Creating a Process-Driven Organization at AgCredit Essay

AgCredit, The MidWest Agriculture Credit and Loan Company is a midsize financial institution which concentrates on agribusiness. Over the past few years there is a significant growth in business and plays its own role by competing with other larger banks. â€Å"Even though AgCredit had an extensive customer knowledge, the process and customers were taxed to the hilt due to the lack of better technological system†, said Jim Finney, CEO of AgCredit. (McKeen & Smith, 2012). He proposed to get some better technology to overcome the present in a meeting. Then everyone over there started pointing the drawbacks of IT. Steve Stewart, COO of company moans that IT’s is mess and whenever he assign any task then they simply escape from the situation by saying a reason. Paul Manley, the senior vice president of e-business, agreed. He added that IT sysyem is completely broken and he wouldn’t ask them to solve our business problems. The others chimed in with all of their views as project delays, customer complaints, bad information and IT staff, who did not have a clear knowledge on business. So Kate Longair, who works in Enterprise Integration Program (EIP) for AgCredit assigned responsibility of making out the integration of the system in a best way. (McKeen & Smith, 2012). After three months of rigorous work for Kate and her team, she came up with a twenty foot long diagram of total system in the company and the processes. she explained to Finney that all people recognized what exactly they planned to do in addition to exactly how it will add benefit to the business, however no one understood exactly how their particular small business method would fit with all people else’s to deliver enterprise benefit. Next we all realized had been that we did not comprehend our organization procedures in addition to that they worked with each other. (McKeen & Smith, 2012). Presently there happened a lot of money associated with hardships within the current framework. It’s prepared within basement and also the 4 unique organization dividers associated with AgCredit posse’s impartial IT strategies and also the programs that are not really unsuited along with additional business strategies. Sometimes the actual promises concerning freelancing had been wrong. The organization is within lacking IT  supervisors along with great specialized understanding in a number of specific areas. You can also find accusations concerning task obstacle, terrible information as well as customer critique as well as supervisory recruiting. To be able to solve these types of problems, The organization offers hired a specialist as well as she forecasted an answer known as Support focused structures (SOA). The organization happens to be analyzing in the event that SOA would be the best strategy within solving their own problems. (McKeen & Smith, 2012). Key Concer ns The actual company’s professionals are extremely hectic along with daily procedures as well as brand new endeavors. IT proficiency offers ended up with time and also the framework had been in no way aimed along with organizational goals. Even though some backend tinkering offers created organization broad info obtainable in some instances, the present techniques are not suitable as well as conversation in between all of them is actually bad. IT doesn’t possess trustworthiness inside the outlines associated with company. This can be a understand disadvantage and you will be tackled within the reorganization of IT. Company procedures are not recognized because of IT personnel and frequently the company by itself does not have a comprehensive gasp on the procedures. The actual interconnections from the procedures tend to be not clear in order to each attributes from the business additionally. The actual sections don’t realize their own part inside the business plus they should work out how they ought to assistance the actual business. Aiming their own person objectives along with proper reps will have to be achieved. You will find four company sections inside AgCredit. The actual company’s proper reps tend to be constant development, area associated with client associations, capability to save money period using the clients, capability to cross-sell providers, and supply a regular encounter towards the client. The CIO placement was made in order to line up IT and also the company and also to guide the actual IT change. The new CIO offers operate an effective marketing campaign along with e-business as well as involves the positioning along with clean eye, however deficiencies in official specialized encounter. He is comfortable in making use of companies as well as consuming several factors associated with look at. Absolutely no IT governance or even structures happens to be in position. Instead the  divisional framework offers been around as well as business vision is actually short. IT choices are created to satisfy short-term requirements as well as endeavors. IT perform can be considered the assistance support for that company. A few of the IT staffing problems tend to be: reduced well-being, higher work ambiguity, unqualified personnel filling up jobs, specialized abilities without a few places, absolutely no older IT supervisor jobs, and several bare work functions. A part of retooling the actual IT structures should be in order to straighten out these types of staffing requirements. A good application-centric mindset guidelines the organization. It’s resulted in four individual directories, one for each department, as well as large information untidiness as well as redundancy. A good SOA strategy may be advised depending on organizational requirements, in order to change IT. Individuals requirements consist of adding systems as well as systems without having alternative. Vendor options must be simplified as well as a good authorization procedure set up supported along with delivery metrics as well as procedures The following actions is going to be bringing together the client information as well as conditioning its basis. Just one group of client info may be the expectancy which will even assist construct believe in as well as trustworthiness towards IT, inside the business. Managing IT as a Business In the past, IT been among the minimum recognized expenses as well as probably the most mismanaged regions of numerous company. Failure in order to meld IT businesses, techniques, as well as technologies and also to straight link these types of towards the corporation’s proper company drivers to create outcomes is among the major explanations why big, complicated mergers or even acquisitions frequently fail to provide on the guaranteed synergies. In the event that technologies would be to satisfy its guarantee and supply obtain the benefit to some company, two main modifications should happen: The actual IT business should be handled as well as brought in a expert method, such as any kind of big company device, along with consideration in order to focal points, individuals as well as overall performance. The connection in between IT customers through the company and also the IT business should alter. IT customers should realize that the corporation’s capability to supply IT is not limitless. Such as  other things, IT is sure through guidelines associated with provide, need, as well as price. Only if customers from it through the company tend to be pressured in order to â€Å"pay† for this, possibly clearly via some kind of transfer prices or even more frequently implicitly via tradeoffs within additional business spending budget collection products, may learn to make use of very carefully as well as actively. (Lutchen, 2004) The following image represents the role of IT unit in business. The mid section represents the practical execution of IT as a business. (Lutchen, 2004). The reason behind IT organizations Figure1: Lutchen, M. (2004). Managing IT As a Business : A Survival Guide for CEOs. Hoboken, N.J.:J.Wiley and CIOs fail is due to lack of deliver value to the business. It is their inability to concentrate sufficient amount on the middle section of the above figure 1. IT and business are really an essential point to enhance the worthiness associated with company because of IT opportunities. To achieve the actual objectives and missions of the business you will find six crucial features Organization need to look at the IT like a technical device to convert them into business. What this means is obtaining acquainted with the company they are dealing. Customer significance as well as client satisfaction should be thought about like a earlier point making income towards the organization. IT repetitions as well as people should have the knowledge as well as understanding of one another benefits, so the scenario won’t guide right into chaos. Organization should have particular as well as clear objectives that leads to attain a typical objective. These two organizations ought to realize the organization revenue as well as reduction methods. (Nelson and Alok, 2013) Organization culture ought to be taken care of inside a comprehensive as well as lively method. These people work collaboratively and cope with the organization income instead of their very own sections. Along with today’s competing world, businesses tend to be coping with  numerous issues. So that you can match up these kinds of problems, organizations consist of constantly acquired assistance of the IT to have success together with generating revenue. Many organizations today count on IT to know the enterprise value. It could possibly in essence form of just how enterprise can be completed in addition to empower the technique plan. Enterprise must fully grasp that it is not optional, nevertheless crucial to the actual accomplishment from the enterprise. In addition to the many procedures, typically firms will have the knowledge about their drawbacks among all of them and it and this also insufficient equilibrium causes an important effect on organization’s power to receive the majority of out of it is resources. Doing work collaboratively, organization and IT could make work extra handy, collection arranged with coordinative-based conduct happen. The IT in the commercial is needed created for technical pattern, investigation, facts investigation and also arranged starting. While IT provides strengths towards messing around with reality, company, without appropriate collaboration involving them, and that is not possible inside the reality. (Tapscott, Don.,1996) The bond between IT and as well business is generally documented being excellent, amiable and as well productive not until both equally try to understand methods and also goal business practice that may impact several variables as an customer satisfaction and pleasure, quality about solution as well as cost. IT must deliver innovative advancements that can be used because of the business, which will aid these to generate and in addition develop fresh constructions, strengthening most of these to regulate their particular workouts in ways that are not possible to doable. These enhancements in future may lead as an additional strength. The IT need to offer new alternatives by means of greater technical know-how to help come up with the latest advancement also to help to improve business practice basically, enterprise actually have to offer IT to help socialize in all of the their very own exercises that it can take a look at with regards to just what company is generally planning on by with it. The relationship among enterprise and also it will guide either of those to further improve the business ability not just within their technical areas but additionally within non-technical, for example difficult task producing,  advertising, buyer interactions or anything else. It should typically make possible substantially richer operations with regards to quality. (Thakur, G.C.,1996) IT running a business taken out a lot of problems previously. They are considered as some sort of two pieces doing the job collaboratively to generate the idea to be a superior company. This are invariably good for understand what exactly company needs and in addition it must develop with regard to earnings as well as accomplishments rather than people working in taken care of parts. Designed for receiving beneficial teamwork, every single person in the specific team must create numerous features. It may help decide much better company features as well as help agencies to complete diverse ambitions as well as improving features. Different database need to be maintained at the moment as well as upcoming features relating to company. (Shank, John K. & Govindarajan, Vijay.,1993) Project Implementation: Process functioning class should primarily perform comprehensive research in relation to the progressions, the sustaining techniques, present projects carried out from the business plus the technological innovation they are applying at present. The organization ought to subsequently make a floor program that is certainly linked to the targets with the business through using clear technological innovation benefits. Later the job class really should concentrate on involving IT crucial program that is certainly in addition to the actual association’s detailed crucial program. The main element targets should be primarily acknowledged so that these people go progress as well as make a spirited border. Then work class really should carry out an enterprise field research this can easily classify the business enterprise progressions which have been captious for the enterprise as well as generate a technique which could effectively earnings the majority by using it. (Schwalbe, 2013) Service Oriented Architecture According to â€Å"Hao He†, â€Å"SOA is an architectural style whose goal is to achieve loose coupling among interacting software agents. A service is a unit of work done by a service provider to achieve desired end results for a  service consumer. Both provider and consumer are roles played by software agents on behalf of their owners.† (He, 2003) The primary problems associated with SOA execution tend to be issues within creating effective decision structures, creating a SOA roadmap, controlling as well as governing services, determining providers as well as insufficient support financing as well as insufficient constant governance procedures. To deal with these types of problems, businesses need a thorough SOA governance construction that may be used within an iterative method. (Hojaji, F., & Shirazi, M., 2012) According to â€Å"Hojaji & Shirazi†, there are five key points for developing a SOA governance frame work. There are five activities to follow. They are:  Problem Identification: we stipulate the actual specific domain, as well as justify the worthiness of the answer. In line with the issue range, we determine the primary needs, problems as well as implicationss associated with SOA adoption as well as suggest some SOA governance components.. Define the Objectives of a new Solution: All of us evaluate a few of the current SOA governance construction by way of the literature review to locate their own pros and cons. This particular evaluation specifies the style technique for creating a brand new SOA governance construction. Design and Development: We stipulate a new frame work as well as existing the universal conceptual design along with a procedure design in order to state the actual special functions as well as primary aspects of the actual suggested construction. Demonstration: With regard to demo from the created construction, all of us utilize the brand new construction within an IT division. Additionally, we create an in depth execution procedure close to the construction to show it’s utility. Evaluation: We examine the framework by looking at its capabilities and evaluating the fitness of SOA governance elements. Also, it is analyzed with a qualitative model.