The Ongoing Struggle For A Family Essays - Sexual Orientation, LGBT

The Ongoing Struggle For A Family The Ongoing Struggle for a Family ?The most significant thing in a family is that all the individuals in it love one another.? This selection is from a kids' book, composed by Leslea Newman, Called ?Heather Has Two Mommies.? This story is proposed to show kids that not every person's family is the same. Numerous reasons are given to question gay and lesbian child rearing yet completely established on a portion of the ancient convictions that Hitler used to execute gay people during W.W.II, dread and bias! Despite the fact that having youngsters and being guardians appears to be a fundamental human right or decision, numerous individuals accept that the legislature ought to have the position to segregate who can are can't have youngsters, paying little mind to their child rearing aptitudes. Some state that it is unnatural for gay and lesbians to have youngsters since they need to go to such boundaries to have them (Oppos ..199). It is somewhat unexpected in light of the fact that it has become standard for hetero couples that are resolved fruitless to utilize planned impregnation, reception, and even invitro-treatment, and when one of these systems is effective the couple is said to have had a supernatural occurrence, while the gay or lesbian couple is supposed to be obsessive. Lesbian couples may utilize sperm banks, or they may turn into coparents with a gay couple that additionally wishes to have youngsters. In these cases the youngster has 4 cherishing and supporting guardians rather than the standard 2. Noom 2 Another contradicting view is that all gays and lesbians are explicitly unbridled, in this way have HIV/AIDS, and their connections are not steady enough to have youngsters (Oppos..199). ?Lesbians and gays love and structure profound and enduring responsibilities simply like heteros. To guarantee in any case is to pronounce that lesbians and gays are some way or another not human and overlook the truth of their lives,? (New Civil..125) Laws and social perspectives appear be clashed on what they need since they state gay/lesbian connections are definitely not stable, however than deny them the option to wed, along these lines through laws and enactment the are not advancing the conduct that they appear to require. HIV/AIDS is a repulsive infection furthermore, honestly is a significant worry in the gay network, yet it is a result of the generalizations, absence of training, and information about the illness itself that this ailment had the option to assault numerous gay guys. Despite the fact that HIV/AIDS is a worry for individuals in general the quantity of lesbian ladies with it is nearly non-existent. Does this imply hetero couples that have HIV/AIDS are not having youngsters? No, innumerable articles can be found about medication utilizing whores that bring forth a child with HIV and still holds care. While in 1997, a ladies named Sharon Bottoms loses her kid in Virginia to her mom for being gay, ?dynamic lesbianism rehearsed in the home may represent a trouble upon the kid by reason of ?Social Condemnation' connected to such an course of action? the state Supreme Court expressed (issues..36). All expectation isn't lost however, in June of 1997 an Ohio advances court maintained that, ?sexual direction alone, has no importance to a choice concerning the distribution of parental rights and duties,? (Issues..37) Numerous individuals accept that gays and lesbians shouldn't have children on the grounds that the youngster will be attacked and additionally be mal balanced as an adolescent and grown-up. ?Lesbians and gays are innately debilitated and go after youngsters. Giving them guardianship of youngsters opens those youngsters up to sexual maltreatment. They can't bring up sound kids,? (Oppos..199). Noom 3 The insights positively don't bolster these announcements, ?Adults who explicitly attack youngsters are an assorted gathering. Nobody race, religion level of insight, level of training, occupation, or pay separates culprits from the remainder of the populace,? (New Civil.. 78). One thing is clear, regularly a kid molester is a hetero male who is familiar with the person in question (New Civil..78). Others accept that an offspring of a gay is no doubt going to be a gay, and regardless of whether they are not they will make some hard memories growing up because of the prodding and generalizations of their cohorts and network. Studies have refuted these convictions, ?Although examines have evaluated more than 300 posterity of gay or lesbian guardians in 12 distinct examples, no proof has been found for huge aggravations of any sort in the improvement of sexual personality.? they proceed to state that, ? the equivalent remained constant for moral turn of events, knowledge, and companion connections,? (New Civil..132). Like all kids, kids from gay and lesbian

Calculating Density - Worked Example Problem

Figuring Density Problem Thickness is a proportion of how much issue is in a space. It is communicated in units of mass per volume, for example, g/cm3 or kg/L. This is a worked case of how to compute the thickness when given the volume and mass of a substance. Test Density Problem A block of salt estimating 10.0 cm x 10.0 cm x 2.0 cm weighs 433 grams. What is its density?Solution:Density is the measure of mass per unit volume, or:D M/VDensity Mass/VolumeStep 1: Calculate VolumeIn this model, you are given the components of the item, so you need to compute the volume. The recipe for volume relies upon the state of the article, however its a basic figuring for a case: Volume length x width x thicknessVolume 10.0 cm x 10.0 cm x 2.0 cmVolume 200.0 cm3Step 2: Determine Density Presently you have the mass and the volume, which is all the data you have to ascertain density.Density Mass/VolumeDensity 433 g/200.0 cm3Density 2.165 g/cm3Answer:The thickness of the salt block is 2.165 g/cm3. A Note About Significant Figures In this model, the length and mass estimations all had 3 critical figures. Thus, the response for thickness ought to likewise be accounted for utilizing this number of critical figures. Youll need to conclude whether to shorten the incentive to peruse 2.16 or whether to gather it together to 2.17.

Sites We Like Paper and Salt

Sites We Like Paper and Salt Many of the sites we highlight in this feature have been around for a whiletheres nothing wrong with the tried and true. However, sometimes we find a relatively new operation that earns it stripes less through amassed content than through amazing concept. Such is the lovely, evocative, and surprisingly user-friendly Paper and Salt, a blog that  attempts to recreate and reinterpret the dishes that iconic authors discuss in their letters, diaries, essays, and fiction. What do I mean by those modifiers? Well, the WordPress-built site itself is lovely: a simple black-and-white design. Its nostalgic notes and photos are evocative. So whats user friendly about this place for one well-read foodie to share her ruminations on famous authors and meals? The recipes! These arent precious transliterations from Balzacs grand-mères kitchen; theyre modern interpretations of foods that famous authors (including the aforesaid Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, Sylvia Plath, and William Faulkner) either mentioned in their work, mentioned eating themselves (in journals and diaries), or would have eaten, given their era and culture. Even if the recipes themselves are sometimes a bit old-fashioned (very few home cooks make chicken consommé these days), blogger Nicole uses modern sources like Saveur magazine and the blog Smitten Kitchen to provide clear measurements and easy instructions. But really, who cares about the recipes? Because the best part of Paper and Salt is the commentary from Nicole. As she describes Walt Whitmans tastes, she writes: In a letter from 1877, he wrote, “I was foolish enough to take a good strong drink, eat a couple of slices of rich cake late at night â€"   I shan’t do any thing of the kind  again.” Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. It’s what I tell myself before checking to see if the ice cream place down the street delivers (the beauty of New York is that it does). This is a blog with fewer-than-usual posts (Nicole started blogging in January, and seems to be updating 2-3 times a month right now) but higher-than-usual enjoyment factor for English majors who know their way around a kitchen as well as they do a Norton Anthology.

