Abstract
This paper evaluates the use of strategic planning concepts, frameworks and processes in the built environment sector. The paper does this by balancing the need for accurately interpreting and responding to market conditions on the one hand with the internal prioritization of strategic investments to ensure competitiveness in the coming years on the other hand. The paper then explains that this balancing act is not well suited to many built environment sector organizations whose cultures are dominated by a short-term and project-centric approach to accomplishing objectives. Next, the paper uses the Ansoff Matrix, The Boston Consulting Group Growth/Share Matrix and accompanying 'experience effect' as the foundations for making recommendations as how built environment sector organizations can increase the effectiveness of their strategic planning processes.


Outline:
Executive Summary
Using the Ansoff Matrix as a Strategic Planning Tool
The BCG Matrix in the Built Environment Sector
Summary

From the Paper
"The BCG Matrix is primarily focused on the resource allocation decisions companies need to make between competing products and strategies. For the built environment sector, this strategic planning framework is well-suited for the coordinating and synchronizing of strategic plans throughout an organization as one of its core concepts is the allocation of resources between varying business units or in the case of this specific industry, projects. The Boston Consulting Group specifically calls the ability of organizations to learn and embed processes into their organizations the experience effect (Henderson, 1970, 1972). While the BCG Matrix has achieved notoriety for its graphical definition of business unit positions relative to market growth and market share, the more valuable insights are actually in the quantifying of the experience effect dropping costs as a result of greater market share being attained."

Tags:strategic, planning, business

Abstract
This paper reviews and analyzes James Collins and Jerry Porras' book, "Built to Last," which discusses the difference between a good company and a great company. It describes the content of the book and the arguments that the authors present. The paper also discusses some of the examples that the authors provide and looks specifically at the myths that the authors present in their book.

From the Paper
"This book, written in the late 1990s, suffers from one critical problem, from the point of view of a contemporary reader. Many of the companies built to last in the eyes of the authors more than ten years ago are now suffering considerable financial difficulties or suffering from severe image problems like Wal-Mart. To demonstrate their principles, the authors use so many companies that it is hard to understand what went wrong--did all of these companies lose sight of their vision, as Collins and Porras no doubt would assert? Presumably the authors have not retracted their book, and said that their book was not built to last, despite its title and despite the failure of some of these companies to continue to thrive? Or has the current market environment become so fluid that no company is built to last, now that employee turnover has reached an all-time high and consumer brand loyalty is at an all time low?"

Tags:failure, success, market, business, innovation

Abstract
This paper conducts a qualitative investigation on the effectiveness of e-learning tools. Because e-learning is becoming a fashion in many educational institutions nowadays, it is important to find if the use of custom-built and interactive courses have positive effects in the process of gaining knowledge in students. As part of the discussion, this paper also covers the effect of having custom-built learning environment to teachers and instructors. Some of the questions that may assist the readers to understand the effectiveness of e-learning to students are: What are the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning? Do custom-built learning environments provide better outcome grades to students as compared to the outcome grades of students when in a traditional process of learning and teaching? How do students view the use of custom-built learning environments?
Introduction
Adapting Virtual Learning Environment
Literature Review on the Effectiveness Custom-Built E-Learning
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The emergence of computers decades ago gave rise to a lot of improvements in man's daily work and activities. The different businesses and industries were brought with technologies that were born out of a computer's capabilities. This includes the diverse kind of software that automates the used-to-be manual and paper-based tasks in the office. Also, it includes the different hardware that are usually used as alternatives to the jobs humans can perform.

One area where computers perhaps have great impact in the manner and style of learning that the previous generations have is the area of education. Nowadays, almost all educational institutions utilize computers as part of their learning tools and sources. This is becoming a trend because of a computer's capability to rapidly provide information, as well as store them without the need to use traditional learning materials like pen, paper, chalk, and board. Moreover, computers provide a better way of presenting learning materials with the help of diverse software that are available in the market. Thus, increasing students' interest to learn and allowing them to easily absorb information and knowledge."

Tags:student, distance, grade, course

Abstract
This paper outlines the history of the Titanic steam liner, providing many details about the entire process of the ship's construction. The paper discusses the plans for building the ship, the construction process, and describes the safety features that were built into the ship. Included with the paper is a questionnaire concerning various aspects of the Titanic's construction and history.

Outline
Introduction
History of the Plan to Build the Titanic
Discuss the companies and individuals involved in the
building of the ship.
Describe locations, workers and the overall attitude in
building the ship, inclusive of gantry detail, famous quotes
and competing companies and ships.
Construction of the Ship
When, where and how the ship was constructed
Description of the ship itself, inclusive of tonnage, size, engines,
propellers, unique designs, and materials involved.
Discussion of the ship's dressings, considering such things as
restaurants, lounges, promenade deck, central staircase,
elevators, 1st, 2nd, 3rd class conditions.
Safety Features of the Titanic
Consideration of design features regarding safety of the vessel,
including watertight compartments and hull design.
Other safety features aboard ship, such as lifeboats, floatation
devices, wireless communications systems.
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Determined to eclipse the appointments of earlier Atlantic steam liners, White Star Lines set out in 1908 to build 3 ships, all of the same design, that would provide the company with a weekly east- and west- bound carrier service. These ships, the Olympic, the Titanic, and the Gigantic (later to become the Brittanic), were to have a passenger and cargo capacity which doubled that of the Cunard Line, White Star's main competitor in North Atlantic crossings. They were to be longer than Cunard's Lusitania and Mauretania by over 120 feet each, and heavier than those vessels by at least 12,000 tons."

