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We’d like to thank the 4,000+ parents and caregivers who have completed the Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Health Survey! The BSK Health Survey is still open, and we’ve extended the deadline to late January to make sure all voices are heard. We asked Sheila Capestany, King County Strategic Advisor for Children and Youth and lead of Best Starts for Kids, to answer some of the common questions we are hearing from families.
Q: Why is the survey important?
Capestany: While other studies give us some information about the needs of high schoolers, we miss out on what matters for local families with elementary and very young children. We want to hear from communities who may be left out of other studies, such as those who speak languages other than English. This will help us develop approaches through Best Starts that will meet the culturally and linguistically specific needs of the rich diversity of families in our region.
Q: I’ve been receiving mail and phone calls about this. How was my child’s name chosen for this survey and how did you get our information?
Capestany: Selection for the survey was random. We partnered with public school districts in King County to receive contact information for elementary school parents. (This did not include families that asked schools not to share their information). In addition, we partnered with the Washington State Department of Health to gather contact information of parents who’ve had children in the last five years based on birth certificate data. All information was transferred safely and securely to King County. We’re using the best technology available to make sure all contact information is secure.
Q: Why has the University of Washington contacted me if this is for King County?
Capestany: Our partners at University of Washington (UW) are some of the best at what they do. Because of this, King County has contracted with the UW Social Development Research Group (SDRG) to carry out this survey. We are working together closely to make sure we have high quality information to learn from and inform our decisions.
Q: How will this information be used?
Capestany: This information will be used to learn about what’s needed to support parents, what strengths we can build on, and what’s working for local communities. We understand that some of this information is personal, and so is parenting. It’s not easy to be a parent and there is no one way to raise a child. The questions in the survey were carefully chosen so that we are gathering data that will shape the types of programs and services Best Starts for Kids will be funding in your community. We plan on doing the survey again in the future, so it will also help us see if our programs are making a difference.
Q: How will this information be shared?
Capestany: Our team will make the findings publicly available, so that anyone can access the information. Findings will be shared online through an interactive website, social media, and blogs. We will also plan in-person opportunities for community members to engage with the data in 2017. We plan to find out more about the stories behind the numbers through other ways like focus groups and interviews. Your participation is important so that we all know what’s happening in your community and have a chance to impact services and programs.
Q: Can I take the survey if I haven’t been contacted by University of Washington?
Capestany: Yes! Between January 6th and January 27th the survey will be open to all parents and caregivers with children in elementary school or younger in King County. This information will be combined with the surveys that have already been collected. The survey takes 20-30 minutes, and we encourage you to take it online here and share with all your friends and family!
Q: Is my information secure and confidential?
Capestany: Definitely. All of your answers are confidential. This means that we will remove children’s names from the data once it’s collected. It’s safe to provide this type of information over the internet or to trained phone interviewers. Information is collected using strict security standards. Only staff who are trained and given permission to work with confidential information will see your responses. Please keep in mind, your participation is voluntary and you can skip any question or stop taking the survey at any time. When it comes time to report the findings, the information will be in summary form only so no one family or child will be able to be identified. As a reminder, we will never ask for any information such as social security numbers, credit cards, bank account information, or donations. If you want to make sure it’s really the UW calling or you’ve misplaced your letter, you can reach the SDRG group at 1-888-313-9575.
Q: Am I required to participate?
A: No, it’s not required. We do hope that you will choose to participate. We value your input and want to make sure the survey reflects the rich diversity of our King County families. Best Starts for Kids is about making sure ALL kids are healthy, happy, and are supported as they grow up. Your voice will help to inform us. We understand life gets very busy, and are very thankful for any time you’re able to give to complete the survey. | https://beststartsblog.com/2017/01/12/have-a-question-about-the-kids-health-survey-currently-in-the-community-weve-got-the-answers/ |
Lifespan Religious Education
Parents and caregivers choose Unitarian Universalist congregations for their child’s religious education because of the community dynamic that helps raise children to become kind, respectful, fair-minded, caring – but strong enough to side with love and fight for justice. Participation in UUCW’s religious education programs is supplemented by worship, social justice work and multi-generational gatherings that re inforce the lessons taught at home. We nurture truth-seeking, spirituality and progressive moral values that will continue to shape and support our children as they grow.
