Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Causes of Homelessness in San Antonio - 888 Words

There are an estimated 2,981 homeless people in San Antonio each day. Out of these, 1,243 were unsheltered and a staggering 31% of those are people with families. In addition, the average age of a homeless child in San Antonio is 6 years old. An overall picture shows that homelessness has dropped nearly four percent from 2012 to 2013. Further, an average of 610,042 people are homeless across the United States on any given night. â€Å"Of that number, 36 percent – 222,197 people – were in families, representing a drop of 7 percent for that group† (Chappell, 2013, p. #). More than a third of these people were not found in shelters, abandoned buildings, cars, or under bridges. Although, there has been a small decline in homelessness,†¦show more content†¦The goal is to help individuals gain and keep permanent housing. In addition, it will also offer an In-House Recovery Program, which is dedicated to helping free individuals from substance abuse. How would someone know if they were eligible? First, the individual would need to verify they are homeless, (someone who lacks a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence and lacks sufficient means or support system to obtain housing). Next, they would need to be 18 years or older with a government-issued ID. They would also need to be sober and be able to care for themselves independently. Also, they would need to be willing to commit to working with a case manager toward a goal of sustained, self-sufficient life and willing to participate in activities geared at achieving self-sufficiency. The goal would be to help people obtain the resources and support they need to obtain permanent housing. Their stay is determined on their engagement towards that goal. The homeless are impacted far more by everyday issues than those who are not. Often times, homeless children can be sick four times as much as middle class children and have superior rates of acute and recurring illnesses. In addition, they experience emotional and behavioral problems can hinder with learning at almost three times the rate of other children. â€Å"Homeless children between 6 and 17 years struggle with high rates of mental health problems. For example, 47% have problemsShow MoreRelatedA Sociological Perspective On Homelessness1587 Words   |  7 PagesCurrently, the rates of homelessness in America continue to drastically increase. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2012) depicted how many people are homeless in a single night in America. The findings revealed that there were approximately 633,782 people who are homeless in America or 20 out of every 10,000. Approximately 394,379 are single individuals and 239,403 are people in families with 77,1 57 homeless families in a single night, and approximately 162, 246 are childrenRead MoreHomelessness and Mental Illness1095 Words   |  5 Pagesas well. Homelessness and mental illness are linked. These two happenings have similar beginnings. Homelessness is influenced by drug and alcohol disuse, being homeless at a young age, money problems, and trauma symptoms. Mental illness is caused by many of the same things, but it can also happen at birth. The effects that each entity has on a person are comparable. Rehabilitation is a necessary process if a victim of homelessness and or mental illness wants to rejoin society. Homelessness and mentalRead MoreHomelessness : The Homeless People Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesHomelessness can be a temporary condition that people fall into in the United States when they cannot afford to pay for a place to live, or when their current home is unsafe or unstable. The estimated amount of homeless people in the United States is about 3 million. (Na tional Alliance to end Homeless) In 2014, there are approximately 578,424 people in a single night that experience being homeless. In my opinion, the United States should have more shelters to help the homeless people instead of spendingRead MoreThe Outcasts Of Society, The Lazy And Incompetent, Or The Victims Of Extreme Misfortunes?1607 Words   |  7 Pagesculture of homelessness, we will demystify, learning the how’s, when’s and why’s. It is essential not to get lost within the presentation of stats and facts. But, to digest the information, reverting it back to our own lives. In doing so, we will see how near or far we are to the brinks of homelessness. Careful! As the degrees of separation maybe not be so plentiful.† Homelessness According to a recent point in time by a survey provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an estimatedRead MoreA Survey On Homelessness And Poverty1404 Words   |  6 Pagesrecent point in time by a survey provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an estimated 740000 individuals are experiencing homelessness at any particular time in America (Aratani). Additionally, an approximated 3.5 million individuals are at risk of experiencing temporary homelessness at a certain point in a particular year with some 1.35 million children based on the report by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (Aratani). In 2005, 50 percent of the cities in the US wereRead MoreHomelessness Is A Problem Of Homelessness1658 Words   |  7 PagesHomelessness in Society Imagine you are homeless and have no shelter, or nowhere to go. You walk through storms in the same clothes you had on a week ago. You look around for help, but there is none. What would you do? Or imagine you are one of the forgotten ones, whom people call dirty, and disgusting. Suddenly you hear footsteps, with hope filled inside you, and then a sudden sadness strikes you as the 1378th careless person walks by you and doesn t notice you. All you want is somewhere to sleepRead MoreThe Homeless: Discarded Like Garbage1052 Words   |  5 Pages Homelessness affects millions each year within the United States with poverty-stricken children roaming the streets, prostitutes on every street corner, and Vietnam veterans sick with mental illnesses. With today’s failing economy, homelessness is a common thing to see in massive cities such as Los Angeles where Central City East, more commonly known as Skid Row, contains the largest amount of homeless persons within our country. Inside this area, camping tents are frequently seen on the streetsRead MoreNo-Kill