Saturday, May 23, 2020

We Don t Have Any Job Openings - 1908 Words

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.†, I have considered this quote as one of most influencing quotes that I used in my life that was, and still, full of challenges from all kinds. Speaking of my career progression, I have been enjoying turning a challenge into an opportunity and making a success from fail. â€Å"Unfortunately, we don t have any job openings†, this was the response I have received when I asked one of the university professors inquiring about a vacancy for a part-time architectural drafter at his firm during the third year of my studies at the School of Architecture. Due to family†¦show more content†¦Although I was happy to secure that job, I faced the challenge of making the balance between my university studies, the work and supporting my family. I used to work and study for more than 12 hour s per day and sometimes I had to work during weekends to meet a deadline. This challenge has negatively affected my GPA, however, I was very proud that I supported my family while I was studying and working. That tough time helped me to develop a lot of skills; a hard worker, a fast learner, and well organized was appreciated by the top management in the firm in two ways; financially, I got promoted three times in two years in which my salary was higher than a graduated architect, and technically, where I was selected to be a member of the firm s team that included top managers and architects that were responsible for exploring new opportunities. After almost two years at Aly Azzam Architects firm, one day in mid-2001, the office manager asked me to come to his office and he said that this month will be my last month with the firm, I was shocked and I asked about the reason for laying me off, he answered â€Å"It is not a lay-off, it is a promotion†, then he explained â€Å"There is a new major project that requires our firm to work as joint venture with Omrania Architects firm that owned by Professor Magdy Mossa - the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at that time - and the Professor has selected you from more than 30 architectural designers and intern architects in our firm

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Problem Of Youth Homelessness - 2123 Words

Throughout the United States, there are a large number of individuals that goes unnoticed. Hidden in right plain sight, but are overlooked. They can be our friends, family, classmates, or the person standing right next you to at this moment. There are young individuals who are facing the tremendous challenge of being homeless. They are overlooked by many in society. However, there have been countless individuals, groups, organizations dedicated to ending youth homelessness. However, they are confronted with challenges due to the lack of interest. The lack of interest found within society can contribute to barriers to ending youth homelessness. What is Youth Homelessness? Youth homelessness can be define as young individuals, ranging from age 12 to around 25, who are without any support from their families, and are either living on the streets or at a shelter. There are often â€Å"referred to as â€Å"unaccompanied† youth.† (National Coalition for Homelessness (NCH), 2007). Unaccompanied youths can be categorized as runaway-homeless youths, throwaways, and independent youths. Runaway- homeless youths are youths that leave home without any parental permission. Youths that leave their homes because parents encourage them to leave are categorize as throwaways. The final classified as independent youths who leave home because of family conflicts or other issues. (Aratani, 2009). Since many youths goes unnoticed by society, statistics collected on the numbers of homeless youths areShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Youth Homelessness2124 Words   |  9 Pagesdedicated to ending youth homelessness. Though, they are confronted with challenges due to the lack of interest. The lack of interest found within society can contribute to barriers to ending youth homelessness. What is Youth Homelessness? Youth homelessness can be define as young individuals, ranging from age 12 to around 25, who are without any support from their families, and are either living on the streets or at a shelter. There are often â€Å"referred to as â€Å"unaccompanied† youth.† (National CoalitionRead MoreThe Problem Of Homelessness Among Youth898 Words   |  4 Pages There are several reasons youth may become homeless and why it’s increasing in numbers. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless â€Å"Homelessness among youth fall into three inter-related categories: family problems, economic problems, and residential instability† (Homeless). All families have problems, but not to the extent of family problems that causes a child to choose homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless also say, â€Å"Many homeless youth leave home after years of physicalRead MoreHomeless Today : Young Adults, Adolescents And Their Families1531 Words   |  7 Pagesyears the amount of homeless individuals has continuously decreased throughout the country. Homelessness in America is a serious problem, especially with higher rates in unemployment happening. Americans are unable to support themselves and with lack of family support, resources and abilities this is leading to homelessness. â€Å"On a single night in January 2013, 61 0,042 people were experiencing homelessness† (Endhomelessness.org, 2014), which has decreased significantly