Community Planning Model for Sustainability

Community Planning Model for Sustainability Narrative In the West, Twentieth Century urban planning policies and rapid urbanisation; characterised by single use zoning; low density land use and car dependent communities; have often separated people from traditional community interaction. For many this individualistic existence can be perceived as dystopia. What if people were given the opportunity to respond to such dystopia assisted by the further development of cooperative community model that facilitated sustainable living and supportive mutual respect? What if an alternative means to live was promoted helped by the provision of flexible and supportive physical mixed use environment which was both accessible and beneficial to the whole community? It is arguable that true sustainability relates not only to the natural environment but also to the built environment and it has key economic and social community dimensions Brief Outline of User Requirements: Cohousing communities provide a developing physical, economic and social model to achieve such objectives outlined above. They are typically composed of mixed use flexible buildings containing private living space, economic activity and extensive common areas, which are owned, managed and maintained by the residents, providing an affordable, sustainable and community focused lifestyle. Facilities should include a range of communal facilities proportionate in size to the development including a large kitchen and dining room area, a laundry, offices and workshops with broadband access and a range of leisure facilities Communal outdoor spaces should provide attractive areas for social interaction. The buildings should be flexible and adaptive and encourage supportive cooperative behavior. The proposed buildings should seek to take maximum benefit from their town centre location and seek to achieve high environmental standards against the sustainability code. Close spatial relationship between work and residence and interaction economically with the neighbourhood and visitors to the city centre should be encouraged. This self-generative environment will enhance a socio-economic sustainability that can successfully adapt to the changing needs of the resident and wider community. Proposed Location: Fish Street is located in Leeds City Centre. It connects Kirkgate, King Edwards Street and Vicar Lane providing access to the boutique retail outlets in the Victorian Quarter of the City, The City Markets and Lower Briggate, all of which are major tourist attractions. INTRODUCTION THE GLOBAL PROBLEM Some sociologists such as Georg Simmeland Ferdinand Tà ¶nnies, have posed the theory that the anonymity of the city leads to a feeling of alienation (Hess, A, 2001) (Lucaccini, G, 2009). Twentieth century urban planning policies and rapid urbanisation; characterised by single use zoning; low density land use; large corporate business and car dependent communities; have served to separate people from traditional community interaction. For many this individualistic existence can be perceived as a dystopia. Furthermore, with 75 per cent of the 10 billion people expected to inhabit the planet by 2050 predicted to reside in urban centers this is a global issue that needs to be addressed (Ripplinger, S, 2009). The future shaping and wellbeing of cities requires the promotion and implementation of new models of flexible mixed use and adaptive buildings responding to and promoting cooperative, supportive and sustainable communities. LEEDS Scattered and isolated communities are no more apparent than in Leeds (Nuttgens, P, 1979). Over the course of the last century city residents have been driven from the City Centre and out into the suburbs leaving some urban areas neglected, unsafe and underused (Nuttgens, P, 1979) especially during times of economic decline such as that precipitated by the credit crunch. Although  £1.8 billion of major property development has been undertaken in Leeds over the last 10 years, this part of the City remains detached and aloof, and many city dwellers still face exclusion or separation from community support. Maxwell Hutchinsons assertion that Leeds is building the high rise slums of tomorrow theyre forgetting to build communities would appear particularly accurate, despite Leeds City Planning Policy that sets out to tackle social exclusion and foster better communities (BBC Inside Out Leeds Changing for the Better?) (Leeds City Council 2007, Sustainable Development in Leeds). HOW THE SITE STARTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM The Fish Street area is deep within the commercially driven retail heart of Leeds City Centre. The site, having once accommodated thriving mixed use markets in the 19th Century, is now an unattractive backland space which for big brand retail outlets, is unappealing and limited in size and economic potential. However it is the ideal place to shape and develop a sustainable urban community which is accessible for all, inclusive and community focused. SITE (PHYSICAL CONTEXT) 1500 1556 SITE CHOICE 100 94 The reuse and repositioning of obsolete or underutilised buildings and sites is essential to revitalising Leeds City Centre and renewing blighted neighbourhoods and replacing them with more prosperous communities. Six such areas were analysed to identify the best opportunities to shape a sustainable urban community within Leeds City Centre and promote opportunity for investment, business enterprise and social interaction. The sites were analysed in terms of size, transport links, proximity to community essential amenities, foot fall, gathering and retreating, sense of entry and arrival, parking and orientation. THE SELECTED SITE? 100 109 The most suitable