Business Law - 651 Words

Issue Is there a valid contract between Khalid and Siti? Law and Application When Khalid is interested in buying Siti’s painting which she had named â€Å"Hawa†, Khalid met Siti and told her that he will pay her RM5,000 for â€Å"Hawa†. This is an offer. Offer had be defined in S2(a) Contracts Act 1950 as â€Å"when one person signifies to another his willingness to do or to abstain from doing anything, with a view to obtaining the assent of that other to the act or abstinence, he is said to make a proposal†. Under the Contract Act 1950, a proposal is something which is capable of being converted into an agreement by its acceptance. Moreover, merely giving information is not an offer. For example of Harvey v Facey (1893) case, P telegraphed D – â€Å"Will†¦show more content†¦Thus the original offerror whose offer has been terminated by the offeree’s counter offer can accept or reject the offeree’s counter offer. Khalid said that the price Siti offered was too high and he did not want the painting, m eans that this is a rejection by Khalid. One week later, Khalid received bonus from his employer. After he got the money to pay so and he immediately contact Siti that he will pay the RM7,000 for â€Å"Hawa†. This is a new counter offer from Khalid. According to S2(a) Contracts Act 1950 â€Å"when one person signifies to another his willingness to do or to abstain from doing anything, with a view to obtaining the assent of that other to the act or abstinence, he is said to make a proposal†. But Siti has refused to sell the painting to Khalid with the price RM7, 000; she then said that for the price of her painting has gone up to RM10, 000. This is can counter offer. Conclusion There is no valid contract between Khalil and Siti. The moment that Siti sell her panting for RM 7,000, Khalil had refuse and reject the offer. When he wanted to buy the painting with RM 7, 000, Siti had gone up the price of her painting as RM 10, 000. For the whole â€Å"trade† there is no acceptance exists. There is just exist offer, couter offer and revocation. A contact without acceptance is void, therefor; there is no contract betweenShow MoreRelatedBusiness Law And Ethics : Backoffice Business Brief1862 Words   |  8 Pages Running head: BACKOFFICE BUSINESS BRIEF 1 Business Law and Ethics BackOffice Business Brief Patten University BACKOFFICE BUSINESS BRIEF 2 Constitutional Rights and Guarantees BackOffice is a new startup business that will provide potential clients with an application (app) that woul d automate certain business functions. BackOffice will be selling the app to certain business clients that will use it to facilitate their customers’ transactions. It is important that the owner of this companyRead MoreLegal Underpinnings of Business Law Essay609 Words   |  3 PagesLegal Underpinnings of Business Law OMM 670: Legal Environment February 25, 2013 Legal Underpinnings of Business Law Business | Type of Business | Liability Exposure | Compare | Contrast | Tinker’s Home Security Service | Sole proprietorship | Unlimited | Monetary rewards are from both the Proprietor amp; business | Sole Liability | Tinker amp; Tailor’s Home Security Service | General partnership | Unlimited | All partners are responsible whether silent or active | If you areRead MoreLaw 531 Business Forms Worksheet1386 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿University of Phoenix Material Business Forms Worksheet There are seven forms of business: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company (including the single member LLC), S Corporation, Franchise, and Corporation. 1. Research and provide three advantages and three disadvantages for each business form. 2. Provide a 100- to 200-word summary in which you provide an example business that you would start for each form. What is legally necessary toRead MoreBusiness Law3143 Words   |  13 Pages2012 – OCTOBER SEMESTER 2012 STUDENT NAME: CHU THI HONG TUYEN ID No.: 2448481 BMLW5103 – BUSINESS LAW ASSIGNMENT Question 1 Discuss the enforceability of an agreement which lacks consideration. Using legal authorities (relevant statutes and cases) to support your discussion. Answer: A valid contract is an agreement made between two or more parties that creates rights and obligations that are enforced by law. What does the consideration mean? And what does it effect to the agreement? ConsiderationRead MoreBusiness Law : Labor And Employment Law891 Words   |  4 PagesBusiness Law: Labor and Employment Law Each and every day business throughout the United States are met with challenging situations that are centered around labor and employment law. As the director of human resources for Company X, I have been tasked with analyzing three situations that may or may not violate any federal acts. The federal acts that will be considered are the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), and the Americans withRead MoreBusiness Law762 Words   |  4 PagesB Bai 1 : Business Law: 40. Principle of Law: In this case, Esposito hired Excel Construction Company to repair a porch roof. All terms of the agreement were specified in a written contract. And the dispute occurred when Excel had repaired the rear porch roof because in the agreement failed to specify whether it was the front or rear porch that needed repair. Under civil law, two parties here had signed a civil contract in writing. Because the contract failed to specify clearly front or rearRead MoreBusiness Law Development Of Mongolia2212 Words   |  9 PagesCourse Paper Myagmarsuren Jargal International American University BUS 540: Business Law for Managers Flavia LLoyd June 28, 2015 Business Law Development Issues in Mongolia Mongolia is a developing country, which is encountering challenges to develop modern business law. During the twentieth century, Mongolia had been a socialist country and developed almost fifty years of non-private property regime. However, the end of the twentieth century, the country changed its regime to democraticRead MoreBusiness Law1345 Words   |  6 PagesQn 1: Whether James can hold the Happy Holiday Hotel for the loss of his property under the common law? The issue of this case will be whether James can hold Happy Holiday Hotel responsible for the loss of his property notwithstanding the exemption clause found in the hotel rooms. Under the Exemption Clauses in Common Law, it states that in order for this clause to be valid, the clause must be included in the contract when the contract is made. If there is any attempt to include it in after theRead MoreBusiness Law1088 Words   |  5 Pagesconditional constitute consideration? Yes, such a promise consideration even if the condition is unlikely to occur. 3. What is the general rule about the adequacy of consideration? The adequacy of the consideration is irrelevant because the law does not prohibit bargains. 5. Is there consideration when a secured note for a lesser amount is given and accepted in discharge of an unsecured note for a greater amount? Explain. No, because if a secured not for a lesser amount is given andRead MoreBusiness Law2474 Words   |  10 Pagesnature of liability in negligence amp; (3.3) Explain how a business can be vicariously liable 4 (4.1) Apply the elements of the tort of negligence and defences in the above different business situations for the legal officer who is assigned to VJSC amp; (4.2) Apply the elements of vicarious liability in above different business situations for the legal officer who is assigned to VJSC 8 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction Law plays important roles to protect benefits, obligations and

New Year Greetings and Quotes

Do you want to send a special New Year greeting to your friends? Here is a great collection of New Year greetings. Some of the greetings convey worldly wisdom, while others present a diverse perspective about the New Year. Choose from this collection of New Year greetings to send good wishes to your near and dear ones. Thomas MannTime has no divisions to mark its passage; there is never a thunderstorm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols.Hamilton Wright MabieNew Years Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.Charles LambNo one ever regarded the first of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.Alfred Lord TennysonRing out the old, ring in the new,Ring, happy bells, across the snow:The year is going, let him go;Ring out the false, ring in the true.William Ellery ChanningI will seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion. I will seek to be worthy more than respectable, wealthy and not rich. I will study hard, think quietly, talk gently, and act frankly. I will listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart. I will bear all things cheerfully, do all things bravely await occasions and hurry never. In a word, I will let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common.Ann LandersLet this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things youve always wanted to do but couldnt find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you dont think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. Youll look ten years younger. Dont be afraid to say, I love you. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.Maria EdgeworthThere is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh upon him can have no hope from them afterwards: they will be dissipated, lost, and perish in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence.br/>P. J. ORourkeIt is better to spend money like theres no tomorrow than to spend tonight like theres no money.Ogden NashEvery New Year is the direct descendant, isnt it, of a long line of proven criminals?George William CurtisThe New Year begins in a snowstorm of white vows.Ellen GoodmanWe spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives, not looking for flaws, but for potential.Samuel JohnsonSurely, it is much easier to respect a man who has always had respect, than to respect a man who we know was last year no better than ourselves  and will be no better next year.Friedrich NietzscheNo, life has not disappointed me. On the contrary, I find it truer, more desirable and mysterious every year ever since the day whe n the great liberator came to me: the idea that life could be an experiment of the seeker for knowledge and not a duty, not a calamity, not trickery.br/>Henry Wadsworth LongfellowLook not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear, and with a manly heart.Kersti BergrothIt is difficult not to believe that the next year will be better than the old one! And this illusion is not wrong. Future is always good, no matter what happens. It will always give us what we need and what we want in secret. It will always bless us with right gifts. Thus in a deeper sense, our belief in the New Year cannot deceive us.Albert EinsteinI feel that you are justified in looking into the future with true assurance  because you have a mode of living in which we find the joy of life and the joy of work harmoniously combined. Added to this is the spirit of ambition which pervades your very being, and seems to m ake the days work like a happy child at play.

Should Euthanasia Be Legalized - 1220 Words

Due to the concern of many incurable patients, it is rarely known that Euthanasia, a termination of one’s life with his/her self-willingness, is a release of permanent pain. On the other hand, it is committed by the doctors. Among Voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary Euthanasia, only is Voluntary Euthanasia being universally concerned by human beings. Various fascinating facts, Australia has already approved this act and many people from other countries have also committed Euthanasia. Regarding this topic, people have been in many debates about whether performing Euthanasia. The majority of the debates is talking about in two areas of knowledge, Ethics and the Human Sciences. Some say Euthanasia is still a way of killing and more importantly, most of the doctors cannot manipulate their mental pressure after â€Å"murdering† the patients. Unlikely, some believe that Euthanasia helps the patients to quickly end their torture from the incurable illness. Therefore, I wi ll address the concern of Euthanasia in the United States and also propose some possible solutions to the Department of Health in the United States. As a result, I support establishing Euthanasia into the United States’ constitution of the Department of Health. Towards the supporters, an elder lady from Netherland demonstrates the free will of Euthanasia, even it is illegal there. The lady signed the consent of Euthanasia with certain circumstances, for example, if she is no longer be able to eat and drinkShow MoreRelatedShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1360 Words   |  6 PagesAbout 55% of terminally ill patients die in atrocious pain. Euthanasia is a practice that hasn’t been legalized in many places, and is usually performed by lethal injection. In the United States euthanasia is only legalized in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and certain areas of Texas. Some citizens feel that euthanasia should be legalized because they should have the sole right to their life. Othe rs feel that God is the one that has the authority over a person’s life. There have been many cases whereRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?864 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversy over euthanasia. Because there is a sharp conflict on the issue, some countries accept mercy killing lawful while others do not. The main arguments about the issue are whether the deliberate intervention on one’s life to the end is morally right or wrong. Some say euthanasia should be legalized because it is the only way to relieve harsh pain and meet ‘real happiness’ for the patients who are not expected to maintain their lives more. They also argue that people should respect the patients’Read MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?971 Words   |  4 Pages Legalization of euthanasia in China Youyou Zhuang English Language Center, University of Victoria Youyou Zhuang, a student in English language center of University of Victoria. zhuangyoyo@gmail.com Legalization of euthanasia in China The hospital is a place where to cure the sickness and to save the patients. Have you ever thought a kind of â€Å"killing† could happen in the hospital? It is the â€Å"mercy killing†, also called euthanasia. Till now, euthanasia is legal in Netherlands, BelgiumRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1413 Words   |  6 Pagesstatement: euthanasia should be legalized. There exist numerous topics that are controversial within the criminal justice system. Euthanasia, the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relive pain and suffering, is one that has been around for a long time. Many people believe that it should continue being illegal due to certain moral values. However, some people argue that euthanasia should be decriminalized because people should have the right to die when they want to. Euthanasia hasRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?907 Words   |  4 Pagesactive euthanasia, which is a highly contentious issue in the United States. Voluntary active euthanasia is currently illegal in the United States. However, I believe that patients with terminal illnesses experiencing a lot of pain and misery should have the right to die the way they choose, with dignity, instead of being subjected to agony. People should be able to choose voluntary active euthanasia, if ever need be, which is why I believe that despite current policy, voluntary active euthanasia shouldRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1050 Words   |  5 Pagesend quickly, but knew it was not going to happen. If euthanasia and/or assisted suicide was legalized, perhaps his wish could have been true. Unfortunately, euthanasia is only legal in the states of Oregon and Washington at the current time. Euthanasia is considered immoral and wrong for contradicting a doctor’s job. However, it save s families the horrible sight of their loved ones dying, safeguards being up to protect any abuse towards euthanasia, and ultimate choice of being euthanized is upon theRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1272 Words   |  6 Pagesthe natural body is able to heal itself and grow. Not only is it human nature to survive and prosper, it is also instinct to be frightened of death and suffering. Euthanasia has been a topic of debate ever since the Roman and Greek physicians have started to poison terminally ill patients with their consent. Today’s definition of euthanasia is â€Å"the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless wayRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1210 Words   |  5 Pagesconcerns is dying with dignity and not left to suffer a long and drawn out death. Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is a sensitive and very controversial subject. Severa l people believe, doctors should not participate in any action that ends a person’s life due to the Hippocratic Oath stating that doctors are obligated to save lives. Although, euthanasia is considered to be immoral and even murder, it should be legalized when a person’s quality of life, due to an incurable illness, is gradually goingRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1490 Words   |  6 Pagesjust like you are in pain. What would you do? Euthanasia is and act where a person assist the death of other person and relieves him/her from pain. It is also called as mercy killing. It is controversial because, some may thing it is immoral and some may think it is against their religious values. But, the fact is, the person who suffers with pain knows the pain better than anybody. It is the person’s decision to make. Euthanasia should be legalized with the involvements of legal documents basedRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legalized?1970 Words   |  8 Pagespaper I’m going to prove to you why I think Euthanasia should be legalized. Euthanasia refers to taking a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve suffering. Some interpret Euthanasia as the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. There are two forms of Euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia is when a patient gets an injection to put them to sleep and they never wake up. It’s a very fast and painless death. Active Euthanasia is when a patient does not get the medicine