Shelter Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pagesthe animals for space is right. Stray dogs and cats have just as much right to a good home as pets that already have owners. No-Kill shelters are beneficial, they provide a safe, pet-friendly environment that would help solve the problems of pet homelessness and overpopulations, as a result of spay and neuter being provided as well. For a no-kill shelter to work, it requires the cooperation of multiple staff members and part-time volunteers, also including local rescues, pet owners and vets. AlthoughRead MoreUnderstanding Police Use of Force, Interrogations, Deceit and Trickery1161 Words   |  5 Pagessituational factors, race and ethnicity, training and police subculture. The decision to use force in situational factors occurs quite frequently. The more police-citizen contact is present in areas where there is a higher percentage of minorities, homelessness and the mentally ill the more opportunity exists for the use of force. In terms of race and ethnicity, research has shown that Black and Hispanic officers apply the use of force more frequently against minority suspects than White suspects andRead MoreI First Learned About The Field Of Social Work At The End1825 Words   |  8 Pageslocal shelter in San Antonio. I remember sitting there in the dimly lit, cramped room of bunk beds, my thoughts full of un certainty about the future. What was next? Where would we go? Will life always be this way? This was my first glimpse into homelessness. I don’t believe that I will ever forget the feelings I had during that time in my life. I know that what I have experienced is nothing compared to many others who are living on the streets or experiencing long-term homelessness, but I plan to hold

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Vampire Diaries The Awakening Chapter Five Free Essays

string(31) " was no sound but the feeding\." The full moon was directly overhead when Stefan came back to the boarding house. He was giddy, almost reeling, both from fatigue and from the glut of blood he’d taken. It had been a long time since he’d let himself feed so heavily. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Five or any similar topic only for you Order Now But the burst of wild Power by the graveyard had caught him up in its frenzy, shattering his already weakened control. He still wasn’t sure where the Power had come from. He had been watching the human girls from his place in the shadows when it had exploded from behind him, sending the girls fleeing. He had been caught between the fear that they would run into the river and the desire to probe this Power and find its source. In the end, he had followedher , unable to chance her getting hurt. Something black had winged toward the woods as the humans reached the sanctuary of the bridge, but even Stefan’s night senses could not make out what it was. He had watched while she and the other two started in the direction of town. Then he had turned back to the graveyard. It was empty now, purged of whatever had been there. On the ground lay a thin strip of silk that to ordinary eyes would have been gray in the dark. But he saw its true color, and as he crushed it between his fingers, bringing it slowly up to touch his lips, he could smell the scent of her hair. Memory engulfed him. It was bad enough when she was out of sight, when the cool glow of her mind only teased at the edges of his consciousness. But to be in the same room with her at the school, to feel her presence behind him, to smell the heady fragrance of her skin all around him, was almost more than he could bear. He had heard every soft breath she took, felt her warmth radiating against his back, sensed each throb of her sweet pulse. And eventually, to his horror, he had found himself giving in to it. His tongue had brushed back and forth over his canine teeth, enjoying the pleasure-pain that was building there, encouraging it. He’d breathed her smell into his nostrils deliberately, and let the visions come to him, imagining it all. How soft her neck would be, and how his lips would meet it with equal softness at first, planting tiny kisses here, and here, until he reached the yielding hollow of her throat. How he would nuzzle there, in the place where her heart beat so strongly against the delicate skin. And how at last his lips would part, would draw back from aching teeth now sharp as little daggers, and- No . He’d brought himself out of the trance with a jerk, his own pulse beating raggedly, his body shaking. The class had been dismissed, movement was all around him, and he could only hope no one had been observing him too closely. When she had spoken to him, he had been unable to believe that he had to face her while his veins burned and his whole upper jaw ached. He’d been afraid for a moment that his control would break, that he would seize her shoulders and take her in front of all of them. He had no idea how he’d gotten away, only that some time later he was channeling his energy into hard exercise, dimly aware that he must not use the Powers. It didn’t matter; even without them he was in every way superior to the mortal boys who competed with him on the football field. His sight was sharper, his reflexes faster, his muscles stronger. Presently a hand had clapped him on the back and Matt’s voice had rung in his ears: â€Å"Congratulations! Welcome to the team!† Looking into that honest, smiling face, Stefan had been overcome with shame. If you knew what I was, you wouldn’t smile at me, he’d thought grimly. I’ve won this competition of yours by deception. And the girl you love-you do love her, don’t you?