Flora and Fauna Essays

Flora and Fauna Essays Flora and Fauna Essay Flora and Fauna Essay | Flora and Fauna| | 10/3/2013| | Outline Australia’s unique flora and fauna: Australia has a large variety of unique flora and fauna spread all over the continent, from coast to coast, including in the ocean. More than 80 per cent of the country’s flowering plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to Australia, along with most of its freshwater fish and almost half of its birds. Australia is home to more than 140 species of unique marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, which is now found only in Tasmania. There are 55 different species of kangaroos and wallabies, native to Australia. Australia’s marine environment is home to 4000 fish species, 1700 coral species, 50 types of marine mammals and a wide range of seabirds. Most marine species found in southern Australian waters occur nowhere else. Australia has over 1000 species of Wattle and around 2800 species in the Myrtaceae family, (gum trees and eucalypts). Describe the threats to Australia’s flora and fauna: Extinction Since European settlement of Australia began, a little over 200 years ago, 18 species of Australian mammals and about 100 species of native plants have become extinct. Currently about 40 species of mammals and many hundreds of species of plants are threatened with extinction. These figures are among the worst in the world. Extinction is a natural ongoing process. However at the moment the majority of extinctions are caused by humans. We can clearly tell that it is the humans that are doing the damage, because of the unusually fast rate of extinction. The current rate of extinction in Australia is 100 times the background rate (naturally occurring rate of extinction). There are many things that cause extinction, some of these are: * Habitat loss Natural causes (flood, fire, drought) * Introduced species Picture Caption: This image shows the crisis that Australian flora and fauna are presently in. In this image the more red the region is, the more species in region are thought to be endangered and threatened. As we can see the species under the most threat reside around the capital cities and the coastal regions. This is because habitat has been clea red around the capital cities and higher numbers of threatened species. Also over 50% of Australia is uninhabitable so many plants and animals live in coastal areas because they cannot survive in central Australia. : That is also why we might see higher threatened species rates on the coasts of Australia. Habitats under threat: Habitat loss is currently the main cause of species extinction in Australia. The main causes of habitat loss in Australia are; agriculture, clearing for urban living, logging and mining. When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities, it may no longer be able to provide the food, water and shelter all animals need to survive. Every day there are fewer places left, wildlife can call home. Most native species cannot exist outside a natural ecosystem. Australia is one of the top ten land clearing nations in the world. While clearing rates are starting to decline, we are still clearing more vegetation then we are planting or are able to regrow naturally. This continuous trend threatens Australia’s environment and flora and fauna species. In addition clearing land increases the chances of erosion and sedimentation of waterways and reduces water quality, also dramatically affecting our flora and fauna. Introduced species: One of the greatest threats to Australia’s Flora and Fauna is introduced species. Australia has a large number of introduced mammals and birds. Introduced frog species, have caused extinction of many native species, due to a massive change in the food pyramid. A prime example of an animal that is greatly damaging Australia’s native species is the Cane toad, which was introduced originally to destroy the harmful cane beetle. It is damaging Australia’s native species, because larger animals see cane toads as prey and therefore hunt them. When cane toads are ingested, a poisonous toxin is put into the predator causing rapid heartbeat, excessive salivation, swelling and eventually death. The animals that commonly suffer are native reptiles, snakes and crocodiles. Risk of natural hazards: It isn’t only humans that are causing the irreversible damage to Australia’s native species. A very small threat to our animals is natural causes. These causes include fire, erosion, floods, drought, landslide and cyclones. Many of these things are a very common occurrence in Australia. One of the main natural hazards that Australia faces often is fire. Tens of thousands of animals died in the Victorian bushfire. Not including the many thousands that had to be euthanized afterwards, due to severe burns and dehydration. Most are small, non-flying animals that could not escape the flames. Insect populations took the worst hit. Natural factors usually occur at a slower rate and therefore cause a low extinction rate. Human activities occur at a faster rate and cause higher extinction rates. Human activities are mostly responsible for the present extinction rates. Current policy position: Different governments around Australia have various pieces of legislation that protect Australia’s flora and fauna. The state governments are responsible for the bulk protection and sustainability of flora and fauna, while the federal government has little power over matters relating to flora and fauna. Many rules/laws on these legislations are very similar and have a few small differences to fit each state/ territory’s needs. However all legislations aim to protect all native species from harm, minimise the loss of habitat and to prevent extinction. These types of flora and fauna legislations are in place in all states/ territories around Australia. An example of this type of legislation is the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act from 1988, which was the first Australian legislation to deal with issues relating to flora and fauna. The Flora and Fauna Guarantee act Victoria (1988) is designed to: * Protect species Protect genetic material and habitats, * Prevent extinction and * Allow maximum genetic diversity within the state of Victoria. Future action plan: There are many individuals, groups and governments that are having big impacts on the state of Australia’s flora and fauna. Some of which are positive and some are negative. The majority are positive; however there are more steps that individuals, groups and governments could take to ensure a brighter future for Australian native species. Individuals Wildlife Tourists Wildlife tourism is watching wild animals in their natural habitat. Australia has a large amount of wildlife tourism due to our unique flora and fauna species. These include; kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, dingos, platypuses, wallabies and wombats. Animal tourism in Australia is very beneficial not only for the tourists but also for the animals. When tourists come to Australia, they are educated about the animals, their habitat and how important it is to protect these animals. The tourist’s views and opinions are then changed and they walk away caring more for the animals and plants, as well as the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Secondly a proportion of the revenue raised from tourism goes towards more educational projects as well as conservation projects, which are very beneficial to all animals. Wildlife Tourism has many positives and the Australian wildlife tourism is moving in the right direction, but there are more highly important steps that need to be taken by the Australian tourism industry, to protect flora and fauna. When building accommodation for tourists, animal’s homes and habitats are often knocked down, causing disturbance to animals and leading to increased vulnerability. As explained earlier habitat loss is one of the major causes of extinction and should be minimised as much as possible. Instead accommodation should be constructed away from animal’s habitats, where it does not affect them too much. Secondly stricter rules should be in place to prevent the feeding of animals by tourists. Feeding of wildlife by tourists can have severe consequences for social behavior patterns. Artificial feeding can also result in a complete loss of normal feeding behaviors. When feeding of animals stops some animals are unable to locate their natural food sources. Hunters Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife or feral animals, by humans for food, recreation, or trade. Although hunting is not very common in Australia, it is still having a big impact on Australia’s flora and fauna. Hunting is seen by some as good for the environment as well as flora and fauna, because it keeps feral pests in check and gives native animals a chance. The majority of animals hunted, are feral. These include non-native animals such as rabbits, hares, feral goats, pigs, buffalo, feral donkeys, horses and camels, which have been proven to endanger our native animals. Also the taxes from hunting activities go to the state or federal governments for such purposes such as enhancing wildlife habitat and managing and maintaining national parks. These things are beneficial, however it is quite clear, in the case of hunting the negatives outweigh the positives. The main reason is hunters are only allowed to pursue specific species. Some environmentalists argue that hunting creates an imbalance in the natural elements of the environment. For instance, if an animal that is typically a predator is hunted to lower numbers, their prey will increase in number. Nature has a delicate balance and hunting can have an impact on that natural balance. Opponents to hunting claim that animals have their own ways of population control and humans are not needed to aid that process. Groups WIRES WIRES are the largest wildlife rehabilitation charity in Australia. It is not for profit organisation that provides rescue and rehabilitation for all native Australian fauna. All animal rescuers and carers are volunteers. WIRES mostly respond to individual public reports of sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife. WIRES volunteers will rescue a sick animal, foster it and release it back into the wild. WIRES also educate kids about the importance of native animals and how to act and look after them to ensure they remain happy, healthy and in abundance. After rehabilitation of animals, WIRES releases animals back into the environment. However as we know, animals have a lower chance of survival after being released as they are not adapted to certain ways of living, predators and finding food. They may also be hunted. This is why WIRES needs to develop reserves where the animals can be released and monitored. With no roads and anti-poaching patrols, to ensure the best chance of survival. Green Groups (Australian bush heritage fund) There are many different green groups across Australia, dedicated to protecting Australia’s diverse environment, especially its unique Flora and Fauna. One of these is the Bush Heritage Fund, which is a national, independent, non-profit organisation that’s aim is to preserve Australias biodiversity by protecting the bush. It is Australias most widely supported environmental national organisation. The Australian Bush Heritage Fund has a very simple yet effective scheme of protecting the biodiversity of flora and fauna. They do this through the creation of reserves on private land. The land the fund purchases are private and protected, meaning that no one can hunt/degrade habitat on the land. This means animals can live naturally, without harm. For example, the fund now owns Naree station. This reserve in Naree protects many native and impotant plants and animals. These include: Animals