A Universal Job Recommendation Letter Template

A Universal Job Recommendation Letter Template SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you tasked with writing a recommendation letter for someone and not sure where to start? While all letters should be uniquely customized to the candidate, most share a certain fixed structure. This guide will go over this structure piece by piece to help you through the writing process. Read on for a recommendation letter template that you can use to shape your recommendation letter. To begin, let’s review the purpose of reference letters for job seekers. What's the Purpose of Recommendation Letters? Hiring managers often ask for a recommendation letter or two from applicants to gain an outside perspective on their qualifications. Reference letters can confirm and complement a candidate’s story, as well as speak to specific skills and achievements. As a letter writer, you can give specific examples of the candidate’s long-term work and day-to-day behavior. Managers or coworkers are great sources to describe what it’s like to supervise or collaborate with the candidate. In its most basic role, a letter of recommendation confirms the candidate’s dates of employment and job responsibilities. The most memorable references, though, go beyond a statement of verification to paint a picture of the candidate. They stand as powerful statements of support as the hiring manager decides which applicant would best fill the prospective position. Writing a letter of recommendation can be a tall assignment, so I've broken down the process into steps. Read on to learn about the stages of the letter writing process. Step one is all about listening to what the candidate has to say. Writing a Letter of Recommendation in 4 Steps Below are four major steps of writing your recommendation letter: 1, learn about the job; 2, brainstorm ideas; 3, draft your letter; and 4, edit for clarity. Once you get to the drafting stage, you can use the descriptive template below to structure your letter. Your first step should be to speak with the candidate. Before putting pen to paper (or more realistically, fingers to keyboard), ask her to tell you more about the new job. Want to provide a strong recommendation for your employee, but don't have the time to craft the perfect letter? PrepScholar's new recommendation tool, SimpleRec, takes you from good intentions and a blank page to a fully written and formatted letter of recommendation in under 5 minutes. All you need to do is give us some simple pieces of information about your employee and your experience working with them, and we'll do the rest. Try out SimpleRec risk-free today: Step 1: Learn About the New Job Before starting to write your letter, you might meet with the candidate to gather all the important information and materials. Find out about the new job and its requirements. Get a copy of the candidate’s resume. Ask her if there are any particular qualities or skills she’d like you to emphasize to show she’d make a good fit with the new job. For example, let's pretend you’re writing a letter of recommendation for a member of your support team. If she’s moving and applying to a similar position, then you could focus in on her excellent customer service skills. If she’s applying to a position of leadership, though, then you might focus more on times when she showed managerial skills or maintained productive relationships with her coworkers. You also might mention the reason that the candidate’s applying elsewhere. If she’s moving out of state, then you could say this while adding that you’d retain or hire her again if you could. It’s not totally necessary, but touching on the reason for the application might present another opportunity to show support. Once you â€Å"have your assignment,† you can start to brainstorm ideas for your letter. What skills, qualities, or achievements should you highlight, and what specific examples can you include? Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Letter Once you have a sense of what your letter’s for, you can start brainstorming ideas. What comes to mind about the candidate? What skills or accomplishments could you highlight? In what ways has she fulfilled or even gone beyond her job responsibilities? Some qualities you couldconsider include flexibility, initiative, leadership, growth, collaboration, interpersonal skills, and/or ability to perform within a certain environment or culture. You can also think about specific professional skills, like writing, social media, programming, classroom management, technology, underwater basket weaving - whatever’s relevant to both the current job and the new one. Once you’ve brainstormed ideas, pick out the top two to three to highlight. As you’ll read below, your letter should contain two to three body paragraphs, each with a specific focus and supporting example. Before writing, you can brainstorm the main points you’ll make in your letter. Then, you can start to draft using the structure described below. Don't fear the blank page! The recommendation letter template below will give you all the writing guidance you need to draft your letter. Step 3: Draft Your Letter with this Template There’s something uniquely intimidating about a blank page. You’ve arrived at the moment of truth - actually writing your letter - but you’re not sure where to start. Luckily, recommendation letters, as varied as they can be, tend to follow a tried-and-true format. Your page doesn’t need to remain blank for long. First, you should add the contact information of the person who will be reading your letter. Write Out the Hiring Manager’s Contact Information To start your letter, you should add the hiring manager’s contact information lined up with the left margin at the top. This includes his/her name, position, company or organization, and company or organization’s address. For example, here’s the contact information from our first sample recommendation letter written by a direct manager for a full-time employee. Ms. Greta JohanssenSales ManagerStreambase Corp.66 Western BoulevardSanta Fe, New Mexico 87500 Ideally, you can address your letter to a specific person. Often, a candidate only needs to submit recommendation letters once she’s gone through the first phrase of the application process. She should provide you with this information so you can make your letter more personal. Rather than starting with a generic, "Dear Hiring Manager," strive to address your letter to a specific person, like"Dear Ms. Johanssen," "Dear Mr. Smith," or "Dear Dr. Jekyll." Easy enough, right? And you’re no longer dealing with that unforgiving blank page. Once you’ve added this information, you can start in on your introductory paragraph. Paragraph 1: The Introduction Your introductory paragraph might be three to four sentences. You should start with an enthusiastic opener, like I’m delighted to recommend Joe for the position of Dive Instructor with Rocktopus Dive Company. It’s my honor to provide this recommendation for Chelsea, with whom I co-taught Latin to kindergarten students for the past three years. It’s my great pleasure to recommend Alexandra for the position of Chief Engineer with the Rebel Alliance. There’s no need to explain the reason for your letter with a sentence like, â€Å"Joe asked me to write a recommendation letter for his application to the position of Dive Instructor.