since 2005 in which the numberRead MoreSocial Problem Homelessness1065 Words   |  5 PagesApplication Social Problem Research: Homelessness Homelessness is becoming a major social issue in the United States, with many poor families and young people ending up in the street because of several reasons. This condition is leaving many people helpless in the streets and the number keep on rising on a daily basis. Cities like Detroit and New York are among the most populous with poor families and homeless people, making it important for government and other social agencies to find urgent solutionRead MoreHomelessness In Canada Essay1202 Words   |  5 Pageswhat homelessness means, it is someone who is not able to live in a stable residence because of financial or psychological problems, so they are forced to live on the streets or put themselves on the streets, because they feel it would be a better fit. Homelessness in Canada is a very large and concerning issue because of the growing population. We need to ask our selves what causes homelessness, why are so many youth involved with homelessness and what can we change so that the homelessness problemRead MoreEssay On Homeless Programs838 Words   |  4 Pagesthese programs and projects have played a role in reducing homelessness, it does not mean these programs make a significant difference. There is a dilemma about funding for housing projects. There is no doubt that housing projects cannot maintain their operation without sufficient funding. However, increased funding for homeless programs can slightly reduce homelessness. In â€Å"Does Increased Funding for Homeless Programs Reduce Chronic Homelessness?†, Shawn Moulton estimates a â€Å"fixed-effects model† to examinesRead MoreThe Effects of Homelessness on the Overall Self-Esteem of Homeless Youth1476 Words   |  6 PagesHomelessness is often characterized as adults living on the streets taking shelter beneath the interwoven overpasses of the city or stan ding alongside busy intersections begging for money. Yet, children, those under 18 years of age, are generally not associated with the homeless status as they are invisible, not seen by the general public with their homeless counterparts taking up residence in make-shift housing. Nonetheless, there is a large percent of youth who meet the guidelines for being deemedRead MoreIs Homelessness The United States?1384 Words   |  6 Pagesmeant by homelessness in the United States? Homelessness is something that can be temporary or chronic. It is when an individual or family does not have and cannot afford a suitable place to live long term. Things like staying in a shelter, one room facilities (motel) or staying with a family member or friend does not mean you are not homeless. If you cannot afford suitable long term accommodations yourself, then you are considered homeless. When you are referring to youth homelessness they areRead MoreSocial Research On Ethical And Political Context1556 Words   |  7 Pagesneeds assessment of the current Barwon South West Region’s Youth Homelessness Services, with the aim of locating and bridging gaps that are presently in the services system, by collecting and analysing information such as assessment data, client interviews and so forth (Depoy Gilson, 2003, p75). This proposal will ascertain whether the Youth services in the Barwon South West region is fully addressing the barriers facing homelessness, exploring whether early intervention initiated outreach programsRead MoreThe Effect of Homelessness on the Youth of America1086 Words   |  5 Pages There are millions of homeless youth in America. On any given night, you can find these children ducking into abandoned buildings, crammed up against alley dumpsters, curled inside the big yellow slide of a local playground. I imagine they are thankful for sleep, wary of a new day, but thankful nonetheless. Homelessness at such a young age if left alone, leads to increased rates of conflict. The more homeless youths now, the more our country as a whole will have to deal with divorce, mental illness

Monday, May 11, 2020

Analysis Of Small And Medium Sized Firms - 5763 Words

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP; Analysis of small and medium sized firms (Small and medium scale enterprises: SMES) By Daniel Abioye, INTRODUCTION Small and medium sized firms play a prominent role in economic development (Osotimehi, et al. 2012). Hence it has been the underlining background to this study. The importance of SMES cannot be overemphasized in an economy. This is because they contribute to the creation of employment, free competitive market environments, inputs for large scale industries and so on. Drucker (1985) stated that entrepreneurship is not complete without the injection of innovation. In any business venture, the combination of innovation and entrepreneurship by an SME will need a very important spice of creativity to ensure a quick growth and development process in its environment. It is pertinent to understand that ‘creativity and Innovation’ are the engine house of economic growth. Creativity focuses on introducing a new idea/product/service Wyckoff (1991) and on the other hand innovation assist to turn the idea/product/service into a business that records success Heunks and Roos (1992). E ntrepreneurship is simply about breaking new boundaries, introducing that which is entirely new or a modification of the existing ones. Entrepreneurs are commonly known as risk takers because of their ability to break frontiers without agitation or fear of loss. The