Our Town Analysis Essay Example For Students

Our Town Analysis Essay Our Town is a play that takes place near the turn of the century in the small rural town of Grovers Corners, New Hampshire. The playwright, Thornton Wilder is trying to convey the importance of the little, often unnoticed things in life. Throughout the first two acts he builds a scenario, which allows the third act to show that we as humans often run through life oblivious to what is actually happening. Wilder attempts to show life as something that we take for granted. We do not realize the true value of living until we are dead and gone. The through-line of the action seems to be attention to the details of life. Wilder builds up a plot that pays attention to great details of living. In the first act when Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb are stringing beans and passing the time, the reader continues on, not thinking that importance lies in the scene. As the play comes to an end, the reason for that scene becomes evident: the most trivial occurrence can be the most meaningful moment. We as humans, however, do not realize the greatness of these little points until it is too late. Near the end of the story, the deceased townspeople are stationed on chairs downstage, to imitate graves. They are still able to talk, yet only in a lackadaisical tone. They provide the audience, at the end, with a sense of guilt or loss. The fact that the people of Grovers Corners did not realize the importance of life until it was gone, makes the audience feel as if they should be getting more out of their lives. Wilder so precisely portrays the idea, that the audience is left wondering if they too, like the people of Grovers Corners, are not living life to the fullest. The play makes you think, whether for a split moment or a long time, about the idea of being aware while going about even the most menial of tasks. While at the funeral, the living members of the cast all have umbrellas above their heads. The dead members sit in chairs imitating graves, and are rained upon. The symbolism repr esented by the umbrellas could be that the living are sheltered from the light of reality and importance. Only when you are dead do you notice that there was more to it, and the umbrella that you held while it was raining is taken away, allowing you to be opened up to a whole new light of realization. In the scene just before the wedding, George tries to see his bride-to-be. The Webbs explain to him the superstition behind not allowing the groom to see his bride until she walks down the isle. The action of this scene is anxiety. George wants to see Emily before the big event and is expressing a great desire to do so. The parents are intent on not allowing George to see their daughter. Mrs. Webb is also understandably worried about loosing a daughter to marriage. Emily is upstairs having reservations about the whole ordeal. Mr. Webb brings the two of them together before the wedding, breaking the superstition, and explains to them that they were meant to be together. He has George te ll his bride that he will do the best he can to take care of her. Throughout the whole scene the reader can feel the tension and nervousness-anxiety that Wilder wants to portray. There are several subordinate actions that support the overall action of attention to detail, anxiety is just one of them. Some of these actions are: nervousness, sorrow, pain, happiness, true love, and hopelessness. The nervousness is evident during the wedding, as well as when Emily returns to visit her twelfth birthday after her death. Sorrow and pain are felt during the funeral, and at other times in the graveyard. Happiness is felt at the soda shop when Emily and George first come to realize that they are meant for each other. There are so many underlying actions that support the through-line. Every action in Our Town seems to play an important role of the discovery of new characters, new feelings, and new insights. .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .postImageUrl , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:hover , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:visited , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:active { border:0!important; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:active , .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4dea49cb4212ec83e3f88a762f28730e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Harriet Tubman Essay

Jeff Is Sitting With A Group Of Children & A Couple Of Counselors Doin

Jeff is sitting with a group of children It appears that the counselor is singing a song that is interactive with the children. Jeff appears to be very active When he is called to stand up he jumps up As he is sitting down he is continuously talking to the counselor on his left or the girl on his right. He is filling his cheeks with air He is constantly rubbing his feat on the rug or crossing He appears to be very anxious. The children have these little rectangles of rug that they are sitting on. Jeff is pulling it over his head He's starting to chew on it All of a sudden he gets up He then runs back across the room towards the restroom He apparently is using the restroom. A counselor is helping him wash He then runs across the room He grabs something off the table There is no real expression of surprise on his face. He then runs over towards the locker, stops, walks backwards for a few steps, spins around then grabs a backpack. He is smiling the whole time. He then trots back to the table with a big grin on his face When it appears that no one is paying attention he leans on his backpack like it's a pillow. He is rocking back He then unzips his multi-colored backpack and says, "I have a special treat!" He holds up something wrapped in paper. The counselor pushes a bowl towards him He reaches into the bowl He grabs a small pitcher of water that the counselor has filled up He then fills the child's glass to the right of him He seems very proud of himself. He then grabs his package He continues to eat The whole time he is talking but it doesn't seem to be directed to anyone in particular. He starts to play the drums lightly on the table. The counselor starts to read the children a book. He appears to become very attentive. All of a sudden he appears to be very anxious. He's kind of pointing at the book He gets a chance He waits a bit longer He continues to listen very studiously. He appears to be the most vocal of this small group of children at the table. He co ntinues to eat He begins to lean forward on the table as to get a better look He says, "oh oh!" He lifts the boy to his lefts arm Another counselor walks up to the table He appears to be listening very intently. When the counselor walks away Jeff reaches over to the boy

Free Essays on Regulations Against Jews

Regulations against Jews Rules and regulations placed upon the Jewish citizens during World War Æ’Â ¹Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¹ were the plan of Adolph Hitler, a nazi leader, to protect the  ¡Ã‚ §perfect ¡Ã‚ ¨ race. This is known to day as genocide. This is also, directly linked to racial profiling, and discrimination against a people or race. Some of these laws included were the Nuremberg Laws and the Dwork laws. These laws had a major affect on how people of Jewish descent would affect the world population. They also had a dominant influence of how the Jewish citizens were treated, and their outlook of the government. The Nuremberg Laws were passed on September 15, 1935 (Austin). The laws consisted of three main goals. These goals were each a different section to the document (World War Æ’Â ¹Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¹). The first is to fulfill the goal of clarifying the requirements of citizenship. The second section of the document is to clarify the position in society that Jewish citizens were to obtain. The third division was placed to protect the purity of the German blood (Austin). The first goal was to declare the requirements needed to be a German citizen. There were only two qualities that were needed to obtain citizenship. One being a citizen must be of German or kindred blood. It goes further to state that a person of  ¡Ã‚ §mixed Jewish blood ¡Ã‚ ¨ may also be eligible for citizenship. A person with  ¡Ã‚ §mixed Jewish blood ¡Ã‚ ¨ are those with grandparents that are racially of Jewish background, or religiously active in their communities. The second, is a personal trait, of being proud to be German and also proud of its heritage. The first quality is a racial quality which humans have no control over. This would in turn be a natural defect to the Jewish people. In addressing the second goal there were laws passed to keep civil rights foreign to Jewish citizens. Some rights that would be available to some citizens and revoked by others are the holding of politi... Free Essays on Regulations Against Jews Free Essays on Regulations Against Jews Regulations against Jews Rules and regulations placed upon the Jewish citizens during World War Æ’Â ¹Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¹ were the plan of Adolph Hitler, a nazi leader, to protect the  ¡Ã‚ §perfect ¡Ã‚ ¨ race. This is known to day as genocide. This is also, directly linked to racial profiling, and discrimination against a people or race. Some of these laws included were the Nuremberg Laws and the Dwork laws. These laws had a major affect on how people of Jewish descent would affect the world population. They also had a dominant influence of how the Jewish citizens were treated, and their outlook of the government. The Nuremberg Laws were passed on September 15, 1935 (Austin). The laws consisted of three main goals. These goals were each a different section to the document (World War Æ’Â ¹Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¹). The first is to fulfill the goal of clarifying the requirements of citizenship. The second section of the document is to clarify the position in society that Jewish citizens were to obtain. The third division was placed to protect the purity of the German blood (Austin). The first goal was to declare the requirements needed to be a German citizen. There were only two qualities that were needed to obtain citizenship. One being a citizen must be of German or kindred blood. It goes further to state that a person of  ¡Ã‚ §mixed Jewish blood ¡Ã‚ ¨ may also be eligible for citizenship. A person with  ¡Ã‚ §mixed Jewish blood ¡Ã‚ ¨ are those with grandparents that are racially of Jewish background, or religiously active in their communities. The second, is a personal trait, of being proud to be German and also proud of its heritage. The first quality is a racial quality which humans have no control over. This would in turn be a natural defect to the Jewish people. In addressing the second goal there were laws passed to keep civil rights foreign to Jewish citizens. Some rights that would be available to some citizens and revoked by others are the holding of politi...

