Growth and Development in Chhattisgarh: a Credible State

Chhattisgarh :Credible state with incredible potential Introduction Creation of the State of Chhattisgarh The creation of Chhattisgarh on November 01, 2000 fulfilled the demand for separate statehood that was originally raised in 1925 and subsequently rejected in the post independence era by the State Reorganisation Commission set up in 1954. The ‘Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000’ was eventually passed by both houses of Parliament and approved by the President of India on August 25, 2000. This paved the way for the creation of the 26th State of India on November 01, 2000.The creation of the new State of Chhattisgarh has succeeded in granting a sense of identity to its people and has provided them with the unique opportunity to chart their own destiny. General Profile Chhattisgarh located in central India has been carved out of the sixteen eastern and south-eastern districts of undivided Madhya Pradesh. It is a landlocked state bound in the north by Uttar Pradesh an d Jharkhand, in the east by Orissa, in the south by Andhra Pradesh and in the West by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.Chhattisgarh is the tenth largest State in India with an area of approximately 135000 sq kms. The state now consists of 27 districts in 5 divisions with capital in Raipur and high court at Chhattisgarh. The population of the state as per 2001 census is 2,55,40,196(prov. ) In terms of population the State ranks 16th. 80% of the total population lives in rural areas. A large portion of the State’s population comprises of tribals, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. State has a population density 189 which is fairly low as compared to India.Sex ratio is 991 per thousand of males and ranks 5th in India in this regard. The literacy rate is 71. 04% which is still quite low. Competitive analysis of Chhattisgarh For a comprehensive analysis of the state it is important to assess the State’s potential in terms of its inherent strengths and weaknesses. The SWOT analysis which I am going to present is not intended to be exhaustive. However, it is indicative of some of the primary issues that the State will need to contend with, going forward with its strengths and opportunities. . WEAKNESSES ThreatsThe absence of large local markets, skilled labour, adequate physical infrastructure and low urbanisation are some of the key weaknesses of the State. Landlocked and limited local markets As a virtually landlocked area, the State has to depend heavily on its road and railway network, which is to a considerable extent limited. Additionally a large rural population coupled with low per capita income limits the size of the local market. However, a few cities in the State have demonstrated the potential to develop into substantial local markets, which is evident from their current levels of per capita spending ? Low telephone density The telephone density in the State is low as compared to the national average. This particularly inhibits the effici ent functioning of the service industry that depends heavily on Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). Opportunities Low skilled labour The relatively low level of industrialisation in the State has limited the development of skilled labour. The current availability of skilled labour is further restricted to select industries only due to the absence of a divergent industrial base Limited physical infrastructureState still have vast area of undeveloped land and regions that have been untouched by modern development. While this is the result of years of prior neglect in developing proper physical infrastructure but now constitutes the weakest link in the progress towards economic development Frequent droughts Although the average rainfall in Chhattisgarh compares well with several other states, neglect of traditional water preservation practices in recent times has led to frequent droughts. Further, the proportion of irrigated area in the State is only 16 percent of the t otal cultivable area.There is however, potential to raise the proportion of irrigated area to 75 percent of the total cultivable area Low urbanisation The State ranks low on urbanisation index with limited number of urban centres, which are confined to central Chhattisgarh. Low urbanisation and lack of adequate physical infrastructure are the key reasons why Chhattisgarh is low on national perception, and also ranks low on development indicators along with the perceived potential for development. THREATS Over dependence on natural resourcesThe State must take care to use its natural resources judiciously. An emphasis on balanced and all-round development would be essential to ensure environmentally sustainable growth. Having said that, there is little doubt that the optimal utilisation of natural assets holds the key to State’s development process Political compulsions Political will at all levels is a must to enable any kind of change. Any disruption in the pace or direct ion of proposed reforms could hamper the swift movement towards economic development Suspicion of and opposition to changeThe people of the newly formed State being accustomed to prior neglect, may look upon any kind of change with doubt or suspicion. The State must, in the spirit of participatory democracy, take steps to build consensus and infuse a sense of confidence in its people with specific reference to the objectives, direction and pace of economic development While it is absolutely essential to understand the weaknesses and threats (significant but not exhaustive), it is the aggregate of strengths and opportunities that infuses the State and its people with a sense of optimism about the future.STRENGTHS Rich natural resources Undoubtedly the biggest strength of the State, Chhattisgarh used to contribute 46% of mineral revenues to undivided Madhya Pradesh and is ranked second in the list of mineral producing States in the country. It has rich deposits of limestone, iron-or e, copper-ore, rock phosphate, manganese ore, bauxite, coal, asbestos and mica. In fact Chhattisgarh, along with Orissa and Jharkhand constitute over 80% of the nation’s coal reserves. Chhattisgarh also has proven reserves of diamond – which can, in the future, be a large source of income for the State.Although the State already has a substantial presence of core industries, a large part of the mineral potential is yet untapped, providing Chhattisgarh with a unique opportunity to use its mineral wealth to spur economic development. Apart from minerals, Chhattisgarh also possesses a large forest cover encompassing approximately 44% of the total geographical area. However, the true potential of the minor forest produce is yet to be assessed and utilised. The State has abundant but untapped water resources – essential for harvesting the potential of agriculture. Surplus power Chhattisgarh is fortunate to be one of the few States that are currently power surplus. Th is could be an important criterion for Industrialists making project and investment decisions, to Chhattisgarh’s advantage. Presence of low grade coal makes Chhattisgarh an ideal location for setting up of low cost pit head based thermal power plant, capable of generating power to meet the requirements of other States . By exploiting its unique location along with large coal reserves, Chhattisgarh has the potential to become the power generating hub of India Favourable labour climate Though the relative skill base is low, the presence of a large number of willing and able-bodied people contributes to the presence of a substantial workforce. The State has a high worker participation rate (male and female) and a high labour force in the 15-39 age group. It also has one of the lowest losses in person-days in the country attributed to labour problems Relatively low land cost With a lower population density and urbanisation ratio, the State would be able to offer land at extremel y competitive prices for some time to come ? Fiscal position The fiscal deficit situation of the State is currently under control. It also has reliable sources of public finance and possesses no deficit on account of either the State Electricity Board or Road Transport Corporation. This is contrary to the situation in other states, wherein these agencies are the principal contributors to the fiscal deficit. Political Leadership and Bureaucracy The number of bureaucrats and government employees compared to the other States in the country.This has also resulted in one of the lowest expenditures in the country on government functioning. The presence of a strong, committed and focussed leadership is an asset. OPPORTUNITIES ‘New State’ advantage The fulfilment of the demand for a separate State has given a new sense of identity and pride to the local people. Being a new State and with limited legacies of the past, this is a historic opportunity for Chhattisgarh. It can lev erage on this status to undertake reforms and frame policies to aid rapid social and economic development.No past legacies provide the State with an opportunity to prepare policies which are based on contemporary economic principles and which help create responsive governance. Location advantage The geographic location of the State is strategic – it borders seven states in the country. NH-6, which connects the west to the east, passes through some of the most industrialised areas of the State. Chhattisgarh could use this geographic locational to its advantage to develop a logistics and warehousing network to service the region. Demand for Energy in the countryWhile the rest of India faces acute power shortages, the same is not true of Chhattisgarh. Further, in view of the presence of large coal reserves in the State and the fact that it is situated in the middle of the national power grid makes it an ideal location for setting-up coal pit-head based thermal power plants. P artnership The State recognises the opportunity of an increasingly borderless world and the resulting benefits of forging partnerships with national and international communities, private and developmental institutions to spur economic development. Value additionCurrently a large part of exports from the State is in form of raw material (across minerals, agriculture and forest produce). The state could capitalise on the abundant availability of basic raw material to encourage setting up of processing units for ensuring value addition and subsequently increasing avenues for employment and enhanced income Service industry India has made rapid strides in the service industry in the past few decades. The State could potentially capitalise on these areas of country advantage, specifically in the field of information and biotechnology.It is precisely this aggregate of strengths and opportunities that gives the State a positive and optimistic outlook on the future and the confidence to d raft its Vision Statement. ————————————————- Chhattisgarh Economy The union ministry of Statistics, has included Chhattisgarh as one of the top four states posting 10. 8 per cent GDP growth during 2011-12. It may be termed as a ‘big success', as this was the third year the state has maintained over 10 per cent GDP growth which is more than the national average of 6. 5 %.Chhattisgarh’s success factors in achieving high growth rate are growth in agriculture and industrial production. Agriculture Sector Agriculture is counted as the chief economic occupation of the state. About 80% of the population of the state is rural and the main livelihood of the villagers is agriculture and agriculture-based small industry. The majority of the farmers are still practicing the traditional methods of cultivation, resulting in low growth rates and productivity. The farmers hav e to be made aware of modern technologies suitable to their holdings.Providing adequate knowledge to the farmers is essential for better implementation of the agricultural development plans and to improve the productivity. When a very substantial portion of the population is dependent on agriculture, a situation where nearly 80% of a state's area is covered only by one crop, immediate attention to turn them into double crop areas is needed. Also, very few cash crops are grown in Chhattisgarh, so there is a need to diversify the agriculture produce towards oilseeds and other cash crops. Chhattisgarh is also called the â€Å"rice bowl of central India†.Chhattisgarh has a limited  irrigation  system, with  dams  and  canals  on some rivers. Average rainfall in the state is around 1400  mm and the entire state falls under the rice agroclimatic zone. Large variation in the yearly rainfall directly affects the production of rice. Irrigation is the prime need of the st ate for its overall development and therefore the state government has given top priority to development of irrigation. Industrial sector Power sector Chhattisgarh is one of the few states of India where the power sector is effectively developed.Based on the current production of surplus electric power, the position of the State is comfortable and profitable. Strategically located in central India, Chhattisgarh's large surplus of power can be easily transmitted without losses to any of India's four grids. Chhattisgarh is in the chronically deficit western grid, and is linked to the southern and northern grids. Chhattisgarh provides electricity to several other states because of surplus production and its power hubs are  Korba  and  Bilaspur. Korba in Chhattisgarh is really the Power Capital of India.Apart from NTPC and State Electricity Companies, there are a number of private generation units of large and small capacity. The state government has pursued a liberal policy with regard to captive generation which has resulted in a number of private players coming up. As per a study made by the Power Finance Corporation Ltd. , New Delhi, the state has potential of 61000 MW of additional thermal power in terms of availability of coal for more than 100 years and more than 2500 MW hydel capacity. To use this vast potential, substantial additions to the existing generation capacity are already under way.Non conventional energy sources have been accorded very high priority. A special agency called CREDA (Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency) has been set up, and over 1200 villages in dense forests are being electrified using off-grid energy. Micro-Hydel power potential is also being tapped in a big way, and several projects have been identified for viable private investment. Chhattisgarh is emerging as the Power Hub of India – which has the capacity to cover half the demand-supply gap in the entire country. Steel sector The steel industry is on e of the biggest heavy industries of Chhattisgarh.Bhilai Steel Plant, operated by  SAIL, with a capacity of 5. 4 million tonnes per year, is regarded as a significant contributor to the growth of the state’s economy . More than 100 steel rolling mills, 90 sponge iron plants and ferro-alloy units are in Chhattisgarh. Along with Bhilai, Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba and Raigarh have become the steel hub of Chhattisgarh. Today, Raipur has become the center of the steel sector, the biggest market for steel in India. Aluminium sector Bharat Aluminum Company Limited(BALCO), which has a capacity of around one million tonnes each year is the major contributor in this sector.Exports * Handcrafted wood, iron and steel, terra cotta, bell metal and handloom items are major attractions in the international market. * Chhattisgarh is the only state offering quality fabric in Tassar Silk/ Kosa, which has good export potential in the UK, France, Switzerland, Norway, the USA, Canada, Australia, So uth Africa and Japan. * The state has vast potential for exporting processed foods, organically grown cereals, herbal and medicinal products. * Agricultural products such as rice are presently exported in huge quantities to neighbouring countries .Derivatives and intermediates of rice products, processed foods and biodiesel have a huge potential for exports. * Mineral-based products including steel and pig iron, steel castings, forging and equipment, structural steel, cement and silico-mangnese are also exported from Chhattisgarh. Unlocking Natural Resources Realising the true potential of natural resources in Chhattisgarh would be one of the most immediate priorities of the state. This would ensure economic benefits to more than3/4th of the population and help create large markets within the State that would help propel growth in the secondary and the tertiary sectors.Unlocking the true potential of the natural resources would be contingent upon the State’s ability to addres s the issues facing agriculture, forestry, minerals and the water resources sectors as follows: Agriculture is the primary occupation of the people of Chhattisgarh. About 80% of the population depend on it for their livelihood. It is thus vital to the economy of the State, and any initiatives undertaken in this sector would have a lasting impact on the economy. Water being an important input for sustaining agricultural activities, its effective utilisation becomes vital for economic development.Chhattisgarh has sufficient water resources, but this resource largely remains untapped. In terms of the irrigation potential, it is estimated that 43- lakh hectare area can be irrigated as against the existing irrigation potential of 1. 34 lakh hectare Forestry has a significant role in the economic development of Chhattisgarh. 44% of the State is covered with forests, ranking it third in India in terms of forest cover. The State boasts of an abundance of minor forest produce like Tendu leav es, Sal seed, Mahua seed, gum, etc. , which have enormous economic potential Minerals: Chhattisgarh is rich in minerals.It produces 20% of the country's total cement produce. It ranks first in the nation for coal production and second in reserves, third in iron ore production and first in tin production. Limestone,  dolomite  and  bauxite  are abundant. It is the only  tin-ore producing state in the country. Other minerals include corandum,  garnet,  quartz,  marble,  alexandrite  and  diamonds Chhattisgarh has not fully realised the potential of its abundant mineral wealth. The presence of vast reserves of coal, iron ore, limestone, diamond, etc. have positioned the State second in the country’s list of mineral producing statesTOURISM Chhattisgarh, situated in the heart of  India, is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity. The state is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved  temples,  Buddhistà ‚  sites,  palaces,  water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists, compared to traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. For tourists who are tired of the crowds at major destinations will like the  Bastar district, with its unique cultural and ecological identity.Conclusion Comparatively being a newly born state, Chhattisgarh is progressing by leaps and bounds. The global winds of changes can easily be sensed here. With its rich heritage it is competing with other states on number of counts and has been recognized at various forums for its achievements. It is both the land of opportunities and challenges. I, through this presentation could voice some of the challenges, which the state is facing, however with its inherent strengths, I am sure, the state will grow and develop at a high pace and can become leading state in the country.The people of Chha ttisgarh are determined to make the things happen, the way they have envisaged. The people are enterprising and are now well versed with change process. The state has exhibited growth pattern higher than targeted in recent past and would continue the trajectory. And therefore I must say in the end that Chattisgarh is the credible state with incredible potential. Now I would like you all to please watch this one minute video to get a feel of Chhattisgarh.