failure and problems of large scale enterprises in achieving the desiredShow MoreRelatedFlexible Working1445 Words   |  6 Pagesemployees————————————————————-4 * 1.3.2 Effects on employers————————————————————-4 * 1.3.2 Flexible working in SMEs——————————————————-4 2.0 Analysis———————————————————————————-5 * 2.1 Analysis of effects on employees———————————————-5 * 2.1.1 Advantages and disadvantages of employees—————————5 * 2.2 Analysis of effects on employers———————————————-5 * 2.2.1 Advantages and disadvantages of employers—————————5 * 2.3 Flexible working in SMEs——————————————————-6 Read MoreFive Forces Analysis of the Swedish Construction Industry1281 Words   |  6 PagesFive Forces analysis of the Construction Industry in Sweden â€Å"The authors conclude that the less competitive a market environment, the higher will be the amount of corruption by giving public servants the incentive to extract some of the monopoly rents through bribes.† (Lambsdorf, 1999) Industry background: The Swedish construction business consists of four main actors namely JM, NCC, PEAB and Skanska that historically have had exclusive rights to bid on large-scale governmental projectsRead MoreEco Friendly Sustainability Consultancy And Fee Structure1092 Words   |  5 PagesEco-Friendly sustainability consultancy is intended to be a full-time business: Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm Saturdays and evenings will be consultation, measuring and quoting jobs. 7. Marketing Strategy Our target markets will be small and medium sized existing buildings seeking sustainability consultancy in the surrounding region. Eco-Friendly Sustainability Consultancy will market its services by placing an ad in the yellow pages, listing with all local business and industry associationsRead MoreReview Of Government Spending On Target Market985 Words   |  4 Pages1.1.1. Government Spending on Target Market According to the Government spending with small and medium-sized enterprises report (referenced below) by House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, the United Kingdom government is putting conscious efforts to make the public-sector marketplace more accessible for SME’s. Government spending with small and medium-sized enterprises by House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017 from https://publications.parliamentRead MoreBusiness Relationships Within A Business Network Context1231 Words   |  5 PagesAndersson, S. Ingemar W. (2003) Innovative Internationalisation in New firms: Born Globals - the Swedish Case. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 1, pp. 249–276. 5. Andersson, S. (2000) The internationalization of the firm from an entrepreneurial perspective. International Studies of Management and Organization , 30 (1), pp. 63-92 6. Anderson, R. and Reeb, D. (2003). Founding†Family Ownership, Corporate Diversification, and Firm Leverage*. The Journal of Law and Economics, 46(2), pp.653-684. 7Read MoreBenefits Of Supplying Quality Customer Service1085 Words   |  5 Pagesbusiness. Venkatraman and Ramanujam (1986) briefly incorporate this notion with business size by adding that size and growth are typically used as a precedent for evaluating business success. Conversely, Lash (1989) challenges this by explaining that small and large, profitable and unprofitable companies offer good and bad customer service. These conflicting concepts form the basis of the investigation into, at what point does customer service strategies diverge depending on the size or growth of theRead MoreSmes Case Study1527 Words   |  7 PagesIn the United States, businesses with less than 500 employees, typically described as small to medium business enterprises, make up 99 percent of all firms, employ over 50 percent of private sector employees, and generate 65 percent of net new private sector jobs (Kotey and Folker, 2007). However, SME’s have high turnover rates regarding employees. The major factor of cause is compensation rates. This is typically not easy to adjust in most SME’s. So, we must explore the other factors that wouldRead MoreTypes Of Collateral Used For Business Lending1474 Words   |  6 Pages When it comes to the type of collateral used for business lending, real estate is the most common one irrespective of the firm size. About 40% of all banks rank real estate as the most preferred type of collateral used for business lending in small, medium and large firms. The next most important forms of collateral used across all firm sizes are cash and other liquid assets (approx. 22%) followed by (10-15 percent of banks) personal and bank guarantees. When banks across developed and developingRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Acd J Co1446 Words   |  6 Pagesable to offer the best overall product in the industry. SWOT Analysis The following diagram summarizes how our SWOT analysis defines the Key Success Factors of the market and Distinctive Competencies of the Company. Strengths Weaknesses Distinctive Competencies Skills in marketing, communications Local presence in major market focus Entrepreneurial relationships Few people initially limit serviceable market Large company skills Small biz experience Good relationships Using technology to reduceRead MoreThe Financing For Small And Medium Sized Enterprises1606 Words   |  7 PagesThe financing for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is an interesting subject for policymakers and researchers because of the major contribution of SMEs to private sectors all over the world and SMEs are deemed financially constrained (Beck et al, 2010; Berger and Udell, 2006). SMEs in industrialized countries account for more than 90% of all enterprises, contribute to around two-thirds of all workforce and almost 50% value added in non-agricultural production. Therefore, SMEs is crucial