on protected on the Naree property: * Brolga (vulnerable) * Freckled duck (vulnerable) * Little red flying fox * Pied honeyeater (vulnerable) * Spotted harrier (vulnerable) Brown treecreeper (vulnerable) * Kultarr (endangered) The reserve also protects iconic plants such as: * Coolabah tree * Bimblebox * Leopardwood * Beefwood * Supplejack * Belah The things the fund is doing are great and very beneficial for the flora and fauna of Australia. However, the fund could be doing many other things to protect our native flora and fauna. Firstly they should be conducting more research on the flora and fauna of Australia, to ensure they are purchasing the most important pieces of land, where the most vulnerable species are located. Secondly the fund should introduce education schemes for land owners, teaching them how to best manage their land to protect flora and fauna, as they have more land than the fund and therefore bigger impact on the flora and fauna. Zoos Zoos are defined as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they are bred. However nowadays zoos are much more than that. Many zoos have now set up conservation society’s, such as the Taronga conservation society. There are a number of things zoo’s conservation societies do to help protect animals. This includes educating people about animals to help them make better decisions, breed animal populations that are endangered/ critically endangered, to increase their numbers and give the species a better chance of survival and help sick/ unwell animals to recover with vetinary care. These things are all important, however there is so much more zoos could be doing to ensure the preservation of animals. Firstly when they release animals into the wild, they may become sick or hunted again. Zoos should therefore establish protected reserves where no hunting/ poaching is allowed and all animals especially re-released ones are safe. Secondly zoos should establish anti poaching patrols to make sure a minimal amount of animals are hunted in the first place. Lastly zoos should lobby for better legislation concerning poaching and habitat destruction, as they have a much bigger voice and authority than many other people/groups. Government National parks/ state parks National/State Parks are large areas of public land set aside for native plants, animals and the places in which they live. They also protect places important to Aboriginal people. Because the area in National parks is protected, no habitat is allowed to be cleared as the land is owned by the government. This ensures there is not a loss of habitat leading to vulnerability of certain species of animals and plants. National parks also educate visitors, both adults and children alike, about the importance of Australia’s native flora and fauna and what steps need to be taken to ensure they can survive. The education scheme also teaches about how individuals, even children can have an impact on the native species of Australia. These things are all fantastic and there was nothing to fault about national arks, until recently. Unfortunately within a few months, we will start seeing hunters being allowed to hunt in national parks. This should be stopped as it is a danger to tourists and native animals that live in the national parks. Also this type of activity will disrupt the natural food chain that has developed in national parks. This will also mean tourists w ill be more hesitant to visit national parks due to hunting, leading to less people being educated about Australia’s flora and fauna and smaller amounts of money being raised, to fund vital environmental schemes.

Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Essays

Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Essays Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Paper Strategic Management for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center Paper Bunkers Indoor Golf Center is a great place for people of all golf abilities to enjoy the game of golf all year. Bunkers brings 42 different golf courses from around the world to the people of Spokane. Anyone can play the most popular courses in as little as one hour, if they are playing by themselves or about three hours if playing a foursome. In addition to the great courses Bunkers will offer professional golf lessons, professional club fitting, a nine hole putting green, and four soft white sand bunkers for chipping practice. Bunkers is a great place to learn and enjoy the game. To ensure the business gets off on the right foot management has conducted a SWOTT analysis and a balanced scorecard. Strategic Management and Planning Strategic management is the process of creating and implementing decisions that will enable a company to achieve its long-term objectives. It is the process of specifying the companys mission, vision and objectives, developing policies and plans, often in terms of projects and programs that are designed to achieve these objectives, and then allocating resources to implement the policies, plans, projects and programs. Strategic management seeks to coordinate and integrate the activities of the various functional areas of a business in order to achieve long-term organizational objectives. (Wikipedia.org, 2009) To ensure Bunkers Indoor Golf Center is organized properly form the very beginning the company will utilize the four functions of management. These four functions are as follows, planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Strategic Planning is a process for determining what a business could become and how it can achieve that goal. It takes a look at the full potential of the business and tries to link the businesss objectives to the actions and the best way to achieve them. Strategic Planning offers a systematic process to ask and answer questions confronting a management team. The first step to great management is planning. This is the most important step as it will set the stage for everything to follow. Because Bunkers Indoor Golf Center (Bunkers) is a new company it is still working out the bugs; planning is always an ongoing process. The company plans everything from the type of advertising to the way it handles employee performance evaluations and everything in between. During the strategic planning stage management is busy identifying goals, objectives, methods, and the resources needed to carry out those methods, including employee responsibilities and dates for completion of tasks. During this planning stage the owners have employed several types of strategies; the first being a business plan, followed by program planning and strategic planning. In the business plan the owners will identify the growth of the business and set a plan for the first five years. This plan is the most important in the beginning because it is the one the banks look at to determine if the business has direction. It includes financial goals, hiring of additional employees, objectives, a mission and the keys to success. It is a large plan and is used as the blueprint for the other plans. As leaders create the business plan, the company will concentrate on the programs and strategies it will use to gain and retain customers. The programs consist of a discount program, complementary items for customers, and many other considerations. During this planning stage Bunkers tried to find programs that would be beneficial to the company and its customers and help it to retain existing customers and gain new ones. At this point, its owners are making the decisions regarding employee dress codes, code of conduct, the employee hand book, and deciding on the way it should evaluate employee performance. The owners will also decide what steps they would use during employee discipline, and what they could offer employees. Each part of the program planning stage opens the door to another. The strategy phase of planning is essential to the success of Bunkers. It includes the types of advertising, how to gain new customers, how to retain existing customers, how and where to market the business, as well as who to market to. The strategy phase is the most exciting because it offers a chance to be very creative and make new connections. This area of business is very competitive and requires a great amount of time and effort to acquire customers. This phase will be the most enjoyable and is one that can never be stopped, it is essential to continue growing. Knowing how to create and manage a strategic plan is essential to the success of the company both in the beginning and during its continued success. The business owner cannot afford to ignore the planning stages of the business and it is something that cannot ever be stopped. The overall success of any business can be contributed to the effort and dedication put into the strategic plan as well as the management of the plan. It is an essential part of the business and must be maintained and revised as the company grows. Mission Vision Statement An important function of the strategic plan is to create a mission for the company. In some cases this can be difficult, but rewarding to the company if done correctly and honestly. The mission statement should be a clear representation of the companys purpose. It should incorporate meaningful information that addresses concepts such as the moral/ethical position of the company, public image, the target market, products/services, the geographic area and expectations of growth and profitability. (Center for Business Planning, 2009) The vision statement is a different concept altogether, although sometimes confused with a mission statement. A vision statement is a description of a desired outcome that inspires, energizes and helps the company create a picture of the target. The best vision statements for result areas describe outcomes that are five to ten years away, although some look even further out. (Time Thoughts, 2008) To get the business off to a good solid start a mission statement was created. It was done so to give the owner, management, employees and the customers an idea of who the company is and what it wants to do. The following is the mission statement for Bunkers Indoor Golf Center. Bunkers Indoor Golf Center (Bunkers) is an oasis for all golf junkies of all abilities, from low handicappers and weekend golf warriors alike. Bunkers is dedicated to providing enthusiastic customer service and support to golfers who demand the best golf experience possible in an indoor environment. Bunkers is also dedicated to providing the largest and broadest selection of virtual golf courses in Spokane. Bunkers brings together a team of dedicated people who love golf and believe it is their job to help its customers to enjoy this great game even more. Every employee shares the same commitment to excellence, a commitment that will assure that each and every customer has a rewarding and enjoyable golf experience. This simple one paragraph mission statement sums up the company and its goals to help them better enjoy the game of golf. The mission statement gives the customers and employees a general guideline and can help them understand the motivation behind Bunkers. It is important that everyone involved with the company understand this and is ready to help meet and exceed the customers expectations. The vision statement is a completely different process all together. This statement drives the company forward to achieve its long term goals. Bunkers vision statement is relatively simple and direct. Bunkers is committed to making people happy by providing a consistently high quality experience that emphasizes the complete golf experience in an indoor setting. This vision statement is short to the point and shows the commitment that Bunkers has to strive to exceed the golfers expectations. Spokane is a small city and is home to several excellent golf courses. However, due to the logistics of the