†(Hojaji, F., & Shirazi, M., 2012) Because of  increasingly more businesses proceed towards applying support focused structures, Table 1: Hojaji, F., & Shirazi, M. (2012). A DESIGN SCIENCE APPROACH TO DEVELOP A NEW COMPREHENSIVE SOA GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK. International Journal Of Managing Information Technology, 4(3), 33-53. doi:10.5121/ijmit.2012.4304 they have to use choose decision providers as well as system managers with regard to success and recognizing the actual advantages of SOA. Within changeover in order to SOA, businesses encounter a number of problems for example issues within creating a highly effective choice framework, controlling as well as regulating providers as well as insufficient constant governance procedures. Consequently, to deal with these types of problems as well as accomplish SOA advantages, businesses need deployment of the properly comprehensive SOA governance design that may be used within an iterative as well as incremental method. The above table represents the SOA challenges and related to SOA governance elements. (Hojaji, F., & Shirazi, M., 2012) The activities of service oriented modeling is represented in the below table. This shows the activities that are typically conducted by each of the roles of provider and consumer. Note that the provider’s activities are a superset of the consumer s activities. (Arsanjani, 2004) Table 1: Arsanjani, A. (2004). Service-oriented modeling and architecture . Retrieved from IBM: http://www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/IBM/I041109A.pdf IT Governance  IT governance primary goal is defined as â€Å"to assure that the investments in IT generate business value, and to mitigate the risks that are associated with IT†. This can be done by implementing an organizational structure with well-defined roles for the responsibility of information, business processes, applications and infrastructure. (BriseBois, 2012) IT governance ought to be seen as how IT generates benefit that will satisfies into your entire Business Governance Strategy in the enterprise, rather than make sure being a self-control without attention. Within getting that technique, just about all stakeholders can be necessary to participate in your choice making course of action. This generates the discussed acceptance involving  accountability intended for essential devices in addition to makes sure that IT connected selections are created in addition to motivated because of the company and not vice versa. There are nine principles of IT governance which plays an active role in a company. (Ross, 2004) Actively Design Governance: A lot of enterprises include made disparate IT governance parts. These kinds of uncoordinated system â€Å"silos† result from governance simply by default—introducing parts one by one to handle a selected need. Patching up problems since they crop up is often a preventive method that boundaries options pertaining to strategic impact from IT. Rather, management really should make an effort to design IT governance across the enterprise’s ambitions and functionality aims. Make an effort to planning governance will involve senior management getting the steer and allocating resources, interest, and service for the practice. For a few enterprises, this is initially IT governance is actually clearly created. Generally you’ll find fully developed company governance as a beginner. Know When to Redesign: Rethinking the full governance structure calls for individuals understand new tasks and relationships. Learning normally takes time. So, governance renovate must be sporadic. The suggestion can be made that a modification within governance is needed when that has a modify within desirable actions. Involve senior managers: companies with increased successful IT governance have additional senior administration effort. CIOs have to be successfully associated with IT governance for achievement. Other senior professionals must participate in the actual committees, the actual approval operations, and functionality reviews. For several enterprises, this particular effort is a pure extendable connected with senior management’s typical routines. It’s very ideal for the actual CIO and his or her personnel to communicate with IT governance using one document which has a visual like the Governance Measures and Matrix. Matrix comes with a path for dealing with every single senior manager’s part and concerns they have. Make choices: Effective governance, including excellent methodology, deals  with possibilities. It isn’t practical for IT governance in order to meet every single goal, although governance can easily and may highlight contradictory aims regarding controversy. While tradeoffs increases, governance gets to be more complex. Top-performing corporations deal with goal fights with a few clear business ideas. As resulting IT ideas reveal these business ideas. Clarify the exception-handling process: Exclusions are usually precisely how establishments study. Within IT language, exceptions challenges this standing quo, particularly the IT architecture and structure. Few requests for pertaining to exceptions are usually frivolous, nevertheless nearly all come from an accurate want to satisfy small business requirements. If the exemption recommended with a business model has value, a change towards the IT architecture might help the entire venture. Provide the right incentives: Incentives should be provided right. a common difficulty we all found throughout the study of IT governance seemed to be a misalignment of motivation along with reward systems with the behaviors the particular IT governance measures had been created to motivate. Assign ownership and accountability for IT: IT governance should have an head and accountabilities. Eventually, board is liable for all governance, however the board will probably expect as well as use outsourcing for an individual (probably CEO and CIO) or collection being to accountable for IT governance design, implementation, and performance—similar towards funding committee or CFO being responsible for economic resource governance. In deciding the best person or group, the board, or CEO while the responsible one. Design governance at multiple organizational levels: In large multi-business device enterprises it is vital to take IT governance into account from numerous levels. The particular starting point can be enterprise-wide IT governance motivated through few enterprise-wide techniques and goals. Companies having independent IT capabilities with partitions, sections, as well as geographies need a independent nevertheless linked section of the IT  governance. Provide transparency and education: It really is virtually unattainable to obtain excessive transparency or education regarding it governance. transparency and education often get together—the a lot more education, the greater visibility, and vice versa. A lot more visibility with the governance processes, the greater self-confidence in the governance. Analysis As by the research these are the following skills and developments that have to be maintained at AgCredit. Acknowledgement associated with company possession is going to be essential towards the organizational framework. Getting the company sign up as well as sign up for the actual discussion about this and associated tasks is going to be a key component. The guiding panel is going to be have to be the main authorization procedure for just about all tasks is required to make certain a good business look at is actually used. The actual multidivisional panel will have to make sure just about all tasks match inside a SOA construction. The actual CIO ought to be active in the boardroom as well as get access to senior administration, such as the CIO. The actual CIO ought to employ older administration that may express departmental as well as company items as well as assist manual IT workers. Accounts supervisors for every LOB which stay in the commercial however are accountable to senior IT administration ought to be set up. The whole IT personnel will have to end up being reassessed to guarantee the correct individuals are within the correct work functions. The actual IT perform will have to end up being introduced position using the business eyesight. one choice is actually to try and market in house with regard to empty IT jobs as well as insource the actual functions which can’t be stuffed. Insourcing may have the actual unique benefit of instruction IT staff whilst getting the task carried out too. Freelancing IT features which are not really primary expertise may also be used in the event that preferred. The guiding panel which signifies numerous LOBs will have to end up being created as well as providing choice producing abilities. The procedure must start through analyzing what sort of task scarves towards the general  eyesight from the organization. Following the actual panel people ought to describe the way the task results their own department and may supply to satisfy departmental requirements if at all possible. It also may need to ensure this suits inside the SOA and it is not really copied through additional software program nodes or even present procedures. If it’s a good improvement or even add-on to a different task, conversation using the consumer to determine possible advantages must start. Ensuring it may be modularized as well as standardised for that company is going to be essential for that organization structures. Furthermore ensuring just about all task kinds are thought as well as financed via a taxes on just about all LOBs may be asked to assist SOA. Manley will have to present these key talents associated with SOA as well as ensure to concentrate on exactly how it will assist the actual company’s vision and objectives. The changeover may easily simplify the business as well as accelerate item execution. Current services is going to be obtainable or even altered with regard to user friendliness. It facilitates internet providers which line up along with constant development possibilities, broadened client associations, as well as capability to cross-sell between your sections. It may instantly provide services for growing sections when it comes to feasible monetary increases as well as extending improvement bucks. Existing providers can be bought as well as put in place rapidly inside the SOA. This particular raises the abilities as well as guarantees all of us remain swept up using the bigger companies. Essentially this could level the actual actively playing area supplying useful assets as well as techniques. Once the client info is actually centralized, that is necessary for SOA, the actual cost savings through decreasing data source requirements is going to be recognized. Having typical procedures may line up the company in general as well as make sure worth through elevated conversation as well as reduced doubt. This type of technologies base might permit the method all of us function to alter, for instance a home based job or even on the highway operating via a VPN. The actual abilities required to assistance the actual SOA in the IT viewpoint tend to be administration resources, information administration  resources, Information shipping choices, improvement series, along with a customer support mindset towards the actual sections. Role clarification is going to be essential within establishing these types of abilities. Administration resources consist of visioning as well as company position procedures, financing techniques, dimension metrics as well as concentrate, as well as checking techniques. Info rmation administration resources consist of selection actions, arrange procedure such as strategies as well as taxonomy, procedure quests to make use of the informaton, and up keep methods which assistance company features. Improvement series should comply with SOA requirements as well as recommendations, utilizing compliant equipment as well as software program to create techniques which break down the actual performance, as well as problem a long with regulating requirements, such as program skills within making reviews with regard to review reasons. The client support mindset is going to be required to handle awareness as well as maintain near scarves using the company. Prior to governance structures tend to be official the actual business as well as divisional vision as well as goals ought to be layed out. By using it operating together with the company a few leading concepts should be drawn up upward. This might include establishing accounts supervisors inside the LOB as well as developing the multidiscipline guiding panel along with substantial choice energy. This particular guiding panel ought to function carefully using the CIO and also have higher level authorization as well as business sponsorship. The actual governance program ought to concentrate on leading the actual change procedure as well as maintaining crucial problems within concentrate, for example sox as well as regulating conformity. Stakeholder participation within the guiding panel can help the company also IT structures turn out to be companions as well as to work together. It will make sure just about all sounds tend to be noticed as well as regarded as within the decision maki ng procedure. They ought to describe plan choices which assistance the actual organization’s vision in early stages. References Arsanjani, A. (2004). Service-oriented modeling and architecture . Retrieved from IBM: http://www.immagic.com/eLibrary/ARCHIVES/GENERAL/IBM/I041109A.pdf BriseBois, r. (2012). What is IT Governance? Retrieved from intosaiitaudit.org: http://www.intosaiitaudit.org/intoit_articles/25_p30top35.pdf Hojaji,F., & Shirazi, M. (2012). A Design Science Approach To Develop A New Comprehensive SOA, Governance Framework. International Journal of Managing Information Technology, 4(3), 33-53. doi:10.5121/ijmit.2012.4304 Lutchen, M. (2004). Managing IT As a Business : A Survival Guide for CEOs.(5). Hoboken, N.J.:J.Wiley Mckeen, J. D., & Smith, H. A. (2013). Creating a process driven organization at AgCredit. In Kursh, S., Lant, T., Majeske, K., Oliver, J., & Plant, R. (Eds.), IST 7100 IT policy and strategy Wilmington University (pp. 474-477). United States: Pearson Learning Solutions Nelson & Alok, (2013) Digitally Included: Business-Community Partnerships To Promote the Use of Information and Communication Technologies. (2003) Ross, P. W. (2004, 07 05). Harvard Business School Working Knowledge. Retrieved from Ten Principles for IT Knowledge: http ://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/4241.html Schwalbe, K. (2013). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning. Shank, John K. & Govindarajan, Vijay. (1993). Strategic Cost Management: The New Tool for Competitive Advantage. New York: The Free Press. Tapscott, Don. (1996). Digital Economy: Promise and peril in the Age of Networked Intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill Thakur, G.C. (1996). What is Reservoir Management? Journal of Petroleum Technology, June, pp. 520-525.

