Monday, June 24, 2013

POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS

ALL SCEM FINAL YEAR STUDENTS
My apologies for delay in posting these general guidelines for power point presentations, it is my expectation that it going be of help in the course of preparing your final dissertation presentations.
ALL THE BEST!



POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
General Guidelines
By, Suma Mwaitenda 2013

Contents.
Approach & a Clue
 Purpose of  your presentation
 General Guideline 
Important information
TIP
End


  •      Approach and a clue
Approach the presentation like a HAMBURGER
Try to imagine the layers in the burger...
HAVE AN INTRODUCTION: 
      °     Here create awareness     
      °     Set context of your presentation
BODY:  Here is where you have your main points so present evidence and findings
CONCLUSION; Make your summary and recommendations
  •     Purpose of your presentation
What is the PURPOSE of your presentation?
The purpose of my presentation today is to....... (Summarize your problem topic)
How are you going to do this?
—        To inform (facts)
                               To inspire (feelings)
       — To persuade (opinions)
                               To motivate (action)



  •      GENERAL GUIDELINE
Remember the 30 / 20 / 10 rule for PowerPoint presentations:
                   Minimum size 30 font
                 For a 20 minute presentation
                  Only using 10 slides (you  may need to use more; but remember ‘quality not quantity’)






General Cont…
Always remember…..
           Less is more: only use   keywords on each slide – not long sentences
     If using graphs & figures, they must be labelled; font size not too small
Must have informative legend, title, x and y axes correctly labelled.
            Be cautious about the overuse of technical animation in PowerPoint – it can be very distracting.
Make sure that the following information is included:
        Cover page (with name, topic and date)
         Problem Statement (purpose of presentation)
        Agenda/Table of Contents (not critical but gives a good sense of presentation flow for audience)
        Research Methods
 ● Findings / Results
       Recommendations
Implementation Plan (if applicable)

                                                   
       Conclusion         
Thanks

  •        TIP
      If possible, do a DRY RUN before your final presentation: to ensure your presentation will be professional, slick and polished (and not a first attempt)!
        Know your audience & be comfortable with them
       Present with Passion & Energy

  •       END




Thank you!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

FEEDBACK

TEST NO. I


BE337 CM337; PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE/ CONTRACT PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION 




TEST NO 1; FEEDBACK (HOW YOU SHOULD HAVE APPROACHED THE QUESTIONS)

QUESTION ONE
Needs for having standard conditions for building contract
1. What is the use of form of contract?
……
……
2. What does the form do? For instance
ü  Modify the general law i.e. transfer some risk from contractor to employer regarding damage to the works.
ü  Etc.
3. Define other contract documents
4. Etc.

QUESTION TWO
Necessity of including clause no 3 in the NCC to specifically give powers to the Architect to issues instructions.
………………..
1. Briefly elaborate the nature of the contract, particularly parties’ pt the contract, ‘privity of contract’.
2. Go to explain the necessity
It is important to plan the flow of your answer



QUESTION THREE
(i)& (ii) were straight forward, just to give the meaning of the terms, illustration/ and examples would have attached more credits.


iii. Defenses open to contractor
ü  Agreed sum is a penalty
ü  Omission of date in contract
ü  Waivers
ü  Final certificate
ü  Employer causing delay
ü  Breach of condition precedent
ü  Extension of time
ü  Etc.
iv. If liquidated damages provision fail;-
Employer may sue the contractor for unliquidated damages. In this case the employer to prove in court of law that there was indeed a breach.
More explanations
 



FEEDBACK II

TEST NO II



BE337 CM337; PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE/ CONTRACT PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION 

TEST NO 2; FEEDBACK (HOW YOU SHOULD HAVE APPROACHED THE QUESTIONS)

QUESTION ONE
a) Procedure to be followed for completion of the works 

1. The employer to employ and pay other persons to carry out and complete the works.
2. The contractor on request by employer/architect within 14 days to assign sub-contracts for supply materials / carry out works.
3. Employer to pay suppliers / sub-contractors for materials / works not already paid for by contractor.
4. Contractor when required by architect to remove from site his temporary buildings, plant, etc within 30 days. Failure to do so the employer may sell and hold net proceeds to contractor’s credit.
5. Until completion of the works, employer not bound to make any further payment to the contractor.
6. Etc.
NOTE; it is crucial to demonstrate understanding of the procedures to be followed



b) Determination of final payment due to/from contractor:-

Architect to certify taking into consideration, issues under (A) and (B) below

(A)    Amount of expenses properly incurred by employer – elaborate

(B)    Amount which would have been payable on due completion in accordance the contract Brief explanation.
If the sum of (A) is greater than (B), the difference is an amount due from contractor to employer; and vice versa.




QUESTION TWO
Reasons for extension of time under clause 26 of NCC form are works delayed beyond date of completion / time previously fixed under this clause due to:-
a) Employer’s risks under Cl 22 (1) c
b) Exceptionally inclement weather
c) Architect’s instruction under Clauses:-  3 – authority of architect to issue instructions; 13.1 – variations; 24.2 postponement of works; or 39.2 –antiquities
d) Contractor’s non receipt of necessary information applied for in good time,
e) Delay by artists etc. engaged by employer
f) Opening up for inspection etc. –  Cl 8.3 - where work is in accordance with contract
g) Contractor’s inability to obtain materials etc. essential for the works
h) Contractor’s compliance with statutory requirements –Cl 6.1
i) Employer’s delay to hand over site
j) Employer’s delay to pay contractor.  
       Note; demonstrating understanding of the reasons through explanations was required.
Comparison of Clause 27 with Clause 26:-
Provisions under clause 26 that entitle the contractor to extension of time that may  also be attributed to default on the on the part of employer and/or architect (with the exception of Clause 27.1 (h) which has no equivalent in Clause 26), are the ones that give the contractor right to claim for loss and expense.