city, some of the more famous and exciting golf courses are difficult play. The owner has had the opportunity to play some of the countrys best courses and when talking to other golfers found that most weekend golfers would love to play these, but given their ability or finances they would not or could not play them. Bunkers has teamed up with the leading golf simulator company in the world (Full Swing Golf) to offer these famous courses to the golfers in Spokane. Without the cost or fear the golfers of Spokane can play 42 courses from around the world year around without leaving the city. In addition to the low handicappers and weekend warriors, Bunkers would like to work with the local school golf teams to offer a year around practice facility to help develop their skills. The schools can reserve tee times in the same manner as the general public but at a discounted rate. The passion for golf runs deep at Bunkers and as such would like the opportunity to expose as many first time golfers to the excitement the game offers. To aid in this Bunkers wants to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts and Big Brother and Big Sister Clubs. There are so many children that would never have to opportunity to experience golf; Bunkers feels it is necessary to reach out to as many as we can in an effort to promote the game of golf and to broaden the experiences of their life. Golf teaches many life lessons such as patience, determination and perseverance as well as teaching etiquette and promoting health (when walking a course). Todays youth can learn form golf and i t is a sport they can play their entire life. In an effort to meet the desires of all golfers, Bunkers will host virtual golf tournaments, complete with prizes, offer golf lessons, a putting green and soft white bunkers for chipping practice. The tournaments will consist of three rounds and golfers can play their rounds anytime during the week. This will give them the best opportunity to compete and enjoy the experience. Golf is a game that can be fun frustrating, to say the least it is the only game the owner loves to hate. It teaches so much and can be so enjoyable, fresh air, clean environment, polite people, and exercise. This is why Bunkers want to promote the sport year around. Spokane has long winters and as such the opportunity to play is limited to only a few months. Bunkers will be open seven days a week, 12 months a year. With this schedule golfers can keep their golf groove all year and get better and shoot lower scores. Understanding the wants and needs of the customers is essential to the long term success of any business. If a company stops valuing its customers or neglects to listen to their questions or concerns, the company will become stagnant and possibly end up shutting down. Having a road map to the follow in the form of a vision statement is essential to the long term grow and success of the company. The vision statement helps customers and employees see where the company wants to go and the tools it will use to get there and when it plans to do so. Just as important is the mission statement. It is the foundation on which the company is built. Without it the company would most likely not exist. SWOTT Analysis In an effort to create a successful business Bunkers management has conducted a SWOTT analysis. Management conducted the SWOTT and included economic, legal/ regulatory, technological, strategy, structures, resources and culture analysis. Economic SWOTT Economic factors play a large part in building of any business. As a strength to keep business loans to a minimum Bunkers will lease the simulators from Full Swing Golf (FSG). The company offers lease with the option to purchase after 24 months. The simulators are the largest upfront expense; however, the lease gives Bunkers the opportunity to allocate funds to other important categories. Bunkers has found a location that will be convenient to customers, the lease a full service lease that includes garbage, water, electricity and snow removal, it is also a graduated pay format, beginning at the , lowest monthly payment and increasing yearly until the payment meets the full cost. This will be important as the cost will remain low while in the early stages of growth. The need to hire employees that have a passion for golf is necessary, as such Bunkers would like to offer a competitive wage to keep employees excited about work and excited about the game. Washington has a minimum wage of $8.55 per hour. Bunkers intends to pay a starting wage of $10.00 per hour and increasing after a performance review at the six month mark. The business loan will be needed to build the enclosures for the simulators, the platform for the chipping green, the platform for the putting green, and the sand for the greens. Office supplies will also come out of the business loan, computer for the office, cash register/computer, and general office supplies. The weakness for the new business is the need for a business loan. The need to rely on outside funding is necessary; however, it can be a weakness as we will have to pay back a loan for several years. In addition the need for a loan to start, the economy will play a large part in the interest rates the business can get. The recent dip in the economy may force those that would be regular players to cut back or maybe not to play at all. This is the most frightening aspect of the business. To keep people playing we will offer specials and packages that will enable golfers to play regularly. The opportunity portion of the economic SWOTT is the most exciting. This is where Bunkers can be creative and make plans for growth. The opportunity for growth is great. Spokane is a golf friendly community and has long cold winters. The need for a place to keep the golf groove is necessary and offers the potential for growth. Bunkers will also increase customer visits by hosting tournaments and prizes for the winners. IN addition to tournaments, Bunkers will offer golf lessons, swing analysis, club fitting, and a small amount of Bunker logo items, most likely hats and shirts. The threat portion is the most frightening. To be realistic management had to think about the current economic situation and decide if now is the best time to open a business is. Management feels it is a good time. Other factors management took into consideration were will other similar businesses open and offer the same entertainment, will golf shops offer more simulators and simulator activities (swing analysis, club fitting), will employees offer free golf to friends and family, taking away from profits (we will set up family discounts to combat this), great summer weather will be large threat to the business. Legal/Regulatory SWOTT Bunkers would like to develop relationships with the children clubs of Spokane as well as the local school golf teams. The legal aspects of this will be in the creating of a contract that benefits both parties. To avoid having a city business license that is very expensive, Bunkers ahs decided to open the first location in the North Spokane area, it is a growing area ( residents and business are all moving north) where business licenses are less expensive. Starting the business with only a few employees will reduce the amount of payroll tax, unemployment tax and work comp cost. The cost of the permits as well as the time it take to obtain an alcohol permit is a weakness. This is time consuming, it include an in depth look into the past of the person applying for the permit. It takes months to obtain the permit and it is subject to random visits by the state. Bunkers will offer only beer and wine, however the permit is still the same for all businesses selling alcoholic beverages. In addition to the alcohol permit the state also requires the company to obtain a food handler permit. Costly and always requiring training for employees this is also time consuming as well as costly to the company as it has to pay the employees for the time they spend taking the tests. The opportunity to build relationships with the children clubs and schools is a a great opportunity. The contracts will help the children expand their horizons and also give them the opportunity to learn a new game or improve at it. The contracts will include stipulations that state Bunkers is not responsible for the care of the children and a parent or guardian must be present to allow play. The biggest threat to the Bunkers is injury to customers. All customers playing in the chipping area will be required to sign a release of liability. There is always the chance of sand in the eye or getting hit by a club or ball. Under aged drinking is another threat and will be dealt with according the state law. Strict rules will help elevate this problem. Parental guidance is also necessary to avoid injury and to keep the business from the liability of children. Technologic SWOTT Having a business that depends on technology can be exciting and frightening. Full Swing Golf offers the best golf simulator on the market. They are constantly improving the graphics as well as introducing new golf courses. To help increase revenue Bunkers will try to incorporate the newest courses, most recent graphic cards and the best projectors and screens available. As hardware is used it wears out and can slow game play. To combat this issue we will constantly maintain the equipment and run diagnostic test of the machines to ensure fast reliable use. Technology is finicky. Depending on it can be a weakness in its own. Slow computers, projector bulbs, damage to sensors can all create havoc in the business and reduce profits. Full Swing Golf offers maintenance plans to protect against los in revenue. In addition to the maintenance plans Bunkers will contract with Networks Rx a computer networking company to ensure our cash register/computer, office computers and simulators all work and are connected using quality servers and materials. Technology is always changing; this can be an opportunity and a threat. As technology changes we must change with it. New faster servers can create the best game play possible. New courses, new graphics and better graphic can help the company grow and will create lasting customers. Incorporating additional elements such as swing analysis, club fitting, and lessons can also be attributed to changing technology. The largest threat is a down computer system. Bunkers is dependant on technology to function. Having down system will prove a debilitating factor, without it the company cant function and will see a loss in revenue. This will prove fatal if it is a lasting issue. Having Networks Rx at our disposal will help alleviate these potential issues. The biggest trend in technology is always changing computer systems. Faster processors, better graphic cards, more memory in servers and new golf courses will be a great trend. The need to keep up with this is essential and can also be seen as a threat, weakness, trend and strength if utilized. Bunkers will be the place to go in the long cold Spokane winters. Strategy SWOTT Strategy is necessary to compete in a competitive market. Spokane does not have a indoor golf center, and word of mouth advertising, strategic fliers and a radio spots will be necessary to Bunkers growth. Using the school golf teams and the children clubs will be necessary to the word of mouth advertising and the growth of the business. In addition marketing the business, utilizing golf tournaments to increase the customer base will be a great strategy. Bunkers would also like to incorporate professional lessons, club fitting to entice customers. Bunkers is a place a golfer of any age can enjoy a full round of golf, a positive aspect of the courses elderly golfer and young golfers can play a round with out the strenuous effort. Bunkers is a ground up business and is in need of constant marketing