location was the Fish Street Area. This location benefits from excellent footfall, permeability and connectivity (See Right). It lies directly between the two main East-West pedestrian routes across the City Centre (Kirkgate and King Edwards Street) as well as the main North-South pedestrian and vehicular routes (Briggate and Vicar Lane). The Fish Street area is located in close proximity to the Victorian Boutique Retail Outlets, the City Markets and Briggate, all of which are major tourist attractions. Community essential amenities are plentiful as are transport facilities with major bus routes on Vicar Lane and Leeds Railway Station is a 5 minute walk away. SITE INFORMATION 150 144 The Fish Street area has a T alignment in terms of the street and building form. The site consists of three clusters of unattractive and under-utilised buildings including two storage facilities and two run down B grade commercial buildings one of which is advertised for redevelopment. The Fish Street area is generally used as a thoroughfare and a hair salon and two small cafes allow for some very limited community interaction. The area underperforms environmentally, socially and economically and presents a substantial opportunity for regeneration The sites total approximately 1030 sq m and have a street frontage of 100 m. A considerable proportion of the sites have a single frontage. There is a slight fall of approximately 700mm from West to East across the site over a distance of 41 metres (1:59) and from North to South it is relatively level. Assembly of the site may require compulsory purchase by the Local Authority under wellbeing powers. VISUAL SURVEY 100 87 Immediate and distant thresholds and views of the site have been investigated. The results are shown over the following pages. The Fish Street area is surrounded by a range of architectural building styles and materials (See Conservation: Limitations and Opportunities). However the red brick and ornate Victorian facades on King Edwards Street provide the best example of architectural consistency and are typical of the Victorian listed buildings in this area of Leeds. Care must be taken to respect the language and expression of these buildings especially in terms of colour, materials and where practicable scale and height in any redevelopment. Much of the site is however tucked away in its own context, providing some flexibility. IDENTIFICATION OF ANY EXISTING HAZARDS 300 242 GROUND CONDITIONS CONTAMINATION Fish Street lies adjacent to Briggate and Kirkgate, two of the oldest streets in Leeds dating back to 1207. The presence of former cellars, unconsolidated ground and foundations or structural relationships with adjoining buildings will be examined. The stability of adjoining buildings and any party wall issues will need to be assessed. Any risks associated with former coal mining will be examined. Middle and Lower Coal Measures are present across central Leeds. These deposits comprise a thick sequence of alternating bands of clays, shales, sandstone, mudstone and coal (LCC, 2001, Contaminated Land). HYDROLOGY The major surface watercourse within the Leeds area is the River Aire and Leeds Liverpool Canal. The Fish Street area is not within flood risk zones currently identified (LCC, 2007, Sustainable Drainage in Leeds) MANMADE HAZARDS Given the city centre location, the air quality and the noise and light pollution levels will be assessed and mitigation taken where necessary to meet environmental standards. Vicar Lane is a major vehicular route therefore road safety and air pollution must be considered. The location and availability of gas, electricity and broadband services and foul and surface water drains must also be determined through detailed surveys and consultation. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 350 283 CLIMATE In Leeds rainfall averages 600mm annually (metoffice.gov.uk). The predominant wind is from the South West with an average speed of 10 knots (windfinder.com). Though the project location is surrounded by large and frequent obstructions, funneling at ground level along Fish street, Kirkgate and King Edwards Street should be considered. The Fish Street area is approximately 36m above sea level. Air temperature averages 11 °C annually and a snow load of 0.6kn/m sq should be accommodated for in the design. Within the area a microclimate will moderate extremes. SUNLIGHT/DAYLIGHT At street level some overshadowing occurs, though the upper levels of the proposed development should be relatively open to sunlight subject to some flexibility in the heights relative to adjoining buildings. However, given the narrowness of the highways through the site and the single aspect of much of the sites, effective penetration of natural light into the buildings will be a major consideration. Any potential rights of light issues will be examined and negotiated. The Fish Street Area slopes gently Eastward and maximum environmental advantage will be taken of this aspect by the height and design of the new buildings. DESIGN FACTORS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SITE 450 CONSERVATION The Fish Street area is located in conservation area 45A of Leeds City Centre. Numerous listed buildings line King Edwards Street and Vicar Lane. Appropriate consent will be necessary to enable demolition of the buildings in the scheme and the development proposals. Conservation and urban design policies are included in the Local Development Frame Work (LDF) and need to be taken into account. ARTICULATION, ORNAMENT AND MATERIALS Facade treatment; ratio of solid to void and detailing of facades should be designed to complement traditional proportioning, and materials should complement the existing range of brick and stone in terms of reflectivity, colour