Baby Boomer Generation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Baby Boomer Generation - Essay Example Furthermore, this paper aims to elaborate on the impact of the generation on American culture and future prospects for baby boomers. The baby boomer generation is defined as a legion composed of those who were born between the years of 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boom" was coined as this period is characterized by the dramatic escalation of population in the United States (US) and in other countries as well (Gianoulis). To illustrate this, the chart below exhibits how the number of infants born skyrocketed within this era. The escalation in birth rate is attributed to economic prosperity experienced after World War II as the US became a major exporter of goods required for rebuilding war-torn countries. As such, the US posted robust economic growth within the period (Gillon). Aside from this, the rise in population is also ascribed to the uncertainties resulting from the war that impelled many young couples to take advantage of the opportunity to get married and build families (Gianoulis). The baby boomer stereotype is depicted as someone white belonging to the middle-class, who grew up in the suburbs (Gianoulis). Given the suburban life led by these white, middle-class baby boomers, which is labeled as dull, conventional and secure, many resorted to rebellion. This attitude that stems from the secure predictability of suburban life and hypocrisy of the perfect family myth painted by society became a trademark of the baby boomers. They have been taught to think critically by questioning. In line with this, they perceived themselves as the generation built not to obey the rules of society, instead they exist to justify and push for change on prevailing socio-political structures. ("Boomer Generation") This led to the flourishing of movements aiming for improvements. For instance, the civil rights movement of African Americans Headed by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. gained ground in the early 1960s as baby boomers regardless of race rallied for justice and equal rights for black minority. This resulted in the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, as proposed by President John F. Kennedy before his assassination, which prohibited segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in education and employment. ("Boomer Generation") To further prove their rebellious nature, the baby boomers also protested against the Vietnam War. Similarly, thousands of baby boomers passionately rallied against the war since it was them who were of draft age. Many of them refused to go to battle in an unknown land for an ambiguous cause. With this, students held demonstrations and took over buildings at school campuses to protest the unjustness of the war. Draft cards were also burned to express rage over forced conscription. (Gianoulis) Due to the prevailing gender discrimination in the society then, women's liberation movement was also launched. In the same way, gay liberation movements were organized to protest the social stigma homosexuals are subjected to. (Gianoulis) It should be highlighted that although there is a common characteristic binding the generation, there are also myriad differences among them that render making generalizations about this generation very difficult. To account for the difference, the baby boomer population is divided into two groups, namely the Boomers and Shadow Boomers. The former

Financial Reporting and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Financial Reporting and Analysis - Essay Example These spreadsheets should be common-sized and the figures compared to the company. The Balance Sheet helps to plot company's next year's profitability and what company's future business wealth will be by evaluating company's present year's Balance Sheet, and comparing with last year. To improve company's financial performance, the company needs to evaluate the major Balance Sheet components - Assets, Liabilities, and Equity. The company owns assets, such as cash, equipment, and property, to increase the company 's business profitability and future wealth. Return on Assets (ROA) compares Net Income and Total Assets to show how much income has been generated worth of the company's assets. The company's assets can be improved by evaluating each asset category to identify room for improvement and to manage company's inventory and collect accounts receivable better and faster. The important thing to remember for loan consideration is that if company's business experiences large variances in assets during last two year, ROA is to be calculated using an average of the assets over the period being evaluated When purchased, inventory is an asset recorded on the Balance Sheet. ... Managing Inventory Company's business manages inventory has an impact on both profits and cash flow. When purchased, inventory is an asset recorded on the Balance Sheet. At any given time, assuming a customer wants it, company can sell inventory to regain cash. One way to evaluate how well inventory is being managed is to look at the Inventory Turnover ratio. This ratio tells how many times the average level of inventory is sold, or turns over, during the year. The ratio should be used to compare company's own trends and to compare to the industry's averages. High turnover is generally good. High turnover, however, may also indicate that there is not enough merchandise, and sales are being lost. The important thing to remember is that if companion's business experiences large variances in inventory during the year, calculate Inventory Turnover using an average of the inventory over the period being evaluated Collecting Accounts Receivable Accounts Receivable describes money due from customers for products or services already sold.Liabilities Liabilities have an important supporting role that is vital to the creation of a healthy cash flow. The more cash a company has and the longer it can hold on to it, the better. One way to secure more cash and other assets is through the proper use of Liabilities. Liabilities are categorized as either short-term or long-term debts, called Current or Long-Term Liabilities Current Liabilities Current Liabilities are bills or loan payments due within the next business cycle, usually a year. The primary Current Liabilities are Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses, and Short-Term Notes Payable. Several ratios, called Liquidity ratios, are used to measure a company's ability to pay its short-term bills, also called

