Free Essay

Identity Construction

In: Psychology

Submitted By michaelbroughan
Words 2033
Pages 9
Identity theory applies to all creeds and cultures. We all develop understandings about ourselves, the type of person we are and wish to be and indeed do not wish to be. This essay examines the strengths and weaknesses of the social constructionist theory of identity, wherein it is proposed that our identities are constructed though language and social relations. In doing so, we shall also consider the psychosocial perspective, demonstrating that the evidence does indeed support the statement made although not overwhelmingly so.

A core component of social construction identity theory is that our identity is continually evolving throughout our lives (Phoenix, 2007, p. 76). Such identity -movement does not stop per se, it is neither fixed nor rigid but fluctuates continually. Our numerous social interactions directly impacts our identity –thinking to such an extent that our identities are constantly shaped and re-shaped as a direct result of these interactions.
In fact, social identity theory goes a step further and proposes that we actively create our identities though our language and essentially through the many forms of social communications, voice, written, electronic (tweets etc), (Phoenix, 2007, p. 71). We interact with people oftentimes in the manner which we wish to be perceived by others, not just in what we say but in how we say it, what we write and how we wish to portray ourselves to others all of which is evidenced through our social behaviourisms. In other words, we are constantly making and updating our identity during our social intercourses. Bruner (Phoenix, 2007, p. 73) proposes that the manner in which we tell “our stories” demonstrates our identities in the making.

Gergen, in his autobiographical narrative shares his reflections (Phoenix, 2007, p. 71) as he moved from his preferred penmanship to computers allowing us to witness his shifting identity first -hand.

These statements are strong because they can be supported by objective evidence.

Another critical aspect of social identity theory is that it is formed from social interaction, exclusively. The argument runs that our identity is shaped and modified as a direct consequence and outcome of our social interactions and that there is no room for private identity –formation as such. Our identity is formed as a direct consequence from our public interactions only, (Phoenix, 2007, p. 76).

However, this statement is weak as there is no material evidence to support such a claim.

Of further and equal importance, is the double -assertion that the social constructionist identity theory does not focus solely on a core identity nor does it focus on the singular of just one identity either. In fact, quite the opposite, this particular identity theory proposes that people have numerous different identities and that these are all non–core in type, meaning of equal or relatively equal importance to us. The argument runs that if we have multiple identities in play, that this very fact nullifies the existence of a single and central core identity.

However, similar to the above, such assertions are so subjective in nature and in the absence of any compelling data to underpin these points, they can only be regarded as weak.

Another notable facet to social constructionist identity theory is the issue of power. (Phoenix, 2007, p. 79). This view proposes that an individual obtains some feeling of power derived from the social engagement between the participants of the interaction. Yet, social identity theory takes this a step further and asserts that certain identities create a stronger power –impact upon the person than others or in other words, the derivation of social power upon identity is relative to the type and blend of participants involved in the interaction.

In terms of measuring these particular points however, it is noticeably harder to objectively measure these aspects of SIT theory other than obtaining arrays of subjective data. Similar to the previous points that could only be subjectively measured, the marked absence of concrete measurable and objective data only serves to reduce the overall strength and impact of the statements made.

Moving forward, if we change focus and examine the psychosocial perspective of identity we find that whilst the theory in itself appears weaker, the supporting evidence and data is more objective.

Psychosocial theory proposes that we do establish a core –identity, almost in private, developed initially during our adolescent years which we look to preserve and almost defend and protect in our social interactions rather than consciously adjust. Erik Erikson (Phoenix, 2007, p. 53) proposes that our core identity is the most precious to us and further proposes that we believe it important that our social interactions see our identities as being consistent and largely similar over time rather than being in any form of change. This contradicts social identity theory directly and Erikson’s eight –stage table, charting our identity journey from our earliest years to our final stages of life, supports this assertion because it highlights how and when people actually believe they form their identities.

The value of this model, (the Identity Status Model) is that it lends itself to repeated and robust measurement, a task taken on by both Marcia and Kroger by means of a high volume of data gathered via semi structured interviews over many years. Whilst technically subjective, the sheer volume of data and the categorisation of the data collected supports a more objective analysis than relying on subjective data alone.

These points combined very strongly support Erikson’s Psychosocial identity theory.

Marcia went further and developed thinking around identity -moratoria and –achievement, the former a period in adolescence where active identity searching is performed and the latter, the stage reached when the person reaches a point of acceptance, comfort and security with their newly found sense of self.