and texture. Rooflines should be staggered or otherwise broken to take account of changes in level and roofs should be pitched and punctuated by features such as dormers, chimneys or turrets where appropriate. SITE ACCESS Site accommodation for the contractor and site cabins, cranes and materials is limited and must be resolved. The minimum provision of lifts can be met through incorporation of walkways in the sky between the separate sites. As some of the buildings are single aspect they will back onto blank party walls of adjoining properties and so there will be issues of absence of light and views.Ventilation ducts that run horizontally to the roof and the use of solar chimneys must be considered. COMMON LAW RIGHTS There are also rights to light, rights of way and covenants and restrictive covenants that must be investigated. Ownership factors such as Highways Services way leaves and the Party Wall Act will affect the legalities of the development. Access for refuse, emergency services and deliveries must be catered for in the design. BRIEF 1500 1527 AN OUTLINE BRIEF 500 451 An innovative iconic inner city group of buildings is required to demonstrate a new form of regeneration post credit crunch. Urban development that is more sustainable, affordable and community focused will reshape Leeds City Centre (LCC, Leeds Sustainable Strategy, 2009). The development must be an attractive investment proposition for the tenant whom is able to live and work within a likeminded empathetic community that shares the benefits of shared resources and knowledge, in an environmentally friendly, non alienating environment. BUSINESS ENTERPRISE Mixed use driven out of the older back streets of Leeds, by big commercial business on Briggate and the Headrow etc. The Fish Street area is unattractive to big commercial retailers/business due to complexities of the site. Providing a community model which makes these spaces available to smaller business. COMMUNITY Research has shown that 65% of people have nobody with whom they can co-operate in their daily lives, 84% do not have close relationships with their neighbours and one in three people live alone (2006, National Lifestyle Preferences). Crime, antisocial behaviour, dirty streets, neglected open spaces, lighting and lack of facilities for young people have also been highlighted as the most concerning of social issues (2008, New Economics Foundation). The development must address the breakdown of community in urban centres. MANAGEMENT TENURE 100 92 The membership and outreach policy will be democratic, open and inclusive and will seek to develop close connections with the surrounding community. A process of recruiting founder members will take place as part of the design process to ensure their involvement in the design of the scheme. The development must be for a mixed-income, multigenerational demographic to ensure financial and community sustainability. OVERALL EXPECTATIONS/STATEMENTS ON THE QUALITY TO BE ACHIEVED 200 111 The development will create a beautiful living, working environment which will maximise green spaces, natural energy resources and areas for social interaction, maximising the potential of the upper floors and aspect of the separate building sites and the narrow urban space between the buildings. As a pilot scheme it will need to have good quality materials, finishes and fittings that reflect the statement being made and that are durable minimising future maintenance costs. Different levels of finish will be considered as appropriate especially in the workshop areas and retail areas. A DIAGRAMMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONAL AREAS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS 450 The creation of inter-junctions between interior/exterior and public/private space on a variety of scales accommodates various residential activities and will facilitate spontaneous social interactions. COMMUNAL ACCOMMODATION A communal-house will be at heart of the community and will include kitchen and dining space, a TV room, a crà ¨che and a multi-use room and will be a general use gathering space for the community. The entrance area must be both enticing and sheltered and should lead to or incorporate mail and coat functions. The communal house will have direct access to the roof terrace which will provide a real microclimate for the building, providing opportunities for food production, outdoor dining and recreational activities and a space to retreat. The kitchen must easily access innovative recycling and refuse facilities and be acoustically insulated and ventilated. Tables and equipment should be easily set up and removed and there must be two general use toilets. The crà ¨che must be accessible by the public to enable appropriate income generation and be visually connected to the kitchen. There will be separate spaces for different age groups such as babies, toddlers and teenagers. Storage, toilet and changing facilities, common house security (due to public access) and exterior play space are important considerations. Guest facilities should flank the communal house and have access to its facilities whilst being separated from the workshop and retail core of the development. PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION The cooperative will include a minimum of 6060 residential units to ensure the schemes economic viability. All residential units will meet Lifetime Homes, Homes Community Agency standards in terms of size and quality and seek to achieve Sustainable Code level 4. The buildings will house at least 138 people and 10 temporary paying guests in shared bedrooms and flats. The guest bedrooms and flats will be able to adapt and merge into a 3 bed dwelling or 5 bed dormitory. There should be at least 7 