† The letter speaks for itself. Start out strong with a positive statement of support. Next, you should explain who you are and why you’re qualified to recommend the candidate. Were you her manager? Coworker? Collaborate on a project? Worked side by side in the same office space every day for three years? Qualify the nature of your relationship to show why your opinion holds weight. Here are a few examples for the second sentence of your introductory paragraph. I’ve gotten to know Joe well over the past three years both as an employee of my diving school and a close personal friend. As Chelsea’s co-teacher at Caesar’s After-School Republic, I planned lessons and taught classes with her Monday through Friday. As Alexandra’s Direct Manager for the past fiveyears, I spoke with her on a daily basis about the best ways to defend ourselves against the Galactic Empire. You may also give a brief description of the candidate, perhaps starting with a preview of the skills or qualities you plan to highlight in your letter. The following are a few examples of the kind of introductory evaluative statements you could make in the beginning of your letter: Joe is a skilled diver, a charismatic teacher, and the kind of level-headed person you’d want to have around in an emergency. Chelsea is a warm, creative, and dynamiclanguage teacher. Please allow me to give three examples of her instructional skills. Alexandra is an outstanding mechanical engineer with a stronggraspof technology and an effective style of communication. Once you’ve introduced yourself and the candidate, you can start in on the body paragraphs of your reference letter. The body paragraphs are like the fillings in a sandwich. How can you make them as tasty and substantial as possible? Paragraphs 1, 2, and (maybe) 3: Your Main Points Once you’ve written your introduction, you’ve arrived at the meat of your letter (or, if you’re a vegetarian, at the grilled eggplant layer of your letter). Most letters contain two to three body paragraphs of fourto sixsentences each. You might choose to write two in-depth paragraphs or three that are a little shorter. Each paragraph can focus on a skill or accomplishment and should contain a specific example.By specific example, I mean you should focus on a particular point in time when the candidate did something significant or memorable. Here are a few examples. Joe’s an expert diving teacher who supports his students holistically through the learning process. In addition to giving clear instruction, Joe helps newdivers manage their anxieties. A few weeks ago, one of his students felt panicky during her first open water dive. Joe showed patience and understanding, and ultimately, the student completed the dive. After the group came back in, she raved about Joe and the way he helped her conquer her fear. With his compassionate approach, Joe has empowered dozens of students to overcome their nerves and achieve their diving goals. Chelsea’s creativity and passion for the Latin language shinethrough in her approach to teaching. She brings the language to life with skits, costumes, posters, and visuals across every wall and tabletop. Last week, the students performed a skit for their parents about Pandora’s Box. Pandora, Prometheus, and Vulcan all made appearances in the excited cast. Chelsea’s classroom is a colorful ode to the ancient world where interactiveactivities and visual cues reinforce students’ language learning at every turn. Beyond improving our existing equipment, Alexandra also develops and tests new theoretical designs. Most recently, she developed a prototype for a starship engine that could run for 1.5 times longer than our current model before needing additional charge. This exciting project is just one example of Alexandra’s innovative and forward-thinking ideas. Between her creativity and engineering expertise, she has the potential to transform our fleet and shape the future of Alliance technology. Coming up with specific anecdotes can be tricky. If you're having trouble coming up with some, you might first consider the qualities you want to highlight. Some possible descriptors and phrases that could jog your thinking include, Creative problem solver Reliable Integrity Detail-oriented Articulate Clear communication Efficient Organized Ambitious Innovative Forward-thinking Sensitive Interpersonal skills Collaborative Leadership qualities Hard-working Dependableand trustworthy Take-charge personality Influential Supportive Thoughtful Kind Once you’ve chosen your points,think of a time that the candidate showed these qualities. What makes you think the employee has great interpersonal skills? Why does the word "initiative" come to mind? Why do you consider her to be an exceptional problem solver? Strive to incorporate a brief but illustrative example in each body paragraph. If your letter starts to resemble a list of vague adjectives, then it won’t paint a vivid picture in the eye of the reader. Another point to consider when drafting your body paragraphs is theorder in which youpresent your points. Remember that first step of learning about the prospective position and its requirements? This information comes in handy now, because you should order your paragraphs by putting the most relevant points at the beginning. Once you’ve drafted your body paragraphs, it’s smooth sailing to the end of your letter. You just need to add a conclusion and a signature, and you’ll be done with your first draft! Made it to the conclusion of your rec letter? Congratulations! It's smooth sailing from here on out. Conclusion and Signature The concluding paragraph, like the introduction, is pretty straightforward. You can think of the last paragraph of your letter as an opportunity to restate your support for the candidate. To give a couple of examples, your conclusion could start something like this: Joe has proven himself to be an outstanding dive instructor, and he has my highest recommendation. Chelsea has my wholehearted recommendation for the position of Head Latin Teacher with your school. In closing, I’d like to reiterate my unequivocal support for Alexandra and her application to theposition of Head Engineer. You might also add a sentence or two summarizing the content of your recommendation or adding a few more positive descriptors. Here are a few examples. Whether he’s training a new group in the classroom or calming a nervous student on her first open ocean dive, Joe has proven himself time and again to be an extremely capable