origin of the Species and Decent of Man  Ã‚   I will demonstrate in this paper how Mary Shelley's Frankenstein confirms, and at the same time contradicts Darwin's ideas presented in "The Origin of the Species" and "The Decent of Man." Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is at once, confirming, and contradictory of Charles Darwin's scientific discoveries and views on science, nature and the relation of the individual to society. Mary Shelley confirms Darwin's ideas through Frankenstein, when Dr. Frankenstein and Darwin both reject God as the creator of human life. Although this is a major theme in both works, it is the only similar idea shared between both Darwin and Frankenstein. Darwin's understanding of nature is comparable to that of Mary Shelley; although how the individual relates to society is gravely different between the two works. One of Darwin's admiring disciples, Andrew Carnegie, the author of "The Gospel of Wealth," shows us how contradictory these ideas are in relation to each other. His ideas of inheritance and the conduct of man are in disagreement with the actions of Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein. Throughout Darwin's works the idea of the rejection of God as creator of man prevails. He alludes to prehistoric marine Ascidian larvae, as the predecessors to the later evolved human beings we are today. This would give credit for the creation of man to the process of evolution, not to the handiwork of a Supreme Being. "Species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, from other species"(Appleman, 36). Darwin is showing here what conclusions he came upon about the "Origin of the Species", in which he used science to prove his theories. He is replacing God with ideas... ...heir works, giving the power of creation to evolution and mankind. They also both present similar views on nature, seeing it as a tool for scientific exploration and not as a wonder of beauty as it is often seen today. Using the work of Andrew Carnegie to show Darwinian ideas about the individual in society, we can see that these ideas strongly contradict those which Shelley presents in Frankenstein. Overall I believe that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein exemplifies many ideas expressed in the works of Darwin, enough that they can be considered enriching of each other in terms of comparison. Works Cited: Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. New York: Gramercy Books, 1979. Darwin, Charles. The Descent Of Man. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1998. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. D.L. Macdonald and Kathleen Scherf. Orchard Park, NY: Broadview Press, 1999.

EFAS Marketing

Now Tetley has also been introduced in the market. So Tapal is competing with all of these and also â€Å"Khulli Chai† as well. Talking about Lipton and Brooke Bond they are brands of Unilever which is known to be a giant in the FMCG industry. It seemed impossible that any local brand would even survive when competing with them but Tapal proved them wrong through smart advertising and high quality product it has already given Brooke Bond a run for its money and now facing Lipton. The rivalry can be observed when we look at the ad spend of these companies.All of them advertise heavily to gain a competitive advantage over the other. Threat of new entrants is high. This is evident by the immense growth in the industry nd government policies are also encouraging new Tea houses to emerge on the scene. The taxes on import of tea are reduced thereby decreasing the cost of production. It can be taken as positive sign by a prospect player. Initially it was thought that no company would survive against the giants of Unilever but since Tapal people have started thinking that local brands can do well and new players might decide to come into this market.In this case tea will always remain an integral part of our culture. Having said that there is a low switching cost associated with the trade off of substitutes. In case of tea substitute is coffee and even cold drinks in some case. It can easily be assumed that the demand for tea is nothing but increasing. Currently majority of the consumers have not developed the taste for coffee so it cannot be seen as a potential threat. Change in patterns can be observed because consumers are shifting from normal tea to green tea but again the same.broad category ot uct remains The bargaining power of buyers is low because of the high demand. Although due to increased competition prices remain competitive but buyers have little or no argaining power. In case of tea an element of brand loyalty is also associated so a consumer wou ld want to use a same brand which gives in his bargaining power. Also with tea people prefer quality over its price. Bargaining Power of supplier is high because there are few suppliers of tea.The reason why there are few is because there is a specific taste of tea that consumers like so the manufacturers are forced to choose from few options. In Pakistan tea is imported majorly from Kenya and Srilanka so the supplier is at power to influence he price due to the limited availability of the raw tea. In Pakistan recent plantation of tea farms may favor the local manufacturers and foreign suppliers may find a