And so to conclude, on the one hand we have the social constructionist perspective, owned by no one individual or group, yet experienced by many of us, ever –changing and dynamic but without any real substantive measurement technique to qualify it robustly.
On the other hand, we have the psychosocial perspective, coined by Erikson, developed further by a series of interested parties, advocating core and fixed long term identity, offering emotional stability and security obtained from far more robust techniques underpinned by a larger array of measurable –data.

We can therefore, safely conclude that whilst there are strengths and weaknesses across both perspectives and despite the social identity theory possibly being more reflective of people true feelings, there is a marked absence of effective and supporting data hence the statement should not be upheld.

References

Phoenix, A., (2007) “Identities can Be changed and so are Provisional and Dynamic” in Miell, D., Phoenix, A., and Thomas K., Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Phoenix, A., (2007) “Every Day activities are constructed through Language and Social Relations” in Miell, D., Phoenix, A., and Thomas K., Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Phoenix, A., (2007) “We reflect on our own identities and choose particular ways to tell our stories” in Miell, D., Phoenix, A., and Thomas K., Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Phoenix, A., (2007) “Identifies involve power relations” in Miell, D., Phoenix, A., and Thomas K., Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Phoenix, A., (2007) “Erikson’s psychosocial theory of identity ” in Miell, D., Phoenix, A., and Thomas K., Mapping Psychology, Milton Keynes, The Open University.

PART II - Question 01

The most critical issue the team should consider is the fact that the activity involves children. Psychological experiments involving children require particular vigilance.
The team must ensure, that the individuals involved and those hired are CRB checked before any engagement takes place. Ensuring the safety –absolute of all of the children must be sacrosanct.

Secondly, is the “power relationship” that will be naturally present between the children and the researchers. Even though the researchers are likely to be young –adults, there is every likelihood that the adult –child relationships will be present so the researches need to be fully briefed and prepared to treat the children in an adult –type manner, affording them the same level of respect as they would to any adult participant.

The team is obliged to pursue the same level of rigour around issues such as obtaining the children’s consent, preserving their anonymity, keeping the data obtained confidential, respecting their privacy, ensuring any deceptive messaging and certainly ensuring that the child clearly understands that if they wish to withdraw at any time, how this can be done. Extra attention must be paid during execution so that each child is monitored and observed carefully so as they do not become distressed or upset and perhaps feeling unable to withdraw due to the parent –child dilemma.

Protecting the children from any and all harm and further, ensuring that the integrity of the activity is honourable and maintained continually should be uppermost in the minds of the experiment controllers and the researchers.

All of these issues can be overcome successfully.

Involving the parent/carer and/or guardian of the children, seeking their support and indeed their permission to proceed is a definite requirement.
Total transparency with the children, clearly explaining what the nature of the experiment is, why it is necessary and what will happen with their information volunteered should overcome many of the issues. Indeed, involving them in the post execution de –brief, will help to ensure that their experience is as positive as it can be.

PART II - Question 2-A

The first paragraph of the makes a very broad statement about a huge mass of people across a huge geographic spread. It is so general so as to be baseless.
It offers no material insights to the amount of crime being addressed and it offers only one possible “popular” explanation as justification.

Placed against the BPS ethical guidelines, of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity, this content and implications of the first paragraph violate significantly BPS’s ethics.

The first paragraph could be seen as being disrespectful to 50% of the American population. With such a broad unsubstantiated generalisation, the implication is that more people subscribe to a notion of “culture of honour” which generates more violence than elsewhere in America. Without substantive data, psychologists are guided to be mindful and careful to avoid practices that are unfair and prejudiced. The first paragraph is sufficiently general so as to be prejudicial hence violates this particular ethic.

Following on from the above, competence must be compromised to some degree if the first paragraph got it so wrong with the ethic of respect. Psychologists have a duty of competence to their work so as to ensure that the best ethical practices are followed all of the time.

Responsibility and integrity are compromised also. Psychologists are obliged to perform responsibly at all times and executing such an experiment using such deceptive tactics calls these ethics into question as well.

In summary, all key BPS ethics are significantly compromised hence violated here.

PART II - Question 2-B

There are other ways that this experiment could have been delivered.