instructor. Chelsea’s made a lasting impression with our students and is more than ready to take on the position of Head Instructor. Alexandra is a hard-working and talented engineer committed to our mission to restore the Republic. Finally, you should invite the reader to contact you with any questions or for any further information. You could also thank the reader for her time. Here are a couple ways to express this thought: Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions. Thanks very much. Then add a "Sincerely" (this is technically called the valediction) and your signature. You might print your name, position, phone number, and email beneath your signature. If this contact information’s already present in the header of your official letterhead, then you could alsochoose not to repeat it at the bottom. For instance, the end of your letter might look something like this: Sincerely, [Signature] Adrianna AureliusLatin Teacheraaurelius@caesarsschool.edu766-263-6747 Now that you’ve got a sense of the content of your recommendation letter, let’s go over a few pointers about format. A Few Tips on Formatting Your Letter Recommendation letters are typically one full page. Any shorter could look like you rushed or didn’t have many positive statements to make about the candidate. Much longer and your reader could lose interest. You want to create a full impression while still being concise. Most recommendation letters are lined up against the left margin. You might indent each paragraph, but it’s more common not to indent. As discussed above, introductory and concluding paragraphs are usually two to three sentences. Body paragraphs might be a little longer at four to six. You might choose to use bullet points with the body paragraphs if it clarifies your thinking, but this format is less common. The paragraphs themselves should be single-spaced with a double space in between each one. You could also put two full spaces between the hiring manager’s contact information at the top and the beginning of your letter, as well as extra space beneath your valedictionof, â€Å"Sincerely† to make space for your signature. While the wording may vary, your final letter should look something like thefinaltemplate below. Below you'll find the basic scaffolding for your recommendation letter. You can use this template to construct yourpolished final product. Drafting Your Recommendation Letter: Final Template While you'll have to fill in the details, the following offers a basicemployee recommendation letter template to guide your writing. Your Official Letterhead Hiring Manager's NamePositionCompanyStreet AddressCity, State, Zip Code Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], It's my great pleasure to recommend [name] for the position of [job title] with [company or organization]. I've worked with [name] as his/her [manager, coworker, etc.] for the past [number of years]. [Name of candidate] is [two to three descriptors], and I have no doubt that he/she would make an outstanding addition to your company/organization. Please allow me to give three examples of her qualifications. Body Paragraphs 1 - 3: [Name] stands out for his/her [quality]. Last week, for example, he/she [specific example]. He/she consistently [description of skills, accomplishments]. [Name] is uniquely qualified for the position of [new job], especially when it comes to [specific responsibilities of the new position].* *Present 2-3 main characteristics of the candidate in the body paragraphs, each with a specific example if possible. Put them in order of importance andrelevance to the prospective position. Usestrongly positive language, but try not to soundover the top. In closing, I'd like to restate my wholeheartedsupport for [name's] application to the position of [job title]. He/she is [most important qualities]. I have no doubt that she will continue to have great success with your company/organization. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Signature] NamePositionEmailPhone Number While this structure works for most letters, there's also a lot of space for you to customize your letter to the individual,especially in the body paragraphs. In the end, your letter should be your own unique piece of writing. Once you’ve finished drafting, take some time to read over your letter and make any necessary revisions. Step 4: Edit for Clarity Your final letter should be clear, concise, and error-free. To cut down on unnecessary bulk, consider whether you can shave off unnecessary adjectives or adverbs. Watch out for wordiness, and try to tighten up your language overall. If you can express the same idea in fewer words, do so. Below is one example of editing for clarity. Too flowery: Chelsea is an energetic, exciting, and enthusiastic teacher who's truly dedicated to the well-being of her students and to the maintenance of an open, comfortable classroom environment conducive tolearning and exploration. Better: Chelsea is an energetic teacher dedicated to her students' well-being. She createsa classroom environment where students feel safeto explore. Beyond making your letter lean and precise, make sure it doesn’t have any errors of grammar and spelling. Through editing, you can make your letter a powerful endorsement and help the candidate get hired for the new job! As you edit, cut down on flowery language so your reader can get to the root of what you're saying. Final Thoughts About Writing a Letter of Recommendation In the end, your mission is to produce a stand-out letter of recommendation that will leave an impression with its reader. You’re aiming to endorse the candidate and prove that she would be successful in her next role. Your letter can complement the candidate’s story and give specific examples of her accomplishments. While recommendation letters should be unique to each candidate, they share a certain structure. Ensure that you use a proper format, address your letter to a specific person, and introduce who you are and how you know the candidate in your introduction. Choose a few points to make in your two to three body paragraphs, each of them supported with an anecdote from a particularpoint in time. Present the most relevant points first, so your reader can see right away why the candidate is qualified. Finally, conclude with a restatement of your support and an invitation for the hiring manager to contact you for any further information. Above all, choose your words with care so that you succeed in painting a strongly positive, while still realistic picture of the candidate. Your letter could go a long way in helping her get hired and ultimately, changing her day-to-day life! Want to provide a strong recommendation for your employee, but don't have the time to craft the perfect letter? PrepScholar's new recommendation tool, SimpleRec, takes you from good intentions and a blank page to a fully written and formatted letter of recommendation in under 5 minutes. All you need to do is give us some simple pieces of information about your employee and your experience working with them, and we'll do the rest. Try out SimpleRec risk-free today: What’s Next? Now that you have a recommendation template to work with, learn more about recommendation letters with our nine free samples! Check out this full guide with recommendation letter samples from managers, supervisors, and a colleague. Are you interested in recommendation letters for college? Check out this guide with four samples of teacher recommendation letters for high school students. You can also find three more written by school counselors. Interested in how a student recommendation letter is different from a job rec letter?This recommendation letter template will help you write a reference for a student.