Pandemic Response
In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, in-person Sunday school classes are canceled until further notice. The Religious Education Director continues to send periodic suggestions for spiritual enrichment at home to parents through the monthly newsletter and other sources and we look forward to the time when we can be together (in-person) again.
Youth Group
Youths in the 5th – 8th grades are welcome to join our Youth Group that meets via Zoom on Sundays at 11:30 am. UUA curriculum, “Principled Music” keeps our discussions lively with many opportunities to explore music and its many messages. Current events, informed by history and perceived through Unitarian Universalist values, is central to our meetings as we learn about our own communities and the social justice actions that promote positive change. Please contact Leslie O’Connor, [email protected] to learn more about this exciting program for youth.
Adults
Learning never ends, so UUCWNC has a vibrant education program for adult members and friends. Learning about UU history, reading the Bible through a UU lens, poetry reading, book groups and earth-based spirituality are some of the educational opportunities that we provide. Please see a current Beacon newsletter for a calendar of events and program contact details. | https://www.uucwnc.org/religious-education/ |
All children have access to the whole curriculum. Woodmancote School aims to make the curriculum interactive, fun and relevant to the children.
Our teaching fulfils the requirements of the National Curriculum and leads to the intellectual, aesthetic, social, emotional and physical development of each child. Children in our Reception classes work within the later stages of the Foundation Stage.
We use teaching methods appropriate to the purpose, which may be whole class teaching, group work or working with individuals.
Parents receive a Curriculum Newsletter at the start of every term, outlining what the children will be taught in the coming weeks.
We teach the National Curriculum, plus Religious Education and Citizenship. Our approach to these areas of the curriculum is as follows:-
Literacy
Attention is paid to speaking and listening skills so that children understand and respond to the spoken word and express themselves effectively and appropriately.
We promote the development of reading throughout the school. We use a range of reading schemes in the early years including ‘Lighthouse’, ‘Spotty Zebra’ and ‘The Oxford Reading Tree’. We colour code our books according to level of difficulty so that the children can read widely and choose books for themselves. We have a comprehensive selection of reference books in our own library. We encourage children to take home books from school and hope that parents will help to foster a love of reading.
From their earliest days at school, the children are encouraged to write with confidence. Their early attempts are praised and supported by structured programmes to teach handwriting, letter sounds and spellings. The children are expected to develop a variety of forms of writing and pay attention to quality by discussing and sometimes redrafting their work. Appropriate punctuation and correct spelling are important and we teach an agreed style of handwriting throughout the school.
Mathematics
We follow the National Numeracy Strategy which includes number, algebra, measures, shape and space, and handling data. We also promote financial capability. The children are taught to use and apply their mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding to real-life problems and investigations. Our children are currently taught in ability sets from Year 3.
Science
We place great importance on the children developing a scientific approach to answering questions and solving problems. Skills such as observing, planning and carrying out investigations, interpreting data and communicating findings are taught and developed.
Information Communication Technology
All children have access to a computer in their classroom and our computer suite on a time-tabled basis. They develop a range of skills and use programs to support their learning across the curriculum. All classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards and we also lap tops that can be used throughout the school.
Personal, Health, and Social Education (PHSE) and Citizenship
Our Sex and Relationships Education Policy has been agreed with parents, teachers and governors and a copy is available from the school office.
We have a thriving School Council with representatives from each class who have helped to encourage positive play using ‘Huff & Puff’ equipment and are involved in the Health4Schools campaign.
Religious Education
Our Religious Education teaching follows the Gloucestershire Scheme. It is based on Christianity for the majority of the time, but the younger children also look at Judaism and the older ones learn about Islam and Judaism.
The whole school meets together for worship every day. The children lead their own assembly each week and we also have visiting speakers from the local churches. Assembly provides time to pause from activity and to reflect on the beliefs and values which bind the school community together. It also allows those with a religious commitment the opportunity of entering into worship. In this way we aim to protect and affirm the identity of everyone.