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A Study Based On Personal Interests And Literature Review

Studying sociology is to understand social action that can have an explanation of causes and effects. In order to understand the social action, scholars need to conduct a research prior to interpret the phenomenon at the specific study area. However, conducting a research, researchers need to complete many tasks, such as development of a research question, selection of research methodology, development of questionnaires, data collection, data analyse and research report writing. This paper outlines the steps of development of a research question. First part of this paper, I will present a possible way of development of a research question. Second, I will explain the reasons why I select a research topic for my study based on personal interests and literature review. Third, I will present a possible method research and explain why I select that research methodology and I will demonstrate the strengths and limitations of the method research. Last part of this paper, I will point out key issues, debates and controversies related to the research area of the proposed study through social context and ethical norms of the research. I shall start with the first section of this paper. First task for researchers to conduct research is to identify a research question. A good research depends on a good research question. However, there is no magic bullet way to develop a research question. Some scholars suggest some steps of formulating a research question: identifying a research topicShow MoreRelatedHow Private Are You Online? What Information Do You Share About Yourself?784 Words   |  4 Pageshe topic for the qualitative study is: â€Å"How private are you online? What information do you share about yourself? The object of this research is to prove the lack of privacy when it comes to sharing information on social media. It will also cover how social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.; has taken over as a means of interacting in lieu of face-to face communication, telephones, and written communication. Studies have proven the information shared on social media is not privateRead MoreLeadership Styles Of A Leadership1685 Words   |  7 Pageseffectively. This literature review will discuss the various leadership styles and linkage between the followers. The leadership styles of transformational, charismatic, servant, leader-member-exchange theory leaders share a common interest the follower. The servant leader serves others before self. The transformational leader inspires and charismatic leader charms the followers. A leader common goal is his or her role to the follower. Methodology of Review The research studies chosen for thisRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv ) Essay1642 Words   |  7 Pagesvariations including social, demographic, economic and behavioural (Ferguson et al, 2002). The treatment with HAART is not simple, Duggan et al. (2009) clarifies the complex regime consisting of different medications with numerous side effects. A study by Maqutua and Zewotira (2011) revealed that from the 688 patients diagnosed with HIV, only 79% of the patients followed the advised adherence to HAART. HIV has over the years become a major public concern with the risk of transmission increasing byRead MoreThe Mentally Ill O FF Ender Treatment And Crime Reduction Act Of 2004 : Problems And Prospects1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mentally Ill Oï ¬â‚¬ender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004: Problems and Prospects by Christine M. Litschgea and Michael G. Vaughn, is a research article whose focus is three-fold. First, the researchers reviewed the literature available on the components that have influenced the considerable increases of incarcerated persons with severe mental illness (SMI). Secondly, they analyzed the Mentally Ill Oï ¬â‚¬ender Treatment and Crime Reduc tion Act of 2004 (MIOTCRA), and evaluated if, since itsRead MoreA Research Study On Health Promotion, Behavior Change1218 Words   |  5 Pages2015). A systematic literature search was undertaken to establish the importance of workplace for promotion of good health practices, particularly in a social cultural context of behavioural changes in nursing field when encountering different situation at work such as stress and bullying, and how does multicultural workplace affects behaviour of each staff. Keywords Literature review, systematic, workplace – based health promotion, behaviour change Purpose Although the literature covers a wide varietyRead MoreEssay Business Ethics in Accounting1034 Words   |  5 Pageshave violated the trust and confidence of public. A number of researches have been conducted to find the potential factors resulting in unethical, biased or inappropriate decision making and judgments by the professionals. The aim of this paper is to review two academic articles and conclude on the reliability of the claims and assertions made by the authors. The research paper of Pflugrath, Martinov-Bennie Chen (2007) aims to analyze the impact of organizational codes of ethics on the accountants’Read MoreThe Anatomy Of Corporate Fraud Essay845 Words   |  4 Pagescharacteristics of the six American and European corporate scandals within the areas of ethical climate, tone at the top and executive leadership, bubble economy and market pressure, accountability, control, auditing, and governance, and executive personal interests and compensation package. 