Secret holds essay

Secret holds essay Secret holds essayNowadays the so-called secret holds are considered to be on the top of the list of the Senate progress threats. The main idea of secret hold is the right of one single senator to hold some piece of legislation, without stating the reason. This could be done officially, as well as non-officially. When there was a moment, when a bill to stop secret holds was offered, ironically it was not passed exactly because of a number of secret holds. Nowadays there is an opinion that secret holds are not beneficial for progress and accountability and thus they should be banned.According to the rules of Senate in order to proceed any bill there is a need to get the unanimous consent. In other words if there is a Senator, who has objections as for moving forward a bill, then there is no unanimous consent and the bill is stopped automatically. If there is a need to prevent any bill from reaching the stage of voting, then it receives hold. There are two options possible. According t o the first option the motion is held due to open objection on the Senate floor and according to the second option, the Senators have the chance to inform the party leaders privately about their objections, without even revealing their names to public. This is actually the procedure of a secret hold. Initially the main aim of introducing of the secret hold was to let Senators consult of legislation in relations to each of the states. As soon as any Senator used the right to place a hold, he could have enough time to consider the current legislation and realize the outcomes of the further steps forward.In reality the situation is not that simple, as this right was actually utilized by the Senators in order to anonymously hold the legislations, without even having to comment upon the reasons for doing so. Logically, secret holds became real powerful weapons to be used by Senators, when they needed it and moreover without forcing them to present their comment to public. The practice of secret holds dates back to the middle of the 19th century and was actively utilized by both Republicans and Democrats. Still nowadays there are more and more cases, when secret holds are abused and the results are the blocks of the normal functioning of the Senate as well as some of the Presidential appointments, for which approvals from the Senate are needed.This is the reason, why the advocated of the government transparency have paid attention to the practice of secret holds and initiated the discussion of finding the way to ban secret holds. There is an opinion that there is a need to support transparency by making the Senators come out with their ideas and attitudes officially and be ready to bear responsibility for their decisions and actions.  Ã‚   The Senators have initially occupied their positions in order to operate openly and without taking any decisions in shadow. Even if there is no chance to take such decision immediately, there should be steps made in this directi on.Do you like this essay? You can say "Thank you" to the writer donating him any amount you want. Donate here. (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading...0Comments Secret holds essayNowadays the so-called secret holds are considered to be on the top of the list of the Senate progress threats. The main idea of secret hold is the right of one single senator to hold some piece of legislation, without stating the reason. This could be done officially, as well as non-officially. When there was a moment, when a bill to stop secret holds was offered, ironically it was not passed exactly because of a number of secret holds. Nowadays there is an opinion that secret holds are not beneficial for progress and accountability and thus they should be banned.According to the rules of Senate in order to proceed any bill there is a need to get the unanimous consent. In other words if there is a Senator, who has objections as for moving forward a bill, then there is no unanimous consent and the bill is stopped automatically. If there is a need to prevent any bill from reaching the stage of voting, then it receives hold. There are two options possible. According t o the first option the motion is held due to open objection on the Senate floor and according to the second option, the Senators have the chance to inform the party leaders privately about their objections, without even revealing their names to public. This is actually the procedure of a secret hold. Initially the main aim of introducing of the secret hold was to let Senators consult of legislation in relations to each of the states. As soon as any Senator used the right to place a hold, he could have enough time to consider the current legislation and realize the outcomes of the further steps forward.In reality the situation is not that simple, as this right was actually utilized by the Senators in order to anonymously hold the legislations, without even having to comment upon the reasons for doing so. Logically, secret holds became real powerful weapons to be used by Senators, when they needed it and moreover without forcing them to present their comment to public. The practice of secret holds dates back to the middle of the 19th century and was actively utilized by both Republicans and Democrats. Still nowadays there are more and more cases, when secret holds are abused and the results are the blocks of the normal functioning of the Senate as well as some of the Presidential appointments, for which approvals from the Senate are needed.This is the reason, why the advocated of the government transparency have paid attention to the practice of secret holds and initiated the discussion of finding the way to ban secret holds. There is an opinion that there is a need to support transparency by making the Senators come out with their ideas and attitudes officially and be ready to bear responsibility for their decisions and actions.  Ã‚   The Senators have initially occupied their positions in order to operate openly and without taking any decisions in shadow. Even if there is no chance to take such decision immediately, there should be steps made in this directi on.