reduction in their bargaining power. Answer no 3 POLITICAL FACTORS: These factors and government interventions can make or break the industry.The political factors have played a very benign role for the tea industy. The political arena has a huge influence upon the regulations of the businesses, and spending power of consumers and other businesses. The political environment of Pak istan is relatively unstable in the current situation. The investors are not willing to invest in Pakistan. However, WTO and trade policies encourage the import of raw materials for Tea industry. Tea Import Quota It is an important consideration.Each year there is a certain quota on tea import in total imports of Pakistan. Each player is given quota to import and manufacture so one can say that it is a very regulated industry. Diplomatic Relations The relations with the tea producing nations and Pakistan play a vital role as large part of imports comes from Kenya, but now Pakistan is also importing tea from India. Unstable Geographic Conditions Pakistan is situated at a very critical and geographically strategic location. Due to the uncertainty new investors are not ready to invest in Pakistan.Social Factors The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. People are socializing more may it be events or casual visits to friends and family. Tea has always been an integral part of Pakistani culture and rituals. It is understood that tea would be present at all events. Changing Trends As work environment is becoming more stressful, people require different forms of efreshment and intakes to increase their energy levels.This further increase the intake of tea at workplaces, tea is not only Just available to the employees when needed but is also served twice a day in order to keep them going. On the other hand, media expansion, growth of advertising as a separate industry has resulted in greater exposure of all the brands and masses. Hence social factors and changing mindsets have positively affected this industry Tea has always been acceptable in all social classes because of its usage. Green tea has recently gained a lot of popularity due to health reasons and is largely onsumed. EFAS Marketing QUESTIONS: 1. Evaluate the Dominant Economic Traits of the Tea Industry in Pakistan. 2. Apply the Five Forces Model of Competition to analyze the overall attractiveness of the Tea Industry in Pakistan. 3. What are the Drivers of Change in the Tea Industry of Pakistan? How are these Drivers likely to affect the Industry in the future? 4. Create an EFAS for Tapal.ANSWER NO 1Introduction:In Pakistan, tea is popular all over the country and holds an integral significance in local culture. It is one of the most consumed beverages in Pakistani cuisine The demand for tea in Pakistan is very high. While Pakistan does not produce tea, it is a major tea-consuming country, being ranked as the third largest importer of tea in the world.[1] In 2003, as much as 109,000 tonnes of tea were consumed in Pakistan, placing it as the seventh largest tea-consuming country in the world.MARKET SUMMARYTea is the cheapest and most popular beverage that is served at both professional and social gatherings all over the world. In Pakistan it is counted as a staple food item of common man and is an integral part of our culture and heritage. Due to these causes Pakistan consumes an substantial quantity of tea. Tea is Pakistan's favorite hot beverage.Although efforts have been made to cultivate tea in the mountainous areas, the projects could not achieve the desired results. At present there are two kinds of tea available in the market: branded and unbranded (loose) tea, the ratio is (55:45) respectively. Therefore, the importers are also of two types, though both import tea from the same countries. Bulk importers sell tea to retailers in loose form, while the second category of bulk importers sell packaged tea under brand names. MARKET SHARE PICTUREUnilever enjoys leadership with approximately 54% of Pakistan's tea market.  Tapal stands out as the major competitor for Unilever with 28% share. Tetley tea, a joint venture b/w Lakson Group and Tata tea of India, was introduced early this year and it has approximately 4% share, which is continuously decreasing. Other players in industry are Kohinoor Tea Company, Vital Tea Company and Alpha Tea Company. Unorganized market also captures a good market share in the total tea market of Pakistan. 70000 tons out of 150000 consumption is of unorganized tea.71% of total population of Pakistan are living in rural areas.Due to illiteracy and lack of awareness they are consuming unorganized tea which is mainly affecting the organized tea market. Due to this they are enjoying a very big market share of the total tea market. Organized segment mainly depend on the imported tea. Mainly big players are importing tea from different countries like Kenya, uk, Bangladesh. Last some year’s imported figures for Pakistan is described in the chart below. Unorganized tea is mainly smuggled from different neighbor countries of Pakistan. That’s why it has a large proportion in total consumption of tea in Pakistan which is 70000 tons o f total 150000 tonsMARKET GROWTHIndustry is now on the maturity stage. Large players has established their brands in the market and enjoyed