studios and 15 one bed and 20 two bed flats, half of which have an adjoining workshop. Living environments should be capable of being fully integrated with work and public spaces. All dwellings will have the ability to adapt and merge and subdivide to ensure flexibility for a changing demographic and community needs. The scheme will include at least 5 two bed flats which will have the capacity to merge with one bed flats to provide three bed dwellings. Lift facilities will be provided and the buildings will be connected at strategic levels. All units must easily access laundry, recycling and refuse services and communal accommodation. They will be located on elevated stories to provide a safe and audible separation from the street. SEMI-PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION At least 24 workshops will cater for those residents who choose not to have an adjoining workshop to their property. Workshop space may be used for stone, wood and metal work and therefore must be acoustically insulated and ventilated. Natural lighting should be incorporated where possible. Ceiling heights will be higher at ground floor level than standard residential room heights and for at least 50% of the workshop units overall. Crà ¨che PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION Trading space and small live/ work units allow residents to remain local for their work and shopping. Trading/retail court/units. Large spaces for e.g. architects, department store kind of space, small stall like space OTHER The buildings should include a cellar and also be capable of vertical extension in the future. A bike park and an innovative recycling and refuse facility will be located at ground floor level. The latter will be accessible to all and in particular will be linked to the communal kitchen and workshops.. It should be secure hidden from view but accessible to collection vehicles. SCHEDULE OF MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOMMODATION ANALYSIS OF THE BRIEF 900 1076 AIMS (ARE REALISTIC/ACHIEVABLE?) 100 63 The scheme will offer quality affordable housing accommodation that embraces cohousing principles with dedicated creative business and workshop space, removing the cost of commuting and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit of the City, creating a socio-economic sustainability that can successfully foster and adapt to the changing needs of the community. A LWBC creates a balance of community and privacy, by arranging private, self-sufficient homes around a communal house with shared resources. The narrow access ways between the site components lends itself to the principles of co housing schemes. The location is within walking distance of public transport and other community essential amenities such as food shops, restaurants, places of worship and cultural attractions. Assembly of the site would if necessary involve Compulsory Planning Order by the Local Authority under well being powers. BUSINESS ENTERPRISE A range of affordable workshops of different sizes and configurations allow for people who desire a better choice of where and how to live and work. Large commercial/office space will be rented to outside business and a number of small retail outlets and a trading court can be used by the residents or again rented to local creative businesses. COMMUNITY The scheme will encourage empathy for small business and enterprise within a highly interactive urban community. Tenants will live, work via the internet, manufacture, produce and sell on site. Based on the Danish co-housing model, community interaction is maximised through mixing private living space with shared facilities in a co-house. The benefits of the community include the creation of a traditional neighbourhood within a dense urban centre with safe environments onto which the residential units front and common values. There are particular benefits for children in terms of secure play space and shared activities with their peers. The multi generational LWBC is for creative professionals (including architects, artists, jewelers, potters, music producers etc) who choose to shape their business produce, within a fluid architecture that will change shape as their living needs change, shaping an ever evolving organic inner city community. The communal living concept builds upon established demand for similar projects around the UK including projects in Stroud, Lancaster, Lewes, Dorset, Sheffield, Bradford on Avon and London with at least 15 other prospective projects. MANAGEMENT TENURE (HOW IT WORKS?) 400 563 A partner Registered Social landlord (RSL) will be sought to oversee and support the development. A mixed tenure of units is proposed which may vary depending on market conditions. Approximately 25% of units will be owner occupied with units owned outright through long term fixed leases (called leasehold enfranchisement). Mortgage funding would be sought by such purchasers. The investor therefore benefits from any increases in property value should they decide to sell. Any profit from this element of the scheme will be used to cross-subsidise the rest. Approximately 50% of units will be social rented properties subsidised by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Social Housing Association Grant at 50% of development cost the rest being funded from rental income operated through a fair rent common ownership cooperative. The land and dwellings will be owned by a registered co-operative which is controlled by its members who are those who lease the properties. The build cost will be financed by mortgage loans from long term investors (such as Ecology Building Society, the Cooperative Bank or Triodos or the Local Council through Prudential Borrowing or The Homes and Communities Agency), together with grants and deposits from members some of which are effectively retainers. The remaining 25% of properties will be a form of shared ownership. The land and build cost is financed by the mortgage loans and divided into equity shares that are bought by members through monthly payments. Members will need to pay a minimum deposit equal to 10% of the equity shares they can afford to finance through their monthly payments. 