Effect of Supplier Management Procurement on Public Sectors

Effect of Supplier Management Procurement on Public Sectors One: Introduction Best Value (BV) was introduced into the public sector in 1998, announced through the government’s white paper Modern Local Government in Touch with the People. This paper introduced extensive reform to local government, including the new initiative of BV. Within this BV is the e-Government, Community Planning, Strategic Partnerships and new political management structures (White Paper 1998). BV replaced the system of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) (Local Government Act 1999). The aim of BV is to influence the efficient expenditure of public money; estimated to total  £455.2 billion for 2004, forecasted to grow by 3-5% for the period 2005-9 (www.statistics.gov.uk/). The 2001 review of local government procurement in England (Delivering Better Services for Citizens) was published as a consultation paper. The report included the following recommendation; there should be clear political responsibility for procurement, with elected members taking a strategic role in secur ing outcomes. Best Value is about breaking down the boundaries between the public and private sectors in local service delivery (The Byatt Report 2001). Supplier relationship management within the public sector has to an extent been dictated by the central government initiatives evolving the CCT era into the Best Value regime. Best Value has led to distinctively different approaches within the public sector to consultation, competition, performance reviews, and to partnership working. Since the abolition of CCT, evidence is emerging of a new maturity in localgovernments relationships with the private sector. In some authorities, this is evidenced by the fact that they are now recognisingthe inevitability of the mixed economy of provision,and are prepared to work within it (Bovaird, 2000). Procurement, and best value procurement, is a complicated subject to examine, largely because getting the best value for a product or service does not necessarily mean choosing the lowest bidder. Indeed, modern procurement strategies need to consider several interrelated factors, of which costs is just one, when determining and implementing the best value procurement process. This implies a significant increase in the number of issues encountered by many public sector agencies, for who best value procurement and competitive tendering concerns have replaced the simpler days of low bid auctions for services. As a result of these changes, best value procurement has now developed into a significant strategic option, which can provide many advantages to the public sector procurement professionals. However, along with the potential benefits, best value procurement also brings significant related risk factors, especially in the public sector where policy and political considerations can lea d to significantly different interpretations of best value both across public sector organisations and across individual projects within the same organisation. Indeed, when efficiently written and executed, best value contracts can both save money and increase service levels, however by its very nature best value involves a great deal of evaluation and comparison, which can complicate the process to the point where the potential gains are lost. Equally, distortions caused by interpretations and political factors may enter into play when gauging the many factors in addition to price, often leading to debates around different perceptions of what constitutes value for a given product or service. Each best value procurement example is subjective and entirely unique, especially in the public sector, and because of this, communication between end users, procurement professionals, policy makers, and suppliers is of utmost importance. In procurement, as in other fields, people with the right knowledge about the product or service being supplied, and the project for which it is required, will be able to make better decisions than those without the necessary information. As such, when choices must be made, project sponsors, buyers, contract administrators, technical authorities, advisors, bidders, and contractors must be kept in the know. This leads to the hypothesis that supplier relationship management in the public sector will, by virtue of increasing the spread of knowledge along the procurement chain, better help the public sector to achieve best value in its procurement activities. This work intends to test this hypothesis through a detailed search of the existing literature on procurement in the public sector, and the various aspects of procurement which underlie the provision of best value for public sector organisations. This will be achieved using the positivist paradigm and phenomenological hermeneutics to identify, contextualise and analyse the various research on best value, and also to determine how supplier relationship management will impact on this for public sector organisations. Two: Methodology Due to the wide scope of the subject matter of this dissertation, and the specialised nature of procurement within the public sector, the work will be solely based on existing secondary research. As there is no primary research to interpret, the research process will be different from conventional dissertations. As such, the interpretation of the existing research will form the cornerstone of the analysis and also drive any conclusions. This means that the dissertation will not only need to analyse the content of these articles, but also the motive of the authors for writing them, the context and any inherent bias. A research method is needed that will identify any contextual factors or bias and exclude them from the overall results. The chosen method is phenomenological hermeneutics, because this methodology states that literature can only be fully interpreted through an analysis of its contextual basis. The method further argues that, instead of being based on historical or cultura l contexts, each text reflects the mental frame of the writer or writers. As such, phenomenological hermeneutics will be used as the research methodology and philosophy because it allows one to take a text and methodically isolate it from all extraneous things including the subjects biases and allow it to communicate its meaning to the subject (Demeterio, 2001). In order to effectively achieve this goal, the research method shall focus on eliminating any sources of inherent bias in order to draw out its key messages and fit them into a coherent discussion and analysis; however, as Lye (1996) states, In order to understand one must fore understand, have a stance, an anticipation and a contextualization. This is what is known as the hermeneutic circle: one can only know what one is prepared to know, in the terms that one is prepared to know. As such, this work will need to examine the various articles of literature in the context of each other; to enable the construction of a hermeneutic circle and to truly understand the points each author is trying to make. As such, the interaction of the text with the contextual frame of reference given by the literature as a whole will lead to an interpretive paradigm being formed (Lye, 1996), through which it will be possible to draw out the common themes and the salient points from the literature. To appropriately construct this paradigm, it is necessary to understand that each article will be an embodiment of the ideas, beliefs, knowledge and experiences of the author, and that the interpretation of the text will also be an embodiment of the ideas, beliefs, knowledge and experience of the reader; as such, it will be necessary for the author of this work to be aware of the impact that this will have on the interpretation of the articles. This work will embody the style of the author (Lye, 1996), and will likely reveal some significant aspects of the authors views on politics and asset allocation, both conscious and unconscious. This will potentially add a further contextual bias to the interpretation, and one which may be significantly harder to identify, isolate and remove. This potential contextual bias will also make it difficult to effectively apply the logical positivist paradigm, which is strongly based on taking an objective view of reality, rather than a subjective view. The view of positivism that knowledge can only be obtained by the use of data that can be verified by an independent observer (Schrag, 1992) implies that someone attempting to use the positivist paradigm for research purposes must be as objective and unbiased as possible. Indeed, as all phenomena are subject to natural laws that coexist with each other in a logical manner, humans can only discover these laws through the use of inductive and deductive hypotheses and empirical testing of social and scientific theories. As such, the positivist paradigm will have to be carefully applied to all research and interpretation in this work, taking into account the phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation to provide a well rounded argument and conclusion. Regarding the research and data collection methods used, an inductive approach has been taken, which is appropriate as it involves interpretation of the research and data during the gathering, as well as the analysis phase. This has been extended through the use of a standard horizontal and vertical analysis of the existing literature and the initial sources found. The horizontal aspect of the research has involved using the terminology, key words and arguments underlying historical public sector procurement processes and strategies to uncover other related works which discuss the same concepts but with different arguments and in different contexts. The vertical aspect has involved examining the sources cited in the initial sources used to move back up the chain of argument and see how different arguments and theories have been formed and influenced over time. Online searches have also been used to facilitate looking for sources which cite the identified articles and examining how th ese sources have further developed the article. The research and data gathered for this dissertation is composed entirely of secondary research. Initially, the author considered gathering and analysis primary data, however this was deemed to be unfeasible for two reasons. The first reason is that the majority of people working within public sector procurement are busy professionals, working full time to ensure that their procurement goals are met. As such, they would be unlikely to have the time available to assist in the research process, and their responses would be limited by the commercial and confidentiality considerations that underlie most procurement projects. Secondly, as was discussed above, this topic is highly specialised, with practitioners, advisors and academics having significant levels of knowledge and experience. As a result, it is more appropriate, and probably more accurate, to use the results of experienced academics and practitioners, who have carried out significant amounts of in depth, and often independent , research on this subject, as a contextual basis of the positivist paradigm being used; however, research gaps should be discussed when identified. Another important consideration when collecting the data was the time horizon because, as stated above, the UK public sector procurement industry is now in a fundamentally different state than at any time in its prior history following the longest consecutive period under Labour rule. As such, examining research data and literature from too far in the past will likely be of limited use when discussing public sector procurement in the modern economic and political environment. Therefore it has been decided that data will only be used from the period 1997 to 2007, which is the period for which the Labour government has been in power, and within which most of the major reforms underlying the current processes, strategies, and improvements have been drawn up and implemented. This research methodology has produced analyses of about fifty major articles on which the work will be based; together with some other articles defining the research methodology itself, and some sources providing general public sector procurement context and supplementary information. The major articles have been analysed and reviewed in the Structured Literature Review, under each of the main themes identified. This is the most logical method of analysis for this work, as the majority of the articles and surveys carried out around best value in the UK public sectors have been focused on specific areas such as the Public Private Partnership initiatives and the work of the Audit Commission. As such, a longitudinal method of analysis is also useful for the phenomenological hermeneutic approach taken by this work, as it will enable progressive clarity of understanding of the contextual factors underling the literature reviewed. Considering the chosen methodology for this work, this dissertation will have a Structured Literature Review instead of a conventional literature review. This is because the research used is solely secondary; therefore there is no need to conduct a standard literature review, which is usually done to contextualise and direct any primary research and to help explain its results. As this work is not based on primary research, there is no need for a standard literature review, and hence the structured literature review is more appropriate, because it can serve as the findings, results and analysis for the work, which shall be interpreted within the ‘findings’. Because the research philosophy and methodology is phenomenological hermeneutics, an interpretive, positivist method of analysis is required, which is facilitated by a structured approach to the analysis. Finally, as the literature review is being conducted along various themes, it is vital that it is correctly struct ured to ensure that it is analytical rather than just descriptive, and that it maintains some criticality. As such, the structured literature review will involve a thematic/structured review of all the salient articles in the work, analysing the arguments and themes within each article and linking the various articles and themes to each other. The last part of the literature review will be an interpretation of all the articles discussed in the review, identifying common themes, disagreements and any potential implications or conflicts. This analysis will need to consider the various biases, backgrounds and any knowledge of the authors. Many of the major disagreements may not be based on the subject of best value itself, but rather the authors views on the ultimate aims of ‘procurement’ and the importance of the process and methodology underling it. This scrutiny will enable analysis of the validity and reliability of the articles by means of triangulation with the other articles reviewed and analysed. This will further assist in the phenomenological hermeneutic approach taken by this work, and it will facilitate the identification of any bias or conflicts that were not obvious in the initial review of the literature. The methodology will also attempt to identify existing gaps within the literature, and highlight areas where further research could be beneficial to the work. Because most of the literature is written from academic perspectives, there are likely to be gaps around the various objectives and contextual factors of the various public sector organisations; and the various procurement frameworks the have in place; and potentially a lack of in depth research around issues such as political pressure and policy directives. As such, this work will attempt to identify where the existing literature has failed to focus on areas such as these, and how these omissions can be addressed by future studies and research. Three: Literature Best Value Procurement in the UK Public Sector There is a large volume of research focusing on procurement strategies and measures of value for private sector