huge profit margins. Now every company looking towards product differentiation and multi segmentation because consumers are now more taste conscious and looking for variety available to them in a tea market.Answer no 2RIVALRY The intensity of competition in the tea industry is fairly high. There are few established names like Lipton and Brooke Bond in the market. Now Tetley has also been introduced in the market. So Tapal is competing with all of these and also â€Å"Khulli Chai† as well. Talking about Lipton and Brooke Bond they are brands of Unilever which is known to be a giant in the FMCG industry. It seemed impossible that any local brand would even survive when competing with them but Tapal proved them wrong through smart advertising and high quality product it has already given Brooke Bond a run for its money and now facing Lipton. The rivalry can be observed when we look at the ad spend of these companies. All of them advertise heavily to gain a competitive advantage over the other.THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTSThreat of new entrants is high. This is evident by the immense growth in the industry and government policies are also encouraging new Tea houses to emerge on the scene. The taxes on import of tea are reduced thereby decreasing the cost of production. It can be taken as positive sign by a prospect player. Initially it was thought that no company would survive against the giants of Unilever but since Tapal people have started thinking that local brands can do well and new players might decide to come into this market.THREAT OF SUBSTITUTESIn this case tea will always remain an integral part of our culture. Having said that there is a low switching cost associated with the trade off of substitutes. In case of tea substitute is coffee and even cold drinks in some case. It can easily be assumed that the demand for tea is nothing but increasing. Currently majority of the consumers have not developed the taste for coffee so it cannot be seen as a potential threat. Change in patterns can be observed because consumers are shifting from normal tea to green tea but again the broad category of the product remains the same.BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERSThe bargaining power of buyers is low because of the high demand. Although due to increased competition prices remain competitive but buyers have little or no bargaining power. In case of tea an element of brand loyalty is also associated so a consumer would want to use a same brand which gives in his bargaining power. Also with tea people prefer quality over its price.BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERSBargaining Power of supplier is high because there are few suppliers of tea. The reason why there are few is because there is a specific taste of tea that consumers like so the manufacturers are forced to choose from few options. In Pakistan tea is imported majo rly from Kenya and Srilanka so the supplier is at power to influence the price due to the limited availability of the raw tea. In Pakistan recent plantation of tea farms may favor the local manufacturers and foreign suppliers may find a reduction in their bargaining power.Answer no 3 POLITICAL FACTORS:These factors and government interventions can make or break the industry. The political factors have played a very benign role for the tea industy. The political arena has a huge influence upon the regulations of the businesses, and spending power of consumers and other businesses. The political environment of Pakistan is relatively unstable in the current situation. The investors are not willing to invest in Pakistan. However, WTO and trade policies encourage the import of raw materials for Tea industry.Tea Import QuotaIt is an important consideration. Each year there is a certain quota on tea import in total imports of Pakistan. Each player is given quota to import and manufacture s o one can say that it is a very regulated industry.Diplomatic RelationsThe relations with the tea producing nations and Pakistan play a vital role as large part of imports comes from Kenya, but now Pakistan is also importing tea from India.Unstable Geographic ConditionsPakistan is situated at a very critical and geographically strategic location. Due to the uncertainty new investors are not ready to invest in Pakistan.Social FactorsThe social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. People are socializing more may it be events or casual visits to friends and family. Tea has always been an integral part of Pakistani culture and rituals. It is understood that tea would be present at all events.Changing TrendsAs work environment is becoming more stressful, people require different forms of refreshment and intakes to increase their energy levels. This further increase the intake of tea at workplaces, tea is not only just available to the employees when needed but is also served twice a day in order to keep them going. On the other hand, media expansion, growth of advertising as a separate industry has resulted in greater exposure of all the brands and masses. Hence social factors and changing mindsets have positively affected this industry.Tea has always been acceptable in all social classes because of its usage. Green tea has recently gained a lot of popularity due