5% will be paid on joining and the other 5% when land is purchased. A credit check will ensure that potential members are able to repay the mortgage debt. The number of individual shares owned depends on the build cost of the individuals home and what is affordable (these are the number of shares which are financed by 35% of net income). The value of the equity shares owned by these households must not differ by more than (+ or -) 10% of the build cost. Members therefore secure a foothold on the housing ladder at lower household incomes and the correlation to average earnings helps reduce risk and retain affordability. Similar tenure models are evident in Norway OBOS (Oslo Buildings and Savings Co-operative) providing for 214,000 members, and in Sweden HSB Riskforbund provides for 375,000. Le Corbusiers, Unite dHabitation de Reze, in Nantes also follows a highly active co-ownership principle involving private and public tenants. TYPES OF UNITS PROPOSED There will be a range of residential unit sizes. 20% studios, 40% 1 bed and 40% 2 beds of which 10% will have the capacity to adapt into 3 bed dwellings. Members can therefore move between properties as they become available and as their housing needs change (See schedule of accommodation). All of the studio units and 50% of the 1 bed dwellings will have enlarged living quarters to enable home office working. Flexible workshops spaces will also be provided between some of the residential units that can be shared or sole used by adjoining tenants. 20 separate workshops will be provided for those tenants who choose not to live directly with their work place. Retail units and large commercial office space at ground floor level which will be rented on a commercial basis on the open market. An additional guest space associated with the communal facilities is provided on a rentable easy in and out basis with an appropriate retainer. DESIGN ISSUES 1500 EXISTING PROJECTS AND THE THEMES OF THE SOLUTIONS WHICH IDENTIFY THE ARCHITECTURAL QUALITIES 600 BOXLEY STREET, SILVERTOWN, EAST LONDON, ASH SAKULA 2004 This housing scheme involved the reconsideration of housing standards and regulations for the Peabody Trust. The enlarged circulation space renamed sorting zone is the focus point for communal activity, and the kitchen are the most important parts of the dwellings. The zone is a room in itself promoting use for many different functions and the kitchen is for living, meeting, playing and cooking. The only built-in cupboards are in the zone rather than in the bedrooms. This plan reverses typical spatial priorities providing more space in areas usually designed down to a minimum. The remaining rooms are reduced to a minimum size and can be used in a variety of ways including fro bedrooms or living space. KRAFTWERK 1 STUCHELI BUNZLI COURVOISIER ARCHITEKTEN, ZURICH HARDTURMSTRASSE 287, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND 2001 200 177 An inner city site in Zà ¼rich comprises of three buildings 5-9 storeys for Kraftwerk 1 housing cooperative which promotes living, working and living and social inclusion. It has sustainable objectives and is financed by commercial loans, investments from members and state assistance. These Suiten are intended to allow different forms of communal and co-living though a variety of communal and private spaces. The building blocks feature a large variety of flat sizes, ranging from 2.5 room flats to units with up to 13 rooms and from 31 m2 to 350 m2. They range from singles and families to communal groups of independent people. The range of unit sizes is facilitated by a repetitive constructional system of cross walls, which can be knocked through at points. The cross walls are spaced at the width of a typical residential room. This dimension allows an almost infinite range of potential layouts. The units have a central circulation and service core and it is also possible to insert private internal staircases between cross walls, to create two and three storey apartments. URBAN CENTRE COHOUSING COOP CANYON, DALLAS200 58 Designed by Standard for the Dallas Urban Re:Vision competition, Coop Canyon harvests enough rainwater, solar energy, and agriculture to completely sustain its 1,000 residents. The structure resembles a terraced canyon with housing units tucked into the canyon wall. On the canyon floor, community gardens allow residents to grow produce. The design exploits natural energy resources through a central atrium space. Excellent permeability and footfall across and through the site allow for community engagement with the retail and crà ¨che facilities. A communal facility with shared cooking and laundry and recreation facilities is a key part of the scheme as with all cohousing. This is located centrally on an immediate level so is easily accessed by all. ADAPTIVE LIVING 41-75 CONSORT ROAD, PECKHAM, LONDON 200 229 (Walter Menteth Architects 2007) Clear span floor construction across the width of individual residential units means internal partitions are non-load bearing and enable considerable flexibility in layout from the outset (Schneider T 2007 p 195) (See Figure X). Spans of up to 6.5 metres require steel/concrete beam and column frame construction. Party wall block-work/masonry walls can be used as the main load-bearing structure. Fin wall construction maintains considerable flexibility.