World economy and global competitive strategies

The services sector industry is among the more active sectors in every economic unit growing at a faster rate than the rest of the components in every economy. The financial and professional services component for one are among the more strategic professionals tht provide clients with strategic analysis, focused direction, competitive market positioning and portfolio assessments across all segments of an economy. This sector, being one of the most active economic drivers in recent memory, has the in-depth industry resource, experience and clout in bringing the hands-on knowledge of making economic investments and positioning decisions in a dynamic and highly competitive manner in the markets. The services sector has grown by leaps and bounds during the last twenty years, integrating deep knowledge and proficiency of every markets they serve, international and national clout and influence in the major corporate management decision making in the primary industries specifically in the capital and labor intensive financial services sector, energy, property, communications, technology and tourism areas aligning strategies and projects, providing clients with forward-looking market analysis and scenarios which model both demand from every market and supply from competitors. With the intensive use of technology and knowledge-based proprietary databases and the dynamic, interactive analytical models of the globalization phenomena, the services sector is able to analyze and project the directional details of the markets, competition, capacity, risks and uncertainties of the global economy. Developing innovative strategies based on a detailed knowledge of demand, technology and competition in all sectors of the economic value chain, the unprecedented growth of the services sector ironically characterizes its own periodic collapses triggered by the sheer heavy weight of its strategic competitive responses to every demand emanating from the other sectors, primarily the agriculture and the manufacturing components. It is not to be underestimated that the influences of the services sector in the two other areas are significant, pervasive and encompassing and this alone has driven the globalization of the services industry to an extent never before imagined. For example, the influences of the professional services of big auditing and consulting firms in the services sector contributed and assured much to its stable growth during the last fifty years that this services area became one enabling force for globalization not only of its own sector, but the entire economic drivers from the agriculture and manufacturing territories. The series sector advise and consult with corporate and business unit executives to evaluate corporate performance; optimize resource and equity portfolios under different future scenarios and uncertainties and risks; assess competitive behavior, outcome and economic implications; and measuring business strategies against overall corporate objectives at the micro level and economic goals at the macro level. This paper therefore analyzes the world economy and makes a strategic competitive economic scenario forthcoming. In the process, this paper seeks answers to the following issues: 1) What are the tell-tale signs that are predictive of favorable and unfavorable global economic and financial scenarios? (2) What new competitive models are tempered by the new forms of economic and financial framework? (3) What is the sustainability of these models in face of the appurtenant risks and uncertainties of the emerging economic environment? (4) What relevance are these emerging strategic competitive models are to the concept of strategy mapping and in the realm of the balance scorecard? Scope and delimitation This study aims to cover the emerging global competitive scenarios and strategies in the services sector and does not include analysis of the agriculture or manufacturing sector. Likewise, this discussion limits itself to the current economic scenario of the first stage of post-2008 global meltdown and their implications towards the succeeding uncertainties of the ongoing turmoil in the financial sector. In addition, discussion extends to every financial market as Britain and Europe, United States, Australia, Singapore, Tokyo and Hongkong and even the emerging capital market in the Middle East. Similarly, discussions aims to center on the major economic drivers that dominate the competitive market place mentioned earlier. Significance of the study This study aims to analyze the economic, political, environmental, social, technological and legal viewpoints that impact the strategies prevailing in the competitive markets. Thus, this paper is determined to clarify the inputs that enable political units to craft economic policies aimed at stabilizing and enhancing the growth of the business sector. Business modeling is a sector that helps clarify the forces that create a phenomenon. Thus, this study will enhance the descriptive relationship among models and seeks to gather enough documented models to help predict phenomena . Thus, this will help allow optimization and maximization necessary to address a continuing environment of competition and the other problems that impacts upon every market phenomenon. Because of the increasing importance of the services sector in the global marketplace, this study will provide a synthesizing prediction of the emerging models of competition in the face of the growing complexity of every economic activity. The services sector and its unique contribution to global economic fundamentals The services sector provides the intangibles that characterize the qualitative directional guide and radar for all other sectors. These services are unique in the sense that corporate judgments and decisions are based on the cost-benefit analytical models that guide entrepreneurs and every unassuming captain of every industry to effective alternative options. When decisions are made, they are tempered with the competitive factors that mitigate or eliminate the risks while enhancing the success rates of choosing the most appropriate solutions. Examples of advisories and consulting projects distinct in the services sector include: (1) integrated corporate strategy development and financial modeling of old and emerging business issues; (2) market analysis and forecasts; (3) project concept optimization and advanced financial modeling; (4) capacity and value chain analysis; (5) risk management systems; (6) global marketing; (7) technology modeling; (8) educational technology, accreditation and certification; (9) quality assurance; (10) logistics planning and management; (11) reengineering consultancy; (12) off-shoring, outsourcing and multi-sourcing; and, (13) economic forecasting, strategic planning and strategic human resource management, among others. These services are the products of the competitive environment in the highly volatile knowledge-based sector and are expected to create greater economic impact moving into the next millennium as the services sector becomes tempered more with tightening capital and equity base as globalization gives way to a more complex type of globalization. Globalization at this point, shall have become more efficient but predatory. The unending shift of the markets in favor of those companies that are heavily underwritten by the services sector will continue to pervade every market making it even more sensitive and uncertain. Just like the appearances of the recessive depressions of the 1930s, the 1997 Asian financial crisis and 2008s, the unpredictability of the services sector is always a warning to its adherents – that the potentials of this sector is as open and lethal as the crises that are spawned by its abuses. Among the industries: manufacturing, services and agriculture, the services sector appears to have pervaded more the impact of the other sectors in the same way the GATT and WTO, the Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEX) agencies and the NAFTA that have influenced the markets of the developing countries in the process of protecting the interests of the developed states. Understandably, this protectionist groupings is expected to bring and create a leveling of the playing fields in business, but at whose terms? †¢ This sector advises many companies and economic units as well as governments on the implications of geopolitics and economic development for global and regional industry investments, whether foreign direct capital or the portfolio type that characterize television game showed. Our economic analysts combine a rigorous analysis of country, regional and global political and economic factors with in-depth understanding of how the markets operate. There is the assessment and impact modeling on companies and markets of economic importance and change, the sensitivity impact of OPEC decisions, economic developments and global supply/demand patterns. The services industry is an industry leader in understanding the dynamics of the energy sector. Using a unique methodology and framework to predict country and regional developments, there are provided commercially-relevant scenarios which enable clients to evaluate risk, assess opportunities and plan strategy accordingly. Examples of advisories and other consulting projects include: (1) assessment of the long-term investment risk in a new country compared with other assets in an independent's portfolio basis; (2) formulation of a global competitive strategy for every small and medium sized international company; (3) development of future political and economic scenarios and implications for every industry giving the accurate and genuine investment opportunities for a major players in the economy; and, (4) development of a regional access strategy for every major integrated company. The services strategies group offers advisory and consulting services primarily as well as real time online membership services to meet the needs of clients. The services industry is highly dependent on global competitive costs and demands explanations and implications from the services analysts. The business sector cannot afford not to know every economic driver? For more than two decades, 25 years to be exact, The service s sector’s economic and political risk experts have woven their deep understanding of the energy sector into a keen understanding of geopolitics. Thus, unique insights are provided into the economies of major economic producers, their development strategies and the sustainability of those strategies. The sector is responsible for advising many clients on business opportunities and entry strategies in emerging markets, leveraging their understanding of political risk and country politics. Thus, the services sector have benefitted from the importance it has given to the following industries: aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, banking, chemicals, construction consumer products, energy and utilities, financial services, government, industrial manufacturing, insurance, metals and mining and pharmaceuticals The expertise of the services sector goes well beyond consulting and financial services. Using a unique methodology and framework to predict country and regional developments, the sector provides commercially-relevant scenarios which enable clients to evaluate