2. What are the major similarities and differences between the American and the European corporate failures from the fraud triangle perspective taking into account the ethical climate, control environment, and regulatoryRead MoreA Culture-Based Perspective Concerning the Desirable Characteristics of Mobile Phones1643 Words   |  7 PagesSelection of Mobile Phone A Culture-Based Perspective Concerning the Desirable Characteristics of Mobile Phones as Tools of Communication Techn ologies I. Introduction and Theoretical Framework This program of study continues personal research and professional practice in the field of mobile telephonic communications within the area of telecommunication systems. The theoretical framework that will be used for the proposed studys cultural component will be based on Geert Hofstedes five nationalRead MorePeer Review And Writing Style Essay875 Words   |  4 PagesWhen Research, Peer Review and Writing Style Meet Bringing new evidence based practice to the bedside involves a multi-faceted approach involving research, peer review, and publication of new ideas. Research is necessary for the discovery of scientific advancement. Peer review is necessary to ensure the integrity of research findings prior to publication. Adherence to writing principles and style are necessary to convey research findings vetted by peer review. Poorly written research findingsRead MoreMini-Systematic Review For Multi-Systematic Review804 Words   |  4 Pagesand there is not a specific study that addresses how research reflects the doctoral level domains (Gladding, 2013). The 2016 standards provide a clear premise for research in each area and articles published within the last 15 years research has not addressed the extent to which the domains are covered in peer-reviewed journals. Since these standards are important to doctoral counselor education, research should be geared towards these domains. The mini-systematic review addresses the quality of doctoral

Demography and Bioethics Free Essays

Demography is the statistical study of human populations. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space. Populations can change through three processes: fertility, mortality, and migration. We will write a custom essay sample on Demography and Bioethics or any similar topic only for you Order Now Fertility involves the number of children that women have and is to be contrasted with fecundity Bioethics is the study of moral issues in fields of medical treatment and research, brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy. Overpopulation is too many people in one space, is a condition where an organism’s numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. Once we recognize the fact that overpopulation is a problem and that increasing standards of living around the world will add to our resource-use and pollution-management challenges, it’s tempting to start thinking that disease, poverty, and premature death are unfortunate but necessary. We must resist any such temptation and work toward better solutions. We should: * continue to strive to reduce suffering by combating disease and poverty around the world; * continue to improve resource efficiency and pollution control so that standards of living can rise without negative impact; and * Keep human population to numbers that are sustainable. On the population front, that means: * making sure people around the world have access to family planning services; * empowering women in developing countries economically, socially, and legally in a manner that results in them having an equal say (with their husbands) in reproductive decisions; * modifying school curricula to include information on population levels and implications for the future; * Reforming tax laws in a way that encourages couples to have no more than two children. (They would still be able to have as many kids as they want, but the tax code would no longer subsidize more than two.) People are a good thing, but population growth without limit is not. The US and all developed countries should reinvigorate their international efforts to slow population growth. The future of the world depends on it! How to cite Demography and Bioethics, Essay examples

Concrete Work for Blue Mountains Project †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Concrete Work for Blue Mountains Project. Answer: Manage Project Quality Good quality concrete work is very essential for all construction works. Therefore the need to implement strategies that will ensure high quality concrete work in this project is inevitable. This quality manual will ensure that all concrete work for Blue Mountains Project meets the required standards specified in the contract documents and that of engineering practice. Formwork Formwork determines the final shape and position of concrete(Civil Guides, 2017). The design, preparation, installation and removal of formwork shall be done in accordance with AS 3610 and AS/NZS 4671 requirements and specifications. The formwork used in this project shall be strong and rigid enough to resist different loads imposed on it until when the concrete attains full strength(Committee BD-043, 2010). The formwork shall be designed correctly and installed properly; it shall be perfectly watertight so as to prevent water