Research Design and Methodology Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Design and Methodology - Research Paper Example After reviewing literature, the research design that will guide the investigation will be identified. In this particular case, the design that will be used for this research would be the analysis of secondary data. This is because for this kind of research design, there are very few research ethics that are involved. The main source of data in this research would be the internet and other library resources would supplement it. After selecting the research design, the next process would be collection of required data from their sources. Data sources for this particular research will be scholarly books, peer reviewed journals, published research papers, information from nonprofit organizations, and information from government agencies. This information would be obtained either from the library or internet sources. Since the sources of information are many and wide, it is necessary to select a sample. A sample is a portion of the sampling frame used in a research because of impracticability of using every item in the sampling frame (Buglear, 2012). Therefore, before starting the process of data collection, a sample of sources of information would be identified. In this particular research, the sampling frame consists of all sources of information that could provide data related to this research topic. After collecting the data, the next step to be undertaken would be data processing. According to Babbie (201 0), data processing methods available for qualitative research are coding, writing memos, and mapping concepts graphically. These are the methods of data processing that would be used for this research. After the data processing, the research conclusion will be drawn from the analyzed and interpreted data. The data collected in this particular case would represent the variables identified for this particular research topic. Data collected in this research will be qualitative and non-numerical. This is why it would be processed and

Career Aspirations Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Career Aspirations - Research Proposal Example This is my short-term plan for the next 5 years. An accountant must be very good at numbers, precise, analytical and willing to work in a flexible schedule. There are many occasions wherein one has to render overtime especially when a lot of transactions were made in a single day .It is a must for an accountant to have an over-all knowledge of accounting, finance, budgeting, cost control and the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).It is also important for an accountant to be updated with existing financial regulations on the federal as well as national level. It is important for someone who wants to be an accountant to be very patient in handling details. But aside from the technical work, it would also be good if I have good interpersonal skills since I have to deal with different people inside an organization. I need to do a lot of explaining about finance which is sensitive topic for most people. Moreover, I believe I should be very, very objective. One of my strengths is the ability to persevere under trying conditions. I am a very patient person and this attribute would greatly help me in this career. For one, I have encountered a situation wherein I have to explain procedures that someone must follow. The incident happened when I was then assisting in my relative's small business during summer. They had a small grocery which had long-term customers. One grocer returned a box of milk since the date showed that it has already expired. I calmly explained that I need to keep the box as proof but I can't return her money since I do not have the authority to do so. She was insistent and started cursing me. I called my aunt on the cellphone and informed her of the situation. She immediately ordered me to refund the payment. At the end of the day, it was only then that I realized that I was patient and tactful in handling the old lady. I followed the procedure and asked for advice before I acted on the

Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

Financial Management - Essay Example This paper will explore the different ways by which business entities can deal with the exchange rate variations to protect the value of their assets and profits against unpredictable risks. In recent years derivatives have been developed in order to provide some sort of insurance in the face of uncertainty caused by the changes in the foreign exchange rates. Derivative, or hybrid, investments, unlike stocks and bonds, do not represent ownership of shares, such as stocks, or a promise of loan repayment, such as bonds, and are once or twice removed from a real product. For example, a crude oil futures contract is a bet on which way crude oil prices will move, but what happens to the product itself is of no interest to the investor When an individual converts one currency into another in an actual exchange, the risk inherent in this activity is called a transaction exposure. Multinationals often face translation exposure, or the risk that arises from the need to re-state one currency in terms of another currency for accounting purposes. The risk arises because exchange risk volatility can impact the value of net assets and profits at the time of their translation. (See Kolb 1997). Financial derivatives are based on an underlying instrument such interest as debt instruments or foreign currencies. Most predominant among these derivatives are forward contracts, but futures contracts, option contracts, and swap contracts are also used by businesses as means of hedging. Hedging is distinguished from speculation in that the hedger wants to shift risk to others while the speculator hopes to make profits for the risk he is taking. A futures contract is an agreement that one party will accept delivery of a particular asset – either real or financial – on some date in the future at a price determined today. If one is intending to buy an asset in the future, one could buy a futures contract (a long position) today to fix the

Aircraft Maintenance Hanger Construction Bid