risk, assess opportunities and plan strategy accordingly. Thus, competition in this area continuous to become stiff, hence extremely important. Thus, built with a combination of regional politics, economics, markets and global trends and technology, this analytical study is applicable to the business environments of the diverse industries and clients that benefit from their advisory system. Similarly, the sector’s and market experts provide clients an integrated approach to country, regional, local and global market trends resulting in probabilistic scenarios that help them manage the value of such undertaking. There is a need to combine the in-depth knowledge of the every sector with the ability to build and construct vertical and forward-looking geopolitical and economic risk models, such as the political and economic analysis of key producing markets, the wide and extensive power-mapping of key economic and political decision makers in the strategic sectors of the economy, getting insights into energy-intensive, value added sectors of the economy, national development goals, plans and capabilities, unconventional wisdom regarding complex markets, innovative approaches to interpreting country risk and identifying under-explored opportunities Strategic Competitive Functional Practices of the Services Sector The service industry, while still comparatively young compared to the other sectors will continue to grow and expand as the global economy gradually makes progress in the midst of the global financial turmoil which has stalled all momentum towards expected growth. The complexity and importance of their services to the business sector will determine the competitiveness with which this sector grown by leaps and bounds. To name a few, the business process outsourcing and offshoring sectors expands at a dizzying pace than before as corporate organizations continue to adopt reengineering measures to reduce cost to remain competitive. The fluidity of the professional services sectors in the health area represented by the nurses and other health experts have pervaded the manpower market all over and remains an extremely bright prospects for sustainability of countries with a high degree of services training to its people. Mutual regional agreements for the practice of professionals beyond borders are relevant issues being considered by regional economic summits and groupings such as Apec, Asean, Nafta and follows the pattern advocated by the GATT and the WTO. Thusm advanced form of services will replace traditional schemes: (1) global coverage with regional expertise where the services team of regional experts offer in depth expertise and collectively create an integrated, global perspective; (2) energy dynamics which helps maintain relationships with key sector delegations and provides insight into the effect on markets and local sectors by the services component; (3) industry leadership in understanding the dynamics of the energy sector. Using a unique methodology and framework to predict country and regional developments, the sector provides commercially-relevant scenarios which enable clients to evaluate risk, assess opportunities and plan strategy accordingly. In addition, its industry players are considered the strong backbone of the sector as they have steered the industry from nothing. Experience-wise service experts have previous background experience in the government and provide clients with insight on United States foreign policy formation, future policy directions and economic impact on various industries. Somehow, the framework of global competitiveness for the sector will continue to be governed by technology-based innovations and cost-efficient systems sustainable over the long term. Here, the impact of an important consideration as Climate Change Policy, our understanding of climate change policy that stems from the broad expertise in national and global regulatory regimes, and the interaction of long-term trends in politics, economics and technology. Regional Issues for Investors in the Services sector In Africa, the services sector provides consulting and advisory services to companies and governments on African geopolitics, political risk to investments, market strategies and competitive positioning in the region. Likewise, it also offers assessments of key linkages between Africa and other regions and the resulting implications to the economic environment prevailing. In Asia, the industry provides an on-the-ground expertise to clients focused on the region itself along market risks and strategies, competitive issues and regional geopolitics. In Europe, where the services sector is among the fastest growing component, the series sector maintains consulting advice with companies and governments on regional politics, the impact of regulatory changes and policies, market strategies and competitive issues. In Latin America, the services sector focus on tourism ands draw from their extensive knowledge of politics, economics and regulatory trends as well as on-the-ground experience to help clients anticipate policy shifts and improve strategic planning. Latin America's largest markets also offer major asset-liability resource-holders and grounds for clients to benefit from recognized expertise in geopolitics, economic markets, US foreign policy as it relates to the region and in-depth knowledge of the primary economic drivers of the industry. In providing integrated risk assessments and laying out future scenarios, the role of the services sector is to assist its clients to devise robust coordinative and competitive strategies unique for the region. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the strategic focus is more on the uniqueness of the Middle East which recognizes services technology experts for the region. The market in Bahrain allows for greater interaction with clients in the MENA region along geopolitics, the economic impact of US foreign policy, the developmentalist strategies of the Gulf States and investment opportunities and political risks which are considered high in the region as they become more volatile in terms of strategy. A special emphasis of the services sector in the area is the government consulting efforts that is directed towards sustainable development and one that will allow governments to leverage their natural resources, diversify their business ventures and enhance human capital. In North America, the services sector continue to dominate the economic landscape at enhancing extensive knowledge about the impact of US energy, economic, climate change and foreign policy, allowing clients to benefit from our interaction with key government officials. In Russia and the Caspian area, the services sector which are heavily technology-based, experts write, consult and speak on regional oil and gas developments; regional energy strategies; economics and politics; M&A trends in the Russian oil sector; US foreign policy as it relates to the region; entry strategies; competitive trends and other associated issues that impact investments in the region. Service consultant and advisors regularly participate in senior-level delegations with representatives from both US and regional governments and private industry but mostly oil companies. Methodology The study requires a primarily qualitative approach of the descriptive types that brings and illustrates scenarios that accurately depict the answers the questions and issues earlier propounded. The first statement of the issue on the tell-tale signs that are predictive of a favorable and unfavorable global economic and financial scenarios require am inventory of the manifestations of market indicators that may likely result to either scenarios. The predictive validity of indicators is the subject of analysis and correlation. In the second statement, on what new competitive models are tempered by the new forms of economic and financial framework, the methodology explores specific or merging theories that explains and clarifies the new relationships of marketing, competitiveness, quality, pricing, technology and the buyer’s behavior. In the third statement on what the sustainability of these models are in the face of the appurtenant risks and uncertainties of the emerging economic environment requires the analysis of the stability of the models presented and their sensitivity to the changes occurring in the environment in the form of risks and uncertainties and are expressed in terms of low or high degrees in a scale of five. On the fourth issue on what relevance these emerging strategic competitive models are to the concept of strategy mapping and in the realm of the balance scorecard, require the matching of the competitiveness models with the functional models currently prevailing such as the Kaplan and Norton (2004) concept of strategy maps and balanced scorecard. Thus, the findings are expected to explain the competitiveness, the prospects of growth and the emergence of a new globalization model of the prevailing services sector. Documentary and situation analysis, economic cause and effect relationships, financial modeling and analysis are likely to show cause for explaining the competitive scenario for the service industry. Key informants, representing authorities in the area of economics, competitiveness and marketing contribute to the analytical processes that zeroed in on the phenomenon. An in-depth analysis is required to link instances with growth, emerging manifestations with symptomatic issues. Findings and Data Analysis The issue statements are again enumerated below to determine the results of the study as well as the implications and conclusions being propounded and established. Here, the research questions are reiterated and provided with analytical findings that support current economic theories. Telltale signs Tell-tale signs that are predictive of favorable and unfavorable global economic and financial scenarios are those manifestations that are likely to result in bullish or bearish market sentiments and may provide upbeat optimism or gloomy pessimism towards the future. Favorable economic scenarios are manifested by the following factors: (1) price stability of the product or services which implies a good balance of demand and supply of such product and services. This further explains the general stability of the supply chain applicable to the services sector such as the availability of an adequate number and quality of labor matching the industry needs. For instance, the outsourcing and the off shoring services sectors are steadily growing at a rate indicative of the normal growth in gross domestic product. These should be supported in addition by manifestations in the other areas of the supply chain such as political order and situation is a major supply area such as the Asian continent which are primarily the supply market for the services sectors especially the BPO manpower needs. In the professional services sectors, the availability of nurses, engineers, accountants, doctors, teachers, hospitality industry workers, IT programmers and web designers and other professionals is a significant factor in stabilizing the long-term prospect of the services sector. Thus, the participation of the educational sector especially the higher education institutions are critical in maintaining the steady and balanced flow of manpower to the industry