to health reasons and is largely consumed. Another factor is the emergence of ice tea which is indirectly competing with soft drinks.TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS:Technology is important to gain an edge over competitors and it drives globalization. Technology helps companies to reduce cost and achieve economies of scale. Technology also leads to the development of new products and sometimes even segments. Tea manufacturers like Unilever and Tapal already manufacture tea of the highest quality and they achieve it by the state of the art production facility that they have. Lipton has also installed its own plant of Danedar tea production.Answer No 4OpprtunitiesOnline market: The online market offers Tapal tea the ability to greatly expand their business. Tapal tea can market to a much wider audience for relatively little expense†¦ New services: New services help Tapal tea to better meet their customer’s needs. These services can expand Tapal tea’s business and diversify their customer base†¦ New product: New products can  help Tapal tea to expand their business and diversity their customer base†¦New market: New markets allow Tapal tea to expand their business and diversify their portfolio of products and services†¦Threats:Bad economy: A bad economy can hurt Tapal tea’s business by decreasing the number of potential customers†¦ Govt regulations: Changes to government rules and regulations can negatively affect Tapal tea†¦ Political risks: Politics can increase Tapal tea’s risk factors, because governments can quickly change business rules that negatively affect Tapal tea’s business Volatile cost: Volatile costs mean Tapal tea has to plan for scenarios where costs skyrocket. Cautious planning leads to development delays that can negatively affect Tapal tea.

How far can metrosexual men go?

Metrosexuals are well-educated, sensitive and straight urban dwellers keeping touch with his feminine side. They usually go for manicure and could even have their hair taken care of by stylists and not the barbers. These men love shopping and even wear jewelry. Their bathroom counters are full of male products that include moisturizers and some makeup. They work on their physiques at fitness clubs as opposed to gyms and this appearance gets them a lot of attention that delights them. Metrosexuals are mostly found in large cities especially media centers. There is however imitations and experimenting among men in other smaller cities.These men have a great concern for how they appear. Their lifestyle displays characteristics stereotypically linked to gay men. â€Å"Metrosexuality† traces its origin from an article by Mark Simpson in â€Å"The Independent† in 1994. He described a metrosexual man as one who has high income and lives or works in the city, where he can find the best shops. Metrosexual men are proving to be among the best markets for cosmetic products in the decade. In 1980s, these men were only found in fashion magazines, TV ads or gay bars. Later in the 1990s they were allover and even doing their shopping.The trend The term’s popularity rose after Simpson wrote another article â€Å"Meet the metrosexual. † Euro RCSG Worldwide, an advertising firm, immediately adopted this term for marketing studies. Some careers have been known to attract metrosexual men. They include music, media, table waiting and modeling. Popularity of this metrosexuality rose following increased integration of gays into society and a decline in taboos towards those deviating from masculinity notions. Shortly after, Canada, Belgium, some US states and Holland enacted legislation for gay marriages.Metrosexuality aroused a lot of curiosity when a marketing agency tried exploring the changing face of American men. According to this research titled, â⠂¬Å"The Future of Men: USA,† there is a new clique of men who reject traditional male roles and do as they please no matter what the society thinks about them. The media and male magazines such as Maxim and FHM have greatly influenced men to become metrosexuals. They have devoted a lot of their space to fashion. They encourage the men to dress fashionably. Homosexuals are also believed to have contributed towards metrosexuality.Despite metrosexuals being totally heterosexual, the homosexual movement helped in the society accepting an effeminate lifestyle and characteristics. Consequently, the society is now very comfortable with homosexuality. Displaying it on television is no longer a taboo since the heterosexual males are now comfortable with the homosexuality culture. Metrosexual men are more sensitive and effeminate than their fathers were. They are have shown willingness to push the restrictive gender boundaries defining what in masculine and what is feminine and still co nsider themselves â€Å"real men.