Tags:white, star, luxury, cunard, blue, riband, unparalleled, dimensions, accommodations

From the Paper
"In 1994, two professors published the results of their six-year study in American Business. The fact that this would imply that the information and opinions and observations were at least six years old when originally published (assuming the research began in 1988), and are at least 12 years old this year, could have some bearing on the validity of some of their observations. Before considering those observations, a few words about the specifics of the study would be helpful.

The authors tracked the chosen companies from their founding to 1991, using source materials provided by the companies along with..."

Tags:book, reviews, non-fiction

Abstract
The paper describes and analyzes the Escorial, built by Philip II of Spain, and Versailles, built by Louis XIV of France. The paper shows how the Escorial reflects Catholic influence and Spain's system of a federation of separate realms, while Versailles reflects absolutist ideals and beliefs in the divine right of kings. The paper then discusses how while both Louis XIV and Philip II claimed to be absolutist monarchs, Louis XIV was more successful at putting absolutism into practice, while Philip II was still competing for power with the separate assemblies in Spain.

From the Paper
"The Escorial, as shown in the picture, is surrounded by high walls and is in the design of a gridiron, in order to commemorate St. Laurence, who was roasted on a gridiron. El Escorial is noted for being more similar to a fortress than a monastery or palace, because of its austerity and lack of ornamentation. Philip II is quoted to have ordered the architects to produce "simplicity in the construction, severity in the whole, nobility without arrogance, majesty without ostentation." Philip II , unlike Louis XIV, was a very secretive, religious monarch, and envisioned El Escorial as a center for studies in aid of the Counter- Reformation cause. Passageways connected his bedchamber and throne room to an altar at which he prayed daily, and a window enabled the king to observe Mass from his bed when he was incapacitated by the gout."

Tags:absolutism, right, of, kings, Catholics, Spain, France

Abstract
The paper attempts to define strategic planning and illustrate how its key constructs and frameworks can be used effectively by built management organizations to increase their firms' competitive advantage while also increasing the potential for long-term growth and differentiation. The paper shows how, for a strategic plan to be effective, it needs to be based on an insightful analysis of the external environment of an organization, while at the same time defining future growth opportunities that capitalize on the organizations' strengths.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Challenges of Strategic Planning in the Built Environment Sector
Analysis of Strategic Planning Constructs, Frameworks and Models
Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper
"Critical to the development of a sustainable and scalable strategic planning practice in any organization is the defining of processes that provide useful information from both inside and outside the organization, in conjunction with more advanced processes for sensing and responding to market dynamics. In conjunction with the need to use a variety of analytical constructs and frameworks for continually monitoring market and competitive dynamics externally while augmenting and increasing competitive strengths internally, organizations often rely on strategic plans as the foundation for every functional area of their organizations' budget and growth. Setting strategic goals and objectives directly impacts how the Information Technologies (IT) plans are defined, how many project planners, foremen and specialty workers Human Resources will hire to support strategic projects, definition of how supply chain practices will be completed, and ultimately define the financial objectives for the entire organization."

Tags:Porter, competitive, forces, Five, Forces, Model, supply, chain, market, factors, organizational, culture

Abstract
This paper is a discussion of the house built by Italian writer Curzio Malaparte, known as Casa Malaparte, an innovative and unique structure that the designer intended to create as autobiographical self-expression. The paper looks at the use of internal & external space, as well as artistic and aesthetic values.

From the Paper
"There are many theories of architecture and design and the use of space both in terms of internal space and external space .There are also theories of architecture which contend that form follows function and those that argue function follow form. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright maintained that form and function were one. In addition to these theories, there are theories of architectural design that assert that architectural constructions take on a form of communication, that is they are able to convey the values, beliefs and..."

Tags:Picasso, Capri, Italy, fascism, aesthetic, artistic, values, ideas, beliefs, culture, form, function, design, style, nature

Abstract
The paper discusses concentration camps built by Hitler's Germany in WWII for Jews as well as other prisoners. It provides a brief overview of the history of anti-semitism in Germany of the time, including Kristallnacht, and describes life as it was for prisoners in the camps.

From the Paper
"The living conditions in both camps could be classified as dismal at best. The poor living conditions caused contagious diseases to spread like wild fire throughout the camps. In Auschwitz I, the prisoners lived in brick barracks with hundreds of three leveled bunk beds. The barracks did not have heating or any sanitary components to them. The barracks were extremely overcrowded, had leaking roofs, and there were rats running all over the place.

"While in the camps, prisoners received three meager meals a day. If they were performing "light" labor they would be given 1,300 calories of food a day. If they were doing more demanding work they would be fed 1,700 calories a day. As a result of being fed a very small amount of food in relation to the amount of work they were doing, many prisoners suffered from malnutrition and a form of physical deterioration they referred to as the "Muzulman state"."

Tags:slave, labor, relocation, Ernst, vom, Rath, Grynszpan, Auschwitz, Amersfoort

Abstract
This paper uses the book "Who Built America: Working People and the Nation's Economy Politics, Culture, and Society" to examine the social movements of the 1960s and how these movements have impacted modern life. Of particular importance is the development of the feminist movement, which has created a significant impact on the American lifestyle.