Safety First

It is my duty to ensure that all members of the band and entourage are aware of the health and safety implications of using computers. I have decided to design a simple poster to illustrate to staff the do's and don't of using a computer. Research I did some research into the major health issues associated with the use of computers. I decided to use the internet to do this. There are many websites on the internet and so to cut down my search, I used a Boolean search, which is using words such as ‘and', ‘not' and ‘or'. Using ‘+', and other operations would also help me to find the websites I needed e.g. ‘computer + health and safety'. By typing this in, I found many useful websites. The main, understandable websites I found were: * www.learninglink.ac.uk/keepfit/ * www.utoronto.ca/safety/ergoweb/vdt.html * www.intranet.westminster.org.uk/help/general/Health_Safety/H_S.asp * www.ehs.ohio-state.edu/index.asp?PAGE=ohse.computer * www.healthycomputing.com/office/setup I also used www.waverley.gov.uk/environment/has_computer.asp which proved to be a very useful website. Major Health and Safety Issues Associated with the Use of Computers From looking at these websites, I got some ideas of the safety issues that should be considered when using a computer and I was then able to make up some of my own safety precautions for using a computer. I decided to include the following: * Practice blinking regularly * Rest your eyes during breaks * Take frequent posture breaks * Occasionally stop and stretch at your desk * Check that direct light is good enough for you to read the information on the screen without straining you eyes. * Vary the distance of the screen from your eyes. * Angle screen to reduce glare * Keep the neck and shoulders relaxed and the elbows in close to the waist. * Ensure that the backrest of the chair is adjusted to provide good support, particularly for the curve of the lower back (lumbar area). * Position the screen directly in front of you and tilt it so it is facing you * Tilt the keyboard using the small feet at the back, so you can type you're your wrists straight * Rest your wrists on the desk when not typing * Do not grip the mouse tightly * Keep the neck and shoulders relaxed * Adjust the chairs height and angle * Keep your feet vertical Deciding upon a software to use I chose to use the package Microsoft Publisher rather than Microsoft Word (word processor). MS Publisher can be used to produce pages that combine text with graphics and this makes it ideal for the production of my poster. However before choosing to use MS Publisher, I considered using Microsoft Word as it can insert pictures and WordArt and this would be useful for the production of my poster. However, I soon realised that Word Processor is mainly a type of software used for writing text e.g. letters and stories. Word Processor also pushes the text out of the way when a picture is inserted. Comparing MS publisher to Word clearly showed me that MS Publisher was a more suitable software. Using MS publisher has many advantages like having more control over the way in which text is laid out compared with an ordinary word processor. Pictures and text boxes can be laid out extremely accurately, giving a professional look to my poster. Therefore, using this software for my poster is ideal and MS Publisher proved to have many advantages in producing my poster. Format of posters Now that I had done some research and found some information to put into my poster, I looked at posters on walls to get a rough idea of how big my poster should be, what it should look like and how much information should be included. I realised that most of them had big, eye-catching titles and very little writing. Most of them had pictures and diagrams and information was put in short sentences. Some posters had a labelled picture. I realised that colour is a great way to enhance a poster, draw someone's attention and to make a poster look more attractive. People will not read a lot of text, and certainly won't read standard journal-sized text, and so a big font must be used for my poster. My poster also needs to be understandable, but most of all it needed to be attention-grabbing. In order for my audience to look at my poster in detail, it has to be eye-catching and noticeable. I decided to make a rough plan of my poster first, on an A4 piece of paper. Creating My Poster I opened Microsoft Publisher and realised that it did not have a poster option and therefore I had to consider using a different layout or a ‘Quick Publication'. I browsed around the MS Publisher options and realised that it did have a poster option on the ‘Blank Publications' section. I decided to use this option to create my poster. This option allowed my poster to be more than one A4 page. In fact, altogether it would be 60cm by 45cm; this in total is nine pages. I started to make my poster by looking at my first draft. I used the measurements tool palette to place the text boxes in a position that I wanted. This was a useful advantage of MS Publisher and made my poster look professional. Modifications When I had completed my poster, I printed it off and showed it to a friend, who critically appraised my work. I made the following adjustments: * My friend had pointed out that my title could be bigger and bold so that it was more eye-catching. * My friend pointed out that my poster could be much more exciting by adding a background, and more colour. Therefore, I added a background. * My friend also pointed out that my poster was too plain and ‘dull'. He also told me that there were too many white bits on my poster, and more colour was needed. Therefore, I chose to fill the title's background yellow and the other text boxes light purple. Overall, all these modifications contributed to the overall professional manner of my poster, making it eye-catching and bright. I then printed out the last and final version of my poster, which came out to be in total, nine pages. All these pages contained tiles, which made it easy to cut and stick these pages together, so that all the words and all the pictures joined up accurately. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to cut and stick these pictures together, however I still think my poster is big, eye-catching and easy to understand.