Parents may withdraw their children from daily worship or Religious Education, at which time the child will work elsewhere in school with a quiet activity. If you are considering this, please talk with the Headteacher, before reaching a final decision.
Music
A specialist teacher teaches music throughout school. The children listen to and are encouraged to form opinions about a wide variety of music. They also make their own music using voice, tuned and non-tuned percussion instruments. Music forms part of our annual Key Stage performances and is also linked to other curriculum subjects. The choir perform at local events.
Instrumental tuition, for which parents are charged, is available in school for flute, violin, clarinet, singing, keyboard, drum, saxophone and guitar. Instruments can be hired from the County or school. Some families may be eligible for a bursary to help with the cost.
Physical Education
Our Physical Education curriculum includes gymnastics, games, dance and athletics. Weather permitting, use is made of the playgrounds and our extensive playing field. The whole school regularly exercise together outside in ‘Wake and Shake’ – an activity to stimulate the entire body.
Other subjects
Other subjects taught at the school include history, geography, art, design and technology, drama and French to children in Key Stage 2 by a specialist French teacher. | http://woodmancoteschool.co.uk/about/curriculum-well-being/curriculum/ |
The Year One Assembly this week!
celebrated families!
celebrated emerging confidence!
celebrated a job well done!
Great dance moves!
so much to feel very proud of!
Let’s take the time to reflect on the critical role that families play in teaching, supporting and nurturing children. A safe, happy childhood is the biggest gift we can ever give our kids.
We think about all families in our own community - the ones who are travelling well, and those families who may be struggling with family breakdown, financial stress, isolation, illness, COVID or more. May we recommit to protecting our children from adult issues, seeking out the help and support we may need, and modelling a calm and wise parenting approach, as best we can.
MORNING TEA AFTER THE YEAR 1 ASSEMBLY!
So wonderful to see parents and Grandparents at out assemblies again!
community is about being together
A quick coffee and a chat - a great way to start a Friday!
thank you for making time to attend the assembly and morning tea!
Thank you Mums and Dads for ...
- Appreciating time spent in the company of your precious children - children flourish when parents are present and engaged
- Establishing good routines and boundaries at home - allows children to feel secure, organised and loved
- Ensuring that technology stays out of the bedroom - keeps children safer and less tempted to explore sites and content that may be harmful to their overall wellbeing.
- Overseeing that children get a good 10-11 hours of sleep a night - means that children arrive alert, refreshed and ready to learn.
- Getting your children to school on time - this creates a calmer start to the day and decreases stress.
- Making sure they bring a healthy lunchbox - gives your child's body the right fuel for learning and sets them up for good overall health.
- Monitoring what your child is watching on the TV - a diet of violent movies and games can be harmful to young minds.
- Encouraging and supporting your child to get plenty of physical exercise - organised sports or simply bike riding, swimming, walking, running, climbing ...
- Modelling respectful relationships - in the way you speak, in the way you act - with each other, with your children and with others outside the family.
- A little 'tough love' when needed, and finding plenty to laugh about and feel grateful for!
Thank you for being
wise,
calm under pressure,
fun-loving
and patient with your children
while also teaching them the value of
being kind
caring
and courageous!
It's hard work being a good parent but parenting is such a life long INVESTMENT and well worth all the effort.
Raising happy, friendly, positive, loving children
is so rewarding in the long run!
Al the best and well done!
May is the Month of Mary ...
From the Principal
Good afternoon everyone.
THANK YOU - from Father Jean-Noel Marie
Father Jean-Noel passes on his sincere thanks to the St Emilie's School community for our support at this very sad time. A very special thank you to those families who responded to our email asking for a platter of food - you were most generous and this was very much appreciated.
Supporting our Parish Priest and working alongside our parish, is an important part of community life here at St Emilie's.
COVID
We currently have 9 staff away due to COVID. While this is somewhat disruptive to classes, it can unfortunately not be avoided in the current climate. Rest assured, much time and care is taken to provide relief teachers that are ideally known to our school community and to the children. Likewise teachers send their daily teaching plan through to relief staff in order to maintain the continuity of learning.