The mechanics of the experiment, meaning the manner of the form –filling, and then the physical interruption could have been simulated in different ways, perhaps through the use of sound, or some other form of obstruction used, like a person carrying a pile of books, swerves to avoid the participant resulting in a disruptive type –scenario. The manner in which the bad language is used coupled with the physical impact of the confederate upon the participant is unnecessary.

Alternatively, the entire experiment could have been done by more traditional means, not by simulation but by simple questionnaire format. A number of scenarios could be drawn up, describing various options that could be taken to deal with specific situations arising in everyday life which could be designed to glean a more informed and considered response from the participants.

Having made the points above, it is however possible to justify the deception designed into this experiment.

If the experiment was looking to assess/measure/observe the participants “reflex action/reaction” to a fast –moving hostile situation, simulating perhaps a late night street –situation between strangers then this type of deception, ethically poor as it is, could be justified.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Ethnic Identity Construction

...Abstract The point of this paper is to help the reader grasp the different aspects of human identity construction with regards to ones race and/or ethnicity. This is a topic that is incredibly important to all races of people regardless of economic class or whatever else is seemingly more important. It is quite impossible to go throughout life without forming an idea of who you are or where you have come whether you care to make it a part of your daily life, have no choice or acknowledge it when it is convenient; without that knowledge I find it difficult to fully make the most of life. Through the readings from the semester and class discussions I have come to the conclusion that White ethnics choose to either assert their ethnicities thickly or thinly, or they chose to incorporate it into their lives symbolically. Blacks on the other side of the spectrum lack choice in their racial identity because their race is visible and so it is assigned to them. Asians have both the ability to choose to assert their specific ethnicities but they are racially assigned. The issue with racial and ethnic construction is that it is born of social construction-what others believe of your race to be true. This can make the identity construction process much more difficult depending upon your racial or ethnic background. Regardless, I find this to be an important part of the identity construction journey. How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone. ...

Words: 5152 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Ielts

...indiscriminately reflects the lack of originality and creativity.What's worse,traditional building system necessitates some special craftsmanship,therefore,the government will allocate much more fundings and time on it. Nonetheless,the merits of building constructions in a traditional way far outweigh the demerits.First ahd foremost,the style of architecture is a symbol of the social customs and history of a region.It is a kind of cultural resource as well.Protecting the classical architecture mode is preserving cutural values.It is universally ackonwledged that the style of a building insist people to distinguish one culture from another.A recent research conducted by the Chinese Ministry of Construction illustrated that in contemporary world,the existence of some classical styles of buildings,in some cases,is a key determinant of whrther the cultural identity is losing or not. Futhermore,traditiongal styles of building can eatabish some variations among the buildings.Especially in smoe time honoured cities,conventional architecture can harmonize divergent modern buildings,creating an unique atomosphere.Without them,the ambience will be monotonous. To conclude,in spite of some negtive sides,I concede that new construction should be undertaken to adhere to a traditional style.Although it might not be reflecter in all buildings,it does play an essential role in maintaining and...

Words: 302 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Comparative Literature Review

...1000e106 Open Access Managing Multicultural Construction Teams in today’s Complex Global Environment Edward Ochieng* Faculty of Technology and Environment, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK The rapid globalisation of the world’s economy has had significant impact on the way construction project managers work, bringing them frequently with clients, suppliers and peer that they never work before. In an era of globalisation, projects in the construction industry face unique challenges in coordinating among clients, financiers, developers, designers and contractors from different countries. In addition, construction project teams need to cope with the complexities of both local institutions and physical environments. Bartlett and Gosha [1] discussed the challenges facing organisations, which are intending to work effectively across borders. They identified the major challenges as being able to develop practices, which balance global competitiveness, multinational flexibility and the building of a worldwide learning capability. They maintained that achieving this balance will require organisations to develop the cultural sensitivity and ability to manage and leverage learning to build future capabilities. While offering opportunities, globalisation also poses significant challenges for construction project managers especially when different cultures are involved as a team. Multicultural construction project teams have their culture as a set of shared...