Women In Business Essay

Unassuming nature (humility) M – Motivator I- Interpersonal skills S – Sense of purpose E – Empathic N – Notable – Innovative N – Novice S – Self-confidence Spokesman N – Never giving up E- Efficacious In the business world there are a lot of obstacles women have to face to climb the career ladder. Helen Keller once said, â€Å"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye. † Women should take this message and run with it. It's not the people around us but ourselves which holds us back from what we want to accomplish.Self-confidence is the master key that unlocks the door in succeeding in today's business world. Confidence in one's self assists in elevating our position. Once a woman is confident, she has pride in her work and a little hard work comes easy. Singer Marsha Evans once remarked, â€Å"You can have unbelievable intelligence, you can have connections, you can have opportunities fal l out of the sky. But in the end hard work is the true, enduring characteristic of successful people. † Women, today we need not to be afraid of hard work. Working long hours and sacrificing our spare time is what it takes to build a business.Sometimes aging on an extra task can be beneficial to building the career we actually seek. We are classified as the ‘weaker vessels', but if we endure the hard work, it only makes us stronger and climbing the career ladder would be easy. As aforementioned in the acronym, the attribute listed for ‘B' in the word BUSINESS was bravery. Being a woman in a corporate world you would be timid by the male gender. You have to constantly push yourself out of your comfort zone to move forward. This means you have to take risks and accept when things go dismay. No matter the challenge or situation be brave.You will survive and turn things around. I am a young woman striving to succeed. Ambition is embedded. I don't settle for second best . â€Å"Reach for the stars†, but in reality I want to have it in the palm of my hands. My vision, dreams and aspirations will be a reality. The words of Anita Rowdier, â€Å"To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality', and know I have passion within. For no matter what it is once I'm involved I will be passionate and committed. I stumbled upon a poem and the words of it really depicts who am and the attributes posses.Heart of a Woman in Business by Sherry Rough is an inspirational poem for women for all walks of life. A woman in business is like no other Multi-brilliant at work, and often too, a mother. Guided by vision to make a difference in this world, Reporting for service, with her hair even curled. Ready to go, whenever the need She knows in her heart, there's a calling to feed. To do right, to speak up, determined to succeed A role model that plants the possibility seed. Knows who she is, right down to the core Her essen ce, her passion-?shine all the more! She's in charge with a handle on it all.At the office, at home, or at the mall. Even in the depth of all she may know Realizes there's still plenty room to grow. So energetic, creative and fun . Early rise, there's much to be done! She still finds time to laugh and to play Sacred time too, to kneel and to pray It comes from inside, driven by vision, Get on board-?she's on a great mission! Her daily prayer resides in God's grace Serving others from her heart sets the pace Making use of her talent, wisdom and skill From strengths and trust in Divine will. Gentle, compassionate, loving and strongIn this sisterhood Of success you want to belong Anything she puts her heart to she can do SSH?s not alone assist-?as you can too! The road to get here has been quite a ride â€Å"Call me ‘Woman'-? it's my source of pride! † Come along, she's blazing' new trail A woman in business-?whom we all hail Studying at a prestigious institution as Hull I nternational Business School will broaden my horizon and the outlook for my life. It will allow me to build on the skills and traits that I already own and develop new ones that will take me on the road to success full speed.Women rarely hold highly influential leadership positions. I believe that women are just as capable of being successful leaders as men with the same abilities. If more women are allowed and encouraged to become leaders, it would create a wavelet effect throughout society. There is an imbalance in the business world between men and women leaders. It is very critical that women hold leadership position. Within the work environment there will be new perspectives and outlook on different situations. We have accepted the mental abilities that men and women are equal. Marie C.Wilson in Closing the Leadership Gap: Add Women Change Everything said, â€Å"When look at issues face, and when I think of the need, I am as convinced as I have ever been that our future depend s on the leadership of women – not to replace men but to transform our options alongside them. † These words that came forth is truly a divine statement. Women holding leadership positions isn't undermining men in influential positions but wanting to work hand in hand with them. You receive views from each person and ideas can be formulated and bought forth. It shouldn't be about male vs.. Male but about how we can all benefit.Right now too much power is placed within the grasp of men and the masculine perspective. A survey from Right Management Consultants shows that the skill that companies most often seek in managers is the ability to motivate and engage others. These characteristics are displayed more from women. Ultimately, if women are in leadership positions with their male counterpart, the feminine qualities such as intuitive, compassionate and emotional nature will bloom. â€Å"The gateway to our intuitive wisdom and our connection to the rater landscape of hu manity is emotions,† quote Tabby Fiddle.

Doing Business in Martinique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Doing Business in Martinique - Essay Example Under the CARIFORUM-EPA agreement countries like Jamaica that are English speaking Caribbean countries have the opportunity to carry out trade in goods and services with the French overseas territories like Martinique as well as other countries like French Guiana and Guadeloupe. Doing business in Martinique can be a good opportunity for the investors due to the cultural, economic, social and political factors that favor the development of business in Martinique. For instance, the main exports from Jamaica to the Martinique are food products like shrimps, lobsters, and crustaceans. Therefore, there remains room for the diversification of the goods and the expansion of the services. France is the main trading partner with Martinique but still there remains a vast untapped opportunity for Martinique due to the relatively lower prices. If an investor is considering entering in the service sector (service exporters), he or she should take a keen interest in a multitude of factors such as language, and the entry requirements. However, in terms of the entry requirements, they are similar to those of France especially when you are considering the service sector (businessmonitor.com, n.d.). For instance, Sam Kruiner, an Advisor at the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) during a presentation shared the information on support of CEDA, which has encouraged investors and countries to trade in Martinique. The agency carries activities such as workshops, seminars and studies and the development of the Creative Industries and Sports Tourism in collaboration with Martinique in order to promote business (Worldtravelguide.net, n.d.). The national currency of Martinique is Euros and its balance of payments as at 2006, exports US$ 818 million and imports US$ 3,483 million. The agriculture contributes 6%, services 72% and industry 15%. The inflation rate as of 2005 was 2.4%. Martinique’s economy is characterized by chronic balance