organisations, and recently literature (Male et al, 2007; Lian and Laing, 2004) has begun to focus on the different procurement practices needed by the public sector. Indeed, Lian and Laing (2004) focused on the transactional and relationship based nature of procurement strategies to determine to what extent procurement is different between the public and the private sector. They focused on health services, as public health services are often seen as one of the most complex services provided by the public sector (Male et al, 2007), and their research demonstrated how the differing environmental factors, such as politics and resource allocation in the public sector, impacted on procurement, whilst many service specific factors, such as the need for medicines and temporary staff, were constant across the public and private spheres Indeed, their research demonstrated that poli tics and policy drivers have a major impact on the procurement strategies used by public sector organisations, and that these strategies, and the methods used to engage suppliers, were significantly different from that of private sector organisations. This research ties in with that of Dixon et al (2005) which showed that, whilst the private sector tended to build relationships with suppliers, and leverage these to obtain better value, public sector organisations often based their procurement strategies on the costs of individual transactions. As such, the literature concludes that the private sector’s relationship based procurement strategies offer better value than those of the public sector. However, Lian and Laing (2004) also commented that public policy decisions often restrict public sector organisations from building relationships with their suppliers, and thus the very nature of public sector organisations often hinders or prevents them from achieving best value from their procurement activities. Palaneeswaran et al (2003) criticise this political dimension, claiming that procuring best value should be one of the key objectives (for the) public sector. Their argument is that best value depends upon the use of sound selection strategies, intended to ensure that all the procurement objectives are met, which includes the client and end user demands. As such, best value initiatives should all be geared towards the final state of business, rather than to serve public policy decisions. They conclude that, whilst the overall goal of any public sector organisation should be determined by public policy, best value procurement efforts should all be directed towards that goal and be free from political interference. Unfortunately, as Lian and Ling commented, whilst this may be desirable it is not always possible. Current successes and failures of procurement strategies within central and local government Walker (2006) notes that UK public sector organisations often make their main procurement decisions, for assets and services, at the local level, reflected in the fact that the NHS trusts and local government authorities all have their own procurement departments. Whilst this policy allows individual bodies to select the procurement strategy that best suits their needs, the lack of coordination of the procurement process can lead to inefficient supply markets, with either too few or too many suppliers, which reduces the efficiency of individual suppliers and thus increased the cost to the purchasers. These local procurement decisions are also often superseded or influence by central government guidelines and policies, for example Builders Merchants Journal (2006) detailed a new central government policy on public sector timber procurement. This policy specified that, whilst organisations are still responsible for their own procurement decisions, they must ensure that any timber they procure comes from a legal source, which increases the administrative burden for the local organisations. Furthermore, the government has also specified that organisations should supply sustainable timber wherever possible, however this is not compulsory. Such vague policy guidelines also make it difficult for organisations trying to balance budgets against policy. Equally, such fragmented policies make it hard for public sector organisations to plan long term procurement strategies to respond to market uncertainty. For example, Loveday (2005) reported that the UK public sector was forced to cut back service provision as a result of significant energy price rises which they had not planned for. Whilst this failing is shared with the private sector, which Loveday (2005) stated as having lost over  £1 billion due to a lack of energy procurement strategies and poor energy risk management, the fragmented nature of local procurement means that the public sector is often as much as risk from utility price rises as small businesses, some of which have been almost bankrupted due to rising energy bills in recent years (Loveday, 2005). Perhaps in response to these drawbacks, the literature highlights one of the main strategies used in recent years by the public sector to improve its procurement strategies: the rise of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which form long term partnerships with private sector organisations to share the provision of public services. Smyth and Edkins (2007) examined the management of these projects, the relationships between the primary public and private sector partners and the use of the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPUs) to facilitate the partnerships. They found that the management of these relationships had two main dynamics: the contract, transactional, approach of the public sector, and the relationship management approach of the private sector. The combination of these two approaches, and how they influenced the project management discipline within the partnership, showed that they led to greater strategic and tactical consideration being giv en to functions such as procurement, leading to greater value generation. This consideration led to greater collaboration, both between and within the organisations, as they adjusted to new procurement conditions, demonstrating improved proactive and strategic relationship management versus individual public sector organisations (Smyth and Edkins, 2007). Dixon et al (2005) also examined the several case studies of the success of the Private Finance Initiative schemes, focusing on projects related to the construction of infrastructure and other facilities. These studies highlighted several examples of best practice and best value procurement, together with the key critical factors for success in PFI projects, whilst also pointing out some drawbacks and lessons for future projects. Indeed, the literature demonstrated that the key value benefits of the PFI are that the public sector obtains increased value for money, whilst also transferring risk to the private sector partner. However, this transfer is offset by higher procurement and transaction costs, relative to the private sector’s standard costs; partly due to the cultural differences between the public and private sector, and partly due to large-scale nature of PFI projects, which frequently acts as a barrier to entry for some financing partners and suppliers. This highligh ts the need to develop competitive public sector supplier markets, and also to develop the appropriate procurement and project management skills within the public sector to ensure that they can work with private sector partners to ensure best value (Dixon et al, 2005). These show two contrasting views of the PFI/PPP, with Smyth and Edkins (2007) seeing the initiatives as an excellent way to bring private sector efficiency to public sector procurement, but with Dixon et al (2005) claiming that the wide differences in skill sets mean that a lot of the benefits from the private sector methodologies are lost. In response to contrasting views such as these, Li et al (2005) conducted research into the various perceptions of what makes the PFI attractive or unattractive to potential partners as a procurement system for projects. The research was based on a questionnaire / survey of stakeholders in the various projects, with the various potential issues and factors for the survey identified from the existing literature. This research showed that PPP and PFI procurement efficiency can have wide ranging benefits and drawbacks across different areas of a project. In particular, Li et al (2005) found the public / private sector partnerships were perceived as g iving better access to the technology required for projects, and thus leading to better project economy. This in turn drove greater public benefit, helped the public sector avoid transactional costs, and also helped manage or avoid some regulatory and financial constraints, such as the public sector timber procurement policy (Builders Merchants Journal, 2006). However, they also found that participants inexperienced is public / private sector co-operation, the high costs of setting up and participating in the initiatives, the length of time they took, and the tendency to over-commercialise some projects could lead to PPP / PFI procurement being less attractive for both parties. These various factors will impact differently on different projects, thus showing why there are such wide disparities between articles in the literature on the relative merits of PPP and PFI. For example, Weston and Cassidy (2006) claim that the procurement of public facilities and services under the PPP and PFI arrangements provides a wide variety of significant benefits to the public sector, and to the private sector partners. In contrast, Chapman (2006) highlights claims that private sector participation harms services and efficiency, whilst purely focusing on guaranteeing the private sector partners their profits. As a result, the literature concludes that the difference between the success and failure of PFI and PPP schemes depends on a clear and common understanding of the positive and negative factors surrounding PPP / PFI procurement (Li et al, 2005). Another development in procurement is that direct competition between providers, via invitations to tender, is now widely used as the means of choosing suppliers or outsourcers for many public services in the UK. Smyth (1997) describes how competitive tendering can ensure local accessibility and accountability for users, innovation, from providers and help purchasers to reduce procurement and transaction costs. However, in common with many other writers, Smyth (1997) discusses co-operation and collaboration and the interference of policy decisions and the political process, which has led to the emergence of monopolies and inefficient integrated delivery systems, often to the detriment of value in the procurement process (Smyth, 1997). Another effort made by the public sector, specifically the UK NHS, to improve purchasing efficiency is in the use of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, PaSA, to negotiate National Framework Agreements through which individual NHS trusts can procure goods and services at bulk negotiated rates. However, as each NHS trust is a separate legal and managerial entity, responsible only to the Department of Health, a significant number of NHS trusts have resisted the move towards this centralised procurement approach in favour of their own relationships with suppliers. As a result, Cox et al (2005) discussed how PaSA, and the NHS senior management as a whole, have created regional procurement hubs and confederations in order to overcome this inability to enforce the Agreements within individual NHS Trusts. Whilst this was a sensible approach to resolving the lack of effective consolidation of demand at the individual Trust level, the individual procurement practices of regionally based NHS Trusts is still strongly driven by their own supply and demand considerations, and this has created a number of internal demand problems that the regionalised procurement approach has failed to overcome. These include the failure by the Trusts individually, and by the NHS centrally, to control and manage the NHS design and specification process effectively and, in many cases, an inability to measure or collect information on the clinical and cost effectiveness of medical interventions (Cox et al, 2005). As such, whilst these new reforms can be seen as a significant improvement on past collaborative procurement efforts, it is likely that they are still destined to fail, due to the fundamental nature of procurement in the NHS, and the lack of understanding around effectively aligning supply and demand at all levels of the NHS. One final area, in which the public sector is often accused of being inefficient by the Audit Commission, and failing to secure best value procurement, is in the employing of management consultants for project management and other support roles. Corcoran and McLean (1998) investigated the purchase of management consultants in the public sector context, specifically the appointment of consultants to work with government departments, focusing specifically on the particular selection decisions. They found that, in accordance with government policy, many public sector decision makers focus mainly on securing best value for money when procuring consultants, however the criteria and information sources used to make the procurement decisions were often inconsistent. Similar to Cox et al (2005), Corcoran and McLean (1998) found that whilst the government’s public sector procurement principle was well known and relatively well understood, public sector decision makers seemed to be unab le to connect this principle to the procurement process, often claiming that they did not have access to sufficient information to make an informed choice. Paradoxically, the majority of government departments tend to hire management consultants in an attempt to understand the procurement process that has hired the management consultants in the first place. One significant outcome of this is that the decision makers in many government organisations stated that they didn’t believe the selection process and decision around hiring management consultants was difficult, and would be straightforward if sufficient information was made available (Corcoran and McLean, 1998). Future developments in procurement and threats to movement The public sector is increasing beginning to rely on private sector organisations to form supplier consortia for major projects, especially those where the scale is such that individual suppliers are unable to cope with the demand. As the number of projects, especially the major PPP / PFI projects, increases; the demand for these consortia is likely to rise, and Jost (2005) believes that this may become the dominant model for public sector procurement in future. However, in order for this to occur, greater attention must be paid to building successful relationships, both between the consortium and the public sector organisation, and between the members of the consortium itself. Jost (2005) conducted a qualitative study of the existing consortia, and claimed that building trust, engaging staff and reconciling the differing objectives of the partners will be the main factors critical to this development, and a lack of trust among the private sector partners will be the biggest threat t o progress. Indeed, Swan and Khalfan (2007) claim that partnering will continue to grow significantly throughout the UK public sector. They focus on the UK public sector construction industry, and identified that, in future, factors such relationship management with external stakeholders, the general public in the case of public sector projects, will be important to the growth in partnership based projects. Indeed, whilst issues such as cost, quality, timeliness and safety will remain crucial to successful delivery, objectives such as sustainable and environmental development will grow in importance, and failure to acknowledge and address these issues will again pose threats to movement. Swan and Khalfan’s research showed that the industry is already moving forward, with a su