-is in my thoughts right now. And she had remained in his thoughts despite all his efforts to banish her that afternoon. He had wandered to the graveyard blindly, pulled from the woods by a force he did not understand. Once there he had watched her, fighting himself, fighting the need, until the surge of Power had sent her and her friends running. And then he’d come home-but only after feeding. After losing control of himself. He couldn’t remember exactly how it had happened, how he’d let it happen. That flare of Power had started it, awakening things inside him best left sleeping. The hunting need. The craving for the chase, for the smell of fear and the savage triumph of the kill. It had been years-centuries-since he’d felt the need with such force. His veins had begun burning like fire. And all his thoughts had turned red: he could think of nothing else but the hot coppery taste, the primal vibrancy, of blood. With that excitement still raging through him, he’d taken a step or two after the girls. What might have happened if he hadn’t scented the old man was better not thought about. But as he reached the end of the bridge, his nostrils had flared at the sharp, distinctive odor of human flesh. Humanblood . The ultimate elixir, the forbidden wine. More intoxicating than any liquor, the steaming essence of life itself. And he was so tired of fighting the need. There had been a movement on the bank under the bridge, as a pile of old rags stirred. And the next instant, Stefan had landed gracefully, catlike, beside it. His hand shot out and pulled the rags away, exposing a wizened, blinking face atop a scrawny neck. His lips drew back. And then there was no sound but the feeding. You read "The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Five" in category "Essay examples" Now, as he stumbled up the main staircase of the boarding house, he tried not to think about it, and not to think about her-about the girl who tempted him with her warmth, her life. She had been the one he truly desired, but he must put a stop to that, he must kill any such thoughts before they were started from now on. For his sake, and for her own. He was her worst nightmare come true, and she didn’t even know it. â€Å"Who’s there? Is that you, boy?† a cracked voice called sharply. One of the second-story doors opened, and a gray head poked out. â€Å"Yes,signora -Mrs. Flowers. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.† â€Å"Ah, it takes more than a creaky floorboard to disturb me. You locked the door behind you?† â€Å"Yes,signora . You’re†¦ safe.† â€Å"That’s right. We need to be safe here. You never know what might be out there in those woods, do you?† He looked quickly at the smiling little face surrounded by wisps of gray hair, the bright darting eyes. Was there a secret hidden in them? â€Å"Good night,signora .† â€Å"Good night, boy.† She shut the door. In his own room he fell onto the bed and lay staring up at the low, slanting ceiling. Usually he rested uneasily at night; it was not his natural sleeping time. But tonight he was tired. It took so much energy to face the sunlight, and the heavy meal only contributed to his lethargy. Soon, although his eyes did not close, he no longer saw the whitewashed ceiling above him. Random scraps of memory floated through his mind. Katherine, so lovely that evening by the fountain, moonlight silvering her pale golden hair. How proud he had been to sit with her, to be the one to share her secret†¦ â€Å"But can you never go out in sunlight?† â€Å"Ican , yes, as long as I wear this.† She held up a small white hand, and the moonlight shone on the lapis ring there. â€Å"But the sun tires me so much. I have never been very strong.† Stefan looked at her, at the delicacy of her features and the slightness of her body. She was almost as insubstantial as spun glass. No, she would never have been strong. â€Å"I was often ill as a child,† she said softly, her eyes on the play of water in the fountain. â€Å"The last time, the surgeon finally said I would die. I remember Papa crying, and I remember lying in my big bed, too weak to move. Even breathing was too much effort. I was so sad to leave the world and so cold, so very cold.† She shivered, and then smiled. â€Å"But what happened?† â€Å"I woke in the middle of the night to see Gudren, my maid, standing over my bed. And then she stepped aside, and I saw the man she had brought. I was frightened. His name was Klaus, and I’d heard the people in the village say he was evil. I cried out to Gudren to save me, but she just stood there, watching. When he put his mouth to my neck, I thought he was going to kill me.† She paused. Stefan was staring at her in horror and pity, and she smiled comfortingly at him. â€Å"It was not so terrible after all. There was a little pain at first, but that quickly went away. And then the feeling was actually pleasant. When he gave me of his own blood to drink, I felt stronger than I had for months. And then we waited out the hours together until dawn. When the surgeon came, he couldn’t believe I was able to sit up and speak. Papa said it was a miracle, and he cried again from happiness.† Her face clouded. â€Å"I will have to leave my papa sometime soon. One day he will realize that since that illness I have not grown an hour older.† â€Å"And you never will?† â€Å"No. That is the wonder of it, Stefan!† She gazed up at him with childlike joy. â€Å"I will be young forever, and I will never die! Can you imagine?† He could not imagine her as anything other than what she was now: lovely, innocent, perfect. â€Å"But-you did not find it frightening at first?† â€Å"At first, a little. But Gudren showed me what to do. It was she who told me to have this ring made, with a gem that would protect me from sunlight. While I lay in bed, she brought me rich warm possets to drink. Later, she brought small animals her son trapped.† â€Å"Not†¦ people?† Her laughter rang out. â€Å"Of course not. I can get all I need in a night from a dove. Gudren says that if I wish to be powerful I should take human blood, for the life essence of humans is strongest. And Klaus used to urge me, too; he wanted to exchange blood again. But I tell Gudren I do not want power. And as for Klaus†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped and dropped her eyes, so that heavy lashes lay on her cheek. Her voice was very soft as she continued. â€Å"I do not think it is a thing to be done lightly. I will take human blood only when I have found my companion, the one who will be by my side for all eternity.† She looked up at him gravely. Stefan smiled at her, feeling light-headed and bursting with pride. He could scarcely contain the happiness he felt at that moment. But that was before his brother Damon had returned from the University. Before Damon had come back and seen Katherine’s jewel-blue eyes. On his bed in the low-roofed room, Stefan moaned. Then the darkness drew him in deeper and new images began to flicker through his mind. They were scattered glimpses of the past that did not form a connected sequence. He saw them like scenes briefly illuminated by flashes of lightning. His brother’s face, twisted into a mask of inhuman anger. Katherine’s blue eyes sparkling and dancing as she pirouetted in her new white gown. The glimmer of white behind a lemon tree. The feel of a sword in his hand; Giuseppe’s voice shouting from far away. The lemon tree. He must not go behind the lemon tree. He saw Damon’s face again, but this time his brother was laughing wildly. Laughing on and on, a sound like the grate of broken glass. And the lemon tree was closer now†¦ â€Å"Damon-Katherine-no!