Words: 1455 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

T-Palm Case

...Integrative case: Strategy and Strategic Analysis 1 T-Palm, a general construction & entrepreneurial firm with a strong corporate culture T-Palm identity • Industry: Construction • Foundation: 1965 by Toussaint Palm • Headquarters: Polleur-Theux • Management: T-PALM Management • Revenue*:€ 65 337 490 • Number of employees: 550 • EBIT*: € 90 254 • Number of constructions per year on average: 202 • Total number of constructions: +15 000 • Activities in: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels and Luxembourg T-PALM GROUP T-PALM SA T-PALM ELBO SA T-PALM international Luxembourg SA *Numbers of T-Palm SA for 2014 2 « Imagine your house, we will do the rest », T-Palm Values Reliability Reliability Involvement Family Teamwork Atmosphere Ecology Creativity Golden Triangle Integrity Responsibility 3 « Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten », Gucci family Positioning map Segment coverage Given the large number of competitors, T-PALM is differentiating from his competitors by a large segment coverage. - Increase the public sector offer and his presence on the Flanders market - Present on the construction substitutes market segment: Renovation Real estate * Positioned according to the importance each company put in delivering the value / quality or in proposing lower price to customer. 4 New entrants Sustainable certification Moderate customer loyalty Capital requirement ...

Words: 667 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Marketing Flyer Plan

...marketing flyer which outlines the key offerings at XYZ Construction INC. This flyer will be used to educate potential customers on the services offered by the firm. Who is XYZ Construction XYZ Construction, Inc. is a privately owned company founded in the 1950s. The owners have decided to transform the business from one of private ownership to public ownership and plans for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to be in 12 months. XYZ Construction, Inc. performs horizontal construction work including roads, airfields, and bridges. The company’s headquarters is in Denver Colorado and has 16 field offices located in 11 states (Silver, 2012). Products and Services XYZ Construction, INC provides horizontal construction work including roads, airfields, and bridges. The company has a workforce which includes heavy and light equipment operators, civil engineers, and project managers along with an administrative staff in the headquarters facility with support staff in each of the 16 field offices (Silver, 2012). Marketing Strategy Construction companies market themselves effectively differentiate their services from the competition and stand a much better chance of driving qualified new business (Hernandez, 2008). The result should be an increase growth in a field that suits your company’s specific sales goals and identity (Hernandez, 2008). In short, the flyer should outline the marketing strategies for XYZ Construction Company and how they will develop a particular specialty...

Words: 295 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Cost Planning

...Effective Teamwork A Best Practice Guide for the Construction Industry Innovation s Best Practice s Productivity Constructing Excellence is driving forward productivity improvements in the UK construction industry through a set of integrated programmes focused on delivering process, product and cultural changes. The key objectives of Constructing Excellence are to improve performance through increased productivity and competitiveness; to improve the industry’s image by changing its culture, developing its people and engaging better with communities and customers; and to engage and take action with individuals, businesses, organisations and industry associations. This guide demonstrates how teamwork can be an important tool in achieving Constructing Excellence objectives. Drawing from the management literature on teamwork, together with original research, the guide examines various aspects of setting up and managing teams, with practical examples from the construction industry and a useful team self-assessment tool. Effective Teamwork was prepared for Constructing Excellence by Eclipse Research Consultants. For details of how to contact the authors see the inside back cover of this guide. Illustrations were by Gerry Armstrong (gerry.armstrong@virgin.net). For more information about Constructing Excellence, please see: www.constructingexcellence.org.uk Or call our helpdesk on 0845 605 5556. 2 Effective Teamwork Contents Introduction ...

Words: 6457 - Pages: 26

Premium Essay

Heritage

...the places, spaces and stories that we should value today and save and preserve them for tomorrow. Heritage places and heritage buildings are fundamental to our sense of history community and identity. Communities across Canada, the United States, and abroad have been capitalizing on their distinctive heritage assests by revitalizing their business cores and reclaiming them as the commercial and social hubs of the community. Besides economic value, heritage resources have intrinsic value in the information they contain about the past. They can teach us great deal. Who lived here? What happened here? Buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites can give us a unique insight into our past- knowledge that sometimes cannot be obtained any other way. Our heritage helps us make sense of our rapidly changing world and guides us into the future. Well-maintained historic buildings, streetscapes and landscapes contribute to safe and comfortable neighborhoods and foster local identity and pride. Old buildings embody energy and materials. Reusing older buildings saves the destruction of trees, saves the energy used to transport them to mills and create new construction materials, and saves more green space from development. Heritage conservation saves demolition, land development and construction time costs. It helps retain or create high skilled jobs. It develops the market value of existing buildings and neighborhoods while contributing to economic development such as cultural tourism...