Parents are asked to please try not to disturb teachers who are away sick or on leave. If you need to communicate a question or concern and your class teacher is away, please direct this to Admin who will then forward it to either the relief teacher or to Leadership, if needed.
QUALITY CATHOLIC EDUCATION SCHOOL REVIEW
The Quality Catholic Education School Review (QCESR) process focuses on the
school’s improvement context over the past three years, as well as the principal’s leadership context, measuring the effectiveness of a principal’s leadership and engagement with self-review, the impact of a school’s engagement with self-review, and the future directions for the improvement of student outcomes that the school has identified.
This review will take place over four days, with external reviewers, in week 8 of this term. While this is a big process, it is of course, a necessary part of school accountability. P&F, the School Advisory Council, the Parish Priest, staff and students will be involved in providing feedback.
THE FEDERAL ELECTION
Let's hope whichever party is successful this weekend, they recommit to funding our Catholic school system appropriately. Catholic schools play a vital role in our wider community and we provide a quality education with wrap-around pastoral care for our children.
All the very best everyone, and may the week ahead be a great one!
Kindest regards
Tania Thuijs
Principal
The Funeral of Father Jean-Noel's Father
Fr Robert, Fr Chien , Fr Giovanni, Fr Victor and other Parish Priests concelebrated the Mass.
Father's Niece sang the Ave Maria so beautifully.
Mr Nick Dabbs played and shared his incredible gift.
Father, his family and friends gathered after the burial to share stories and to support one another.
Many thanks to those parents and staff who assisted us with preparing and serving the food for the wake in the hall.
Kindy kids busy creating their class boat - perhaps a pirate ship? Or maybe a cruise ship? All will be revealed in the fullness of time!
Being of Service in our Community ...
We are seeking parents who might live near, or go past the Ranford Shopping Centre, to consider going on a roster, to give a lift to a pregnant mother and her Kindy child who live very close to this shopping centre. Kindy days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week.
The family are currently ubering it to school each day and the Uber's have been both unreliable and expensive.
If you are interested in helping out we would really love to hear from you.
Please give the Office a call on 92569696 to leave your details.
Many thanks.
After Assembly Morning Teas
The purpose of these morning tea's is nothing more that an opportunity to gather, to talk, to meet new parents and to support one another.
Mrs Goodes, our School Social Worker, returns next week and she will also be there to say hello and to offer guidance or advice if needed.
Our next morning tea for any interested parents is on Friday 10th June, at approximately 9.15am after the Year Five assembly.
All welcome.
While masks are optional, we still encourage parents to social distance where possible.
Sacramental Dates and Information - Updated
Premier's Reading Challenge 2022 - Reading can take you Anywhere!
CEWA students are encouraged to get involved and to read 12 books from 5 May to 9 September 2022.
Program objectives:
• To engage all Western Australian students in the joy of reading.
• To expose reluctant readers to creative literacy options.
• To involve parents and caregivers in supporting students’ literacy.
The CEWA Registration Form for students to complete their reading journey is below.
From 5 May 2022, parents or caregivers will also need to register at :
http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.wa.edu.au
The website contains advice and tips for parents and families to support their child’s learning.
All students who complete the challenge will receive a commemorative certificate signed by the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, Premier of Western Australia.
Students can select an avatar online for their personal account and upload books and other titles to be eligible to win prizes.
An innovative partnership with Tourism Western Australia means weekly and end-of-challenge travel and experiential prizes are on offer.
We look forward to this challenge and to transforming, transporting and inspiring students through the wonderful world of reading!
CLOSE CONTACTS AND SUBSEQUENT COVID CASES IN THE HOME
Where an individual is identified as an asymptomatic close contact (no symptoms) , the close contact is required to adhere to the following requirements for seven days, commencing from the day that the COVID-19 test was taken by the COVID-19 positive person:
• Wear a face mask upon leaving the home.
• Take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for seven days and only exit the home if a negative
result is returned.
• Avoid high-risk settings until the seven-day period has concluded.