Emergence of Red Power movement in 1960s Research Paper

Emergence of Red Power movement in 1960s - Research Paper Example The period in between 1960s and 1970s, was a period that the federal government faced immense pressure from the Native Americans in regards to addressing the issues that faced the Indians at the same time the need to reassert the rights of the Indians. Emergence of Red Power movement in 1960s Outline Introduction History of Red power movement Causes for the Emergence of Red Power Movement Conclusion Bibliography Emergence of Red Power movement in 1960s Introduction Red power was a force to reckon with in the 1960s. It had a huge influence in decisions made by the government including policies. The period in between 1960s and 1970s, was a period that the federal government faced immense pressure from the Native Americans in regards to addressing the issues that faced the Indians at the same time the need to reassert the rights of the Indians. By imitating other ethnic groups at that time, the Indians in America gained courage and stood up to reaffirm their cultural and ethnic identity . It is from these ideas and operations that constituted a movement that would come to be identified as the Red Power Movement. The main and particular aim of the Red Power Movement was to do away with the federal policy of termination, lead the Indians to their ancestral and cultural ways an at the same time revitalize as well as review the existing Indian communities of that time. As the movement established itself, it emulated its counterpart movements that represented the Africa Americans and Latinos in a number of different ways. The Red Power movement used various means of operations to pass their message across the public regarding the general grievances and plight of the Native Americans they represented. Among the various means used in sending their message across are demonstrations, protests, marches and sit-ins. One of the most attention-grabbing and publicized events that was undertaken by the Red Power movement was the famous nineteen-month occupation of an abandoned fe deral prison in Alcatraz Island in early 1969. Majority of the Indian activists perceived this as the crucial spark that was part and parcel of igniting the flame of the Red Power Movement. After the occupation in Alcatraz Island, more occupations were undertaken in various locations throughout the country. The siege in 1973 that lead to the occupation of Wounded Knee, which was in South of Dakota is recoded as one of the famous sieges that overshadowed the others1. From 1971, there have been numerous protests going on throughout the country, in reserves as well as in the cities. These protests incorporated Native Americans, organizations and native newspapers, all motivated to fight for the rights and interests of the American Indians. The 1970s period is regarded as years in which there was the most intense pressure brought about by Native American protests in the whole of twentieth century. The protests that took place in early 1970s were inspired by the Alcatraz occupation model as Indians repossessed the federal land and later on reclaimed it for cultural and educational purposes2. History of Red power movement The American Indian activism roots are dated back in 1492, despite much of their activities getting recognition in 1960s and 1970s. In 1492, there was an encounter between the indigenous people of Mesoamerica and European explorers. More encounters were to occur in 1607 and in 1622. At this period, the reasons for the activism were complicated and at the same time simple. The reasons were protection of their homeland and recognition by the incoming invaders3. According to Teruton, the leaders of Red Power brought about new social knowledge that was manifested in their political operations. This knowledge was often verified with the growth of the movement. Despite the discrimination they faced from the whites and the economic and social bondage they were in, majority of the Indians soldiered on with their cultural activities. The Red Power played a great role in inspiring the American Indians in declaring their rights and culturally expressing themselves. Majority of the Indians at this moment began transforming as they compared their cultures

Tell us how you became interested in a healthcare career in your Essay

Tell us how you became interested in a healthcare career in your designated area of interest and relate any healthcare experience you may have had to date - Essay Example I opted for this career and completed my education to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. I analyzed that there is no end to knowledge and practice and education serves to further enhance and polish the skills of a person. Therefore, it is for this purpose that I wish to enroll in a program for Registered Nurse. This program will serve to expand my understanding and knowledge with regard to the field of nursing. I am currently working as Licensed Practical Nurse in Long Term Care and I have been affiliated with this department since the last nine years. I chose the field of healthcare as my career path because it had always been my passion to become a nurse and be a part of the health care system. When I was a young child, I fell off my bicycle and I was taken to the hospital as I was hurt. The nurse in the hospital treated my problem and she also assisted me in overcoming the fear that I had owing to my fall. It was at that point that I decided that I would become a nurse and fulfill my duties in a similar manner. My learning and practical experience has greatly enhanced owing to my work experience and I have learnt many new things during my clinical practice. I have worked under different Registered Nurses and it has assisted in providing me with an understanding the roles and duties of these nurses. I wish to have a similar authority in clinical practice like Registered Nurses and I also wish to assist my patients in the best possible ways. An occurrence in my health care setting further served as a push to complete my education and become a Registered Nurse. I was given the job of handling an old patient who was suffering from colon cancer. One day the patient was experiencing excruciating pain and the oral medications did not prove to relieve her pain. I could not administer Intravenous narcotics to her without the permission from the Registered Nurse who was unavailable at that moment. The RN was later contacted and she came herself to

The Corinthian Community and Paul Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Corinthian Community and Paul - Essay Example Let me now try explaining what the Apostle means by prophesies and prayer. The prophesying that is being referred to by the Apostle is the gift of reception and speaking direct revelation from the Lord Himself, particularly regarding future occurrences. Nevertheless, the Bible is not in support of the stance of those who assert that this word also means preaching. Of course, praying continues, however, I now have to ask what according to me, is a significant question: Why did the Apostle only name prophesying and praying, leaving things such as preaching, speaking in tongues, exhortation, speaking the directly revealed knowledge, and singing or even teaching? The meaning of all these things is just the same. This means that they are all of a way of speaking confidently; either giving or direct revelation, calling to action on the basis of revelation, proclamation of revelation, or even the explanation of revelation and its application, or worshiping via singing or praying. For sure, there can never be a reason as to why the Apostle chose prophesying and praying except for the fact that they are two cases in point from the list. Similarly, it is true that the Apostle would come to an agreement that it is not just as right for a man to teach or preach with a cover on his head as it is for him to prophesize and pray with his head under cover. The Apostle simply used the two Christian assembly’s activities to signify all. In most cases, people like to cite First Chronicles 25:1-3 and First Samuel 10:5 as confirming that singing and prophesying is the same thing, but this is not stated anywhere in the respective verses. The most common comprehension of that what is stated by these verses as regards connection between prophesying and singing is that a prophesy may be sung by a prophet. However, not all singing, even that in the saint’s gathering is regarded as prophesying. For the women, prophesies and prayer refers to their position in the gathering, w hich is done in privacy. The context of First Corinthians is the Christian gathering, and not some kind of prophesying or praying beyond this. In the First Corinthians 11, the Apostle is not talking about the matter of women speaking. In addition, it is not what he is thinking; he has the gathering’s activities in mind or consideration, but does not tackle the question of the speaking of women in First Corinthians, Chapter 11. Their silence, in this chapter is implicit. But in some other places, the Apostle directly asserts that women are supposed to maintain silence in the gatherings. In the text, Paul also talks about the Christian gatherings, and he teaches the men about prophesying and speaking in tongues and says the women should remain silent. In the book of First Timothy 2, the Apostle again teaches about good behavior in the gathering and instructs the men how they are supposed to pray in public and asserts that women should take part by being silent and dressing in a n appropriate manner. Going back to the First Corinthians 11, we find that the Apostle is not trying to refer to prophesies and prayer in a restricted and strict sense, but to represent some other things, like teaching and preaching, and also not to merely be speaking, but the silent taking part also. In the gatherings, it

Bill Tilden - American Tennis Legend Research Paper

Bill Tilden - American Tennis Legend - Research Paper Example When he returned to the championships he quickly became the best tennis player of his era. His biggest win soon after his return came in the U.S. National Finals in 1920. It was a very important match for boosting his ego as he beat Bill Johnston, the same man who beat him in the finals in 1919. At the end of 1920 Bill became the number one player in the world. He was the first American to win Wimbledon singles in 1920 and he went on to secure victories in 1921 and 1930. Tilden dominated the sport. His wins were very impressive. In the decade of the twenties he won the U.S. singles championship seven times and the U.S. doubles championship four times. He played twenty eight Davis Cup matches and won twenty one times. He reached the finals of the U.S. Open ten times. He won fifty seven games consecutively in 1925. Between 1912 and 1930 he played in 969 matches and he won ninety four percent of those matches. These matches included singles, doubles and mixed doubles. One of the techniq ues that led to his fame and success was his powerful serve. It was referred to as ‘cannonball’ serve. He holds the record for the fastest tennis serve. This he achieved in 1931. It is recorded at 163.3 mph. Bill continued to be victorious in spite of some misfortunes. He suffered from a knee problem and he also lost one of his middle fingers due to infection but this did not deter his progress. In 1930 at age thirty seven he became the oldest man to win a Wimbledon singles title. Tilden’s Tennis Strategies Tilden had a strong backhand and he used several tactics while he played. He had a preference of playing from the backcourt. He sometimes liked to copy the tactics of his opponents while beating them.... The researcher of this essay focuses on the description of life, death and legacy of well-known American sports star and tennis player - William Tatem Tilden II, which was more popularly known as Bill Tilden or often nicknamed â€Å"Big Bill†. The researcher discusses his early years of life and his rise to stardom, that took place during the ‘Golden years of Sports†. He was born on February 10, 1893 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a relatively wealthy family. During the first twenty years of his life he experienced many tragedies within his family. When he was fifteen years old his mother became disabled after contracting Bright’s disease. She died three years later. His father died three years after the death of his mother and shortly after, Bill’s only brother Herbert succumbed to pneumonia. Three siblings also died in infancy from diphtheria before he was born. Bill Tilden, although, he may not have gotten the recognition he deserves, has left a lasting impression on the sport of tennis. The researcher mentones that perhaps his greatest recognition to date came in 1959, when he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It is concluded by the researcher that many great American tennis players have come after him, but none has reaped the number of successes like Tilden. His love for the sport has left an indelible mark in the American sports, one that is hard to erase by the passage of time even though full recognition has not been given to him. Fortunately, in the minds of some persons his memory still lives on.