† He was sitting bolt upright on his bed. He ran shaking hands through his hair and steadied his breath. A terrible dream. It had been a long time since he had been tortured by dreams like that; long, indeed, since he’d dreamed at all. The last few seconds played over and over again in his mind, and he saw again the lemon tree and heard again his brother’s laughter. It echoed in his mind almost too clearly. Suddenly, without being aware of a conscious decision to move, Stefan found himself at the open window. The night air Was cool on his cheeks as he looked into the silvery dark. â€Å"Damon?† He sent the thought out on a surge of Power, questing. Then he fell into absolute stillness, listening with all his senses. He could feel nothing, no ripple of response. Nearby, a pair of night birds rose in flight. In the town, many minds were sleeping; in the woods, nocturnal animals went about their secret business. He sighed and turned back into the room. Perhaps he’d been wrong about the laughter; perhaps he’d even been wrong about the menace in the graveyard. Fell’s Church was still, and peaceful, and he should try to emulate it. He needed sleep. September 5 (actually early September 6-about 1:00 a.m.) Dear Diary, I should go back to bed soon. Just a few minutes ago I woke up thinking someone was shouting, but now the house is quiet. So many strange things have happened tonight that my nerves are shot, I guess. At least I woke up knowing exactly what I’m going to do about Stefan. The whole thing just sort of sprang into my mind. Plan B, Phase One, begins tomorrow. Frances’s eyes were blazing, and her cheeks were flushed with color as she approached the three girls at the table. â€Å"Oh, Elena, you’ve got to hear this!† Elena smiled at her, polite but not too intimate. Frances ducked her brown head. â€Å"I mean†¦ can I join you? I’ve just heard the wildest thing about Stefan Salvatore.† â€Å"Have a seat,† said Elena graciously. â€Å"But,† she added, buttering a roll, â€Å"we’re not really interested in the news.† â€Å"You-?† Frances stared. She looked at Meredith, then at Bonnie. â€Å"You guys are joking, right?† â€Å"Not at all.† Meredith speared a green bean and eyed it thoughtfully. â€Å"We have other things on our minds today.† â€Å"Exactly,† said Bonnie after a sudden start. â€Å"Stefan’s old news, you know. Passe.† She bent down and rubbed her ankle. Frances looked at Elena appealingly. â€Å"But I thought you wanted to know all about him.† â€Å"Curiosity,† Elena said. â€Å"After all, he is a visitor, and I wanted to welcome him to Fell’s Church. But of course I have to be loyal to Jean-Claude.† â€Å"Jean-Claude?† â€Å"Jean-Claude,† said Meredith, raising her eyebrows and sighing. â€Å"Jean-Claude,† echoed Bonnie gamely. Delicately, with thumb and forefinger, Elena drew a photo out of her backpack. â€Å"Here he is standing in front of the cottage where we stayed. Right afterward he picked me a flower and said†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Well,†-she smiled mysteriously-â€Å"I shouldn’t repeat it.† Frances was gazing at the photo. It showed a bronzed young man, shirtless, standing in front of a hibiscus bush and smiling shyly. â€Å"He’s older, isn’t he?† she said with respect. â€Å"Twenty-one. Of course,†-Elena glanced over Tier shoulder-â€Å"my aunt would never approve, so we’re keeping it from her until I graduate. We have to write to each other secretly.† â€Å"How romantic,† Frances breathed. â€Å"I’ll never tell a soul, I promise. But about Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena gave her a superior smile. â€Å"If,† she said, â€Å"I am going to eat Continental, I prefer French to Italian every time.† She turned to Meredith. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"Mm-hmm. Everytime.† Meredith and Elena smiled knowingly at each other, then turned to Frances. â€Å"Don’t you agree?† â€Å"Oh, yes,† said Frances hastily. â€Å"Me, too. Every time.† She smiled knowingly herself and nodded several times as she got up and left. When she was gone, Bonnie said piteously, â€Å"This is going to kill me. Elena, I am going to die if I don’t hear the gossip.† â€Å"Oh, that? I can tell you,† Elena replied calmly. â€Å"She was going to say there’s a rumor going around that Stefan Salvatore is a narc.† â€Å"A what !† Bonnie stared, and then burst into laughter. â€Å"But that’s ridiculous. What narc in the world would dress like that and wear dark glasses? I mean, he’s done everything he can to draw attention to himself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and her brown eyes widened. â€Å"But then, that may bewhy he does it. Who would ever suspect anybody so obvious? And he does live alone, and he’s awfully secretive†¦ Elena! What if it’s true?† â€Å"It isn’t,† said Meredith. â€Å"How do you know?† â€Å"Because I’m the one who started it.† At Bonnie’s expression, she grinned and added: â€Å"Elena told me to.† â€Å"Ohhhh.† Bonnie looked admiringly at Elena. â€Å"You’re wicked. Can I tell people he’s got a terminal disease?† â€Å"No, you cannot. I don’t want any Florence Nightingale types lining up to hold his hand. But you can tell people whatever you want about Jean-Claude.† Bonnie picked up the photograph. â€Å"Who was he really?† â€Å"The gardener. He was crazy about those hibiscus bushes. He was also married, with two kids.† â€Å"Pity,† said Bonnie seriously. â€Å"And you told Frances not to tell anyone about him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Right.† Elena checked her watch. â€Å"Which means that by, oh, say two o’clock, it ought to be all over the school.† After school, the girls went to Bonnie’s house. They were greeted at the front door by a shrill yapping, and when Bonnie opened the door, a very old, very fat Pekingese tried to escape. His name was Yangtze, and he was so spoiled that no one except Bonnie’s mother could stand him. He nipped at Elena’s ankle as she went by. The living room was dim and crowded, with lots of rather fussy furniture and heavy curtains at the windows. Bonnie’s sister Mary was there, unpinning a cap from her wavy red hair. She was just two years older than Bonnie, and she worked at the Fell’s Church clinic. â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† she said, â€Å"I’m glad you’re back. Hello, Elena, Meredith.