† Metrosexual men are secure in their sexuality. Pedicures and facials do not make them less heterosexual or less masculine. Research has revealed that 43 per cent of men are not satisfied with their general appearance. Sixty-three per cent of them are particularly not happy with their abdomens. This leads to their seeking the services of cosmetic surgeons for minor aesthetic operations. Abdominal liposuction for wiping out love handles has become very popular. Lip augmentation surgeries and Botox injections have also become very popular among men.Opting for cosmetic surgery among men is usually a last resort in improving their personal appearance. They dress well, groom well and move to cosmetic surgery. These procedures include laser skin resurfacing, chin augmentation and eyelid surgery. Sometimes metrosexual men’s preoccupation with personal appearance can take to the extremes. It can interfere with schoolwork, career and relationsh ips. This is where a therapist’s advice should be sought to create a healthy and more sensible approach to personal appearance. All men, regardless of their sexual orientation, are developing a big interest in their personal appearance.They visit hairdressers instead of barbers. They also avoid the use of soap because they say it is harsh on the skins, go to the gyms instead of sports, and find it difficult to decide what to wear. They spend a lot of time on the mirror, in boutiques and bars instead of pubs. They also dance at night clubs and go to salons. Marketers have responded to this trend by dropping the macho element from all the products that target men. Tough male images have completely been done away with even on car and beer advertisements. Fashion chains for men are increasing.Some women’s stores like Esprit have launched products for men as well. Men’s magazines have their fashion coverage since more ads are coming in. Fashion and grooming adverts f or FHM, a men’s magazine, have been increasing for the past three years. Two decades, vanity, skin care and male fashion were identified with homosexuals. This has now been abandoned. Even the workplace has experienced changes for men. The growing number of white collar workers brings with it the need for good appearance. For effective competition in the work environment, one must take care of his body, cut his hair neatly and dress well.Even beer marketers are using a less masculine tone in communicating with men. They have also changed the how they buy their electronic goods, cars and home ware. In buying of electronic goods, for instance, men are no longer interested in the traditional male attributes such as gadgetry and technical features. Instead they follow what could be called female attributes such as the store’s environment, service and other intangible attributes. Vehicle advertisers are emphasizing more on the people driving and their feelings and not the v ehicle’s physical specifications (Trubo, 2008). Proponents’ viewTraditionally, men are supposed to avoid feminity, restrict their emotions, disconnect sex from intimacy, pursue achievement and status and be self reliant, aggressive and homophobic. However, statistics have shown that pursuing achievement and status has lost its importance compared to how it was in the past. Restricting emotions and disconnecting emotions from intimacy is no longer important to men either. Men do not find sexual freedom enthralling any more. The modern man shows less avoidance of femininity and embraces attitudes and customs that were stereotypically a reserve for women.Masculinity has had a considerable shift over the years. The modern concept of masculinity is very different from that of ancient times. Certain aspects of modern style and behavior perceived as feminine were actually masculine in the past. They include jewelry and makeup. Feminity came to conquer masculinity and the latt er became restricted (Simpson, 2002). Metrosexuality is seen as a counter-reaction against this change. Some men have a feeling that they are too restricted within their gender roles. It is a way of establishing more equality between men and women by shifting towards androgyny.Cultural and attitude changes towards masculinity have led to changes in the conservative masculine norms. This can often be seen in the media, especially TV shows Culture and the environment had to change for the metrosexual men to start appearing. According to Simpson, gays gave the initial prototype for metrosexuals. Media has played a major role in portraying metrosexuality as straight. It has bought them out as heterosexual men keeping touch with their feminine side. They coordinate colors, are deeply concerned about exfoliation and are manscaped.Consumer culture encouraged men to go shopping, buy magazines and spend freely to improve appearance. Consumer capitalism has helped in doing away with unmoistur ised, repressed and old-fashioned heterosexuality in favor of metrosexuality. The conservative, self-denying, straight and modest man did not do much shopping. He had a duty to earn money to be spent by his wife. He was substituted by a different kind, who has more interest in his image than his so called identity. This metrosexual man is more concerned at how he is being looked at.This man has been so much sought by the advertisers. Some people are of the view that metrosexuality is a phenomenon that just occurred naturally. Metrosexuality will very soon become our everyday vocabulary. Being metrosexual should not be treated as wrong. Those against metrosexuality use stereotypes to argue out their stand. Such stereotypes expect men to be insensitive, cold-hearted, thug-looking and grungy, which is not the reality. Ironically, many respected icons like Diddy, Usher and Kanye West are actually metrosexual but are role models to