Change and power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change and power - Essay Example Stress and mood swings are greatly reduced. They are also able to concentrate better. Yoga is also viewed as a good exercise for those with heart problems, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Chronic medical conditions such as asthma, back pain, insomnia and arthritis have been said to improve with the practice of yoga. In short, yoga benefits both physical and psychological health (Hoffman, 2008). Having known all these wonderful benefits of yoga, I was encouraged to make a yoga club with my friends in the last summer. Since most of my friends go to the gym after work or school, it was difficult at first to convince them to try yoga. Most of them are enrolled at aerobic classes or weight loss programs conducted in the gym. I had to devise a plan to at least sit down with them and discuss the benefits of yoga. I believe that only when they hear of the benefits will they consider taking up yoga classes. So I invited my friends, around 5 of them, at my house one Friday night and told them I will treat them to Korean food. I told them I have a friend who will make a presentation on one of the â€Å"hottest† topic nowadays. Curiosity got them and they all agreed to come.

Compare two compay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Compare two compay - Essay Example Financial ratios are extremely important when it comes to analyzing a company, Google has generate a lot of revenue in the last few years, here is a look at their financial ratios and how well they have actually been faring. All these ratios clearly show that Google inc is financially very sound and there is nothing to worry about for the company but they have several competitors and can’t afford to rest on their laurels. Employees are more than willing to work for Google because the organization has established itself as one of the best companies in the world, in the year 2007 and 2008 Google was the top company to work for, it is one of the very best companies across the globe, they treat their employees with a lot of respect and they take special efforts to motivate them. All this success is because of their leadership and cross-functional organizational structure. Google employs the rule of â€Å"70-20-10† this means the employees can communicate directly with each other, this much improved communication system has been the key to success. Formal channels are normally avoided by the company to avoid any misunderstandings, the staff is always highly motivated because they have a sense of belief that they can contribute immensely towards the company, this sense of belief keeps them motivated and inspires them to keep performing for the company. Apple has been a revolution, their products have been selling like hot cakes, â€Å"it was earlier reported that company is more stable than the US Government.† (Apple has More Money than the US Government) The products sold by apple are mainly for entertainment, there is a lot of competition in this filed, apple is undoubtedly the present leader but things may change within no time. Dell, Hp and Lenovo give apple a run for its money when it comes to computer hardware. Media player and Windows operating system are the two main rivals of apple

Data, information, and Organizational knowledge Essay - 3

Data, information, and Organizational knowledge - Essay Example ers’ orders are met on time and for a transaction to be complete it must pass all stages of the transaction process that is collection, storage, modification and retrieval. The second type of IS is decision support system which are generally computer based systems and subsystems intended to help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to complete decision process tasks. . In most situation, it may be aimed at business executives or knowledge worker. The third type of IS is EIS (Executive Information System) that facilitates and supports overall management of an organization information and decision-making needs. This system specifically targets the needs of the upper management, and helps to provide useful information to the management in order to help facilitate decision making. It involves the computers, network, people and procedures. The forth type of information system is OAS (Office Automation system) refers to a type of system that facilitate information exchange between people in an organisation. A variety of office automation systems are now applied to business and communication functions that used to be performed manually or in multiple locations of a company, such as preparing written communications and strategic planning. The main benefit is that the more freely the information flows the more its productivity. The final type of information system is ES (expert systems) is a computer based decision tool that uses procedures that exhibits, within a specific domain to solve difficult decision making problems, based on the knowledge acquired from the expert. Instant messaging software like what’s up and 2go are good example of information systems. They lie under database information systems and categorized under communication driven DSS.DSS that are communication driven have primary purpose to help conduct a meeting or for users to collaborate. The internet messaging software allows a group of people

The Wall Street crash was responsible for the depression of the early 1930s Essay Example for Free

The Wall Street crash was responsible for the depression of the early 1930s Essay How far do you agree with the view that the Wall Street crash was responsible for the depression of the early 1930s? The Wall Street Crash was certainly a major factor in the depression of the early 1930s, as said in source 3, setting off a devastating economic collapse. However, it was not the sole reason for the depression but only a segment. The economy was rotten well before the Crash in areas such as agriculture, industry and the banking system which had far more significant consequences. The Wall Street crash was certainly responsible, to a certain degree, for the economic downturn which brought USA to its knees through the 1930s. The frenzy of unregulated speculation which had fuelled the huge stock market bubble, with stock prices far outrunning economic growth, had burst. When panic selling began investor anxious to minimize losses sold as fast as possible. This quickened the fall in share prices. As stock values plummeted with industrial stock falling by 50 per cent between September and November 1929, business confidence evaporated. The lenders, often including large banks, which had been fuelling the boom, called in their money and the market collapsed. When people werent able to repay loans to fragile banks, which lacked sufficient reserves, bankruptcies and bank failures multiplied. However, as the accredited Historian David Reynolds states; In itself the stock market crash of October 1929 was not decisive, in any case only about 1% of the population owned securities in 1929. The importance of the stock market crash was that it showed an economic future which was uncertain. As a result millions of Americans cut back on spending and new debts which caused a massive contraction in the economy as a whole, as Aggregate demand dwindled. It is certainly clear that poor health of American agriculture, which had been suffering through the 1920s and did not share in the boom, had much more responsibility for the economic depression compared to the Stock market crash. In 1929, American farmers annual income stood at an average of $273 a year, well below the national average of $750 and their hard times as well as lack of purchasing power was an important factor. The 1920s had been a period of overproduction which had driven down the price of agricultural produce; this problem was further exacerbated by the huge amounts of imports from countries such as Argentina. As, incomes fell, farmers fell behind with mortgage repayments and loans used to invest in new equipment. This was critical as much of this business had been done with rural banks with limited capital. Which were highly vulnerable to sudden large-scale withdrawals or runs. Due to hardship on the agricultural economy which had a direct impact on the rural banks, almost 5000 collapsed between 1923 and 1930. As stated in source 3, Farmers, badly off to begin with, entered a new era of adversity. Though the adversity of farmers was an important in bringing about the banking crisis, it was only a trigger, there were much more fundamental flaws exposed by the depression. As stated in source 2, at the 1920s there were 30,000 independent banks in existence in the United States which made the banking system fragile to the extreme. Unlike Great Britain, there had not been the consolidation of small banks into a few giants which could withstand an economic storm. Combined with the lack of federal regulation; were no federal deposits insurance system existed, the allowance of banks to make purely speculative loans and hold limited capital for security against shocks was an important element of the depression, and the severity of it. Though the most important reason for the economic depression is linked to the Stock market, agriculture and the banking system; the role of the federal government. It was the failure of the Republican Administrations, who embraced a free-market laisse faire economic model, to effectively control an overheating economy which caused the catastrophic downturn seen in the 1930s. As shown by its failure to regulate the banks efficiently. Also The Federal Reserve Bank kept money tight when it should have encouraged spending to stimulate economic growth. It made it difficult to borrow by maintaining high interest rates. This forced banks to call in loans and sell assets to maintain liquidity, resulting in the price of property and shares to experience renewed falls. As stated in source 1, the United states narrow-minded economic policies of protectionism, looking to secure American industries in the domestic market, limited foreign markets that could be tapped. The best example would be the Hawley smooth tariff act which effectively chocked off international trade. This is supported by source 3, which states, by the summer of 1932 imports and exports had dropped to only a third of 1929 levels. In essence the macroeconomic policies of Hoover, the president, and the republican administration were utter failures in stimulating the components of aggregate demand needed to combat the depression. Through its monetary policy of high interest rates, when low interest rates were need to encourage borrowing and spending; or its fiscal policy of rising taxes to pay for public spending, taking away money from consumers which needed to American goods for there to be growth. In conclusion the Wall Street Crash certainly contributed to the economic depression, but as D. McCoy said, it was more a trigger-one that was a symptom of deeper and more complicated causes. He was referring to crippling state of American agriculture which left millions of Americans in poverty, the fundamental flaws of the banking system which collapsed when economic pressure was applied. However, the most important reason for the depression was the failure of the Republican government. To control an overheating economy, this now was trying to correct itself, with cataclysmic consequences for the economic welfare of the average American.