† Elena and Meredith said â€Å"hello.† â€Å"What’s the matter? You look tired,† said Bonnie. Mary dropped her cap on the coffee table. Instead of answering, she asked a question in return. â€Å"Last night when you came home so upset, where did you say you girls had been?† â€Å"Down in the-Just down by Wickery Bridge.† â€Å"That’s what I thought.† Mary took a deep breath. â€Å"Now, you listen to me, Bonnie McCullough. Don’t youever go out there again, and especially not alone and at night. Do you understand?† â€Å"But why not?† Bonnie asked, bewildered. â€Å"Because last night somebody was attacked out there, that’s why not. And do you know where they found him? Righton the bank under Wickery Bridge .† Elena and Meredith stared at her in disbelief, and Bonnie clutched at Elena’s arm. â€Å"Somebody was attacked under the bridge? But who was it? What happened?† â€Å"I don’t know. This morning one of the cemetery workers spotted him lying there. He was some homeless person, I guess, and he’d probably been sleeping under the bridge when he was attacked. But he was half dead when they brought him in, and he hasn’t regained consciousness yet. He may die.† Elena swallowed. â€Å"What do you mean, attacked?† â€Å"I mean,† said Mary distinctly, â€Å"that his throat was nearly ripped out. He lost an incredible amount of blood. They thought it might have been an animal at first, but now Dr. Lowen says it was a person. And the police think whoever did it may be hiding in the cemetery.† Mary looked at each of them in turn, her mouth a straight line. â€Å"So if youwere there by the bridge-or in the cemetery, Elena Gilbert-then this person may have been there with you.Get it ?† â€Å"You don’t have to scare us anymore,† said Bonnie faintly. â€Å"We get the point, Mary.† â€Å"All right. Good.† Mary’s shoulders slumped, and she rubbed at the back of her neck wearily. â€Å"I’ve got to lie down for a while. I didn’t mean to be crabby.† She walked out of the living room. Alone, the three girls looked at one another. â€Å"It could have been one of us,† said Meredith quietly. â€Å"Especially you, Elena; you went there alone.† Elena’s skin was prickling, that same painfully alert feeling she’d had in the old graveyard. She could feel the chill of the wind and see the rows of tall tombstones all around her. Sunshine and Robert E. Lee had never seemed so far away. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said slowly, â€Å"did you see somebody out there? Is that what you meant when you said someone was waiting for me?† In the dim room, Bonnie looked at her blankly. â€Å"What are you talking about? I didn’t say that.† â€Å"Yes, you did.† â€Å"No, I didn’t. I never said that.† â€Å"Bonnie,† said Meredith, â€Å"we both heard you. You stared out at the old gravestones, and then you told Elena-† â€Å"I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I didn’t sayanything .† Bonnie’s face was pinched with anger, but there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I don’t want to talk about it anymore.† Elena and Meredith looked at one another helplessly. Outside, the sun went behind a cloud. How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Five, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Business Process Management Establishing and Maintaining

Question: Task 1: Project management principles Describe how project management principles can be applied in implementing the technological development task pertinent in the Palm Tree Spa Resort. Support your writing by giving a background on project management. (covers assessment criteria 1.1) [Define programme and project and justify why implementing technological solution at Palm Tree Spa is a project or programme. Define project management and discuss what would be the roles and responsibilities of the project manager for implementing technological solution at Palm Tree Spa project. Describe what you think could be the main principles of project management. Some important principles could be - Tailor suit the environment. The impact of external influences on these projects. You probably would like to show very brief PESTEL analysis here for the project. -Identify the major project phases and discuss why they are required. You may want to include the work in each phase, the nature of work in the lifecycles of projects etc. - Business Justification - Proper human resource planning with defined roles and responsibilities - Focus on the objectives and deliverables Look at Lecture Notes 2, Project management Principles.] Give a brief background on development of project management skills and studies. When and who developed the different methods and tools currently in use I project management. b) Developing the success and failure criteria for the project and an appraisal of its viability in the given scenario [This question has two parts: (1) developing the success and failure criteria for the project, and (2) an appraisal of its viability. (1) Developing the success and failure criteria for the project: Discuss in details of success and failure criteria of project linking with Palm Tree Spa resort MIS project. Look at Lecture Notes 3(a) 2) An appraisal of its viability: You can discuss about environmental, market and organizational viability. You should also consider discussing financial viability mentioning investment appraisal tools like discounted cash flow (DCF), net present value (NPV) and conduct a benefit analysis for Palm Tree Spa resort MIS project. Look at Lecture Notes 3(a)] Explain the principles behind setting up the systems and procedures for the effective use of resources in the project management. (covers assessment criteria 1.3) Mention some systems that are important to project management; they are: -Information and communication management system -Project planning and scheduling systems -Human resource management systems -Logistic management systems Describe how these systems and procedures are significant for the effective resource management in the project. Look at Lecture notes 2, last few slides.] -Say how technology could help in setting up the systems and procedures for the effective use of resources in the project management. d) An explanation of the key stages involved in the process of