Piano by D. H. Lawrence Essay -- Piano D. H. Lawrence Essays

â€Å"Piano† by D. H. Lawrence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poem Piano, by D. H. Lawrence describes his memories of childhood. Hearing a woman singing takes him to the time when his mother played piano on Sunday evenings. In the present, this woman is singing and playing the piano with great passion. However, the passionate music is not affecting him, because he can only think about his childhood rather than the beauty of the music that exists in his actual space.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A woman is singing† softly to the speaker â€Å"in the dusk.† The speaker is describing the place he is at in the present moment. It’s partially dark, and a woman is singing to him. As he listens to the woman’s soft voice, he remembers the time when he was little. He says that it is taking him â€Å"back down the vista of years,† till he sees â€Å"a child sitting under the piano.† This child is the speaker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The child is â€Å"sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings,† and he is â€Å"pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings.† When the speaker was a child, he used to be under the piano where the strings were tingling since his mother was playing the piano. He used to press his mother’s feet, which were in balance. His mother was singing with a smile on her face.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The speaker sees this scenery in his mind. As a reader, I can even imagine him standing in a dark room looking at a woman singing and imagining his old days with his mother. Using the picturesque words such as â€Å"softly,† â€Å"dusk...

Organizational Theory Essay

Why do large corporations tend to have larger ratios of clerical and administrative support staff? Why are they typically more formalized than small organizations? The clerical ratio increases because of the greater communication and reporting requirements needed as organizations grow larger. The professional staff ratio can increase due to the greater need for specialized skills in a larger corporation. As organizations increase in size, the administrative ratios declines and the ratios for other support groups will increase. Large corporations can have a wide range of functional specialties within the organization that perform multifaceted tasks and produce various products. For this reason, larger corporations are more formalized due to the complexity. Rules, procedures, controls and policy manual are needed in order to efficiently operate in a larger corporation. Large organizations rely on these rules and procedures to achieve and control the large number of employees and departments. Smaller organizations have simpler operations and a smaller number of employees which would not require detailed manuals or polices. The company may be so small that every employee physically sees each other every day and communicates on a regular basis. Question 7 Government organizations often seem more bureaucratic than for-profit organizations. Could this partly be the result of the type of control used in government organizations? Government organizations are more bureaucratic than for profit organizations because government organizations have a much larger number of clerical and administrative staff members. Considering that there are large numbers of groups in governmental organizations, bureaucracy is an effective way to minimize abuses of power and gain control. Bureaucracy also provides a systematic and rational way to organize and manage complex tasks that are too difficult to be understood and handled by few individuals. This is a great way to improve efficiency and effectiveness within governmental organizations.