Widespread Use Of Digital Media Media Essay

Widespread Use Of Digital Media Media Essay This essay will critically asses the impact that widespread use of digital media has on broader culture and society. For me, this is questioning whether digital media, the technological revolution and the rise of the internet can be seen as a blessing or a curse on culture and society. According to Castells (2002) who writes avidly on this topic, new media technologies simultaneously reinforce relations of cultural capital, hierarchy and distinction, while enabling social movements to publicise campaigns and connect with distant others. Technology, the internet and the digital media has created unimaginable wealth yet also encouraged millions to work for nothing. Digital media Challenges authority yet allowed regimes to spy and censor as never before. The internet opens up new realms of knowledge and Al Gore (former vice president) states that its an empowering tool with more potential than any other tool developed by mankind. Digital media is very much a double edged sword and has b oth positive and negative aspects to it. This essay will explore these different aspects and look to given a definitive answers as to whether the digital media and the internet has overall had a good or bad impact on broader culture and society. Positive impact on culture and society There are a significant number of ways in which the use of digital media has facilitated democracy and pluralism in worldwide society and culture. Supporters of this view include the likes of Goodwin, Jenkins and Burrows. The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, saw the internet as a tool that connected humanity. W ith 35 million people using the internet every day in the UK alone, he sees the internet as a platform for equal access to voice, opportunity and information, having originally been designed as a rebellion against hierarchy and authority. Wikipedia is definitely a product of the digital media that has had a positive impact on culture and society. Every month 65 million people use this site, with the original idea being that instead of information being handed down by experts and the elite above, it instead slowly emerges from the masses from below. This is a good example of the democratisation of society and culture that the digital media brings, as Wikipedia allow people to shape knowledge together on one platform. Twitter is a social media site that has had a strong positive effect on culture and society. This digital media platform can be used to campaign for fundamental freedoms in culture and society across the globe. For example Twitter was used to campaign for fundamental civil rights Kenya during the violence in the Kenyan election of 2008. Witnesses used Twitter to report the violence and corruption that the worlds media was not reporting accurately. Twitter represents a new form of democracy in society and culture, meaning that countries hierarchy in effect has flipped from vertical to horizontal. Another example can be found in Iran; when riots occurred the government banned world media from the area, however the public used Twitter to alert the world of what was occurring. Napster is a digital media site that advanced culture and society by undermining centuries of copyrighting and property. This site allowed music to be listened to for free, making it equally accessable and shared for free. This demonstrated digital media and the internets power to destroy established business models. While this site was completely illegal, the issue was that because the usage of this site became so widespread, lawsuits would have been needs for everyone between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time. As a result of Napster, 95% of all music exchange online in now unpaid for, showing how digital media has helped create added cultural equality and democracy over the last decade. YouTube is another strong example of how the digital media and the internet has had a positive effect on the global culture and society. YouTube was first created in 2005, and is now viewed 1 billion times a day, with 1/5 of all content on the internet itself being created by amateurs. The attraction to this site is that it provides and platform for self-promotion and takes control away from the middleman such as agents of publishers. These older hierarchies are still at large today, however their power is dwindling as they struggle to adapt to the digital medias democratisation and equalization effect on society and culture. Having first been created to protect the USA in the 1960s to link information between the government, the armed forces and institutions of science and universities, the internet has now become a de-centralizing power to the state. The internet is now seen as a threat to the state, de-centralizing power in single nations by merging their individual economies into a global economy. The rise of the digital media and the internet is accelerating globalisation which in turn provides new developments in culture that cross historic and traditional borders. Old centres of power are crumbling, meaning a huge scramble to fill the vacuum left behind. An example of this can be seen in Wikileaks, which allows people to anomalously publish information on governments such as classified US army documents on Guatanamo Bay, which helps challenge censorship. Suppressing information has become increasingly difficult, with the digital media and the internet helping make traditional censored countries suc h as China become far more democratic. When one part of the internet becomes controlled and colonised, a new frontier will always spring up in its place elsewhere. This certainly shows how the digital media benefits society and culture in a broad sense globally. Negative impact on culture and society There are many negative aspects that the rise of the internet and digital media has brought to culture and society. The digital media can be seen as a source of control and homogenisation, with supporters of this view including the likes of Schiller and Virilio. Around 25% of the global population has access to the internet, which can be seen to show another form of control by the MEDCs over LEDCs. It is in human nature to have the desire for both profit and control. If you can control what people believe in you control what people have access to, hence the internet and the digital media is a powerful tool that can create this control if harnessed by the appropriate people in society. The internet and digital media has allowed elite megabrands to gain power with no competition. The idealistic view (steming from 1970s hippie culture) that the world wide web should be a creative space where all people can share information for free, which went against those who wanted use the web as a place to buy and sell, use the web as a market place. Some people, such as Bill Gates, saw the internet as the biggest business opportunity ever. In 1995 Microsoft launched Internet Explorer and ended up with more than 90% of the market globablly. This is just an example of how the world dominated by just a handful of mega brands. In Britain 1/3 of the population has Facebook, Ebay has 21 million visits a month while Amazon get 16 million visits per month. There is one search engine (Google), one marketplace (Ebay), one bookshop (Amazon), one cinema (YouTube) and one social network (Facebook) that matter. This means there is a new massive wealth and power in the hands of a tiny elite t hanks to the internet. It is a huge historic anomolie in the fact that there are no competitors (Coke and Pepsi, Honda and Toyota)that would usually reflect a capitalist society. Hence this is a pure manifestation of way in which power works, landing itself to a very narrow oligarchy and elite in society. The digital media and the internet can be seen as a tool of control and oppression. Increasingly it mirrors hierarchy and inequalities with its originally idealistic beginnings fading over time. It is a powerful tool the state can use to access information and control the masses. An example of this is seen in China (one party state) that has 250 million of it population currently using the internet. Technology has helped drive Chinas economic growth and the government is now worried about their communist culture and society due to the rise of digital media and the internet. The government has employed 30,000 people to police the web full-time in China, developing a firewall around the country preventing many western media sites from entering and influencing public opinion. Their surveillance of social network sites is essential to their state control, hence the government has hired bloggers 300, 000 people to post communist support on digital media sites and blogs. The digital media can be seen to be narrowing identity. The internet can link and connect extremists, which has given them new tools of terrorism. Al Qaeda try to implement control through fear via the internet through hatefull messages and shocking images. This is very difficult to prevent as there is no central control centre of base on the internet. Digital media removes national borders and therefore these extremists have a virtual reality nation to spread their message. The internet and digital media can be see as eroding the concept of privacy. Private information is now exploited for highly targeted advertising and profit. For example Google gathers billions of search terms that help them sell highly targeted advertising. Its turned human curiosity into a goldmine, as Google now makes $200 per second for this scheme. Internet cookies now track our interests and website history. This can even Facebook, a company that increasingly uses technology to recognise pictures and send targeted adverts. Today, after purchasing an item, you are constantly emailed with updates. This is a manifestation of the attempt by big businesses and coorperations to colonise the online marketplace . It homogenises consumers with messages such as people who bought this also bought this. Almost without realising it, our search history is stored on a database of the companies that give us access to internet. Its suprising how much all the searches can be pieced together, and give a picture of who may have made these searchs. Hence this potentially could be used against individuals, as blackmail in the future. While this is an extreme view, this is a distinct possibility, and means corporations such as Google and Facebook have a huge amount of power they could utilize in the future. Analysis The positive aspects of digital media and the internet currently and always will outweigh the negatives aspects of digital media and the internet. It is irrational for anyone to claim that we were better off in an era of information poverty and un-empowered masses. One would rather have information overload than information poverty in society and culture. The internet is a true digital and electronic frontier where everyone is on his or her own; all manuscripts are accepted for publication, they remain in virtual print forever, and no one can tell writers what to do. The rise of the internet and digital media has empowered the masses and given everyone a platform on which to speak to the world. Of course, that doesnt necessarily mean all of the internet users will have something informed or valid to broadcast to across the world wide web. But such vast human empowerment is worth celebrating, despite its occasional downsides. Abundance in information is better than the old analog world of fewer choices and fewer voices. However, criticisms can be made against the internet and the digital media, as there are some very legitimate concerns regarding how the passing of the old order might leave society absent of some important cultural and order aspects. For example, one need not endorse bailouts for a dying newspaper industry to nonetheless worry about the important public service provided by investigative journalists: Who will take up those efforts if large media institutions go under because of digital disintermediation? The skeptics are also certainly correct that each of us should think about how to better balance new technologies and assimilate them into our lives and the lives of our families and communities. For example, children need to learn new digital literacy and cyber-citizenship skills to be savvy users of the world wide web. Conclusion This essay has critically assessed the impact that widespread use of digital media has on broader culture and society. For me, this was questioning whether digital media, the technological revolution and the rise of the internet can be seen as a blessing or a curse on culture and society. According to Castells (2002) who wrote a lot on this topic, new media technologies simultaneously reinforced relations of cultural capital, hierarchy and distinction, while enabling social movements to publicise campaigns and connect with distant others. Technology, the internet and the digital media has created unimaginable wealth yet also encouraged millions to work for nothing. Digital media Challenges authority yet allowed regimes to spy and censor as never before. The internet opens up new realms of knowledge and Al Gore (former vice president) states that its an empowering tool with more potential than any other tool developed by mankind. Digital media is very much a double edged sword and has both positive and negative aspects to it. This essay explored these different aspects and can now give a definitive answer as to whether digital media and the internet has overall had a good or bad impact on broader culture and society. Overall, the internet and the digital media is a positive phenomenon for humanity, society and culture. There are a significant number of ways in which the use of digital media has facilitated democracy and pluralism in worldwide society and culture. Strong examples in the physical form of digital media sites on the internet can be used to show this. Firstly Wikipedia is definitely a product of the digital media that has had a positive impact on culture and society. Secondly Twitter is a social media site that has had a strong positive effect on culture and society. Thirdly Napster is a digital media site that advanced culture and society by undermining centuries of copyrighting and property. YouTube is another strong example of how the digital media and the internet has had a positive effect on the global culture and society. These websites are contributing to rise of the digital media and the internet is accelerating globalisation which in turn provides new developments in culture that cross historic and traditional borders. The rise of the internet and digital media has empowered the masses and given everyone a platform on which to share information and dissolve old forms of hierarchy. However, to a smaller extent, the internet and digital media has caused a negative affect on society and culture. The digital media can be seen as a source of control and homogenisation by MEDCs over LEDCs. The internet and digital media has allowed elite megabrands to gain power with no competition. Again, the digital media and the internet can be seen as a tool of control and oppression. Increasingly it mirrors hierarchy and inequalities with its originally idealistic beginnings fading over time. The digital media can be seen to be narrowing identity while the internet can also link and connect extremists, which has given them new tools of terrorism. Finally, the internet and digital media can be see as eroding the concept of privacy. Private information is now exploited for highly targeted advertising and profit.