and upgrading to keep people interested. That will be the most challenging portion of the business. The management team will need to be proactive when the weather changes and use promotions to keep player coming back during the summer months. Spokane summers are gorgeous and people will want to play outside. Management will need to promote the tournaments, climate controlled area, professional lessons to keep people playing indoors all year. Opportunities will be numerous in the strategy area. Holding tournaments that golfers can participate in any time during the week, professional lessons and club fitting will also be an area that will keep people coming back. Bunkers will use the positive image of working with the boys and girls clubs and schools to its advantage and as a strategic opportunity to gain a hold on the community. To keep customer happy and excited to play Bunkers will offer discounted rates depending on the number of golfers in the group. As always the threat of a new business opening and taking customers is always a threat. The perfect summer weather in Spokane can also be seen as a threat to the strategy Bunkers uses. As noted in prior sections the threat of golf stores using simulations in their shops may reduce the lessons and club fitting. The game play will always be a strong point of Bunkers as it is the main focus of Bunkers. The use of technology to create customer email lists will be a beneficial tool. Management will create the list and email specials, promotions and tournament results. In addition to the above listed uses of email Bunkers will also use this portal for suggestions comments and reservations. The use of email will also fit into the technology strengths and opportunity portion of the SWOTT. Structure SWOTT Bunkers management will seek the best most qualified employees possible. The strengths of this company is based on the golf experience of its management team. The owner and his family are avid golfer and have played some of the best courses in the country. To keep the business moving in the right direction nit is necessary to hire individuals that have a love for the game and like using technology. The application process will include phone calls to previous employers; letters of recommendation from school coaches (for students) and student must maintain at least a 3.0 gpa while employed. To maintain the best possible work force Bunkers will utilize regular performance reviews. Weakness will include hiring students. This is not a weakness in the traditional sense; this will be in the sense that management will have to plan for students to take time off for extracurricular activities like golf tournaments and other school and family activities. Technology is a large part of the business and as such it is imperative to hire those that have a love for technology and passion to keep customers happy. Opportunities to hiring students are to expand their knowledge of technology and to give them real world job experience. By requiring students to maintain a certain gpa will help them achieve long term goals and will help management create a positive atmosphere. Using student part time workers will help the company save money in benefits and unemployment taxes. In addition to broadening the horizons of the students we can help them learn technology skills and problem solving skills that will be beneficial to them as they mature. Threats of having employees are normal to all businesses. Management can reduce these by educating employees, utilizing safety rules, hiring positive, motivated trust worthy people will reduce threats as well. Hiring students may cause an increase in employee turnover. To reduce this we will educate, train them and offer positive enforcement to maintain eh best employees possible. Resources SWOTT Bunkers is owned by an avid golfer, and has access to country club professional golfers and high school golf coaches. In addition to the golf pros Bunkers has built in technology company in Network Rx, that can help maintain and trouble shoot office servers, and networks. Some of the funding will come in the form of bank business loan and personal holdings. The need for a business loans is a weakness for Bunkers. The need to tech support professionals to keep the company moving and to keep customers playing is a weakness to Bunker as well. Every golf simulator has proprietary software that only their technicians can repair. Depending on vendor technical support is costly, time consuming, can reduce the profits, and keep a system closed until the technician can fix it. Opportunities are great for Bunkers. Leasing the simulators on a lease to own helps the company save resource and still own the equipment at the end of the lease agreement. There are currently no indoor golf facilities in the Spokane area. An opportunity to grow and prosper is great in addition to give the people a great winter activity. Spokane is located in the Inland Northwest, one hour east of the Idaho Washington border and two hours south of the U.S. Canada border. Depending on outside tech support it costly and can take a great amount of time to receive new parts or for the technician to arrive to install or repair new parts. A positive trend for golf and Bunkers is the fact that there is always a new golfer. Everyday people try golf and Bunkers offers them a place to try it in a safe controlled environment. We will let children ages five and older participate with the participation or guidance of a parent or guardian. Culture SWOTT Golf has a culture of its own and Bunkers will try and maintain it to the best of their ability. Bunkers will offer a clean safe, environment for people to learn or advance their game. Management will build relationships with the children clubs in Spokane as well as the local golf teams and schools. Teaching children the game of golf can teach them things the can use their whole life, patients, perseverance and dedication. Golf is a game that one can play their whole life and Bunker looks forward to helping them start the right way. There are not too many weaknesses of this business from a culture standpoint. From a business standpoint, this business caters to only one demographic. By opening a business that offers entertainment to golfer only can be seen as shortsighted. However, golfers have the desire to play and in some cases it is a great place for good clean fun. The opportunity to expose someone to golf is something that Bunkers is excited about. Golf is a great game that anyone can play not matter age, color, or athletic ability. There is the chance that someone would never play a round of golf at an outdoor course, Bunkers offers them a place to try the game in a reduced amount of time. A person that has never played may not be excited about playing a game for three to four hours and not enjoying the game. Playing a full 18 holes in one to two hours is more enticing to beginners and people that are short on time. The threat of customers becoming bored with Bunkers is a threat management cannot take lightly. With technology constantly changing Bunkers can try to avoid this by updating courses as often as possible. Offering additional resources like lessons, club fitting, tournaments, snacks and beverages will help keep people interested and coming back. Balanced Scorecard The balanced scorecard is a strategic planning and management system that is used extensively in business and industry, government, and nonprofit organizations worldwide to align business activities to the vision and strategy of the organization, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organization performance against strategic goals. (Balanced Scorecard Institute, 2009) The importance of the balanced scorecard is to improve performance by focusing on what matters, increase focus on strategy and results and to improve the communication of a companys vision and strategy. This company has thought about for several years. He has jotted down plans, ideas, drawn floor plans and talked with bankers and even scouted out locations. Over the years, he has had time to think about the business and how he wants it to operate. The owner has spent a great deal of time trying to get ideas together to make this a place people will want to visit. The owner has planned for the simulators (the main focus of the business), the bunkers, putting green and even how to run a fun, convenient tournament. Before the SWOTT and the Balanced Scorecard, he never put a great deal of thought into the actual numbers and financial goals. Until five weeks ago this was just a dream. Now it is becoming a reality. Over the years the owner worked for several companies and found some of them had great corporate values and it trickled down to the employees and made them feel like they were more than just an employee. That is a feeling the author wants to create for the employees of Bunkers. He found that by giving the employees some basic instructions and letting them make decisions makes them feel they are valued and they are not taken for granted. By doing these little things and not micromanaging a company can reduce employee turnover and reduce expense in training and retraining and utilize those fund in other manners. The long term goals are relatively simple, Bunkers wants to grow and open stores in cities nearby, thereby offering more people the chance to play in a convenient location. In addition to this he wants to link the locations for tournament play. The values of Bunkers are derived from various sources; some personal experiences and others are derived from other successful business models. The author is a business owner and feels he has created a strong employee culture, high employee retention, sound business practices and he feels these same qualities can carry over to Bunkers. The basic values the firm will use in this business are the same that many use in their daily lives: respect, patients, honesty, and integrity. These values have served the owner well personally and will do the same in any business setting. He has created a successful carpet cleaning business with these values and feels he can build Bunker with the same. The mission of any business is to grow and prosper. Bunkers wants to do the same. The firms mission is to create a place where people can come to meet friends, play, learn and enjoy the game of golf. The company want to create a fun comfortable atmosphere where people of any ability can come to play or learn the game that they love. All too often the owner hears people say they do not want to play golf because it takes too long, they cannot walk that far, they are nervous to spend the money on a round and not like it. Bunkers can change that, There are no long walks, no galleries watching and making them nervous, It is a great place to see if golf is for them, and for those that play and enjoy it it is a great place to play courses once thought to be playable once in a lifetime. There is something for everyone young, old, high handicapper or low handicapper; there is a course for anyone. The SWOTT analysis forced the owner to take a good honest look at the business. He was a little intimidated in the beginning, but soon found it to be a valuable part of the strategic plan. After completing the analysis he was even more excited to continue the process and change the weakness to strengths in an effort to build the best most efficient business possible. Bunkers is dedicated to providing quality, safety and fun in a controlled atmospheres. By following the SWOTT and the Balanced Scorecard Bunkers can avoid some of the pitfalls of opening and operating a ground up business. The SWOTT is a necessary tool and should be utilized by the management team of Bunkers Indoor Golf Center. Golf is a great game enjoyed by millions of people and Bunkers want to bring the fun to everyone year around.