Words: 329 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

A New Practice Field

...Meadows Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76124.Jones Sports will accept proposals for the construction of a practice baseball field, a small parking lot and a clubhouse. 6 1.1. General Description of Work Jones Sports has purchased 20 acres of land for their semi pro baseball team to conduct practice. On this land Jones Sports has plans to build a practice field, a 50 space parking lot and a small clubhouse. These facilities will be designed for the use of the team and coaches only and does not require seating for spectators. The outcome of the project would have the construction of a practice field with artificial turf, a 4,000 square foot clubhouse that will consist of a locker room with restrooms and showers, a meeting room with a projector screen and projector, a lounge, a small room for storage and a 50 car parking lot where each space will hold a mid-size vehicle. The project will also consist of lighting for the baseball field and parking lot as well.as utilities. There will be no seating for spectators as part of this project. The layout of the practice field, clubhouse and parking lot will created by the winning contractor with the plans being approved before construction begins. A study has been done and it has shown that there is water and sewer taps available for construction of the clubhouse and will be provided on drawings to the winning bidder prior to construction. The winning construction company will be able to take a tour and view the prospective location for the practice...

Words: 3898 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Land Development Paper

...Residential Land Development Residential construction planning and zoning will be the primary focus of this research assignment. First discussed topic will be a rough checklist of the development process from start to finish. Secondly discussed, will be the comprehensive land use plan. Next, the topic will be exactly what zoning is, and how it affects urban land development process. Subdivision regulations, plats, will also be discussed. Lastly a graph showing the process will be provided and discussed regarding the city of Lubbock ‘s development process. Development starts with a vision in mind; it would be have to be used with the skills, desires and resources to produce the outcome that is desirable by the developer. “Construction Funding (4th Edition)” says, “ The process of development is long and complex”, they give a check list that is a good guideline for the process, but due to the complexity of the process it is not a definite checklist. According to “Construction Funding (4th Edition)” page 67 the check list goes as follows: - Concept: Product identification and establishment of development criteria - Identity seed capital - Assemble Internal team: Site Acquisition, financial analysis, marketing, negotiation - Market area identification - Location possibilities - Feasibility study - Marketing study - Site Analysis: Preliminary environmental study, suitable for desired purpose; identifying potential obstacles and opposition - Land Acquisition: Optioning...

Words: 1654 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Nature

...Campus Development Office, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Project Architect: AD+RG Architecture Design and Research Group Ltd. Architectural Collaborators: AGC Design Ltd. Wang Weijen Architecture Acknowledgements Received - Green Building Award 2008 Merit Award in the New Construction Category. by Professional Green Building Council - Highest BEAM (Building Environmental Assessment Method) rating of Platinum by HKBEAM Society. (The first educational building in Hong Kong to achieve such rating) Acknowledgements Received - Finalist in “World Architecture Festival 2008” in Barcelona on October 2008 - one of the 12 Finalists in the Learning Category and is the only Hong Kong architectural practice in this Category. 0.0 Project Brief (I) Introduction The Project is a high-rise 19-storey institutional building for the Hong Kong Community College. It aims at providing a dynamic and interactive space for youth education while incorporating the sustainable design considerations and construction techniques into the building. 4 main design and engineering concepts: - Sustainable multi-storey building for the 21st century campus - Design for identity, adaptability and flexibility - Optimizing public communal space to inherit PolyU’s campus quality - Effective circulation design consideration for high-rise campus | 0.0 INTRODUCTION | 1.0 QUALITY | 2.0 RESOURCES | 3.0 SUSTAINABILITY | 4.0 INNOVATION | 0.0...

Words: 3811 - Pages: 16

Free Essay

How Are Fashion and Appearance Central to the Construction of Social Identities?

...central to the construction of social identities? Fashion can be defined as the prevalent style and custom at a certain point in time. Besides being necessary and protecting us, clothing also shapes and defines us in the cultural, social and psychological aspect. It has been a part of culture and identity since the earliest of times. We live in a world where fashion and clothing play a significant role in shaping and determining the identity and social image of people. This physical appearance often determines other people’s impressions of us and becomes a measurement of our self-worth. Nowadays with an increased self-consciousness, establishing the social identity of a person, fashion and appearance have played a crucial role. Wilson (1992: 13) has said, ‘clothing in fact, has the unique characteristic of being able to express ideas about sex and the body while simultaneously it actually adorns the body.’ While sexuality for both men and women has largely been shaped by the central ideas of fashion and appearance, there is evidence indicating women have been impacted more by the influences of fashion than men have. Therefore it is possible to say women, who are strongly influenced by fashion, may be more susceptible to social identities as Craik (1994: 176) said, ‘women are fashionable but men are not.’ Although Finkelstein (1996: 56) has argued that, ‘fashion has been seen as a device for confining women to an inferior social order,’ showing that these identities have not and...