Key Deer Essays - Deer, Mammals Of New Zealand, White-tailed Deer

Key Deer Essays - Deer, Mammals Of New Zealand, White-tailed Deer Key Deer The Key Deer is a small species (in population and in stature) of deer that lives in the Florida Keys. It is in the same family as the Virginia white tailed deer. The Key Deer is about 26 inches tall and weigh an average of about 55 pounds. The males have antlers, and the antlers grow in cycles. They drop their antlers at the beginning of spring, and they grow back by June. The deer feed on indigenous plants including the red mangrove, the black mangrove, and the white mangrove. The Key Deer can drink water with some salt in it, but needs fresh water to survive. Although it seems awkward, the Key Deer is a fairly good swimmer, and at times will swim from key to key. The Key Deer are endangered for two main reasons, the first and most detrimental is the loss of habitat. The Everglades has been cleared away for highways, and other commercial developments, and it has caused a huge drop in the population of Key Deer, among other animals. Another big reason why Key Deer have been disappearing are the highways in southern Florida. You have heard the expression like a deer in headlights, and it is used because when deer see headlights, it freezes. This, although it makes for a good simile, causes a lot of road kill accidents with Key Deer. The National Key Deer Refuge was opened to breed Key Deer, and since its opening, the population has increased by almost %600!!! Also, Ms. Riskin, please make sure that you do not feed any Key Deer, because it causes them to be comfortable around humans, which sounds nice, but it is part of the reason that they hang around near the highway. So, that just about sums it up; thanks for not feeding Key Deer, and keep your foot on those breaks. Bibliography Key Deer February, 2000 shadow.net/grgreen/glades/deer.html Kirkpatrick, Charles M. Deer The World Book Encyclopedia. Volume D, 1986 R., Austin. Key Deer February, 2000 miamisci.org/ecolinks/everglades/keydeerinfo.html

Thomas Becket Essay

Thomas Becket Essay Thomas Becket Essay PFC Moses English 4 10/25/11 Thomas Becket Thomas Becket, more commonly called Thomas of London, was born about the year 1118 in London. His mother was a native of Caen. His father, who camefrom a family of small Norman landowners, had been a citizen of Rouen, but migrated to London before the birth of Thomas, and was once the Sheriff of London. He ended his life though in straitened circumstances. Thomas still received an excellent education. Becket's administrative skills, his charm, intelligence and diplomacy propelled him forward. At the age of ten he was put in a school in Surrey with the canons of Merton priory. later he spent some time in the schools of London, and finally studied theology at Paris. In 1142, a family friend broght Thomas under the notice of Archbishop Theobald to Rome. He also took him to the council of Reims (1148). It seems to have been at some time betweent these dates that he visitited Bologna and Auxerre, and began those studies in the canon law in which he earned a small d egree for. He never made himself an expert jurist. In 1151 he was sent to Rome by the archbishop with instructions to dissuade the Curia from giving approval to the coronation (crowning of a sovereign or a sovereign's consort) Stphen's eldest son Eustace. It is said the Thomas distinguished himself by the ability with which he executed his job. In 1154 he was promoted to be archdeacon of Canterbury, after first taking deacon's orders. In the following year, Henry II, at his recommendation, bestowed on him the important offic of chancellor. Now Thomas controlled the issue of royal writs and the distribution of ecclesiastical patronage, but he had personal fascination upon a prince who was inexperienced, and 13-14 years younger. He became Henry's close friend and was included in all affairs of state. It had been the hope of Theobald that Becket's influence would be exercised to support the privileges which the Church had took from Stephen, but the Chancellor agreed with the in terests of the Church to those of his new master. Under his administration the Church was severely taxed for the prosecution of Henry's foregn wars; and the chancellor became subject to the reproach "of pluging his sword into the bowles of his mother." It was Thomas who organized the Toulouse campaign of 1159; even in the field he made himself suspicious by commanding a company of knights, directing the work of destruction, and supervising the conduct of the war after the king had withdrawn his presence from the camp. When there was war with France upon the Norman border, the chancellor acted as Henry's representative; and on one occasion engage in single combat and unhorsed a French knight of very high prestige. Later it fell to his part to arrang eth terms of peace with france. He discharged the duties of an envoy with equal magnficence, with which he made the treaty of May 1160, which put an end to the war. In 1162 he was transferred to a new place of action. Henry put on him the see of canterbury, left empty by the death of Theobald. This casued some talk, since Becket, at the time when it was made, was still a simple deacon. Becket, however, disappointed all the expectations. He did not allow himself to be made the king's tool; nor did he attempt to protect the Church by humoring the king in ordinary matters. he devoted himself to ascetic practices, confined himself to the society of churchmen, and resigned the chancellorship. Now he was on the worst terms with the king before a year had gone by. they came into another conflict at the council of Woodstok on July 1163, wehn Becket successfully opposed the king's proposal that a land-tax, known as the sheriff's aid, wich formed part of that official's slary, should then forward be paid into the Exchequer. It was fortunate for Becket's reputation that Henry punished him for his change of front by a systematic persecution in the forms of law. The archbishop was then able