The use of HRM in public sector

The use of HRM in public sector This assignment seeks to produce an analysis and critical evaluation of how Human Resource Management has been used as a lever of change in the public sector. It will consider change in its organizational context and the rational for and purpose of the change. It will also look at the involvement of the stakeholders and the approach been followed to bring about the change. The factors that influence the change and its triggers will also b e analyzed. The role of Human Resource Management and how it has been used to bring about change; and resistance to change will also be looked into in the course of this work. The first stage of the development of public management, according to McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002), was the minimal state. Here, government provision was seen as a necessary evil and the provision of almost if not all the public services were through private provision (Owen 1965). However, it was during that period that that the basic principles of public provision were laid out. The second stage of the development of public management started in the twentieth century and was characterized by an unequal partnership between the government and the private sector McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002). Here, there was an ideological shift from the traditional conservatism which obtained in the first stage towards social reformism and Fabianism as cited by (Prochaska, 1989). This shift according to them contained three elements which are A recasting of social and economic problems away from a focus on blaming individuals to a recognition of those problems as societal issues which concerned everybody The recognition that the state did indeed have a legitimate role to at least provide some public services And thirdly, in a situation where the state did not provide the public services, it needed to enter into a partnership with the private sector to provide such, even though the state would have more to do. This model according to (Kamerman and Kahn, 1976) is where the state provided the basic minimum and the charitable and private sectors took it up from there. The third stage is the welfare state which according to (Beveridge, 1948) cited in McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002), is based on the belief that charitable and private sectors had failed in there provision because of the duplication and fragmentation of the service provided, because their service was inefficient and ineffective. Consequent upon these, the provision of these services would now be managed by professional public servants. The final stage, which is what obtains today, is the plural state. This stage came about as a result of the criticisms against the welfare state. The focus of the welfare state was on the provision of a minimum standard of service to the citizens but late on in the twentieth century, the perceived needs of the citizens had moved on to a situation where they expected services to meet their individual needs and to be a part of the process of the service delivery (Mischra, 1982) cited in McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002). However, the debate became more focused in the 1990s because this fourth approach became characterized as the New Public Management. This is because as posited by (Dunleavy, 1991) this approach to public management was based on an incisive critic of bureaucracy as the organizing principle within public administration, a concern with the ability of public administration to secure the economic, efficient and effective provision of public services (Hughes, 1997), and a concern for the excesses of professional power within the public services and the consequent disempowerment of service users (Falconer and Ross, 1999). In spite of the fact that lingering debate as to the exact nature of New Public Management, its classic formation according to (Hood, 1991) in McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002) is made up of seven doctrines which are: a hands on and entrepreneurial management in preference to the traditional bureaucratic focus of the public administrator (Clark and Newman, (1993) explicit standards and measures of performance (Osborns et al, 1995) an emphasis on output controls (Boyne 1999) the importance of the aggregation and decentralization of public services (Pollit et al, 1998) promotion of competition in the promotion of public services (Walsh, 1995) emphasis on private sector styles of management (Wilcox and Harrow, 1992) and the promotion of discipline and parsimony in resource allocation (Metcalf and Richards, 1990). In addition to these seven doctrines is the one posited by (Stewart, 1966) cited in McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002) which is of the taking away of political decision making from the direct management of public services. However, the New Labour government has taken it a stage further from the plural stage. This is because it is argued that the view of both the public management and the New Public Management is myopic which according to (Clark and Stewart, 1998) in McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002) is from a narrow focus on the marketization of public services and towards an emphasis upon community governance. In this situation, the public sector is no longer seen only in relation to the government a planner or service provider, but as working together with the government, voluntary and community sectors and the private sector in the planning, management and provision of public services. Here, according to (Rhodes, 1996; Kickert et al, 1997), the main function of the government becomes the management of the intricate system of service provision. New Public Management according to (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994) is a way reorganizing public sector bodies to bring their management, reporting, and accounting approaches closer to business methods. This reorganization involves the two main ways that the public sector organization is structured by moving it down-grid and down-group as opined by (Douglas, 1982). Down-grid according to him is when there is a reduction of powers by procedural rules over issues like staff. Down- group on the other hand is a situation where the public sector is made less distinctive as a unit from the private sector in relation to personnel, reward structure and in methods of doing business. This shift resulted in budgets been reworked to become more attractive in accounting terms and organizations became a network of contracts linking incentives to performance (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). Again, functions were separated by introducing distinctions between the purchaser and provider and opening competition between agencies, firms and not-for-profit bodies. Also, provider roles were deconcentrated to the minimum sized feasible sized agencies, allowing users to exit from one provider to another. These according to (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994), was for the purpose of better service delivery. According to (Polsby, 1984) in (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994), New Public Management can be influential in at least two modes based on past experience of organizational change. The first is the incubated mode when change ideas only come into effect in the long run and the acute innovation pattern, in which change programmes reach there peak early and break up soon after. However, New Public Management seems to be a mix of both modes. This may be as a result of New Public Management now been so omnipresent in public sector organizations that it hardly amounts to a distinctive change programme anymore (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). As opined by (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994), New Public Management has proved a fairly durable and consistent agenda but according to McLaughlin, Osborne and Ferlie (2002), New Public Management may weaken the accountability of public services and the commitment of the community in the pursuit towards marketization. This has brought to the fore, the criticisms of New Public Management which fall into four groups. Though these four broad criticisms of New Public Management contradict themselves, some important lessons can be learnt from them. The fatalist critique of organizational change going by the position of (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994) is that the basic problems of public sector management which include system failure, human mistakes and corruption cannot be done away with, not even by New Public Management. Fatalists are of the opinion that there is really not much change going on in spite of new acronyms and control frameworks promoted by New Public Management and that the much talked about systems have failed. From the point of view of the individualist critique, New Public Management is somewhere between the traditional structure of public administration and a fully formed system which is based on enforceable contracts and the legal rights of individuals. Individualists see New Public Management as becoming a kind of replacement for fully individualized contract rights (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). The hierarchist critique is that human beings have the ability to manage nature in a defined way but that care should be taken so that the process of change does not get out of hand thereby damaging the public sector. There worry is that as a result of the changes, the ethics of traditional public service will be removed together with the career concept and the redesign of public sector organizations (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). The egalitarian critic is centered on the premise that problems could arise if concentration of organizational power and decision making are left with the elite because a large scale marketizing reform will increase the risks of corruption in the public service. This is because New Public Management emphasizes a management that is close to the customer, the decentralization of service delivery and giving clients a choice (Dunleavy and Hood, 1994). HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CHANGE IN THE NHS: According to Armstrong (2006), the nature of interaction between Human Resource Management and performance, and in particular the search for a definite and conclusive evidence of the positive impact of Human Resource Management on performance cannot be underestimated. The impact of the NHS Plan on the workforce has been expressed through the Human Resource in the NHS Plan which has formed the basis for the development of a variety of Human Resource Management policies focused on making the NHS a model employer and ensuring that the NHS provides a model career by offering a Skills Escalator, improving the morale of staff, and building people management skills led to the launching of a new workforce strategy by the middle of the decade. Human Resource Management systems and practices have a laid down framework which involves other organisational factors like structural arrangements. Based on this, Brown (2004) observed that while changes to the public sector over the last twenty have had a significant impact on employees of public sector organizations and the conditions under which employees work, limited thought has been given to the specific field of Human Resource Management research in relation to the public sector. In the UK which is the focus of this study, government has placed a high importance on the value of strategic Human Resource Management in improving the delivery of healthcare reforms. Towards the achievement of this, local trusts of the NHS are encouraged to adopt a best business practice approach by, according to (Bach, 1994), engaging all staff through people