Photo Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Photo Assignment - Essay Example d have to feed and teach a baby how to walk and talk, encourage a child to love school on their first day of being away from home, to develop manners and know that not all misunderstandings could be settled through a fight, support their chosen careers even when it is not really a status quo job, and learn to accept mistakes and learn from their own children as well (Theisen, C., n.d.). The perfect visualization of the love and responsibility that is brought about by parenthood is summed up into these photos above. Parents all have this innate sacrificial love for their kids no matter who they are or how they were brought up by their own parents. For sure, there are differences in parenting styles or approach that different parents take but what is for sure is that they all do it out of love for their kids and the desire to make them a better person in the future and fully equipped to face the real world and what is out there. Theisen, C. (n.d.). 8 Essential Parental Responsibilities - Parent Education - Parenting - Family Resource. Family Resource. Retrieved December 11, 2012, from

Iraq and afghan veterans Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Iraq and afghan veterans - Research Paper Example The emotions and images of war may remain in the souls and minds of returning soldiers for decades or even lifetimes after the wars. This is usually due to a fundamental reshaping of important human characteristics, especially those related to the soul. The characteristics include â€Å"how we perceive; how our minds are organized and function; how we love and relate; what we believe, expect, and value; what we feel and refuse to feel; and what we judge as good or evil, right or wrong† (1). As a way to deal with the emotions and images of war that still linger in the souls and minds of returning soldiers, most of them suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) and engage in substance abuse. This paper is a discussion on the effects of war on returning soldiers, with a particular focus on Iraq and Afghan veterans. The use and abuse of substances such as alcohol and narcotics for most soldiers usually begins with the beginning of military life. Ruiz and Strain point out that â€Å"the armed services have experienced problems with alcohol abuse from the earliest days of military service, in part because heavy drinking has been an accepted custom and tradition that continues today† (926).To this day, military outlets sell alcohol beverages at reduced prices. On top of this, alcohol is part of the work culture in the military as it is used to encourage camaraderie and unit solidarity, ease interpersonal pressures and reward hard work. Just like alcohol, illegal drugs or narcotics and nonmedical prescription drugs have been used by soldiers to help cope with panic or boredom, increase alertness and reduce fatigue, as well as to reduce pain from wounds. The use and abuse of these substances have over time been discouraged in the military and policies have been developed to help eliminate the problem. According to Ruiz and Strain, â€Å"urine tests, which are conducted randomly or when an individual is suspected of

Online Consumer Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Online Consumer Behavior - Essay Example In the physical commercial world, the IT used for operations remains mostly in the background, invisible to the consumer. In e-commerce, however, the technology has been moved to the foreground and has become the store itself as a Web site. Such Web-based stores that use "networks and Internet technology for communications and transactions between various groups of stakeholders like businesses and consumers" have recently also been called Net-enabled organizations (NEOs). A key difference between online and offline consumer behavior is that the online consumer is generally more powerful, demanding, and utilitarian in her shopping expeditions. As a result, customer loyalty on the Web is low overall; although, as in the physical world, it is influenced by the availability of good, relevant content in an enjoyable context. Now that nearly all marketers have accepted that tapping a promotion's full potential requires strategically integrating the online and offline components, considering the differences between online and offline consumer behavior becomes important. Some professionals contend that these differences are enormous; a common refrain, for example, is that where consumer behavior offline is passive, the Web is all about engagement. But what those observers really are comparing is consumer behavior relative to advertising media; they're comparing how consumers interact with ads on television as compared with ads on the Internet. Where online and offline promotions are concerned, the differences are far less pronounced. In many cases, a Web site is really just a digitized retail store. Still, the simple insight that the exact same triggers motivate transactions both on- and offline has tended to become obscured amid the excitement accompanying the rise of online marketing. Promotions that focus on connecting the dots between in-store and online merchandising have, in fact, proved highly successful. Pepsi enjoyed runaway success with its E-Stuff promotion, which drove traffic from the store to the Web and back again. Simon Brand Ventures similarly fielded an online promotion that drove online shoppers to the company's malls, and mall shoppers to the Web. That's not to say that anyone who knows everything about offline promotions can consider himself armed and dangerous when it comes to online promotions. Some interesting, and sometimes surprising, trends and patterns have emerged with regard to online consumer behavior. One such interesting development concerns the profile of the online population: According to a recent newspaper report, the fastest-growing consumer segment on the Web is blue-collar workers---up 52% since spring 2001. A separate and somewhat contradictory report has it that seniors actually are the fastest-growing segment, even though 87% of people over age 65 don't yet have Web access. Meanwhile, a third survey found that online games, in particular, hold surprising appeal among older consumers. This survey discovered that 42% of frequent online garnets are over age 35, while just 30% are 18-to-35 years old. These groups have nowhere to go but up in terms of their online use; still, their growing ranks among the wired population point to as-yet uncharted opportunities for promotion marketers, and their online behavior bears watching. Plenty of opportunity remains among the younger set, to

Introduction to Dissertation Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Dissertation Essay 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background to the problem The indiscipline problem is ranked as a major issue among students of secondary schools in Mauritius. In fact, this problem is prevailing not only in Mauritius but also across the many nations around the world. According to the Longman contemporary dictionary, indiscipline refers to â€Å"a lack of control in the behaviour of a group of people, with the result that they behave badly†. It occurs when students breach the rules and regulations of the classroom or school. Such disruptive behavior is not only a concern to schools and teachers but also the parents and most importantly to the students, whose future is at stake. Misconduct in the classroom interferes with teaching and learning. It can eventually lead to school dropout and similar negative social outcomes. Students’ behavioral problems are also thought to be a leading contributor to teachers’ and parents’ stress and attrition. Serious breaches of school discipline policy can have profound negative effects on teachers. 1.2 Significance of Study See more: how to start an essay about yourself for college Since discipline plays a crucial role in school system, it is all the more important to assess the measures taken to upholding it. Continuing to apply the present measures blindly without ascertaining oneself if they are  actually alleviating the problem is equivalent to losing money, time or, worse, deteriorating the current situation. The study will help in not only finding if the measures are good or wrong but also to what extent the measures being adopted are effective or not. Since students are not the only ones being affected by the problem, the study will help us get to know students’ perception of the measures used to tackle indiscipline but also perception of teachers themselves. It will give both parties the chance to equally express themselves. By being able to understand each group, it will be possible to introduce and suggest different measures which could bring a better impact, or adapting existing ones to be more productive. Student indiscipline is not decreasing at Saint Bartholomew’s college. We have reached to a point of saturation and it is almost impossible to bring the student’s to the right track. They are out of control and think that the system and teachers are against them. Indiscipline has led to low education level at St Bartholomew’s college, the percentage was below 50 % in 2007 – only 47 %. The main causes of indiscipline need to be identified so that the college can look for better measures. 1.2 Aims of Study The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of present measures used in dealing with student indiscipline at Saint Bartholomew’s College. Student indiscipline has been tainting this college’s reputation. Students are ill-mannered, and this badly influences their future role in their social and professional life. Therefore, it is high time to proactively make sure that the right actions are being taken to decrease, or ideally eradicate, student indiscipline. This study has for aim to assess the existing measures in dealing with student indiscipline at Saint Bartholomew’s college; whether they meeting, and if they are to what extent they are meeting, the expectations. And to observe its impact whether it is positive or not. 1.3 Objectives of Study The main objectives of the study are : Finding out if indiscipline is increasing despite the existing measures Analysing factors resulting in indiscipline Investigating on the existing methods at Saint Bartholomew’s College Knowing if indiscipline will keep on growing Knowing new methods can be introduced to ameliorate the situation 1.5 Problem of Statement Pedagogues have been trying to implement measures to eradicate indiscipline in schools. In fact, all the stakeholders (teaching staff, Ministry of Education) work in unison to alleviate the problem. Methods such as having CCTV installed within the school compound to keep an eye on students or SMS Alert to parents in case of Lateness or absenteeism are not decreasing indiscipline. Living in a society, transformed by technological progress and influenced by Media, Mauritian Youth has gone beyond control; they are living in their own world, forgetting that Mauritian society is still tied to old traditions and cultures. Students are rebelling against rules and regulations of their institutions. Student Indiscipline has been a major problem at Saint Bartholomew’s college, Port Louis. It keeps on increasing. According to Premita Leelachand from Defi Media, the college â€Å"accepts all students who seek admission, even school drop-outs who either failed or were removed by their previous institutions due to bad behaviour. In fact, St Bartholomew’s is regarded as the last resort for students who are considered hopeless.