History, Relevance in Todays Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History, Relevance in Todays Market - Essay Example In this regard the most famous and widely used method is of Performance Related Pay (Brown & Armstrong, 1999). In order to better understand the concept of Performance Related Pay, it will be beneficial to first comprehend the meaning of the performance. Performance means the output or end result given by any party or person. In the reference to the performance of the employees, it is perceived to be the fulfilment of the task or job responsibility which is measured on the basis of standards set for different factors like accuracy, time, cost etc. PERFORMANCE RELATED PAY: Performance Related Pay (PRP) is the method used by the organisations in order to directly relate the pay or reward with the performance of the employees. It is strongly believed that the increased or additional pay increase the motivation level of the employees and they strive to give high performance. In this method several bonuses and pay levels are directly linked with the appraisal or assessment of the performa nce of the employees in comparison to the objectives and standards. ... It can be further divided into straight piecework and differential piecework. 2. Merit pay: it is further divided into fixed incremental scales, merit bars, percentage increases, merit bonuses, and cafeteria benefits. 3. Profit Sharing: profits sharing or sharing incentives plans are provided to very limited and loyal employees of the organisation in order to retain them and motivate them to give high performance. In this system the employees are awarded with some shares of the organisation in response to their outstanding performance and output. 4. Commission: in this system the employees are provided with a certain percentage of commission in relation with the amount of work done or sales made. Usually commission is used to increase the motivation level and performance of the sales team. RELEVANCE OF PERFORMANCE RELATED PAY IN TODAYS MARKET: It is important for the organisations to include and consider the prevalent economic condition in the process of designing the pay system or s cheme. Most of the analysts are of the view that the concept of the Performance Related Pay is no more effective and relevant for the organisations in view of the recent economic downturn and crisis. On the other hand, according to another school of thought organisations have become more concerned about the overall cost and setup of the pay structure and compensation. In order to justify the cost of the pay and compensation structure, organisations are striving to linking this cost with the benefits derived. As a result, these organisations are widely using the method of Performance Related Pay (Brown & Armstrong, 1999). Apart from the economic crisis, increasing globalisation and free trade across the economies of the world have

Achievement of Modern Bureaucracies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Achievement of Modern Bureaucracies - Essay Example In an extreme form bureaucratic organizations fail to do what they are supposed to because rules and regulations are applied so rigidly that employees lose sight of what their job is. Bureaucracy, as a sociological concept, was originally developed by Max Weber, one of the first sociologists to consider the role of individuals in relation to the structural determinants of social action. Much of his work was concerned with the notion of â€Å"rationality†, which he used to explain the development of Western society which was increasingly based on science and calculation. Bureaucracy, combined with the growth of large organizations throughout the nineteenth century, led Weber to conclude that the decisive reason for the advance of bureaucratic organization was its purely technical superiority over any other form of organization. In short, it was a description of an ideal type of organization. Not ideal in the sense that it was perfect or one that should be aimed for, rather that its structure contained specific elements that characterized it as a bureaucracy and which were necessary to manage the organizations of the day. This occurs in part because public bureaucracies sometimes perceive themselves as guardians of the national interest: there is the idea that they embody ideals that transcend the policies of particular government: they can develop a character of their own and become set in their ways and difficult to change. In these circumstances professionals can be more concerned with their own survival than with the broader aims of providing for needs of the consumers of their service. This can be observed in the barriers that can exist between the different wards and departments and the lack of co-operation that ensues. The study of spatial separation is called proxemics; it involves the exploration of different practices and feelings about interpersonal space within and across cultures. In the United States, general practice allows intimate communications between close friends to occur at very short range. Conversations with acquaintances are often held at a 3-4 feet personal distance. Work-related discussions between colleagues may occur at a social distance of 4 to 12 feet with more impersonal and formal conversations in public occurring at even greater distances. Not only it is important to know and observe common practice with regard to the nature of the underlying relationships (intimate, friendly, work-related or casual) between two parties; it is also imperative that these practices be adapted for cultural differences. In some societies, sharply different practices prevail. For example, Latin America and Asian cultures generally favor closer distances for personal conversations; and workers in Arab countries often maintain extremely close contact. Therefore, sender should be aware of cultural norms and the receiver's preferences, and make an effort to understand and adapt to them. Bureaucratic Power Political conflict does not end after a law has been passed by Congress and signed by the president. The arena of conflict merely shifts from Capitol Hill and the White House to the bureaucracy - to the myriad departments, agencies, and bureaus of the federal executive branch that implement the law. Despite the popular impression that policy is decided by the president and Congress and merely implemented by the federal bureaucracy, in fact policy is also made by the bureaucracy. Indeed, it is often remarked that "implementation is the continuation of policy making by other means." The Washington bureaucracy is a major base of power in the American system of government - independent of Congress, the president, the courts, and the people. Indeed, controlling the bureaucracy has become a major challenge of democratic