in terms of quantity and quality provided. Any form of imbalance is likely to create a demand and supply gap that is likely to translate into price differences and either to the advantage or disadvantage of the employer and employee. Growth areas in the services sector will continue to be dominated by the BPO industry which includes back office services provided by the accountants and financial services providers, health care workers, hotel, restaurant, tourism and culinary experts. Geographically, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is likely to become a prominently rich areas for the services sectors tempered only by sporadic issues of conflicts between and among the native Arab constituents which will concentrate the services sectors in the more politically stable Arab nations such as the Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt which are becoming the favorite destinations of service professionals due to its lucrative compensation packages. Other growth areas considered include the American services market which serves as the area expect to pump prime and jumpstart back the economic stimulus packages provided by the US administration. In addition, the Australia-New Zealand market is likely to dominate the Asian region next to India primarily driven by efficiency factors while India’s competitive advantage is its low-cost technical service providers in the dominant BPO industry. Although China and Korea are fast becoming the hub of pr ofessional teachers and education providers, the Asian market is expected tube the primary beneficiary of its own competent manpower supply. This is similarly the case of Europe and South America which adequately provide and supplies its own service providers primarily in the tourism and professionals sector. The North American market will likely be dominated by the Canadian demand as the country opens up its doors to professionals from all over the world. Nevertheless, off-shoring and outsourcing services are expected to continue its upbeat growth rate over the long-term. However, it is likely that the shifting from outsourcing to the off-shoring area will be more pronounced as labor costs offer competitive advantage to a host country. Nonetheless, the primarily considerations for the BPO industry is similarly shifting from the cost factor to the quality factor. Emerging Competitive Models The new competitive models tempered by the new forms of economic and financial framework are expected to be along the cost-quality market factors. Traditionally, cost considerations have been the primarily competitive factor in the services sector. However, the growing matching of cost and quality character of providers is becoming the defining standard in the competition. It appears here, that the cost considerations are slowly becoming a secondary option for buyers of services as the industry shifts its priorities towards the quality dimension. Thus, the Asian services market has slowly adopted the cost-quality model which is attributed to be factors in further stabilizing the services. On the other hand, the cultural factors of manpower providers are slowly gaining adherents in the industry considering the ability of the cultural dimension to enhance or denigrate the quality dimension in the delivery of services in the sector. Thus, certain preferences have started to be a consideration in terms of hiring. Filipinos, for instance, are becoming favorite preferences for teachers in China and Korea because of their cultural background in the languages that enabled them to become the fourth largest English speaking country in the world. India so far has dominated the BPO industry because of its technology-driven educational sector that is consistently being developed by the government. Sustainability versus risks and uncertainties Risks and uncertainties similarly will characterize all moves in the competitive services market. The cost-quality-culture model of competitiveness is likely to dominate during the medium to long-term as markets start developing their niche in the services sector. Incidentally, the services industry has been primarily driven by the ability of the providers to integrate the values of their culture with the value-needs of the sector. Slowly, the cost-quality-culture model is being enhanced and made more marketable by the cross-cultural and social migration factors that gradually demands the quality of immigrants or permanent residents admitted in a host country like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the MENA region. Other emerging models indicate the growing preferences for the language and skills qualifications of professionals as they are slowly absorbed by the host country. However, the risks and uncertainties faced by the services sector include the factor of cultural resistance as migrants and overseas workers assimilate themselves into the society of the host country. Formal ethnic groupings are likely to increase which will likewise increase the racial tensions and discriminations inherent in the host country. Thus, the social cost of the services sector is likely to cause short-term cultural irritants especially for ethic groups with high militancy backgrounds. Relevance of Models vs Strategy Maps and the Balance Scorecard The emerging strategic competitive models and the concept of strategy mapping and the balance scorecard principle (Kaplan & Norton, 2004) are heretofore being matched to create relevance and purpose in the models emerging in the economy. The balanced scorecard and strategy map concepts appears to be where the services sector is heading form refinement. These concepts defines strategies along four perspectives: the financial, which assures corporate profitability for shareholders; customer satisfaction which assures clients on the quality of the services; learning and growth, which provides investments in training and development to the human capital; and the internal business processes that demands the use of appropriate technology processes in providing services. Here, the prospects of the models have the making of an extremely positive framework for rendering services in the industry. The stakeholder concept of management and decision making demands that business decisions be tempered with the interests of all stakeholders in mind, such that no sector or perspective becomes underserved and neglected. Fairness and impartiality is paramount and immortal. These models, perhaps is the best road map the services sector can design and sustain. The services sector is likely destined to become a very potent sector in the next generation employing a large majority of the working age population at the least and the highly intellectual sector at the most. Henceforth, this economic component stands to be the most productive resource in any economic unit. The fluidity of the world economy will always welcome new shifts in thinking as well innovation in the way services are being delivered. In due time, the delivery services will concentrated through information technology processes that may reduce the physical component of the industry, that is, investment in physical assets will shift to the burden of the worker as services are rendered from home areas and no longer from fixed buildings and offices. In fact, off-shoring is virtually an outsourcing done away from the country. The situs of work is becoming mobile. This implies the intensive use of technology as man opts to become more multitasking and productive in the most feasible ways than ever. Although many sectors in the service industry will continue to be in the actual place of business, but the change in the configuration of how services are delivered in some areas will likely create a new industry or a form of industrial revolution that allows doctors to treat their patients miles away, accountants analyzing clients’ financial statements from another country, bank clients interacting with their banks in all financial transactions that virtually makes use solely the ATM equipment, nurses automating and teleconferencing with in-patients and outpatients on home care, call center agents investing in their own VOIP and serving the company in the comfort of their homes, teachers using high-end technology in virtual contact with his or her students through teleconferencing in a virtual room, engineers designing and monitoring projects through rooms filled with LCD monitors projecting all possible angles of the project, or computer programs and website developed in the worker’s own laboratory. All these components of the service industry realigning to form a new form of services sector that are home-based or away from the usual work sites—called the offsite services sector. The potentials of this emerging sector becomes tremendous when one considers the effects in terms of less manpower and capital expenditures outlay on the part of the company and less personal expenses in moving to and from work such as gasoline, clothing, meals, work stress, travel risks and more of family time, leisure and quiet healthy decision making processes away from the chaos of the company premises. The services sector has a unique characteristic, and that is the substance of the services is intellectually conceptualized, hence there is no need for physical presence. The other half of the services sector definitely requires physical presence like the tourism and the hospitality industry, the traditional hospital and medical care services, accountants on actual hands-on supervisory work, managers that physically supervises handling of the movements of logistics and resources, etc. Conclusion The potentials of the services sector are one that virtually creates unlimited prospec ts for the economy. The industrial revolution expanded man’s opportunities that practically opened new doors for other industries to be born, such as the technology revolution, the knowledge age, the atomic era, the period of corporate social responsibility as an inescapable perspective in the conduct of business. Managing the world economy through the next generation is one gigantic responsibility that demands a new form of working with tasks and people. The sensitivity of every stakeholder in the conduct of business similarly demands impartial attention to their expectations which should not be left to the corporate background and be given lesser priority. Likewise, managing the services sector of the economy demands investments in the human capital and the peripherals of services. Thus, considering the high degree of volatility and fluidity of the services sector, the future of the industry remains as upbeat as any optimist can be. Man’s responsiveness to the emerging models of the services sector should enable him to reconfigure his thinking, shifting not simple paradigms but merging those old thinking with innovative components that not only redesigns old ideas, but keeps them to create balance between technology of the past and the emerging innovations of the present. Man is not likely to stop reinventing himself. The services sector is the vehicle of that reinvention. Thus, it is the core of this thesis that the various industries, the services sector especially, need to reconsider currently existing models such that these gradually matches man’s need for identity, relevance, dignity and immortality in terms of innovation gratitude.