management processes. This idea of Human Resource Management in the public sector establishes that Human Resource Management is a major infl uence in public sector change but theoretically, there has to be a scope for the Human Resource function within trusts to adopt a more strategic role within the New Public Management (Stock et al, 1994). According to (Corby, 1996) it should no longer be consigned to a reactive and administrative role, interpreting and applying national rules, and can be proactive. As opined by Barnett et al (1996) the Human Resource function within the NHS is characterised traditionally by low credibility, a narrow operational contribution and a peripheral position. According to (Brown, 2004), the bureaucratic and the management models of public sector operation and activity are compared to discern the ways in which employment and organizational issues are conceptualized in each model. The manner in which the institutional, policy, and organizational changes impact public sector employment and conditions of service are explored. Higher managerial objectives as posited by (Kramar, 1986) are achieved through effective Human Resource practices offered by adopting HRM principles. It can be argued then that the adoption of New Public Management has thrown the possibility of managers acquiring or developing sophisticated Human Resource Management techniques open. This is because New Public Management principles allows a more flexible and responsive approach to quest ions of recruitment, selection, retention, training and development of NHS employees. This is because according to (Tyson and Fell, 1992; Tyson, 1995; Storey, 1992; Ulrich, 1997), for Human Resource functions to play a strategic as opposed to a tactical or administrative role, it has to be distinguished by a focus on the long term, linking business and Human Resource strategic objectives and forward planning. The application of HRM principles within the public sector displaced the traditional model of personnel administration and was argued to have been introduced when the sector experienced a shift from a rule-bound culture to a performance-based culture (Shim, 2001) and paralleled the extensive public sector managerial restructuring and reform programme with the new models of HRM in the public sector highlighting the notion of human resources having the capacity to achieve performance outcomes in line with the strategic direction of the public sector organization (Gardner and Palmer, 1997). With particular reference to the UK, a number of distinctive features of public sector management include more attention to issues of health, safety and welfare of staff. Another feature is the tendency of public employment practices to be standardized, with workers performing similar tasks and also having the same terms and conditions regardless of their geographical spread, high levels of union den sity across public sector organizations (Winchester and Bach, 1995) and also the emphasis on staff development and equal opportunities typifies the State as a model employer (Farnham and Horton, 1992). According to (Truss 2003), there are currently some policies and management initiatives that are transforming the structure and organization of the NHS. The current role of Human Resource Management in the NHS, its status within the service, and its success as an effective function have become especially important at this time as opined by (Bach 2001, Clarke 2006).  Ã‚  As a result of these, the growing importance of the Human Resource function is particularly clear in situations where individual NHS trusts are granted greater financial and operational independence within the increasingly competitive, consumer driven market that the government is creating. This is in spite of the argument by some commentators that changes in the role and status of HRM in the public sector merely follow orientations developed in the private sector (Buchan 2000; Thomason 1990).  Ã‚  However, Human Resource practitioners within the NHS see it from a different perspective. According to them, the intr oduction of more efficient people management is an important and necessary development, one that is very important in an environment where people  are not only the service providers, but also the product and customer of healthcare services. A change in Human Resource functions was one of the reforms that took place in the NHS and its purpose was to cut through bureaucracy and red-tapism and ensure cost-efficiency and effectiveness in the system through a process of decentralization. Decentralization within the NHS was based on the NHS and Community Care Act of 1990. This Act created both the internal market and self governing trusts, and introduced a division and marketization of relations between health care providers and purchasers Lloyd (1997). Decentralization is the transfer of authority or responsibility for decision making, planning, management or resource allocation from government to its field units, administrative units, regional or functional authorities, private entities and non-governmental private or charity organizations. According to (Rondinelli and Cheema, 1983; Rondinelli et al., 1989; Hope, 2000; Sarker, 2003; Elliot and Bender 1997), decentralization acknowledges that for service provision to be effe ctive, different approaches must be adopted in various area of public sector and the necessity to construct pay structures to reflect these needs. In turn, this has resulted in both more diverse and more flexible pay arrangements. Consequently, the main advantage of decentralization and of delegated responsibility for pay is that it encourages, management to develop a reward strategy that is consistent with an agencys wider strategic goals. Delegating responsibility for pay to agencies may be viewed as a mechanism for stimulating agencies to develop an explicit and consistent set of strategic goals in order to satisfy their customers. The main aim of the decentralization process was to encourage trusts to determine pay locally. The central theme of the modernization pay reform was that it should be based on performance. The main thrust of the Agenda for Change within the NHS is the payment of employees based on their performance and as per their skills and knowledge. However, this was not only a new way of paying employees, it was developed to support and enable improvement for patients, employees and the organization. This according to (Department of Health, 2009), allowed for equality of pay, pay re-structuring and transparency. The Human Resource function was used to bring about this change in terms of job evaluation, harmonizing terms and conditions of service and through the knowledge and skills framework. PLANNED CHANGE: As a concept, the process of change starts with the awareness of a need for change. An analysis for the need for change and the factors that lead to it will now be an indicator of the direction in which action needs to be taken (Armstrong, 2006). Proponents of change management have proposed two forms of the process which are: planned and emergent. Planned change has dominated the theory and practice of change management over the last 50 years and is significantly based on the work of Kurt Lewin. This approach sees organisational change as a process that moves from one fixed state to another through a series of pre-planned steps, and can therefore be analysed by a construct such as Lewins (1951) Action Research model. Another planned approach to organisational change is Lewins (2003)Three-step model which describes the three learning stages of freezing; when one clings to what one knows, unfreezing; when one explores ideas, issues and approaches, and refreezing; the stage of identify ing, utilising and integrating values, attitudes and skills with those previously held and currently desired. This approach recognises that, before any new behaviour can be adopted successfully, the old one has to be made away with. Only then can the new behaviour be fully accepted. The organisational change that was carried out in the NHS embodies some of the characteristics of the planned model, defined by (Iles and Sutherland, 2001) as implementation of some known new state through the management of some form of transitional phase over a controlled period of time. This came about when politicians and health care professionals recognized some degree of change was necessary in the UK health sector in order to facilitate better healthcare delivery services. In response to the intention, government embarked on series of health program reforms to effect positive changes in the healthcare. Governments health reforms have concentrated on hospitals, but increasingly shifting their attention to NHS community services. Governments plan is to improve long term healthcare outcomes for individual patients while reducing the cost pressures on the system as a whole. Proposals include more outreach clinics, a regular healthcare checkup, and joined-up care plans. This plan of action by the government is based on a model that will make healthcare services affordable and closer to the patients. The governments proposals on change are aimed at the following: Bringing some specialties out of the hospital nearer to people, including dermatology, ear, nose and throat, orthopedics and gynecology would be achieved either through outreach clinics run by hospital consultants or specialist services provided for by GPs Introducing a new generation of community hospitals that will provide diagnostics, minor surgery, outpatient facilities and access to social services in one location Pilot a new NHS life check or health MoT from 2007 to assess peoples lifestyle risks, the right steps to take and provide referrals to specialists if needed The life check will be run on a two-stage basis with patients first filling in a paper-based or online self-assessment. If the assessments indicate the person is at significant risk of poor health for conditions such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease, the individual would then be given access to a health trainer who could advise about diet and exercise. If problems are more complex, patient would be referred to a GP or nurse Give patients a guarantee of registration on to a GP practice list in their locality and simplifying the system for doing this Introducing incentives to GP practices to offer opening times that respond to the needs of patients in their area Consideration was given to dual registration allowing patients to register with more than one GP but was thrown out because it would undermine the underlying principles of the family doctor system New responsibilities placed on local councils and the NHS to work together to provide joined up care plans for those who need them Supporting people to improve self care by trebling the investment in the Expert Patient Programme, which teaches patients with long-term illnesses, such as asthma and diabetes, how to control their condition Developing an information prescription for people with long-term health and social care needs and for their carers More support for carers, including improved emergency respite arrangements and the establishment of a national helpline for carers Extension of direct payments and piloting of individual budgets for social care to allow people to decide what their allocations are spent on Increasing the quantity and quality of primary care in under-served, deprived areas through a national procurement programme which would open the GP market to the private and voluntary sectors Encourage nurses and other health professionals, such as physios, to take on more responsibility Set up pilots to allow patients to self-refer themselves to professionals other than GPs, who currently act as gatekeepers to the NHS (www.news.bbc.co.uk) REFERNCES: Armstrong, M. 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