Words: 1720 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Procedural Email

...Procedural Email Message Assignment Nora Field ENG 315 – Professional Communications Professor Mark Crilly April 15, 2015 To: FSSD Project Manager <FSSD.Project.Managers@donfssd.com> From: Nora Field <nora.field@donfssd.coml> Subject: ACTION: New Procedures for Project Tracking FSSD Project Manager, Alternations and construction projects constitute a large percentage of our expenditures in the Facilities and Support Services Division. Currently we do not have procedures in place that will allow for project and financial tracking and accountability. Therefore, I have created a summary project log for which each project and the cost associated will be logged and tracked. You will also be responsible for creating project folders which will contain all supporting documentation pertaining to each project. The new procedures are effective April 20, 2015. Directions to access that share drive, instructions on completing the project log and for creating project files are outline on the attached file. I realize that this may be painful at the beginning but in the long run will benefit FSSD in greater visibility and reporting to leadership of workload and financial portfolios. If I can provide assistance or address any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 703-555-2570 or email at nora.field@donfssd.com. Very Respectfully, Nora Field Financial Manager Facilities and Support Services ...

Words: 488 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Erik Piterson

...last several years. When hired by Jenkins, the founder of the CelluComm, Peterson thought he would be working directly with Jenkins. However, he would instead be reporting to Hardy, the Director of Budgets and Plans. Like Peterson, Hardy had no experience in the start-up project or the cellular field. Considered to be profitable, GMCT was one of three pre-operating systems being built by CelluComm and expected to serve about 400,000 people. GMCT was in the construction phase for one and half years before Peterson started and was still in the start-up stage. GMCT was to operate 21 cell sites; 16 sites were anticipated to be ready by the turn-on date and five others in the eight months following. By March, GMCT was one month behind target and its turn-on-date had been revised from February 1st to April 1st. When he arrived to Hanover, Peterson convinced the corporate office to terminate the contract with the construction subcontractor due to poor performance. He then hired a new subcontractor, Granite State Construction Company based in New Hampshire, which was led by Smiley DiCicco. At this time, Peterson determined there were significant interpersonal relationship issues among his staff, including between himself, Hardy and Andrews, the chief engineers. When he first started Peterson knew that Andrews was not capable of leading a start-up project such as GMCT....

Words: 2767 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Persuasive Essay On Roofing

...Ask them how long they've been in business. Check the contractor's board for any complaints or lawsuits on file. Make sure they have a physical address. Many roofers, like other contractors, are "fly by night" businesses working in essence out of their trucks. There are even reports of scams from such types working for bogus business identities with no business license or physical place of business. These shady types work out of their trucks and take money from unknowing home owners. Roofing contractors should also be properly licensed, insured and bonded. This protects you, the home owner, from any damage to your home during their work. Whether you decide on roofing repairs, a re-roof, or a completely new roof installation, building permits will be required by your city. Make sure the roofing company you decide to hire is familiar with the permits required as well as with the local building codes. Inspections are also likely required per building code, likely before, during and after construction completion. Make sure the roofer is complying with all regulations. This is important because if the roofer is not compliant you may be liable for damages or necessary repairs to bring the work to...

Words: 738 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ratio Analysis

...Industry Profile Introduction: Construction is the process of creating and building infrastructure or a facility. It differs from manufacturing in that manufacturing typically involves mass production of similar items without a designated purchaser and construction is typically done on location for a known client. Construction as an industry is six to nine percent of the gross domestic product of developed countries. Construction starts with planning, design, and financing and continues until the project is built and ready for use. Large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking. A Project manager normally manages the job, and a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect supervises it. For the successful execution of a project, effective planning is essential. Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the zoning requirements, the environmental impact of the job, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability and transportation of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays and bidding, etc. Types of CONSTRUCTION: In general, there are three sectors of construction: buildings, infrastructure and industrial. Building construction is usually further divided into residential and non-residential (commercial/institutional). Infrastructure is often called heavy/highway, heavy civil or heavy engineering. It includes...

Words: 4818 - Pages: 20