loss from fresh concrete after placing it in the formwork; internal surfaces of the formwork shall be cleaned and oiled before the concrete is placed in it; and concrete shall be dropped into the formwork vertically to prevent segregation. Materials The formwork in this project shall be made using timber, plastic, plywood and/or metal (aluminium or steel) depending on availability and cost. These materials shall be obtained from reputable suppliers. Samples shall be taken and tested to ensure that they meet the minimum strength requirements. Design and preparation Formwork shall be designed to fit the exact dimensions of concrete structures to be constructed. Engineers shall design the formwork sheeting, formwork bearers and formwork ties in accordance with AS 3610 requirements. Preparation shall include cutting the formwork into the desired shapes and sizes, cleaning and oiling internal surfaces of the formwork, and joining the forms so as to create the desired molds. Installation After preparation, the formwork shall be installed by qualified personnel in their respective locations. Appropriate tools and equipment shall be used to install the formwork to ensure that it is sufficiently braced and spliced to avoid misalignment. Levels and squares shall be used to ensure that the formwork is vertically and horizontally straight or aligned. The formwork shall also be maintained within specified design tolerances(Rodriguez, 2016). Removal Removal of formwork shall be after the specified period in the contract documents. The formwork shall only be removed after the concrete has gained sufficient strength. Removal of formwork shall be in the following sequence: shuttering that form vertical faces of columns, beams and walls; shuttering that form slab soffits; and shuttering that form beam soffits(Daily Civil, 2017). It is understood that inappropriate removal of formwork causes deformation of fresh concrete under its weight resulting to cracking, dimensional tolerance loss or collapse hence the formwork shall be removed by following the recommended procedure in AS 3610. Reinforcement Materials This projects shall use steel reinforcement. The reinforcement materials shall be obtained from reputable manufacturers and suppliers in the region. The company shall test the reinforcement to ensure that it has the desired properties. Design Engineers and designers shall design reinforcement accordingly to ensure that it is of the right type, size, shape and number as per the contract documents. Some of the key design elements to be considered include: bar spacing, bar supports and tying requirements(Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, 2018). Installation The reinforcement shall be installed as shown on the structural drawings. The key elements that shall be considered when installing reinforcement are: concrete cover, positioning and tolerances. These elements affect the final strength of concrete structure. Concrete All concrete works in this project will be done in accordance with the guidelines and requirements provided in AS 3600:2009 Concrete Structures(SAI Global, 2009). The main problems that occur in concrete trade are those associated with the quality of materials used, proportion of concrete mix, mixing method, transportation and placing, curing and tests(Twitty, 2008). These problems will be prevented from occurring in this project by applying the following techniques: Materials All materials (cement, aggregates (coarse and fine), water and admixtures (if any) used to make concrete shall be of high quality. The materials will sourced from reputable and certified suppliers in the region. The company shall send her representatives to various sources or suppliers so as to inspect how the materials are obtained, processed and prepared. The relevant physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the materials shall also be tested to ensure that they meet the required Australian building and engineering standards. These properties are the ones that determine the final strength of concrete(Biswas, 2013). Concrete mix design The ratio of concrete ingredients determines the strength of concrete(Ahmad Alghamdi, 2014). Proportions of concrete ingredients shall be designed by civil engineers so as to get the right mix for the job. The ratio of cement, aggregates and water shall be carefully determined for each concrete work so as to achieve the required strength of the structure. Before designing the concrete mix, the engineers will first establish the project specifications in contract documents. These specifications will act as guidelines on the proportions of the concrete ingredients. Measuring and mixing Batching in this project shall be done by volume. Gauge boxes shall be prepared and used to batch the concrete materials so as to attain the designed mix proportions. The company is aware that weight batching is more accurate than volume batching but the former is difficult to operate and more expensive than the later. After batching, the ingredients shall be mixed thoroughly to ensure that the concrete is uniform and attains the required quality. The mixing method that shall be used in this project is drum mixing, which is one of the most common and effective methods of concrete mixing. The concrete mixing machines shall be operated by qualified personnel. Mixing of concrete in this project shall be done by following the requirements of AS 1379. Handling and placing The concrete in this project shall be prepared on site hence it will only be transported over a