† This is the main reason why the percentage of indiscipline in high at the private aided college. Students already have discipline problems and still show no signs of respect towards their teachers and express no interest in education. Traditional punishments such as writing in journals or detention hours do not seem to scare them anymore. Being punished has become a ‘honor’ for them and it increases their ‘respect’ among other students. This is why there is a need to check whether the measures being presently taken are effective or not. 1.6 Research questions The research questions will be as follows: What are the methods being used? Why is indiscipline on an increase since the last years? What do students and teachers think about indiscipline and the measures adopted? What can be done to improve student discipline and making the deterring measures more effective? 1.7 Assumptions Indiscipline is increasing despite various measures introduced by the Ministry of Education and the college itself, for example, the counseling unit at the college. 1.8 Format of Study The Study will be divided into 5 main sections: Chapter 1: Introduction This part of the study gives an overview of the topic and prepares the reader for the next chapters. It analyses the background of the problem, gives its importance and aims and objectives of the study as well. Chapter 2 :Literature Review Literature review will give a deeper overview of the problems of indiscipline in Mauritius and describe measures adopted to deal with these problems. Chapter 3: Research Methodology In this section, the interview format to quantify the problem will be discussed. Chapter 4: Discussion of Findings and Analysis of Data Statistical tools will be used to extract the pertinent information from the data collected. These statistical approaches are discussed in this part of the research and the conclusions inferred from the analysis will be discussed. Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations 1.9 Conclusion This was the first chapter of the study. It had for aim to prepare the reader for further chapters of the study and to understand the topic and the actual issue, that is, impact of measures dealing with student indiscipline at Saint Bartholomew’s College, clearly.

Promoting human development

Promoting human development Promoting Human Development Summary Conceptual framework The goal of human development is to enable groups and individuals to exercise their choices to be what they want to be and do what they wants to do . It puts people at the center of the analysis and advocates for strategies that combine equity, efficiency, sustainability and empowerment. Social exclusion hampers choices and opportunities, thus reduce human development. Inclusion is therefore the goal to achieve, through economic, cultural, social and political processes and policies. Social inclusion and reducing social exclusion are therefore means of achieving human development by addressing the discrimination, powerlessness and accountability failures that lie at the root of exclusion. Social inclusion adds the process dimension of exclusion (the agents, groups, and institutions that exclude) to the human development concept. Working definitions Social exclusion refers to the processes which hamper people and groups opportunities to exercise the full range of their choices as well as to the outcome of marginalization ensued. It results from direct or indirect discrimination rules and behavior, processes, policy, regulations, and institutional practices can impose, advertently or inadvertently against one or some groups of population compared to the others as well as from social traditions and values among different social groups of population. Social exclusion is multi-dimensional and often involves economic, political, cultural, social and spatial exclusion. Multiple deprivations often reinforce each other. Social inclusion: The European Commission defines social inclusion as a process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. Human development refers to the process of enlarging peoples choices to be who they want to be and do what they want to do by expanding their capabilities and functioning. It refers to processes and outcomes of development about people, by people and for people. The case of the ECIS There are patterns of exclusion among individuals and groups in the ECIS region, based on their ascribed characteristics (gender, ethnicity, geographical location, language, religion, age, sexual orientation, beliefs and disability) or their achieved status ( income status, health status, employment, educational attainment, access and assets, etc) Exclusion is manifested through and results in exclusions from political, social, cultural and economic life in societies. Exclusion in one domain reinforces exclusion in others Exclusion in the region is the result of the dynamic interaction between legacies, policies and institutions Patterns of exclusion are hampering progress towards human development in the region, albeit or unevenly. The analysis and policy prescriptions for the regional report can be informed by the experiences of the EU common social inclusion objectives and the Open Method of Coordination mechanisms. The Regional Human Development Report for Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS for 2010 examines social exclusion in the region through the lens of human development. The report analyses the different facets and causes of social exclusion in Europe and the CIS region and provides recommendations for promoting social inclusion. This chapter sets the scene by looking at the conceptual linkages between human development and social inclusion, analyzes social exclusion as a process and state of being excluded from the life of a community, and explores the potential of a social inclusion-based analysis to better understand and address the social dynamics of poverty and inequality in the ECIS region. Part I: Human Development and Social Inclusion: An Analytical Framework The concept of social inclusion, which is at the heart of social policy-making in regional institutions like the European Union, is very much congruent with the human development approach that has been advocated through UNDP global, regional and national human development reports since the 1990s. The European Commission defines social inclusion as a process which ensures that those who are at the risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. Social exclusion thus conversely refers to both the processes which hamper individuals and groups opportunities to exercise the full range of their choices and to the outcome of such processes. As a result, this bears a strong co-relation with the absence of human development, which by itself requires processes of enlarging peoples choices to realize their own potential by a heightened capability. Together with the human rights framework, these approaches are all multi-dimensional and interlinked, and take into account all entitlements relevant for enlarging the choices of individuals to live a decent and meaningful life. In addition, they share a common concern about equity, non-discrimination and inclusive participation. As this Report will argue, there are a multiplicity of exclusion patterns among individuals and groups in the ECIS region, based on myriad ascribed characteristics-linguistic, geographic, gender-based, economic, religious, educational, etc- which all reinforce each other. The inescapable consequence of such a vicious interaction leads to the denial of human development. 1. Human Development: A People-Centered Approach The human development paradigm, founded in 1990 by Mahbub ul Haq, Amartya Sen, Frances Stewart, Paul Streeten and others and advocated through the UNDP Human Development Reports, sets itself apart from previous development theories by arguing that economic growth does not automatically trickle down to improve peoples well-being. Human development proceeds from the perspective of the individual, which, by virtue of his or her existence, has a moral right to develop his or her inherent capacities to the fullest extent possible and to exercise the greatest possible freedom of choice in shaping his or her own life within society. As has been already argued in a series of global, regional and national Human Development Reports, The human development concept thus advocates putting people back at centre stage, both as the means and ends of development and defines the end of development as the expansion of human choices, freedoms and capabilities. In the words of Mahbub Ul Haq, The basic purpose of development is to enlarge peoples choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. People often value achievements that do not show up at all, or not immediately, in income or growth figures: greater access to knowledge, better nutrition and health services, more secure livelihoods, security against crime and physical violence, satisfying leisure hours, political and cultural freedoms and sense of participation in community activities. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives (Mahbub Ul Haq, 1990). As Amartya Sen argues, economic growth provides one with the necessary passport to other good things in life, but it is not an end in itself. Those other things constitute the quality of life which, in its turn, goes to expand peoples capabilities and provide them with larger freedom and choice to embrace a kind of life that they may have reason to value (Sen 1999) Human development thus emphasizes two simultaneous processes: One is the formation of human capabilities as an explicit development objective, the other is the use that people make of their acquired capabilities for functioning in society and fulfilling the choices they make in all aspects in their lives. It is therefore both a destination, a goal for social and political processes, as well as a road to get there, one that allows for agency for people themselves. While the human development concept avoids prescriptions and concentrates more on the ultimate goal of development, it suggests a simultaneous, not sequential achievement of five policy principles: Efficiency/productivity: the optimal use of human capital through investment in the education, health, aspirations and skills of people as well as efficient use of resources and pro-growth policies. Equity: distributive justice and the fair distribution of incomes and assets through equal access to opportunities Sustainability: concern for not only present generations but future ones as well Empowerment/participation: enabling people to attain a level of individual development that allows them to make choices close to their hearts. These choices can be developed through emphasising on developing freedom as both a constitutive value (value by itself) as well an instrumental value ( as a means to efficiency and to equity) (Sen) With its emphasis on choices and freedoms, the significance of access to education, health care and other social services, as well as guarantees of basic political rights and freedoms, including gender equality and freedom of movement, and the ability to participate in the activities of the community with self-respect and without shame are highlighted. Lack of education, poor healthcare, inadequate economic possibilities, violation of political freedom, and the neglect of citizens rights, could restrict peoples choices and freedoms. If the objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and fruitful lives, social exclusion both as a process and as an outcome can categorically hamper choices and opportunities, thus reducing human development. The first imperative is therefore to identify the socially excluded groups, their characteristics, as well as the social, political, cultural and economic processes that may lead to the production and reproduction of exclusion. 2. Social Inlusion and Social Exclusion As defined in the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union, social inclusion is a process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. It ensures that they have greater participation in decision making which affects their lives and access to their fundamental rights. The European Union defines people as living in poverty or social exclusion, when they are prevented from participating fully in economic, social and civil life and/or when their access to income and other resources (personal, family, social and cultural) is so inadequate as to exclude them from enjoying a standard of living and quality of life that is regarded as acceptable by the society in which they live (European Commission 2001). Among the different defitions of social exclusion, there is a broad agreement that it consists of exclusion from social, political and economic institutions resulting from a complex and dynamic set of processes and relationships that prevent individuals or groups from accessing resources, participating in society and asserting their rights. (Beall Piron, 2005). Within a discourse of citizenship, social rights and social justice, social exclusion is not understood as lack of access to goods but as lack of access to rights. Accordingly, the opposite of social exclusion is not inclusion but participation. Such view of the concept is very closely linked to the human development approach and highlights the agents that lead to social exclusion: discriminatory practices and institutional barriers that prevent the access to public services and political participation (Lister 2004). For Sen (2000), social exclusion almost reflects the Aristotelian perspective of an impoverished life where one does not have the freedom to undertake important activities that a person has reason to choose[2]. This Report posits therefore that social exclusion constitutes an infringement on the rights of individuals and groups. If unchecked, such infringement may lead to serious constraints on individual personal development, wellbeing, freedoms and choices. From the human development point of view, social exclusion is the process and outcome that hampers the wide range of human fulfilment. It refers to limited and inequitable opportunities and capabilities of individual and groups to fully take part in economic, social, political and cultural life. The social exclusion lens thus provides a new perspective on the human development approach by assigning a central role to relational connections and emphasizing on the process dimension of exclusion (the agents, groups, and institutions that exclude). For the purposes of this report, then, a definition of social exclusion that encorporates the human development approach is as followed: Social exclusion refers to the processes which hamper people and groups opportunities to exercise the full range of their choices as well as to the outcome of marginalization ensued. As Sen argues, people may be excluded from some opportunity because of a deliberate policy or practice prevalent in the society they live in, which he calls as instances of active exclusion. This may result in the constitutive part of their capability deprivation. And once they are burdened with this deprivation in one field, they are leading a handicapped life and this might be responsible for their deprivations in other fields in life. Sen calls the second category capability failures and assigns instrumental role to the factor of social exclusions for that. The potential remedy lies in changing certain specific policies that should target the groups or communities which are at a disadvantageous position because of such exclusionary practices. Yet, there are many capability deprivations that result from a complex web of deep institutional issues intertwined with systemic configurations on economic and socio-political fronts. In such cases, the deprivation comes about through social processes in which there are no deliberate attempt to exclude. Sen calls them cases of passive exclusion (Sen 2000). For example, cases of unemployment among a particular community of people, eg. migrants in their host country, on account of certain legal restrictions would constitute an instance of active exclusion, which is in this case a constitutive exclusion as well. The other capability deprivations among this community of migrants, which follow from their unemployment could be termed as their capability failures. This too can be explained as active exclusion. When unemployment is the result of complex web of multiple institutional and systemic factors, passive exclusion occurs, in that the people are after all excluded from the opportunity to be employed. The Human Development paradigm would be effective in understanding these cases because it looks at the perspective from an inter-systemic point of view and presents them more in a holistic perspective. 3. Convergence and Relationships Social exclusion and human development As discussed above, the human development approach stresses the significance of education, access to adequate social services (health, education, access to water and utilities, social protection, housing, etc), environmental sustainability, gender equality, human security and respect for individual rights. Social exclusion, which prevents access through institutional, community- and personal-level barriers to important social goods and services, whether as a result of deliberate discrimination or lack of capacity to deliver, whether as a result of active or passive exclusion, impedes peoples ability to live a full life. Social inclusion adds the process dimension of exclusion (the agents, groups, and institutions that exclude) to the human development concept. A social inclusion perspective can thus help sharpen the strategies for achieving human development by addressing the discrimination, exclusion, powerlessness and accountability failures that lie at the root of poverty and other development problems. Both concepts are complementary in policy terms: human development bears a stronger focus on what needs to be achieved; while social inclusion focuses on how it should be achieved. The Relationship between Social Exclusion and Human Development What can limit freedoms and choices is social exclusion, both as a process and as an outcome. However, there are limitations of freedoms in all societies that affect the mainstream population without creating exclusion. Exclusion hampers choices and opportunities, thus reduce human development. From the human development point of view, social exclusion is the process and outcome that hampers the wide range of human fulfilment. Inclusion is one of the goals to achieve, there might be others (e.g. environmental sustainability, conflicts etc) that do not directly depend on social exclusion. Both concepts are complementary in policy terms: human development bears a stronger focus on what needs to be achieved; while social inclusion focuses on how it should be achieved. Social inclusion adds the process dimension of exclusion (the agents, groups, and institutions that exclude) to the human development concept. Social inclusion is also focused on those that are excluded, thus emphasizing the equity principle. Human Development does look at broader societal improvements that affects also those that are not excluded (once again, environmental sustainability can be an example), although it is true that guaranteeing the inclusion of all can have broader positive repercussions on the rest of society. A social inclusion perspective can thus help sharpen the strategies for achieving human development by addressing the discrimination, exclusion, powerlessness and accountability failures that lie at the root of poverty and other development problems. Social Inclusion as the path to human development: What follows as the logical consequence that human development is the larger goal to achieve. Can the social inclusion approach be the best practice in this regard? Social inclusion policies, in principle, are ways to achieve human development: They are designed to correct negative outcomes of exclusion which can be ascribed to gender; age; ethnicity; location; economic, education, or health status or disability, etc., be these intentional (e.g., systematic discrimination) or unintentional (i.e., the failure to recognize the differential impact of policies on individuals or groups). The EU charter of Fundamental Rights defines social inclusion as a process which ensures that those at risk of poverty and social exclusion gain the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. It ensures that they have greater participation in decision making which affects their lives and access to their fundamental rights. The significant element of phraseology used in this definition is greater participation, which implies that the social inclusion approach is not just satisfied at present with tendering a so-called platform of equality to all. Rather, it is more concerned with a futureobjective of achieving equality for all. Thus, the social inclusion approach acknowledges the need to proffer to those excluded a greater say in the scheme of things than what they receive now, i.e. a greater participation in comparison with that of the non-excluded. In terms of legalese, this is known as positive discrimination in favour of the excluded with a view to bringing them at par with others, i.e. including them in the mainstream