closing down the project and conducting post post-project appraisals (covers assessment criteria 1.4) [This question has two parts: (1) key stages involved in the process of closing down the project, and (2) conducting post post-project appraisals. Key stages involved in the process of closing down the project of developing an integrated MIS system for Palm Tree Spa: Discuss the different types of termination. Describe the stages and the processes involved in each types of terminations. You may include when to terminate the project, what type of termination is more likely for your project and process of termination etc. Look at Lecture Note 3(b). (2) Conducting post post-project appraisals: It could be a short paragraph in which you can compare the project outcome with business objectives. So, you explain how implementing this MIS system would help Palm Tree Spa to achieve its business objectives. Looking back to assignment scenario may be helpful.] Some post project review includes: Variance analysis Review of meeting the timlines Assessment of achieving target and objective Risk analysis and review etc. Task 2: Managing a projects human resources Planning for human resources for the proposed project describing each roles and responsibilities and designing an organisational structure for integrated MIS system development project for palm Tree Spa [Select one organisational structure for your project. You may select functional, project or matrix organisational structure. You should use a diagram to show project structure. Look at Week 4 Lecture notes: slides no. 5 to 15. Talk about why your selected structure is most appropriate for this project. Week 4: Slides no. 4 and 16 to 24 holds some key points for your justification of project team structure. After selecting the project structure, human resource roles will become visible within the project. Most likely positions for this proposed project would be project manager, project team, finance, purchasing, personnel etc. Now briefly describe each roles and responsibilities.] Use the Job description template to show roles and responsibilities more clearly. Explain how the structure identified above helps you control and co-ordinate the project. (covers assessment criteria 2.2) Briefly discuss the need for monitoring and control of the project. Explain how the proposed structure and the roles within it help to control and co-ordinate the different functions and activities of the project. It is mainly about cross responsibility and effective communications among all the team members which support in controlling and coordinating the project. Describe how you propose to lead the team assessing the already established project leadership theories and qualities. (covers assessment criteria 2.3) Discuss Belbins team roles theory. How Belbins team roles theory could be in use to developing effective teams for MIS system development project for palm Tree Spa (Week 5: Slides 4-7). Describe various management styles and propose a management style to be used in MIS system development project for palm Tree Spa (Week 5: Slides 2-3). Also discuss very briefly techniques for dealing with conflict in managing project (Week 5: Slides 14-18).] Task 3: Project processes and procedures A detailed project plans for the proposed project establishing each components in the effective organization of the project This question has two parts: Project management plans and Project organisation. In Project management plans section, discuss the why, what, how, when, where and by whom of project management e.g. contract terms, procurement, establishing the baseline (Week 8: Slide 12) for the project. In Project organisation part, discuss the product breakdown structure-PBS (Week-3: Slide 13 14) and the work breakdown structure-WBS (Week 6: Slide 4-6), project execution strategy and relate them to the Organization breakdown structures. Present Activity and Dependency table with time duration and dependency given for all the activities. Project scheduling tools to plan the project activities so as to minimise the time and costs of the project [This question has two parts: Scheduling techniques and Cost control. In the Scheduling techniques part, discuss relationship between schedules, OBS and WBS (Week 6), Prepare Gnatt charts (Week 7: Slide 7) and PERT network (Week-7), resourcing techniques (Week 6: Slide 13) Show critical path analysis (Week-7) etc. In the Cost control part, discuss cost breakdown structure e.g. types of project estimate, resources needed, estimating techniques, estimating accuracy, sources of information, cost information sensitivity, computer- based estimating. Look at Lecture notes of Week 8] Analysing the performance of the project assessing the performance indicators -Identify key performance indictors like Time, Costs , quality , stakeholders satisfaction State tools and methods to measure the above parametre. They could be: Tracking Gantt chart, Baseline setting , S-curve analysis, Earned Value Analysis etc. the Schedule (Week 4: Slide 44). Now link up 4 stages project control tool (Week 4: Slide 45) with the MIS system development project for palm Tree Spa. You may also include Milestone analysis (Week 4: Slide 47). Tracking grant chart (Week 4: Slide 48 etc.] -Say there are many indicators which are used in Earned Value Analysis analysis e.g. budgeted cost for work scheduled (BCWS) budgeted cost for work performed (BCWP); actual cost of work performed (ACWP). Explain each term briefly] Explain the change control procedure for evaluating your project at its completion. (covers assessment criteria 3.4) Answer: Task 1 B: A venture is perpetually attempted so as to further the points of a business or association. The methodologies that happen inside the venture are along these lines occurring, not in disconnection, however inside a more extensive business environment. The task colleagues who do the different undertakings included must communicate with a scope of partners who are not specifically tasked with undertaking exercises, and who have their own particular concerns and motivation (Barkley, 2008). Hence, the criteria for undertaking achievement or disappointment can't be characterized basically regarding how well or how severely a task is overseen and executed, or considerably whether a concurred arrangement of deliverable is delivered on time or not. The dedication of the undertaking group must be