Effect of Supplier Management Procurement on Public Sectors Effect of Supplier Management Procurement on Public Sectors One: Introduction Best Value (BV) was introduced into the public sector in 1998, announced through the government’s white paper Modern Local Government in Touch with the People. This paper introduced extensive reform to local government, including the new initiative of BV. Within this BV is the e-Government, Community Planning, Strategic Partnerships and new political management structures (White Paper 1998). BV replaced the system of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) (Local Government Act 1999). The aim of BV is to influence the efficient expenditure of public money; estimated to total  £455.2 billion for 2004, forecasted to grow by 3-5% for the period 2005-9 (www.statistics.gov.uk/). The 2001 review of local government procurement in England (Delivering Better Services for Citizens) was published as a consultation paper. The report included the following recommendation; there should be clear political responsibility for procurement, with elected members taking a strategic role in secur ing outcomes. Best Value is about breaking down the boundaries between the public and private sectors in local service delivery (The Byatt Report 2001). Supplier relationship management within the public sector has to an extent been dictated by the central government initiatives evolving the CCT era into the Best Value regime. Best Value has led to distinctively different approaches within the public sector to consultation, competition, performance reviews, and to partnership working. Since the abolition of CCT, evidence is emerging of a new maturity in localgovernments relationships with the private sector. In some authorities, this is evidenced by the fact that they are now recognisingthe inevitability of the mixed economy of provision,and are prepared to work within it (Bovaird, 2000). Procurement, and best value procurement, is a complicated subject to examine, largely because getting the best value for a product or service does not necessarily mean choosing the lowest bidder. Indeed, modern procurement strategies need to consider several interrelated factors, of which costs is just one, when determining and implementing the best value procurement process. This implies a significant increase in the number of issues encountered by many public sector agencies, for who best value procurement and competitive tendering concerns have replaced the simpler days of low bid auctions for services. As a result of these changes, best value procurement has now developed into a significant strategic option, which can provide many advantages to the public sector procurement professionals. However, along with the potential benefits, best value procurement also brings significant related risk factors, especially in the public sector where policy and political considerations can lea d to significantly different interpretations of best value both across public sector organisations and across individual projects within the same organisation. Indeed, when efficiently written and executed, best value contracts can both save money and increase service levels, however by its very nature best value involves a great deal of evaluation and comparison, which can complicate the process to the point where the potential gains are lost. Equally, distortions caused by interpretations and political factors may enter into play when gauging the many factors in addition to price, often leading to debates around different perceptions of what constitutes value for a given product or service. Each best value procurement example is subjective and entirely unique, especially in the public sector, and because of this, communication between end users, procurement professionals, policy makers, and suppliers is of utmost importance. In procurement, as in other fields, people with the right knowledge about the product or service being supplied, and the project for which it is required, will be able to make better decisions than those without the necessary information. As such, when choices must be made, project sponsors, buyers, contract administrators, technical authorities, advisors, bidders, and contractors must be kept in the know. This leads to the hypothesis that supplier relationship management in the public sector will, by virtue of increasing the spread of knowledge along the procurement chain, better help the public sector to achieve best value in its procurement activities. This work intends to test this hypothesis through a detailed search of the existing literature on procurement in the public sector, and the various aspects of procurement which underlie the provision of best value for public sector organisations. This will be achieved using the positivist paradigm and phenomenological hermeneutics to identify, contextualise and analyse the various research on best value, and also to determine how supplier relationship management will impact on this for public sector organisations. Two: Methodology Due to the wide scope of the subject matter of this dissertation, and the specialised nature of procurement within the public sector, the work will be solely based on existing secondary research. As there is no primary research to interpret, the research process will be different from conventional dissertations. As such, the interpretation of the existing research will form the cornerstone of the analysis and also drive any conclusions. This means that the dissertation will not only need to analyse the content of these articles, but also the motive of the authors for writing them, the context and any inherent bias. A research method is needed that will identify any contextual factors or bias and exclude them from the overall results. The chosen method is phenomenological hermeneutics, because this methodology states that literature can only be fully interpreted through an analysis of its contextual basis. The method further argues that, instead of being based on historical or cultura l contexts, each text reflects the mental frame of the writer or writers. As such, phenomenological hermeneutics will be used as the research methodology and philosophy because it allows one to take a text and methodically isolate it from all extraneous things including the subjects biases and allow it to communicate its meaning to the subject (Demeterio, 2001). In order to effectively achieve this goal, the research method shall focus on eliminating any sources of inherent bias in order to draw out its key messages and fit them into a coherent discussion and analysis; however, as Lye (1996) states, In order to understand one must fore understand, have a stance, an anticipation and a contextualization. This is what is known as the hermeneutic circle: one can only know what one is prepared to know, in the terms that one is prepared to know. As such, this work will need to examine the various articles of literature in the context of each other; to enable the construction of a hermeneutic circle and to truly understand the points each author is trying to make. As such, the interaction of the text with the contextual frame of reference given by the literature as a whole will lead to an interpretive paradigm being formed (Lye, 1996), through which it will be possible to draw out the common themes and the salient points from the literature. To appropriately construct this paradigm, it is necessary to understand that each article will be an embodiment of the ideas, beliefs, knowledge and experiences of the author, and that the interpretation of the text will also be an embodiment of the ideas, beliefs, knowledge and experience of the reader; as such, it will be necessary for the author of this work to be aware of the impact that this will have on the interpretation of the articles. This work will embody the style of the author (Lye, 1996), and will likely reveal some significant aspects of the authors views on politics and asset allocation, both conscious and unconscious. This will potentially add a further contextual bias to the interpretation, and one which may be significantly harder to identify, isolate and remove. This potential contextual bias will also make it difficult to effectively apply the logical positivist paradigm, which is strongly based on taking an objective view of reality, rather than a subjective view. The view of positivism that knowledge can only be obtained by the use of data that can be verified by an independent observer (Schrag, 1992) implies that someone attempting to use the positivist paradigm for research purposes must be as objective and unbiased as possible. Indeed, as all phenomena are subject to natural laws that coexist with each other in a logical manner, humans can only discover these laws through the use of inductive and deductive hypotheses and empirical testing of social and scientific theories. As such, the positivist paradigm will have to be carefully applied to all research and interpretation in this work, taking into account the phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation to provide a well rounded argument and conclusion. Regarding the research and data collection methods used, an inductive approach has been taken, which is appropriate as it involves interpretation of the research and data during the gathering, as well as the analysis phase. This has been extended through the use of a standard horizontal and vertical analysis of the existing literature and the initial sources found. The horizontal aspect of the research has involved using the terminology, key words and arguments underlying historical public sector procurement processes and strategies to uncover other related works which discuss the same concepts but with different arguments and in different contexts. The vertical aspect has involved examining the sources cited in the initial sources used to move back up the chain of argument and see how different arguments and theories have been formed and influenced over time. Online searches have also been used to facilitate looking for sources which cite the identified articles and examining how th ese sources have further developed the article. The research and data gathered for this dissertation is composed entirely of secondary research. Initially, the author considered gathering and analysis primary data, however this was deemed to be unfeasible for two reasons. The first reason is that the majority of people working within public sector procurement are busy professionals, working full time to ensure that their procurement goals are met. As such, they would be unlikely to have the time available to assist in the research process, and their responses would be limited by the commercial and confidentiality considerations that underlie most procurement projects. Secondly, as was discussed above, this topic is highly specialised, with practitioners, advisors and academics having significant levels of knowledge and experience. As a result, it is more appropriate, and probably more accurate, to use the results of experienced academics and practitioners, who have carried out significant amounts of in depth, and often independent , research on this subject, as a contextual basis of the positivist paradigm being used; however, research gaps should be discussed when identified. Another important consideration when collecting the data was the time horizon because, as stated above, the UK public sector procurement industry is now in a fundamentally different state than at any time in its prior history following the longest consecutive period under Labour rule. As such, examining research data and literature from too far in the past will likely be of limited use when discussing public sector procurement in the modern economic and political environment. Therefore it has been decided that data will only be used from the period 1997 to 2007, which is the period for which the Labour government has been in power, and within which most of the major reforms underlying the current processes, strategies, and improvements have been drawn up and implemented. This research methodology has produced analyses of about fifty major articles on which the work will be based; together with some other articles defining the research methodology itself, and some sources providing general public sector procurement context and supplementary information. The major articles have been analysed and reviewed in the Structured Literature Review, under each of the main themes identified. This is the most logical method of analysis for this work, as the majority of the articles and surveys carried out around best value in the UK public sectors have been focused on specific areas such as the Public Private Partnership initiatives and the work of the Audit Commission. As such, a longitudinal method of analysis is also useful for the phenomenological hermeneutic approach taken by this work, as it will enable progressive clarity of understanding of the contextual factors underling the literature reviewed. Considering the chosen methodology for this work, this dissertation will have a Structured Literature Review instead of a conventional literature review. This is because the research used is solely secondary; therefore there is no need to conduct a standard literature review, which is usually done to contextualise and direct any primary research and to help explain its results. As this work is not based on primary research, there is no need for a standard literature review, and hence the structured literature review is more appropriate, because it can serve as the findings, results and analysis for the work, which shall be interpreted within the ‘findings’. Because the research philosophy and methodology is phenomenological hermeneutics, an interpretive, positivist method of analysis is required, which is facilitated by a structured approach to the analysis. Finally, as the literature review is being conducted along various themes, it is vital that it is correctly struct ured to ensure that it is analytical rather than just descriptive, and that it maintains some criticality. As such, the structured literature review will involve a thematic/structured review of all the salient articles in the work, analysing the arguments and themes within each article and linking the various articles and themes to each other. The last part of the literature review will be an interpretation of all the articles discussed in the review, identifying common themes, disagreements and any potential implications or conflicts. This analysis will need to consider the various biases, backgrounds and any knowledge of the authors. Many of the major disagreements may not be based on the subject of best value itself, but rather the authors views on the ultimate aims of ‘procurement’ and the importance of the process and methodology underling it. This scrutiny will enable analysis of the validity and reliability of the articles by means of triangulation with the other articles reviewed and analysed. This will further assist in the phenomenological hermeneutic approach taken by this work, and it will facilitate the identification of any bias or conflicts that were not obvious in the initial review of the literature. The methodology will also attempt to identify existing gaps within the literature, and highlight areas where further research could be beneficial to the work. Because most of the literature is written from academic perspectives, there are likely to be gaps around the various objectives and contextual factors of the various public sector organisations; and the various procurement frameworks the have in place; and potentially a lack of in depth research around issues such as political pressure and policy directives. As such, this work will attempt to identify where the existing literature has failed to focus on areas such as these, and how these omissions can be addressed by future studies and research. Three: Literature Best Value Procurement in the UK Public Sector There is a large volume of research focusing on procurement strategies and measures of value for private sector