How Economic Development In A Country Affects Planning And Management In Urban Areas

With reference to examples, discuss the degree to which the level od economic development in country affects planning and management in urban areas. The type of urban problems that require careful planning and management are largely decided by the economic wealth of a countryside. LEDC countries have problems with rapid urbanisation into the cities. However, on the other hand the problems that MEDC countries face include; suburbanisation, counter urbanisation. Urbanisation is the process in which people move to the city and start to make a home there.This is mainly happening in LEDC countries due to the lack of work in the countryside. People flood to the cities to try and find employment. Suburbanisation is the way that people move out from the central business district and out into the rural urban fringe, this mainly occurred in MEDC countries after industrialization; people had got more spare money and transport allowed them to move away from the centre of the city to the large ho uses in the suburbs. Finally, counter urbanisation is the move that people make completely away from the city and into the rural landscape.Happening primarily in the richer countries where people aspire to be away from the stress of the city when they are not working and move into the countryside. Each of these processes have their own problems that require the careful management mentioned above. Urbanisation can cause a lot of problems. When there are such a large number of people moving into the city there are not enough houses to accommodate them all. In many cases the pull factor towards the city is the prospect of work and this is not always possible.The situation that then occurs it that you have a lot of people moved to the city without any work or housing; so, they simply build their own cheap homes on the side of the main city called a slum. These slums can prevent easy excess in and out of the city; but, not only this because way that the houses are built there are no prop er facilities for the people in the slum. Disease is often a consequence of poor sanitation and crime can pervade in these areas because of the high unemployment and lack of money. It is for the benefit for everyone that  these slums are redeveloped into proper housing and sanitation.A example of how urban area need to be managed. Rocinha is the largest favela in Brazil, and is located in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone between the districts of Sao Conrado and Gavea. Rocinha is built on a steep hillside overlooking Rio de Janeiro, and is located about one kilometre from a nearby beach. Most of the favela is on a very steep hill, with many trees surrounding it. 69,161 people live in Rocinha. The authorities in Rio de Janeiro have taken a number of steps to reduce problems in favelas.They have set up self-help schemes; this is when the local authority provide local residents with the materials needs to construct permanent accommodation. This includes breeze blocks and cement. The Local residents provide the labour. The money saved can be spent on providing basic amenities such as electricity and water. Today, almost all the houses in Rocinha are made from concrete and brick. Some buildings are three and four stories tall and almost all houses have basic sanitation, plumbing, and electricity. Compared to simple shanty towns or slums, Rocinha has a better developed infrastructure.The favela also has a cable car to promote easy movement around the favela and into the main city. This was a government lead initiative. This is not the only one way that slums can be redeveloped. Government lead slum clearance is where land is bought under the residents and redeveloped into better accommodation. The other option is for the people of the slum redeveloping their own house individually making the whole area look better. The decision for which of these management options is the best is something that is decided at government level.Slums that are in a extremely bad situation a re likely to be tackled with slum clearance as it is the quickest method. Conversely, in MEDC countries slums are not such a problem because urbanisation happened many years ago after industrialisation and the country has moved on economically. The problem here is suburbanisation. The people who can move away from the central business district because it is loud and polluted but it left the unfortunate people who could not afford to move out in the CBD. This can lead to a state of urban decline.If there is a high percentage of council owned buildings the resident feel like they do not need to look after the environment because it is not their problem, graffiti and littering is a result of not caring. The situation from here can just get worse and worse and crime rates goes up and empty buildings are left unused. This process is not something that just occurs with the residents of an area, if all the people move out to the suburbs of a district the shops and facilities will either go out of business or the will soon follow into the suburbs.This does not help the process of urban decline as it means that more local people are made unemployed. A good example of where this has happened is the development of Mary hill shopping park in the west Midlands. Mary Hill has had to face the complaints of the businesses in the local centres of Solihull and Birmingham. Business have had to drive down prices to be competitive with the shopping centre with is not good for the economics of the area. Management of urban decline can be tackled in three ways. Property lead redevelopment, partnership schemes and gentrification.Property lead redevelopment is when the government decide to redevelop a area a invest large amount of money are on a large scale. A good example of where this has helped to bring a urban area out of decline is in Cardiff. Cardiff bay was a declining area when the loss of industry in the 1970s left a lot of people in unemployment and poverty. 3000 new homes w ere created, 1200 new jobs were created along with a new glass factory and water front. The area now has 2. 1 million visitors a year. Partnership schemes help the community rebuild a declining area such as in Hulme in Manchester.City challenge and the local people worked together to redevelop the area. The government provided ?37. 5 million for this to happen. For some people being on the edge of the city is still too much stress and decide to move completely away to the rural villages that surround big cities. This process of counter urbanisation can cause problems of their own. Rural villages are in danger of becoming places that people go to sleep. People still work in the cities and commute from their rural location every day. The local shops are no longer used because the supermarkets on the way out of the city from are not only more convenient but cheaper.The community feeling if the village is lost and the reason that people thought they were moving to the countryside for is no longer valid. Again this forces the closer of shops and local facilities. These places can also fall into a state of decline To conclude. Economic development and urban management and planning are directly linked. On the surface it seems like MEDC counties have more problems to deal with (sub urbanisation and counter urbanisation) whereas LEDC countries only have the problem of urbanisation.However, I believe that urbanisation is greater problem that requires more careful management than other problems may require. Furthermore, the level of economic development within a country may effects the ability of the country to manage these urban issues; the planning a management strategies adopted in a country will be affected by this. In poorer countries emphasis may be placed on self-help schemes or partnerships scheme that require less money from the government. On the other hand, richer governments may choose to head redevelopment projects themselves

Ethics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics - Assignment Example Since Deborah is working as nursing practitioner at a private hospital, she forgets the very reality that private clinics and medical centers keep profit motif in priority while offering their services and pecuniary gains are of vital interest for them. Furthermore, the private health centers are run on the basis of self-reliance doctrine, the administration of such organizations has to device money generating schemes in order to keep the ball rolling. Though in the professions, other than health and medicines, the people do not pay much care to the mercenary motifs of the organizations, the healthcare centers are criticized and condemned for such avaricious purposes due to the very fact that they are expected to serve the humanity by saving their lives in one way or the other. Consequently, the tricks and crookedness observed by these organizations are looked down upon in society. The same is applied to the community hospital in which Deborah has been working as nurse. Deborah has t wo divergent moral obligations: one towards her organization, violating the rules of which may put her job at stake. However, her second obligation is towards her Lord and the humanity at large.

Economic Growth Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic Growth - Assignment Example The per capita income of Cuba is greater than that of Brazil and that explains the reason behind high openness in Cuba as compared with Brazil. This confirms and justifies the correlation coefficient above. This pattern is experienced across most country used in the study. The coefficient 3785.376 is the constant. In interpreting the regression coefficient; an increase in per capita by one unit will result to increase in openness by 52.10041. This supports the earlier correlation results that showed that openness and per capita income exhibit a positive relation across the countries in 2005. However, the correlation and regression gives general conclusions. The fact is that several open countries have high level of income compared to their closed counterparts. Open economies have fewer difficulties in servicing external liabilities, and inadequate incentive to break a promise on external debt, hence making a turnaround in capital flows less likely. The scatter plot below also indicate a similar scenario The regression line is represented by Y=8.886187 + 0.402627X where Y is the level of domestic savings and X is the level of domestic investment. An increase in investment by investment by one unit will increase the level of domestic savings by 0.402627 units. The correlation and regression results show the general relationship that can be deduced from the analysis of the available data. However, some specific relationship can be also be deduced from the data. Out of 110 countries that had no domestic investment, 63 of them had no domestic savings. For example, Liberia, Libya, St. Lucia, Liechtenstein among others had no domestic levels in 2005, and their resultant domestic savings were also zero. However, some countries like Kuwait had zero domestic investment with 57.04595947 savings rate. This shows that domestic savings are not solely influenced by the level of domestic investments in the economy but other factors such as government

The Analysis of the Theories of Prebles Art Forms Term Paper

The Analysis of the Theories of Prebles Art Forms - Term Paper Example There are three theories that will be discussed as they come out clearly in the book. It is also important to highlight that chapter five of the book majorly deals with the evaluation of art. The three theories that are the points of focus, as well as attention in the book, are well discussed below: In this theory, the point that it focuses on so much and that it explains as well as envisages is the makeup and the constitution of the work of art. The theory tends to explain much on how the piece of art could have possibly having been affected in one way o the other by the earlier artisans in their creativity and artistic works. It, therefore, gives what made the piece of art be the way it is and why it was designed in the particular form that it is (Patrick 2009). This theory as the name suggests is quite axiomatic and obvious that the theory is focusing on expression. Under this expression, it is to say that the expression is with the aim of worldwide marketing as well as publicity. It, therefore, deals with the expression of personality for the popularity and to make the piece of work well known to the whole world (Patrick 2010). This theory focuses on the contemporary aspects of society. In the discussion, the theory discusses the various environmental issues that influence the works of art, the effect of culture (way of living) on art as well as the effect of the political state or the ruling class on art. It is also important to highlight that economic factors are also having a significant influence on the pieces of art (Suzzane 2010). In the second part of the paper, the paper will delve so much on the one art that is designed and match very well the various theories that have been well discussed in the earlier parts of the paper.     