coordinated by a promise by the customer and end clients to accomplish a fruitful result. Such a promise must be attained to if the methods included are well seen by the key partners. Task 2 A The human resources of a business model are improving the organization structure. By the help of the human resources, Palm Tree Spa is monitoring and controlling all the ability of the business model or the organization, which is the main source of improving the business model. The main parameter of the valuable value of the human resources is employee of the business model or organization. The human resources of an organization or in Palm Tree Spa is controlling and managing by the HR department. B The Human Resource (HR) department of an organization or Palm Tree Spa, the monitoring and controlling consist by the help of some parameters. The HR department is mainly controlling and managing some valuable part of the business model or Palm Tree Spa, which are discuss in below. Employment:The accomplishment of selection representatives and vocation experts as well as higher value is counted by the quantity of point they pack and also taking time to filling the position or point (Artto and Wikstrm, 2005). Enrollment specialists who work in workshop instead of business model that give selecting and employment management suppose a input division in adding to the team leader work pressure. Protection:Job environment security is most vital unpredictable. The Word related Security and Health Demonstration (Act) of 1970 businesses have an assurance to give secure work space to all member of business model. Team relation:The team leader or HR head is always contact with the other member of the business model, for that reason the team is sharing their problem with the team leader or HR head. The team leader and HR head will solve the problem according to the knowledge gain by analyzing business model. Reward and Profit:the HR head or HR department is responsible for the best outcomes of the business model. They appoint well and good employees in the organization, which helps to solving all work pressure and work load in the business model. Observance:Consistence with work and job laws is a basic HR capacity. Resistance can bring about working environment objections in light of out of line occupation rehearses, dangerous operational situations and broad discontent that can control profit and eventually, efficiency. HR department must be heedful of government and state work laws, for example, Title VII of the Social equality Act, the Reasonable Work Models Act, the National Work Relations Act and numerous unlike principles and policy. Guidance and Progress:Team leader should give employees apparatuses essential for their wealth, which much be the time, revenue openhanded fresh legislative body beginning preparing to facilitate them be in motion into another authoritative culture. Numerous HR offices likewise give initiative preparing and professional improvement. C At the point when a group is performing getting it done, you'll normally find that every colleague has clear obligations. Pretty much as vitally, you'll see that each part expected to attain to the group's objective is being performed completely and well (Box and Platts, 2005). However regularly, notwithstanding clear parts and obligations, a group will miss the mark regarding its maximum capacity. According to the Mr. Belbin recommends that, by thoughtful piece in a detailed business model, it can add to the character and contract with its deficiency as a colleague, thus improve how it add to the business model. Palm Tree Spa advancement professionals regularly utilize the Belbin model; it is also helps to make adjusted in the business model. The elements or the parameter can obtain lopsided. According to the Belbin, it is recognized nine group parts and he arranged those parts into three divisions like, Activity Situated, Individuals Arranged, and Thought Arranged. Every group part is connected with run of the mill behavioral and interpersonal qualities. Belbin additionally characterized trademark shortcomings that have a tendency to go hand in hand with every group part (Hyvri, 2006). It is called the trademark shortcomings of group parts the "admissible" shortcomings; with respect to any behavioral shortcoming, these are territories to be mindful of and possibly progress. The nine group of the Belbin theory are shown in below. Shaper (SH) Implementer (IMP) Completer and Finisher (CF)Coordinator (CO)Team Worker (TW)Resources Investigator (RI) Plant (PL)Monitor Evaluator (ME)Specialist (SP) Task 3 A The business model or Palm Tree Spa outlines are valuable apparatuses to demonstrate the relationship of individuals and structures which oversee and impact the venture. Numerous tasks have confused reporting and approbation connections. Effective administration of the venture relies on how well you deal with those connections. However first they have to be distinguished. In the sample venture association diagram demonstrated beneath the direct reporting connections are indicated in robust line and the lines of impact are shown in below. A critical piece of venture hierarchical arranging is classification of obligations and power in the undertaking (Levy, 2012). Parts, obligations and power must be arranged and saw by all partners. It is not remarkable in activities for compelling partner gatherings to expect control past their level of assigned power, bringing about negative results for the administration of the undertaking. B The yield of extension administration is a detail that may be displayed as a product breakdown structure (PBS) demonstrating the deliverables and a work breakdown structure (WBS) demonstrating the work needed to deliver them. The arranging methodology will add administration exercises to the WBS to demonstrate the work included in overseeing angles for example, risk and interchanges (Patel, 2008). When an answer has been distinguished which meets the partner necessities, the extent of the work can be outlined utilizing a product breakdown structure (PBS) and a work breakdown structure (WBS). The product breakdown structure (PBS) is a various leveled structure, where the primary yield of the task is put at the top level. The following level down demonstrates the parts that make up the larger amount. This methodology proceeds to the level of individual items. Every item or product in the