organisations, and recently literature (Male et al, 2007; Lian and Laing, 2004) has begun to focus on the different procurement practices needed by the public sector. Indeed, Lian and Laing (2004) focused on the transactional and relationship based nature of procurement strategies to determine to what extent procurement is different between the public and the private sector. They focused on health services, as public health services are often seen as one of the most complex services provided by the public sector (Male et al, 2007), and their research demonstrated how the differing environmental factors, such as politics and resource allocation in the public sector, impacted on procurement, whilst many service specific factors, such as the need for medicines and temporary staff, were constant across the public and private spheres Indeed, their research demonstrated that poli tics and policy drivers have a major impact on the procurement strategies used by public sector organisations, and that these strategies, and the methods used to engage suppliers, were significantly different from that of private sector organisations. This research ties in with that of Dixon et al (2005) which showed that, whilst the private sector tended to build relationships with suppliers, and leverage these to obtain better value, public sector organisations often based their procurement strategies on the costs of individual transactions. As such, the literature concludes that the private sector’s relationship based procurement strategies offer better value than those of the public sector. However, Lian and Laing (2004) also commented that public policy decisions often restrict public sector organisations from building relationships with their suppliers, and thus the very nature of public sector organisations often hinders or prevents them from achieving best value from their procurement activities. Palaneeswaran et al (2003) criticise this political dimension, claiming that procuring best value should be one of the key objectives (for the) public sector. Their argument is that best value depends upon the use of sound selection strategies, intended to ensure that all the procurement objectives are met, which includes the client and end user demands. As such, best value initiatives should all be geared towards the final state of business, rather than to serve public policy decisions. They conclude that, whilst the overall goal of any public sector organisation should be determined by public policy, best value procurement efforts should all be directed towards that goal and be free from political interference. Unfortunately, as Lian and Ling commented, whilst this may be desirable it is not always possible. Current successes and failures of procurement strategies within central and local government Walker (2006) notes that UK public sector organisations often make their main procurement decisions, for assets and services, at the local level, reflected in the fact that the NHS trusts and local government authorities all have their own procurement departments. Whilst this policy allows individual bodies to select the procurement strategy that best suits their needs, the lack of coordination of the procurement process can lead to inefficient supply markets, with either too few or too many suppliers, which reduces the efficiency of individual suppliers and thus increased the cost to the purchasers. These local procurement decisions are also often superseded or influence by central government guidelines and policies, for example Builders Merchants Journal (2006) detailed a new central government policy on public sector timber procurement. This policy specified that, whilst organisations are still responsible for their own procurement decisions, they must ensure that any timber they procure comes from a legal source, which increases the administrative burden for the local organisations. Furthermore, the government has also specified that organisations should supply sustainable timber wherever possible, however this is not compulsory. Such vague policy guidelines also make it difficult for organisations trying to balance budgets against policy. Equally, such fragmented policies make it hard for public sector organisations to plan long term procurement strategies to respond to market uncertainty. For example, Loveday (2005) reported that the UK public sector was forced to cut back service provision as a result of significant energy price rises which they had not planned for. Whilst this failing is shared with the private sector, which Loveday (2005) stated as having lost over  £1 billion due to a lack of energy procurement strategies and poor energy risk management, the fragmented nature of local procurement means that the public sector is often as much as risk from utility price rises as small businesses, some of which have been almost bankrupted due to rising energy bills in recent years (Loveday, 2005). Perhaps in response to these drawbacks, the literature highlights one of the main strategies used in recent years by the public sector to improve its procurement strategies: the rise of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which form long term partnerships with private sector organisations to share the provision of public services. Smyth and Edkins (2007) examined the management of these projects, the relationships between the primary public and private sector partners and the use of the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPUs) to facilitate the partnerships. They found that the management of these relationships had two main dynamics: the contract, transactional, approach of the public sector, and the relationship management approach of the private sector. The combination of these two approaches, and how they influenced the project management discipline within the partnership, showed that they led to greater strategic and tactical consideration being giv en to functions such as procurement, leading to greater value generation. This consideration led to greater collaboration, both between and within the organisations, as they adjusted to new procurement conditions, demonstrating improved proactive and strategic relationship management versus individual public sector organisations (Smyth and Edkins, 2007). Dixon et al (2005) also examined the several case studies of the success of the Private Finance Initiative schemes, focusing on projects related to the construction of infrastructure and other facilities. These studies highlighted several examples of best practice and best value procurement, together with the key critical factors for success in PFI projects, whilst also pointing out some drawbacks and lessons for future projects. Indeed, the literature demonstrated that the key value benefits of the PFI are that the public sector obtains increased value for money, whilst also transferring risk to the private sector partner. However, this transfer is offset by higher procurement and transaction costs, relative to the private sector’s standard costs; partly due to the cultural differences between the public and private sector, and partly due to large-scale nature of PFI projects, which frequently acts as a barrier to entry for some financing partners and suppliers. This highligh ts the need to develop competitive public sector supplier markets, and also to develop the appropriate procurement and project management skills within the public sector to ensure that they can work with private sector partners to ensure best value (Dixon et al, 2005). These show two contrasting views of the PFI/PPP, with Smyth and Edkins (2007) seeing the initiatives as an excellent way to bring private sector efficiency to public sector procurement, but with Dixon et al (2005) claiming that the wide differences in skill sets mean that a lot of the benefits from the private sector methodologies are lost. In response to contrasting views such as these, Li et al (2005) conducted research into the various perceptions of what makes the PFI attractive or unattractive to potential partners as a procurement system for projects. The research was based on a questionnaire / survey of stakeholders in the various projects, with the various potential issues and factors for the survey identified from the existing literature. This research showed that PPP and PFI procurement efficiency can have wide ranging benefits and drawbacks across different areas of a project. In particular, Li et al (2005) found the public / private sector partnerships were perceived as g iving better access to the technology required for projects, and thus leading to better project economy. This in turn drove greater public benefit, helped the public sector avoid transactional costs, and also helped manage or avoid some regulatory and financial constraints, such as the public sector timber procurement policy (Builders Merchants Journal, 2006). However, they also found that participants inexperienced is public / private sector co-operation, the high costs of setting up and participating in the initiatives, the length of time they took, and the tendency to over-commercialise some projects could lead to PPP / PFI procurement being less attractive for both parties. These various factors will impact differently on different projects, thus showing why there are such wide disparities between articles in the literature on the relative merits of PPP and PFI. For example, Weston and Cassidy (2006) claim that the procurement of public facilities and services under the PPP and PFI arrangements provides a wide variety of significant benefits to the public sector, and to the private sector partners. In contrast, Chapman (2006) highlights claims that private sector participation harms services and efficiency, whilst purely focusing on guaranteeing the private sector partners their profits. As a result, the literature concludes that the difference between the success and failure of PFI and PPP schemes depends on a clear and common understanding of the positive and negative factors surrounding PPP / PFI procurement (Li et al, 2005). Another development in procurement is that direct competition between providers, via invitations to tender, is now widely used as the means of choosing suppliers or outsourcers for many public services in the UK. Smyth (1997) describes how competitive tendering can ensure local accessibility and accountability for users, innovation, from providers and help purchasers to reduce procurement and transaction costs. However, in common with many other writers, Smyth (1997) discusses co-operation and collaboration and the interference of policy decisions and the political process, which has led to the emergence of monopolies and inefficient integrated delivery systems, often to the detriment of value in the procurement process (Smyth, 1997). Another effort made by the public sector, specifically the UK NHS, to improve purchasing efficiency is in the use of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, PaSA, to negotiate National Framework Agreements through which individual NHS trusts can procure goods and services at bulk negotiated rates. However, as each NHS trust is a separate legal and managerial entity, responsible only to the Department of Health, a significant number of NHS trusts have resisted the move towards this centralised procurement approach in favour of their own relationships with suppliers. As a result, Cox et al (2005) discussed how PaSA, and the NHS senior management as a whole, have created regional procurement hubs and confederations in order to overcome this inability to enforce the Agreements within individual NHS Trusts. Whilst this was a sensible approach to resolving the lack of effective consolidation of demand at the individual Trust level, the individual procurement practices of regionally based NHS Trusts is still strongly driven by their own supply and demand considerations, and this has created a number of internal demand problems that the regionalised procurement approach has failed to overcome. These include the failure by the Trusts individually, and by the NHS centrally, to control and manage the NHS design and specification process effectively and, in many cases, an inability to measure or collect information on the clinical and cost effectiveness of medical interventions (Cox et al, 2005). As such, whilst these new reforms can be seen as a significant improvement on past collaborative procurement efforts, it is likely that they are still destined to fail, due to the fundamental nature of procurement in the NHS, and the lack of understanding around effectively aligning supply and demand at all levels of the NHS. One final area, in which the public sector is often accused of being inefficient by the Audit Commission, and failing to secure best value procurement, is in the employing of management consultants for project management and other support roles. Corcoran and McLean (1998) investigated the purchase of management consultants in the public sector context, specifically the appointment of consultants to work with government departments, focusing specifically on the particular selection decisions. They found that, in accordance with government policy, many public sector decision makers focus mainly on securing best value for money when procuring consultants, however the criteria and information sources used to make the procurement decisions were often inconsistent. Similar to Cox et al (2005), Corcoran and McLean (1998) found that whilst the government’s public sector procurement principle was well known and relatively well understood, public sector decision makers seemed to be unab le to connect this principle to the procurement process, often claiming that they did not have access to sufficient information to make an informed choice. Paradoxically, the majority of government departments tend to hire management consultants in an attempt to understand the procurement process that has hired the management consultants in the first place. One significant outcome of this is that the decision makers in many government organisations stated that they didn’t believe the selection process and decision around hiring management consultants was difficult, and would be straightforward if sufficient information was made available (Corcoran and McLean, 1998). Future developments in procurement and threats to movement The public sector is increasing beginning to rely on private sector organisations to form supplier consortia for major projects, especially those where the scale is such that individual suppliers are unable to cope with the demand. As the number of projects, especially the major PPP / PFI projects, increases; the demand for these consortia is likely to rise, and Jost (2005) believes that this may become the dominant model for public sector procurement in future. However, in order for this to occur, greater attention must be paid to building successful relationships, both between the consortium and the public sector organisation, and between the members of the consortium itself. Jost (2005) conducted a qualitative study of the existing consortia, and claimed that building trust, engaging staff and reconciling the differing objectives of the partners will be the main factors critical to this development, and a lack of trust among the private sector partners will be the biggest threat t o progress. Indeed, Swan and Khalfan (2007) claim that partnering will continue to grow significantly throughout the UK public sector. They focus on the UK public sector construction industry, and identified that, in future, factors such relationship management with external stakeholders, the general public in the case of public sector projects, will be important to the growth in partnership based projects. Indeed, whilst issues such as cost, quality, timeliness and safety will remain crucial to successful delivery, objectives such as sustainable and environmental development will grow in importance, and failure to acknowledge and address these issues will again pose threats to movement. Swan and Khalfan’s research showed that the industry is already moving forward, with a su