Aircraft Maintenance Hanger Construction Bid Introduction Many hangar projects are erroneously started in what should be the fourth step project execution. Bypassing the first three planning steps usually leads to frustration and project failure. There is no way to shorten the process by skipping any particular step. Planning the development of any construction site ultimately saves time, effort, and money. All of the project pre-planning and preparation to this point begins to pay off. During the project execution phase project manager completes the project design and funding, solicit bids, award the construction contract, build the hangars, and move in tenants. There will be changes that must be incorporated into the project plan (change in funding sources, regulations, stakeholders, size of project scope), and using the principles of project management can ensure the best possible outcome. This case is about the construction bid for an Aircraft maintenance hanger. ABC Construction Company is in the business of the Aircraft hanger construction. The company has bid for the construction of Aircraft hanger at one of the client site. The Project Manager of the ABC Construction Company has been entrusted with the responsibility of coming up with the project management plan for the entire construction. The following sections provide the baseline plan, progress of the activities against the plan on a given date (15/12/2010) and the efforts by the project manager to bring the plan to the original schedule. The second part of the task is to develop a project cost plan for the main contractors preliminaries associated with the construction of the aircraft hanger. When calculating the preliminary costs, following information is referred: NRM Group element 10 guidance Drawings of the Aircraft hanger Contractors master program The cost plan also discusses the implications of earned value techniques on the project as part of the project control process. The discussion also includes examples to illustrate the application of the earned value techniques in the management of the preliminaries costs. Finally, the value engineering process is conducted to the project, and a better deal is offered the client, which has a better value but at a lower price. The value engineering report prepared as part of this process demonstrates each step of the value engineering process. Time and resource planning and control Project scheduling Assuming the project starting date is of 06/09/2010, and 5 working days a week with Saturday and Sunday as holidays. Based on the tasks lists provided to you, Input activity information into Microsoft Project and schedule the hanger. Based on the schedule that you have generated using Microsoft Project, provide the following outputs: project schedule information (activity ID, activity description, activity duration, predecessors, skilled labor, unskilled labor, early start, early finish, late start, late finish, and total float); CPM network diagram; Bar charts; and Project resource profiles (skilled labor and unskilled labor). Program control By now, you should have developed your baseline schedule for the office building. As an exercise in monitoring and control, you will be required to monitor and control your project based on certain deviations from your initial project plan. Save your initial schedule plan as a baseline schedule and identify all the critical activities; Assume the current date to be 15/12/10 and induce delays into your project based on the following considerations: Due to the problem for the selection of the color of bricks, the hanger starts on 15/10/10 instead of 06/09/10; all activities in progress on 22/10/2010 are delayed by 3 days each; all activities in progress on 01/11/2010 are delayed by 5 days each; all activities in progress on 20/11/2010 are delayed by 2 days each; Update the project and save this as actual project information. After updating, please provide the following information Project schedule information (activity ID, activity description, activity duration, predecessors, skilled labour, unskilled labour, early start, early finish, late start, late finish and total float); Barcharts; Project resources profiles (skilled labour, unskilled labour); and Critical activity list. Do a comparison between both baseline and actual schedules. For comparison, you may compare activity start and finish dates under both situations. Since your project should have been delayed, it is your duty as a project manager to bring the project back on schedule with the least cost. Using 15/12/10 as a current date, try compressing some activities (these activities should not have started yet) and bring the project back on schedule. Compression should be logical and at a minimum cost. This may require several trials. Assume that the extra cost incurred as a result of activity compression is  £50/worker/day. After bringing back your project on schedule, please provide the following information: Project schedule information (activity ID, activity description, activity duration, predecessors, skilled labor, unskilled labor, early start, early finish, late start, late finish and total float); Bar charts; Project resource profiles (skilled labor, unskilled labor); and Critical activity list. Do a comparison between baseline, actual and updated schedules. For comparison purposes, you may compare activity start and finish dates under all situations. All the above details related to above questions have been entered into MS-Project and the three mpps are enclosed with the assignment. Cost Plan Develop a project cost plan for the main contractors preliminaries associated with the construction of the aircraft hanger. The Project cost plan includes the schedule of costs to be incurred during the project and the associated estimates. These are the costs which are expected to be incurred as a result of the completion of project activities. The schedule of activities and the resource plan feeds into the Cost plan and hence it is prepared subsequent to them. As a result of the project planning activities, the project manager is aware of the details regarding the project and hence the refinement of project budget can take place. This activity is particularly important when the project in full or part is expected to be executed under a contract. This is not to undermine the importance of accurate cost planning for the in-house projects as accurate