many.When we look at individuals who embrace metrosexual ity, we notice that they do not attach themselves to gender norms of the society. But clearly, metrosexuals are making an attempt to be different and find who they really are. This mindset is as old as mankind. Every society has a small group of people who look at what is normal for only a specific time before creating a different â€Å"normal† to express themselves. In most cases, this bears fruit in cinema, art and music. In the society, men and women expected to follow specific guidelines for their gender.Failure to following these rules qualifies one to be labeled as an outcast. Despite the society accepting metrosexuality in men, it is still hesitating in allowing heterosexuals to create a unique guideline to be followed. The opponents’ view By the society accepting and integrating homosexuality, many strange cultural customs have been created. On the other hand, metrosexuality has caused even greater havoc but silently. It has been argued that metrosexuals act ga y, causing social interaction problems since they are straight with identity issues. This eventually starts affecting even family lives.Divorce rates are on the increase since men cannot keep their word and women having to take up men’s jobs. Great leaders world over have encouraged strong family institutions. They argue that these are the foundations of strong civilization. But since families are breaking up, the society will also follow the same course. Opponents assert that metrosexuality has had a great impact on dating nowadays. Dating is today a complicated ritual more often than not ending up in heartbreaks rather than providing a learning experience for those involved. Worse still, many cannot find dates while others play around with other people’s hearts.Others engage in dangerous sexual behavior. It is argued that if women acted like women and men like men, the laws of attraction would take effect and make relationships interesting and healthy. Men must be de cisive, driven but understanding while women must be caring, delightful, free and loyal. This balance can never find a replication in any other way (Serio, 2006). It is common for men and women to go the same salons, wear the same jeans, watch sports together and share beer. They even watch the same movies. Opponents of metrosexuality argue that this phenomenon spells disaster.They refer to it as â€Å"unisexification. † These opponents have linked unisexification to the society’s downfall. They further claim that as men behave like wassies and women become more aggressive, a platform is created that causes family break-ups, gender role reversal and dysfunctional relationships. Kids end up growing in mental and emotional problems. This could lead to more drug abuse and violence. Earlier civilizations knew it. They depicted that the balance is vital for opposites. They argue that if all things were the same, life would be unbearable.Gender equality does not exist. Gende r roles exist and there is a whole lot of difference between the genders. This is in terms of their biological, mental and emotional attributes. These attributes are the foundation of a strong society. They balance and stabilize families, relationships, work, schools and homes (Serio, 2006). People should therefore be themselves. Men should act like they ought to and ladies should behave like ladies should (Serio, 2006). Conclusion The issue of metrosexuality is complex and controversial. There are two arguments about this issue.On is a strong proponent for metrosexuality while the other is opposed to it. One thing remains clear though. The society has changed tremendously over the ages and will continue changing. Some aspects of the society that were so important in ancient ages have now found themselves in oblivion in the modern world. This is because they could not work for today’s society. Traditionally, men and women have particular gender roles. It is evident that these roles have been changing with time to keep up with the world’s advancements. Also, men were stereotypically associated with certain attributes.These were meant to distinguish them from women. They included acting tough, cold-hearted and generally in control. Women were also assigned specific attributes that identified them as ladies. They included being soft, caring, loyal, and supportive and so on. In today’s society, these notions cannot apply in their entirety. This has given rise to the concept of metrosexuality. Metrosexual men are only trying to find themselves. As a matter of fact the future is metrosexual. Gone are the days when men and women alike were restricted to particular gender attributes.People should be allowed to be themselves, and metrosexuality is one such way. There is no doubt therefore that metrosexuality has a future. Reference Coad, D (2008) Gender, Sexuality and Sport Suny Press Flockner, (2004). Metrosexual. Emece Editores Serio, L. (2006):M etrosexuals and the downfall of society, retrieved from www. diserio. com, on November 20, 2008 Simpson, M. (2002). Meet the metrosexual, retrieved from http://www. salon. com, on June 22, 2002. The Age Company (2008)Rise of the Metrosexual, retrieved from www. theage. com, on November 20, 2008 Trubo, R. (2008)Metrosexuals: It’s a Guy Thing; Medicine Net .