short distance. Once the concrete is prepared, it will be placed before it hardens. Placing of concrete shall be done carefully by pouring the concrete in the prepared formwork in a manner that will prevent segregation. The concrete will be poured directly (using buckets and wheelbarrows) or by pump (using special concrete pumps), depending on the specific work being done. Vibrators will be used to enhance setting (where necessary) and the concrete will also be compacted and consolidated appropriately to eliminate air and other voids and also to ensure that the concrete is distributed to all parts of the formwork. Finishing Durability, smoothness and appearance of concrete surfaces are very important(Infrastructure Technology Institute, (n.d.)). To achieve this, concrete surfaces will be treated after consolidation so as to attain the expected properties. This will be done using different methods including: screeding, floating and trowelling, mechanical finishing (roughening the surface so as to make it less slick), use of concrete dyes, surface molding and polishing. The finishing shall be done in accordance with AS 3610. Curing After placing and consolidating the concrete, it will be cured properly and adequately for the recommended period in the contract documents (at least 7 days). During curing period, the concrete will be saturated fully with water. Nevertheless, the curing can be done by misting or sprinkling water on the concrete surface(Consumers Builders Supply Co., (n.d.)). This will help the concrete to develop the desired properties by developing full strength and preventing development of internal stresses. Damp fabric or plastic will be used to cover the concrete so as to avert evaporation and keep the concrete hydrated. Formwork will remain in place throughout the curing period. Testing Multiple samples of concrete shall be obtained and tested so as to determine if the concrete meets the desired properties. The concrete shall be sampled and tested in accordance with AS 1012(Main Roads Western Australia, 2011). The tests shall be carried out on both fresh and hardened concrete. These tests will include: compacting factor test, slump test, compression test, flexural strength test and tensile strength test. After 28 days, concrete is expected to have attained its maximum characteristic strength. If any of the samples fail, appropriate corrective actions shall be taken immediately. Generally In case non-conformance is identified, corrective actions shall be taken immediately depending on the stage of the work. If non-conformance is identified at the source of materials, the company will choose another supplier. Different records will also be maintained including sources of materials, test results of various materials, quality control and assurance reports, inspection reports, etc. The company shall ensure that each stage of the project is done by qualified personnel. Adequate tools and equipment shall also be provided to enable completion of the works. To ensure high quality work, the company shall have a quality control team that will be responsible for checking and ensuring that all works meet the required quality standards. The team will work independently and in collaboration with the client representatives. Environmental impacts and safety are other aspects that shall be considered at every stage of concrete work. In general, quality shall not be compromised at any cost or time and quality control of materials and workmanship shall be taken with the seriousness it deserves. The company shall also ensure that there is effective communication and collaboration with the client and her representatives to update them about quality control of concrete works. References Ahmad, S. Alghamdi, S., 2014. A Statistical Approach to Optimizing Concrete Mixture Design. The Scientific World Journal, Volume 2014, pp. 1-7. Biswas, L., 2013. Concrete Ingredients. [Online] Available at: https://www.acivilengineer.com/2013/05/concrete-ingredients.html [Accessed 11 February 2018]. Civil Guides, 2017. Mixing Concrete. [Online] Available at: https://civilguides.com/mixing-concrete/ [Accessed 10 February 2018]. Committee BD-043, 2010. Formwork for Concrete, Sydney, NSW: Council of Standards Australia. Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, 2018. Reinforcing Bar Placing. [Online] Available at: https://www.crsi.org/index.cfm/concrete/placing [Accessed 11 February 2018]. Consumers Builders Supply Co., (n.d.). Step by Step Guide to Completing Your Own Concrete Project. [Online] Available at: https://consumersbuilderssupply.com/?page_id=76 [Accessed 10 February 2018]. Daily Civil, 2017. Method and Period of Removing Formwork. [Online] Available at: https://www.dailycivil.com/method-period-removing-formwork/ [Accessed 11 February 2018]. Infrastructure Technology Institute, (n.d.). The Concrete Construction Process. [Online] Available at: https://iti.northwestern.edu/cement/monograph/Monograph2_3.html [Accessed 10 February 2018]. Main Roads Western Australia, 2011. Specification 901 Concrete - General Works, Sydney: MainRoads estern Australia. Rodriguez, J., 2016. Formwork Guidelines: Safety, Installation and Removal. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/safety-installation-and-removal-of-formwork-844783 [Accessed 11 February 2018]. SAI Global, 2009. AS 3600-2009 Concrete Structures. Sydney, NSW: Standards Australia International Ltd. Twitty, W., 2008. Quality Management System for Ready Mixed Concrete Companies, Silver Spring, MD: RMC Research Education Foundation.