Management finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management finance - Essay Example The reporting system in the company is new and shall be changing the norms and the culture of the company. With the introduction of new processes to the company operations then it is usually faced with resistant from the employees. The change in the processes of the company and the introduction of new process or norm is resisted whether it comes from inside or from outside of the company (Leanne, 2009). The reporting system in the company is resisted as well and employees consider it as the means of under estimating their performances in the company and shall not be able to truly evaluate their performances. The reporting system shall be considered as in just for the employees as the manager shall be taken the advantage of the performance and the employees and/or workers shall not be recognized for their performance (Debra & Bradley, 1999). Thus in order to get a better response and acceptability from the employees the report should be the true reflection of the performance of the em ployees. Budget is the most important part of reporting as the actual performance of the department is compared with the budget and thus the evaluation is done. The involvement of the employees shall be playing an important role in the reports as when the budget is prepared with the input from the employees considered along with the management perceptions then the budget prepared shall be much more realistic and achievable and the reports shall be getting a positive and accepted response by the employees (David, 2003). Budget is an integral part of the report and is utilized throughout the process, which involve planning, implementing and control (Mukdad, 2011), as the company enhances its internal controls and thus progress towards a more effective and controlled procedures. The budget in the report shall be much realistic, which involves the employees and the managers of all the departments of the company can attain and thus prepare a realistic and

Antigone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Antigone - Essay Example This study looks into â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles that is about Antigone’s struggles with what she thinks is right versus what Creon believes is right. They have differences in what morality is about and who should define it. The play depicts the conflict between serving the state’s authority and observing one’s family duties. Creon makes a law that prevents Polyneices from having a proper burial, because he is a traitor to Thebes. He declares: Him I decree that none should dare entomb, That none should utter wail or loud lament, But leave his corpse unburied, by the dogs And vultures mangled, foul to look upon. Antigone, however, is willing to defy the king, so that she can bury Polyneices. For her, her family duties come first before her duties as a citizen. She reinforces her belief to Ismene, who tries to stop her in disobeying Creon: â€Å"At least he is my brother-and yours, too,†¦ I will not prove false to him†. Antigone thinks that the laws can be damned, if it means failing her brother. Another cause of moral conflict in the play is the conflict between duties to the gods and duties to the state. Creon stresses to his son Haemon that the former’s will represents the will of the state or Thebes: â€Å"The state, I pray,/It is not reckoned his who governs it?†. As a result, people must follow him, or else political instability will occur. Antigone undermines the need to obey Creon, when she prefers following the laws of the gods. The gods want the dead to be buried properly, so Antigone says: â€Å"Who traced these laws for all the sons of men;/Nor did I dee m thy edicts strong enough,/Coming from mortal man, to set at naught† ... The gods want the dead to be buried properly, so Antigone says: â€Å"Who traced these laws for all the sons of men;/Nor did I deem thy edicts strong enough,/Coming from mortal man, to set at naught† (Sophocles 495-497). For her, mortal laws are inferior to divine laws. The causes of these conflicts are deaths, where Antigone’s death starts a cycle of death in Creon’s family. When Antigone commits suicide, Haemon follows suit. Then, Haemon’s mother kills herself too. In the end, Creon only wanted to punish one woman for her insubordination, and yet he suffered the most, because all his loved ones died. The main causes of moral conflicts are differences in duties and laws. For Antigone, her duty to her family and the gods are more important than her civic duties. Divine laws are heavier for her than man-made laws. Creon, however, insists on the paramount importance of his laws and civic duties. The effects of his decree are deaths and his unhappiness. Work Cited Sophocles. Antigone. Web. 30 Jan. 2012. . Lesson 4 Journal Entry # 1 of 14 Journal Exercise 4.1: Essay Ideas Before you begin the reading for this section, brainstorm possible essay topics. You can choose any issue, situation, or event that catches your interest. Your textbook offers some general possibilities for topics on page 752. You should list at least five possible topics. Journal Entry Some of the five possible topics I have thought about are: 1) Causes and effects of moral conflict 2) Causes and effects of being an individualist 3) Causes and effects of being a ruler 4) Causes and effects of being a woman 5) Causes and effects of being a tyrant Lesson 4 Journal Entry # 2 of 14 Journal Exercise 4.2: Synopsis

Body Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Body Language - Essay Example Depending on the type of body language incorporated a certain image of you is placed on those around you especially people you have been used to like co-workers, for example, wearing a smiling face in front of co-workers communicates that something good has happened to you and you are about to share a joyous story, while a cruel face will send an opposite signal. However your personality or character as known to the co workers will add a lot to your sign language ,a person who is always a joker might be mistaken since some times seriousness in his face accompanied by a serious comment can be outdone by the previous jokes to the audience. Moreover, the occupation is a very critical consideration in determining the effect of a sign language. For instance, a nurse might say that a patient is recovering verbally but post a sign to his colleague that patient is worsening (Kennedy, 2009). To a patient, body language sends the most effective message and thus one has to be very careful when handling them. While encouraging a patient its important to avoid putting on a worried face since this might make him think that he is worse off. Due to the fact that misinterpretation of body language might affect a patient psychologically, a speaker should avoid any ambiguous sign. While answering questions it’s important to always take time and avoid any emotional reaction that could send a different signal. Understanding their body language helps also effect your communication. In any situation where the patient provides a message verbally that strongly contradicts the body movements mostly the facial expression, its advisable that one should base his response mostly on the body sign. This helps the patient feel cared for and apart from comforting him it would help him open up for better treatment. More than fifty percent of messages in any conversation are sending verbally and thus several signs have

What are the principal institutions of the European Union To what Assignment - 1

What are the principal institutions of the European Union To what extent do these institutions engage with the sources of EU law - Assignment Example This therefore means that the laws were formed for social and political reasons. There are three laws that originate from the EU laws. These are treaties, regulations, recommendations and directives. Regulations are directly applicable to all the member states as from the date it is implemented without any action from the member states. A directive is applicable to all the member states of the EU, but the national authorities have the right to choose the form or method. Decisions on the other hand are only binding to the states to which it is designated. Any regulations and directives addressed to particular member states must be published in the Official Journal of the Communities. Some of these laws apply to some of the Member States while others do not. Some of the European Union laws are binding while others are not (Fairhurst, 2009, 72). The EU Institutions were basically created with the main aim of giving an impression to an continually closer Union of European states. The members of the European Union kept growing over time which resulted in an increase in the number of responsibilities for the EU. Over time the Institutions have increased in number and broadened and are more numerous. There are over a dozen of European institutions but only five are really important. There are European Council, Council of Ministers, Parliament, Commission and EU Court. The three institutions that make up the â€Å"institutional triangle† for the European Council law is the Council, Commission and the Parliament. Other minor institutions that exist under the European Union are the European Court of Auditors, the European Investment Fund, and the European Economic, the European Central Bank and Social Committee and others. This institution serves one main purpose which is to steer the political direction chaired by the Head of States. This Institution is often mistaken with The Council of the European Union, which refers to a meeting of ministers who

Home Page Essay Example for Free

Home Page Essay At Popcorn Supplies, we cordially invite you to sit back and enjoy the rich taste of entertainment as well as the essence of relaxation with our large kernelled, succulent popcorn as well as the delectable toppings that we offer. Our company’s product may already be known to you through our sister supplier Home Theatre Express. com. We provide the same mouth-watering buttery, caramel and other delicious popcorn flavors, but we offer them in wholesale quantities to those who want to invite large groups to enjoy the luscious experience. This offer is also meant to cater to those who own small or medium-sized businesses where such an appealing snack might be provided as a supplement to the entertainment or other activities provided. We offer a variety of services and products that enhance the popcorn production and consumption experience. Our store supplies carnival-style popcorn poppers such as Paragon Theater Pop and Gold Medal Funpop. We also stock large 4-oz bags of Orville Redenbacher’s high quality popcorn and cases of 35-oz Flavacol salt (12/case) that will equip your event to handle the high demand that is sure to materialize once guests or clients taste the scrumptious delight that comes in the popcorn bag. Plus, we also stock movie-theater popcorn buckets that create a much more authentic atmosphere for the occasion. Get these by the bulk too and legitimize your event as well-appointed and adequately catered. To this end, our toppings add the final touch of mouth-watering tastiness to the affair. This will make it not only a big hit with butter lovers, but also with caramel, cheese, nacho, frosting lover. And we offer even more toppings! Our prices are regularly unbeatable, and at wholesale prices it’s a full-scale, blow-out sale every day. Get your supplies now and save!

Personal Identity Essay Example for Free

Personal Identity Essay Who am I? Descartes’ answer was simply I am a mind (sum res cogitans). Descartes arrived at this answer by introspection – by looking inside himself. David Hume offered a brilliant critique of the idea that one can find one’s self through introspection.   â€Å"When I turn my reflection on myself, I never can perceive this self without some one or more perceptions; nor can I ever perceive anything but the perceptions. It is the composition of these, therefore, which forms the self. † (Treatise, Appendix) In other words, we have no direct knowledge of or experience of the self; we only have knowledge of particular sensations, memories, and so on.   We must suppose that there is something that underlies or bundles together these sensations, and that is the self. Personal Identity When philosophers talk about â€Å"personal identity,† they are asking how it is that two distinct persons can be the same. Lets have persons a and b. Suppose a = you (aged 16) and b = you (now).   What makes you remain the same person? You are the same person over time because you have the same soul (dualism), also, if and only if you have access to the same store of memories, if there is a continuity of your organism (Animalism) and if and only if you have the same brain view over time.