and realistic cost plan helps in effective monitoring and of costs during the execution of the project. The monitoring of the cost helps the project manager to execute the project within the budget. Following three activities are important to develop the cost plan The expected cost identification and estimation Estimation of schedule when these costs would be incurred Cost per activity/task estimation The development of the cost plan for simple projects may only involve the consideration of the overall cost vis-à  -vis the project activities on the schedule of activities. Nevertheless, the situation is different for the complex projects, where, a detailed cost plan needs to be drawn in order to effectively monitor the overall expenditure. The NRM is also known as New Rules of Measurement. It provides a structured basis for preparing order of cost estimates and elemental cost plans including all the costs and allowances forming part of the cost of the building to the client but which are not reflected in the measurable building work. NRM covers the non-physical aspects of a project that the client may require as part of his overall budget for the project. NRM rules for order of cost estimating Information required Constituents Measurement rules Floor area Functional units Elements floor area, Element unit quantities Updating historic costs Preliminaries Contractors overheads and profit Discuss how earned value techniques could be employed on the project as part of the project control process including examples to illustrate their application to the management of the preliminaries costs. Earned Value Analysis (EVA) was developed by the US Department of Defence to determine the performance of large military procurement contracts. Its techniques can still be applied to the smaller projects currently in use today. Indeed, as Microsoft Project allows drilling down through and across a project, specific variances and general trends can be easily found. EVA looks at three basic parameters: What value of work SHOULD have been accomplished to date? How much value has been realized to date? How much has actually been spent to date? By comparing these parameters, an objective assessment of cost AND schedule performance can be gained. Instead of simply concentrating on how much time has been taken to achieve progress, earned value looks at how much value has been achieved so far. For example, take the following project summary task: This project started on time, but it is currently expected to finish 5 days late. This project is expected to overspend by $1,280 approximately 13% greater than its baseline cost. So far (as of the projects status date), the project is behind schedule to the value of $1,600 worth of work. In addition the current best estimates indicate that it will (if things continue as planned) overspend by $2,004, which is $725 more than forecast in the topmost example. Whilst these figures may not indicate large overspend or overrun, these figures are from a sample project containing ONLY seven tasks. If there were 70 tasks (or even several hundred tasks), the potential for error becomes much larger. Value Engineering Efforts to reduce the Cost Value Engineering is defined as an organized effort directed at analyzing the functions of systems, equipment, facilities, services and supplies for the purpose of achieving the essential functions at the lowest life cycle cost consistent with the required performance, reliability, quality and safety. Numerous other terms (value management, value analysis, etc.) are also used when referring to VE. While there are subtle differences among these terms they all refer to-generally the same process. There types of benefits associated with the VE exercise in the current case are First Cost Reduction: These reductions are attributed to the VE program only when required project functions or features can be delivered at the reduced cost. Simple cost cutting e.g. reducing cost at the expense of required features or functions is not VE. VE first cost reductions are counted as VE savings to the extent that dollars are withdrawn from approved budgets based on the results of VE studies. Life Cycle Cost Reduction: LCC reductions are based on the aggregate of first cost and anticipated future cost in maintenance and operations. When additional first cost is required to implement a specific VE suggestion, this can be offset by other VE suggestions which reduce initial cost. If the project budget must be increased to accommodate the additional investment, first cost savings derived from other projects may be used for this purpose after appropriate approvals. As long as they do not entail first-cost project budget increases, VE suggestions based on apparent life-cycle cost reductions may be adopted without formal LCC analysis. However, LCC reductions will be counted as VE LCC savings only when supported by sufficient economic analysis. Value Improvement: Value improvement is a subjective expression referring to a projected or apparent favorable shift in cost/worth ratio. The objective of all VE suggestions is value improvement, whether or not cost reductions are involved. VE suggestions maybe to reduce life cycle cost with no reduction or a lesser reduction in worth, to increase worth with no increase or a lesser increase in life-cycle cost, or (ideally) to increase worth and reduce cost. All VE suggestions which involve adjustments in worth should be related to specific forms of such adjustment (e.g., productivity, flexibility, expandability, aesthetics, etc.), whether or not they also involve cost adjustments. Following two studies were conducted as part of the VE exercise: The completion of Concept Design The completion of Tentative Design As it is a new construction projects, the first study at Concept Design is intended to review basic design decisions that pertain to areas such as: Siting and building orientation Building form, shape and massing Layout Occupiable to gross area relationships Design criteria Building systems selection options Space program options Building space/volume parameters Vertical and horizontal circulation Major Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing (MEP) considerations Overall energy considerations Site access/egress Overall phasing/scheduling plans (as appropriate) Sub-soil