business model (Palm Tree Spa) will have characterized acknowledgement criteria and quality control strategies. A work breakdown structure (WBS). takes a comparable approach however demonstrates the work needed to make the items. The most minimal level of a WBS demonstrates the exercises that eventual used to make a system outline for time planned. The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) is lower value of the WBS in the business model or into Palm Tree Spa. The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) is helping to monitoring the cost of the activities or element is the business model. The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) is helps to fix the individual cost for each task or activity, when the cost is fixed for the task or activity then its monitoring the actual cost, forecast cost as well as profit cost of the provided system. The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) outcomes are the cost summaries of the business model total cost. In the Palm Tree Spa (business model), the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) is applied in the entire task, which helps for the total outcomes in the provided business model. The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) in the Palm Tree Spa is recruiting by the financial department (Box and Platts, 2005). The Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) is shown in below, which helps for each activity cost. Figure: The Cost Breakdown Structure C The KPI, overall known as Key Performance Indicators and in some cases is also known as the KSI or Key Success Indicators are estimations intended to demonstrate how well a business is meeting its objectives. Having a few KPIs for a business is critical with a specific end goal in form of time, cost, quality and many more are to keep tabs on its development (Artto and Wikstrm, 2005). In the event that it is not doing great, the KPI will help show where modification needs to be made to recover the business on track. The KPIs are conceived after a business has built its statement of purpose, objectives and goals. Measuring the objectives is an imperative piece of maintaining a business, so the KPIs are created before the business starts operations. This helps the business decide how it will verify it is on track to meet its objectives. The KPI one business picks won't likely be the same KPI another picks, in light of the fact that it will all rely on upon the business and what precisely you are attempting to do with the business. These ought to be seen long haul, and ought not to change every now and again. Earned Value analysis is a type of system for execution estimation. Earned Quality is a program administration system that uses work is in process to demonstrate what will happen to work later on. The income value is an improvement over customary bookkeeping advancement measures. Customary routines concentrate on arranged achievement (consumption) also real expenses. Earned value of the business model goes above and beyond and analyzes genuine achievement. This gives supervisors more prominent knowledge into potential danger zones. With clearer picture, supervisors can make hazard alleviation arrangements in light of real cost, plan what's more specialized advancement of the work (Hyvri, 2006). It is an early cautioning project or venture administration instrument that empowers directors to recognize and control issues before they get to be unrealistic. It permits tasks to be overseen better on time, on plan. Earned Esteem Administration Framework is not a particular framework or ins trument set, but instead, an arrangement of rules that guide an organization's administration control framework. D The benefits after changing the management in the business model or Palm Tree Spa are discussed in below. The changing of the management is for the better position of the business model.The changing of the management is required to understanding the business model characteristics by the help of its various types of analysis and approaches.The management is also change the negative feedback of the business model, which is helps to increase the business model.The change in the business model is brings transparency due to help of the changing the management.The change of the management is also helps to work together. The changing of the management is measuring the current position or situation of the business model and its also helps to improve future model of the organization.The future model of the organization is depends on the new comments, which make by the new management of the organization.The implement of changing management is deliver the real improvement, than the changing of the management is good. Conclusion: The qualities of an effective venture thusly incorporate a decently characterized and well-comprehended arrangement of necessities, practical booking, powerful channels of correspondence and clear reporting methods, formal change administration techniques, great initiative, and sound administration of staff and assets. Effective tasks have a tendency to happen inside a hierarchical society that is eager and ready to explore and manage issues, where the vision behind the undertaking is imparted by the majority of the partners, and where the task administrator exhibits compelling relational abilities when managing customers and venture colleagues. Without a doubt, where venture authority is concerned, relational abilities take far more noteworthy priority than specialized information. References: Artto, K. and Wikstrm, K. (2005). What is project business?.International Journal of Project Management, 23(5), pp.343-353. Barkley, B. (2008).Project management in new product development. New York: McGraw-Hill. Box, S. and Platts, K. (2005). Business process management: establishing and maintaining project alignment.Business Process Mgmt Journal, 11(4), pp.370-387. Hyvri, I. (2006). Project management effectiveness in project-oriented business organizations.International Journal of Project Management, 24(3), pp.216-225. Indelicato, G. (2014). A Compendium of PMO Case Studies: Reflecting Project Business Management Concepts.Project Management Journal, 45(2), pp.e4-e4. Levy, S. (2012).Project management in construction. New York: McGraw-Hill. Lock, D. (2007).Project management. Aldershot, England: Gower. Patel, V. (2008).Project management. Jaipur, India: Oxford Book Co.