Contribution of Schools to Child Health and Wellbeing

Contribution of Schools to Child Health and Wellbeing Critically discuss the contribution that schools can make to children’s health and wellbeing. As a society we want the best for our children to enable them to grow and develop into healthy human beings. Looking at their wellbeing gives an overview of the person as a whole and their identity in society, and how we can ensure that they are given the best start in life and assist to maximise each child’s potential. This aspect is supported by the United Nation Convention on the rights of the child’s (1989) citied in Collins Foley 2008. This convention in many articles focus on the child ensuring that they have a say in their health and wellbeing giving them the best start to life. Kamerman and Kahn (2003) highlights the importance of child welfare and talks about ‘human capital’. As educators we have a large role in providing for all children giving them the best opportunities in life. There are many factors that can influence the health and wellbeing of children. Research has shown that early childhood experience has a significant impact on childhood development and how they continue into adulthood. As Vygotsky (1978) identified, children from a very young age can learn and develop new capacities through the collaboration and interaction with adults. (Citied in connecting with children; developing working relationships). Learning Guide 5 Activity 5.2 and watching the DVD on children’s participation brings to light how we as adults should listen more to children and permit children to have more of a say. On the video it identifies when children are given the opportunity to participate, it enhances their confidence and self-esteem to be part of society. When looking at children’s health and wellbeing it is important to look at how they identify themselves. As Cooley (1902) studies show how children develop and how they participated in society depends on what they feel about themselves and how other’s perceive and act towards them. As a foster carer for children with special needs I can relate too this as people can look at their disability instead of the person they are. Like Louis (foley 2008) the first identity is the disability. This identity can have an impact on health and well-being. In my role as foster career I found that the child I had on a long term basis was considered as having serve needs and labelled as difficult. In contrast when given the opportunity and not looking at her disability she was quite able. As adults we can influence the child’s identify and relate to this disability rather than the whole person. If we looked at wellbeing and health and not the disability would this change his outlo ok on life? Bennett and Sani 2004 p.g13 studies support this aspect as they talk about how changes can change our identity and how we are looked upon. As adults we can become engaged in the disability and unknown to ourselves we may label this child as disabled and think we know what is best. It can be criticised that the labelling or identifying a child’s disability can be positive in not only the home but in school as they are able to avail of better services e.g. the school get funding of a one to one assistant attending, having outside agencies like speech theorist etc.. In my own setting it is benefited when having a child’s special needs recognised as it relieves some of the pressures having an extra member and extra support when required The identity of a child can steer us as practitioners to how we contribute to the child’s health and wellbeing. In the school setting we have to be open minded and considerate of the home environment, the child’sculture, relationships and family life. These factors all coincide to contribute to the health and well-being of the child. The child identity can change depending on the situation and the environment. Children’s voices can change depending on the opportunities they are given and how we as a society recognise the child. This is supported by Bennett and Sani 2004 studies and shows it takes time to get familiar with a person. Children’s social backgrounds can have a large influence on their health and wellbeing. Poverty unfortunately has a negative effect on children’s health and wellbeing. When looking at the Millennium Cohort (Dex and Joshi) study in the UK it came to myattention thatis a high percentage of our children are in poor health and wellbeing. The institute of Education (2007) studies showed how children’s cognitive development assessments showed higher scores from families of stable employment. Poverty in the home has an ongoing effect on the child’s health and wellbeing. Children can be labelled as being poor carrying with them throughout school. Ridge’s study (2006) shows how children’s self-confidence and feeling of belonging within their social network can be affected. Children can feel left behind when parents can’t afford the latest trend be it clothes or latest technology. Children’s social wellbeing is affected when they are unab le to attend social outings with their peers andthis may cause a child to become withdrawn from the group of friends and experience a feeing of isolated. Schools provide a large contribution to children’s health and wellbeing through support in all areas. Children can feel valued by the interaction of praise and achievement, having the opportunity of healthy snacks, warmth and intellectual stimulation. In my own setting we can see the contribution to a child health by providing that simple healthy snack. This is beneficial for some children, not necessarily from an unprivileged back ground, but simple not having the time to ensuring that their child has eaten breakfast or lunch before arriving at nursery. Moss (2006) believes listening to children as part of ethical practices is extremely important and it is a vital part to the wellbeing of children. If children are not given the opportunity to speak and be listened to they cant be expected to fit into society. Practitioners have an important role in promoting and develop children’s emotional wellbeing. Billington and Pomerantz 2004 talked about the importance of circle time and how this leads to the building of confidence with children. Circle time allows children to feel included as part of a group and helps to build self-confidence and belief in their ideas. Being critical of this it can also devalue children as they may feel under treat and find circle time intrusive. As practitioners we have to judge the situation and look at what suit the individual child. As an early years practitioner I feel it is equally important for children to have free play where they can form own relationships without the influences of staff allowing children time to explore their own emotional. We have a critical role in ensuring that all children are listened to and voices not been silent. Children’s first-hand experience can change their perspective and it only takes that one individual to provide a positive artiest for change in a child’s well-being and health. Schools provide the opportunity for children to interact with a broadend section of society and benefits childrens opinion on society. One teacher may have a significant effect on a child’s well-being inclusive of all the other factors preventive to the child’s life. For example the famous story of Helen Killer (1968) who’s life was wasting away until she meet Anne. Anne changed her life by believing in her and through her inspiring work developed her health and wel lbeing and her life as a whole. Today Helen is well known for her work and the dedicated work she did helping others. It can be clearly seen how changes in society changes our views and opinions on how to give children the best health and wellbeing. This can be demonstrated in modern society with more services readily available and working in partnership with agencies to support children’s needs. Children’s first experiences are seen as criticalto later development. While schools provide the best health and wellbeing for children, the dilemma many teachers face is not being able to reach out to all children due to lack of parental support and consent alongside time factors and funding. Learning guide 11.6 looks at how agencies work together and try to give each other as much support as possible Lynne talks about her role as a health visitor and how this contributes to children’s health and wellbeing, while her role is as vital as practitioners in a school setting our hands can be tied and barriers in our way not allowing us to avail of these services. In my role as a pre-school leader the partnership is important between schools and health visitors, however without parental consent we cannot work with outside agencies provided to others.. While it is seen from the government that the childs health and wellbeing are top priority and as a society we draw up policies to ensure legislation meets their needs. It is seen how Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have looked at family lives and helping with back to work systems which will benefit children’s health and confidence along with their general wellbeing. The new government has looked at the roots of the problems and putting services into place to reshaping services. The sure start programme has increased the help for families from deprived areas, provided well needed services for example parenting class, 2 year old programmes etc While this has been a positive input it can be critically argued that it not necessary always being for families from deprived areas needing help but working families too can need as much attention. In my own setting it can be seen that full time working parents need as much help at times with parenting skills as other less well off families. Their careers can leave pressures on families and just having extra support can help their anxiety and any worries they may face as their children develop. While the United Nation Convention on the rights of the child’s (1989) citied in Collins Foley 2008 report focuses on six key areas: material, wellbeing, health and safety, educational wellbeing, family and peer relationship it can be critically said that this is not always possible and feasible for those who require it. Looking at education sector the number of children with special needs has risen and funding has had a cut back therefore all needs are not met as they should be. In my own setting due to funding and the demand on other agencies it is not always possible to get a child with special needs an assessment before school age. While these children’s needs are not being met not only is their pressure on the workplace but the child’s health and well-being is being deprived. Children who haven’t got English as a first language suffer due to the lack of resources available in society for them. As educators we work on the legal documents and in writin g state what is needed for our children however in reality this depends on funding and government support. When looking at a child’s health and well-being they interweve with one an another so when a school struggles to gett help with a child’s physical needs their emotional health can is also effected in many instances. Giddens (1998) looked at the needs of our children and how investment is put into all areas of the children’s health and wellbeing looking at the full picture. This has shown improvement with the rest 10-Year Strategy (2009). Children are given and entitled to free pre-school education which has been a positive step in the health and wellbeing of all children. In my own setting we have a role as practitioners to ensure we promote diversity and inclusion. This comes from the UN Convention on The Right of the child (1989), which supports the right for children to grow up in a farmiliar surrounding which is characterised by equality and free from any form of discrimination due to colour, race, sex, language, relation etc†¦ (Article Two (www.unicef.org/crc/). In my own setting this is not only done to ensure that all children are treated equally but also with the use of our Media Initiative programme. This programme was developed to provide children with the opportunity to explore similarities and differences and developing the child in an appropriate way, using age appropriate resources. This has found to be of benefit to children who infinity themselves as different and helps them to feel included in the setting. Over the years there has been considerable work done in relation to Childrens health and wellbeing policy documents. UNICEF was one of the largest pieces of legislation from which a number a policies was drawn from. When looking at the policies throughout the UK it can be seen that while different countries have their own policy, there main objectives being the best services for the health and wellbeing of our children can be found in them all. A lot of changes have come about due to major cases of poor services which have result to child death some high profile media cases throughout the mediafor example;. Baby P, Victoria Climbe and most recently Tiffany Wright. As work continues in improving the local services to children the health and welfare of the children remains upmostimportance and with this high priority we will hopefully see an increase in more agencies working together to improving services. In conclusion to the question on looking at what contribution that school can be seen how all agencies have an important role. Legislation over the years has changed giving children the right to an opinionon their health and wellbeing. One quote from the UNICEF Report Card 7 to me evaluates children health and wellbeing and is very key that the nation is key to the support children are provided with. Health and safety is a majoy aspect in UNICEF’s ideas and their material security and educational needs is focused on aswell as socialisation. UNICEF have strong beliefs on the sdense of being loved and being valved from society and people around them and included in the families and society in which they are brought up in. Collins Foley 2008) As practitioner we have a duty of care in the wellbeing of children by working for the child in partnership with their parents and other available agencies to ensure that the child is given the best start to life allowing them to continue in to adulthood. All children no matter of their background or abilities should be given the same opportunities and say to their rights. The time it takes or the funding needed shouldn’t determent the quality of services for a child health and well-being to be met. Bibliography Everyday Costs of Poverty in Childhood: A Review of Qualitative Research Exploring the Lives and Experiences of Low-Income Children in the UK Tess Ridge Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries  © The United Nations Children’s Fund, 2007 UNICEF, Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries, Innocenti Report Card 7, 2007 UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller www.unicef.org/crc/)