conditions and geological data Utility availability The second study at Tentative Design will focus on more detailed design decisions including (as applicable): Specific building system design Specification and performance requirements Proposed design details Layout options within overall building geometry Specific MEP system selections Site paving, grading and utilities Phasing and scheduling plans Major constructability issues The basic approach is intended to consider macro level issues at Concept Design and more micro level issues at Tentative Design. In general, decisions made as a result of the first study will not be reconsidered in the second study unless significant new information is available. Furthermore, design changes implemented as a result of the studies will generally be considered to be within the bounds of the normal design process. VE Job Plan The recommended VE methodology (Job Plan) used by the VE team during the Workshop had five distinct phases. Briefly, these phases are: Information Phase: During this phase, the VE team gains as much information as possible about the project design, background, constraints, and projected costs. The team performs a function analysis and relative cost ranking of systems and sub-systems to identify potential high cost areas. Speculative/Creative Phase: The VE team uses a creative group interaction process to identify alternative ideas for accomplishing the function of a system or sub-system. Evaluation/Analytical Phase: The ideas generated during the Speculative/Creative Phase are screened and evaluated by the team. The ideas showing the greatest potential for cost savings and project improvement are selected for further study. Development/Recommendation Phase: The VE team researches the selected ideas and prepares descriptions, sketches and life cycle cost estimates to support the recommendations as formal VE proposals. Report Phase: The VE consultant will work in concert with the A-E and the PBS representative to produce a preliminary written VE Report which is intended to represent the results of the VE workshop activities, and meet the VE Program objectives. Finally, post workshop, all the suggestions were collated and classified into three categories of high, medium and low complexity. The suggestions associated with the current projects were as follows Modification of architectural designs: The hangar roof was designed to be an opaque structure. This roof can be made transparent through the ample use of the transparent glass which would allow more volume of sunlight. The high amount of sunlight during the day would result in the low usage of electricity and hence reduction in the variable cost of the running the hangar. Substitution of building wall material: Building wall material is designed to be made up of steel which can be replaced with high grade brick. The brick would also keep the temperature under control within the hangar. Reuse of existing materials such as fencing: The material used in fencing can be reused in the construction activity as the fence would not be required eventually. Use of Solar power: The Solar power can be effectively used to heat the water as well as to provide the night time lighting. This would reduce the variable cost of running the hanger. References Cooks, Sarah (2002), A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, PMI, 3rd Edition (PMBOK Guides) Public Procurement Directorate (2007), [Internet], Public Procurement best practices guide, Available at :< http://www.publicprocurementguides.treasury.gov.cy/OHS-EN/HTML/index.html?7_4_3_cost_of_project_development.htm>, accessed on: 25 May 2010 Homepage (2007), [Internet], Aircraft Hanger development guide, Available at :< http://www.aopa.org/asn/hangar-execution.pdf>, accessed on: 25 May 2010 Jack J. Champlain, Auditing Information Systems, Second Edition (2003), Pages 277, 278, 279 280, John Wiley Sons Publication. Mulcahy, Rita (2003), Risk Management, Tricks of the Trade ® for Project Managers, 4th edition, RMC Publications. Mulcahy, Rita (2003), PMP Exams Prep, RMC Publications. Rich, Jason R, Design and Launch an Online E-Commerce Business in a Week, Entrepreneur Press, 2008, ISBN: 1599181835, 9781599181837. Schwalbe, Kathy (2009), PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) reference and Information Technology Project Management, 6edition.

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage The notion that war is an exciting, romantic endeavor full of glory and heroism has existed for centuries.   Stephen Crane set out to demystify war through his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which traces the experiences of a young soldier in the American Civil War. Crane shows the true nature of war by contrasting Henry Fleming's romantic expectations with the reality that he encounters. This contrast between romantic vision and cold reality can be seen early in the novel, with Henry's departure from home. Driven to a "prolonged ecstasy of excitement" by the rejoicing crowd, Henry enlists in the army and says good-bye to his mother with a "light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes" (709). He anticipates a romantic, sentimental send-off reminiscent of Spartan times and even goes as far as preparing remarks in advance which he hopes to use "with touching effect" to create "a beautiful scene" (710). However, Crane presents a more realistic view. At the news of Henry's enlistment, his mother simply says "The Lord's will be done" and continues milking the cow, having previously urged Henry not to be "a fool" by enlisting (709). She then destroys his hopes by offering sensible,... ...es in anguish while his friend Jim suffers and dies. Today, many of the romantic myths about war have been destroyed through television and movies such as Born on the Fourth of July, which shows war with all its suffering, pain, and death. Yet it was Stephen Crane who, a century ago, deglorified war through the experiences of Henry Fleming. With his frequent contrasts between romantic vision and cold reality, Crane clearly portrays the true horrors of war. Work Cited Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage. Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Geroge McMichael, et al. 5th ed.Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1993. 707-87.