of life. Social Inclusion approach thus is more about redistribution of social opportunities among all sections of population so that everyone gets a plausible opportunity to flourish and thus, to contribute to the cause of enhancing efficiency of a society as a whole. A prosperous society provides more opportunities for personal fulfillment which is not to be viewed just in terms of economic freedom but also in terms of everything else that provides the necessary yardstick to evaluate the quality of life. Social exclusion and rights based approach A social exclusion perspective shares with a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) a common concern with equity, non-discrimination and the importance of participation that should be inclusive. In this respect, a social exclusion perspective is concerned with governance and citizenship rights, with the institutional dimension of exclusion and with the organizations, institutions and processes that exclude. The mainstreaming of human rights in development programming is a way of tackling certain forms of social exclusion and strengthening inclusion policies. Social exclusion, poverty and vulnerability Although the concept of poverty, social exclusion and vulnerability share certain common characteristics, they also have important distinguishing features. People who are not poor can be excluded, but many may also become poor due to exclusion from economic activity, and may thus become vulnerable. The analysis of exclusion and vulnerability may not necessarily be the same as that of poverty. The three phenomena, however, are inextricably related. Traditional thinking about income poverty focuses on individual subsistence level as against a standard conventional change. The concept of human poverty, instead represents a measurement of well being as not a static but a dynamic multi-dimensional experience, and is closer to the concept of social exclusion. People may experience poverty not just because they lack access to goods and services but also because there are systematic constraints that limit the mobilisation and the allocation of resources to the particular group. The EU, for example, which has set social inclusion at the heart of policymaking, conceives of exclusion as distinct from income poverty. Poverty is a distributional outcome, whereas exclusion is a relational process of declining participation, solidarity and access. Indeed for some, exclusion is a broader term encompassing poverty; for others, it is a cause or a consequence of poverty. But it is likely that causation runs in both directions. Highlights on vulnerability are essentially to reduce/manage the risk of the loss of livelihoods and the threat to security which more often than not is influenced by ones poverty status. Vulnerability is often obviously worsened by poverty which, therefore, points to an important interface between poverty alleviation and social risk management. Social exclusion as compared to poverty and vulnerability is intended to focus more attention on structural bottlenecks to equity and social justice. To overcome social exclusion, therefore, it is obvious that there has to be a deliberate effort to reform customary and legal codes of conduct to create opportunities for excluded groups to become empowered. This particular objective has been taken into account in current thinking on poverty reduction and social risks management. An advantage of the concept of social exclusion/inclusion over an approach based on poverty and other material deprivation is its focus on processes, i.e. the dynamics of the interaction between an individual and his or her social, legal, political, cultural and economic environment. Asking whether a person is able to participate equally in mainstream society, leads to identifying barriers to participation. These barriers can be institutional (discrimination, lack of infrastructure or absence of services, or in the case of people with disabilities, can also be the physical accessibility of buildings or schools), in the community (prejudice, marginalization), or personal (lack of education, withdrawal, rejection, or fears). Different population groups may experience different and overlapping vulnerabilities or face different barriers, which require different strategies to overcome them. Convergence of concepts towards a social inclusion approach Human development, the Human Rights Based Approach and Social Inclusion proceed from a moral or philosophical belief in the intrinsic value of human life and a commitment to the dignity and equality of each human being. Another value added of both the social inclusion and human development approaches is that they look at groups/communities dynamics and interaction within society, beyond the rights-holders vs. duty bearers approach Each of these conceptual frameworks places human well-being within a social and political context, and posits aspects of the interaction of the individual with society that cannot be represented by a money-metric proxy. Each also expresses explicitly or implicitly the vested interest of society in the provision of supportive social policies by a state actor in realization of the social contract. A social inclusion approach implies addressing need or alienation wherever it exists. Social inclusion reaches beyond the enforcement of rights in legal terms by tackling material deprivation, stigmatization and social separation; hence the approach seeks to understand this complex social phenomenon in terms of causes as well as outcomes. It also has an operational bias, devising workable policy responses, effectively recognizing that the state has a duty to care, include and involve all members of society in political, economic, cultural and social processes. 3) Causes and Drivers of Social Exclusion People may be excluded by several reasons, some owing to their individual characteristics (old, sick, disabled, poor, immigrants, vulnerable women and children); others from their societal/cultural characteristics (such as religion, race, caste/ethnicity, language). These can often interact and influence each other, thus creating a spiral of multiple deprivations. Exclusion can also be triggered by circumstances of birth. Being born into poverty or to parents with low employable skills, for example, places one at a serious disadvantage in relation to future life course survival chances. Finally, social exclusion can also be an outcome of shocks, such as conflicts and abrupt socio-economic transitions. The process dimension of social exclusion is also multi-dimensional and often involves economic, political, cultural and social exclusion. These dimensions are interrelated and reinforce each other. For example, the most excluded groups often have the worse access to education, poorer land, worse sanitation and health services, which contributes to lower productivity and incomes on the one hand, as well as limitation on engagement in political processes that could improve their position. For this Report, we have chosen to focus on mutually related dimensions: Exclusion from economic life results in and from inequalities in ownership of assets, incomes and employment opportunities. Exclusion from social services results in and from inequalities in access to a range of services education, health, housing, social protection, etc and in human outcomes (including education, health, and nutrition). Exclusion from political participation results in and from unequal access to political opportunities, justice, freedoms, institutions and power at many levels (from national to community level). Cultural status exclusion results in and from differences in recognition and (de facto) hierarchical status of different groups cultural norms, customs and practices. Thus, the causes or drivers of exclusion include not only the ascribed characteristics of individuals and groups, but the way that institutions and processes contribute to marginalization. For the purposes of this report, we can cluster the potential causes and drivers, many of which prevail in the ECIS region, in three broad categories: discrimination, institutional inadequacies and horizontal inequalities: NOTE TO ALL: I WILL ADD CONCRETE EXAMPLES FROM THE REGION LATER FROM THE CHAPTERS 1) Discrimination: Ø Discriminatory practices, especially as a result of bias Social exclusion mostly results from direct or indirect discrimination that rules and behavior, processes, policy, regulations, and institutional practices can impose, advertently or inadvertently against one or some groups of population compared to the others. These can be based on but not limited to gender, ethnicity, religion, race, geographical location, age, income status, health, educational attainment, and disability. Prejudice and discrimination resulting from social and political biases may also cause social exclusion. For example, discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and gender may result in exclusion on the labour market, etc. In extreme cases, outright hostility and violence against certain groups may lead to social exclusion Ø Discriminatory social values and cultural practices Social exclusion can also persist in the cultural and traditional set-up and result from social traditions and values among different social groups of population. EXAMPLE FROM TATJANA CHAPTER 2) Institutional inadequacies : Ø Policies and institutional barriers Public institutions or organizations can aggravate social exclusion through lack of understanding of the dynamics of exclusion, or through sheer oversight. Decision making may not be effective in protecting excluded groups largely due to the lack of commitment and inadequate resources. Ø Inadequate or weak institutional support mechanisms The weakness of institutions is exhibited in their inadequacies, poor functioning, poor quality, non responsiveness and the inability to create opportunities for those who are likely to fall prey to social exclusion. Sometimes institutions are purposely designed to favour those who are already included in the mainstream (e.g. language requirements to access education, job opportunities or other services). Private institutions and civil society organisations such as non-government institutions and community based organizations, as well as some private financial institutions and other service providers also contribute to social exclusion by failing to develop programmes to support the interests of excluded groups or by deliberately excluding some from social services. Ø Discriminatory laws or inadequate enforcement Poor legislation may deepen the exclusion of some social groups.. In some circumstances, adequate legislation may be in place to protect the interests of the underprivileged, but poorly enforced legal regimes can make such legislation meaningless. 3) Horizontal inequalities: Ø Inequalities between groups Inequalities that exist de facto or de jure among groups can increase exclusion. These can include, for example, inequalities in terms of