Where a subsequent COVID-19 positive case is identified in the home, the person considered an asymptomatic close contact is not required to meet the above criteria, unless the second COVID-19 test was taken after the original seven-day quarantine period.
Please see below scenarios for clarification:
Scenario 1:
• Student A is an asymptomatic close contact, living with a parent who is COVID-19 Positive.
• Student A returns a negative RAT and wears a face mask upon leaving the home.
• On day five, a sibling of Student A returns a positive COVID-19 RAT.
• Student A must complete the additional two days of Rapid Antigen Testing and wear
a mask when leaving the home.
• After this time, Student A is not required to undertake a RAT or wear a face mask, even
with a second COVID-19 positive person in the home.
Scenario 2:
• Student B is an asymptomatic close contact, living with a parent who is COVID-19 Positive.
• Student B returns a negative RAT and wears a face mask upon leaving the home.
• On the eighth day after the first COVID-19 case in the home, a sibling of Student B
returns a positive COVID-19 RAT.
• Student B must complete a further seven days of Rapid Antigen Testing and wear
a mask when leaving the home.
Please note, children under the age of 12 and students in Year 6 or below, are not required to wear a face mask, in accordance with the new Transition Face Covering Directions (No.7). Persons who hold a current mask exception are also exempt from this requirement, even if identified as an asymptomatic close contact.
Notifying of a Positive Result
Mandatory Notification of a Positive Test Result
Please record your positive result in both these locations:
1. WA HEALTH
2. CEWA Self-Reporting Portal Form
School Social Worker
3 ingredients for High Quality Parenting.
- Involvement: The best parents are involved in their children’s lives. They provide appropriate care, supervision, and monitoring. It’s not so much about surveillance as it is, awareness of where their children are and what they’re doing, along with support in times of need.
- Structure: The best parents provide structures and safety for their children. This involves talking with them about challenges they may face (pre-arming) such as friendship difficulties, values-clashes, pornography, and so on, and then working with them on solutions for keeping them safe. Structure is also about rhythm and routine. By creating predictability we give our kids a sense of security and safety.
- Autonomy Support: The best parents offer support for their children to make their own decisions (in a developmentally appropriate way) so that they are not forever reliant on the grown-ups to dictate their every choice.
Parish Bulletin for this Weekend's Masses
St Emilie's Parish
Office hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday and Thursday
Mail: PO Box 5184, Canning Vale South WA 6970
An appointment to see a priest is required.
Parish Priest: Fr. Jean-Noël Marie
Email: [email protected]
Office Assistant: Roselle D’Souza
Email: [email protected]
Important reminders / leaving early
2. Please ensure you are emailing the class teacher along with admin If your child is going to be taken out of school for an appointment early.
Keyed Up Music
Keyed Up Music will be teaching guitar, keyboard, voice, violin, and drum lessons in Term 2 after school.
Lessons start from $19.80 for a small group, voice and drums start from $24.75 for 20min individual.
If you are interested in your son / daughter learning an instrument, please ring Savanna on
0479 171 424 or enrol at www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolment-form
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Week 5 Peacefulness Focus = Cooperate with Others
Our week five focus is ‘Cooperate with Others’.
On a daily basis, staff look for ways to model and encourage cooperation in and around the classroom. We do this at St Emilie’s by encouraging and sharing responsibilities. We focus on and demonstrate the need to work together, especially with a common purpose or goal in mind. In the classroom, this might look as simple as working together to tidying up at the end of a lesson.
We encourage students to play games that encourage teamwork. We praise each other for their successes and encourage them through their mistakes. We try to also remember that it is not about winning or losing but about working and learning together, having fun and making friends.
Uniform Shop Contact Information
Phone: 08 9456 2324
Fax: 08 9456 2325
Email: mailto:[email protected]
Address: 26 Tulloch Way, Canning Vale WA 6155
Follow this link to: | https://www.smore.com/g6ydk-weekly-reminders?embed=1 |
The school welcomes and encourages parent and carer participation across a wide range of activities. We encourage parent feedback and dialogue through our newsletter to create a welcoming, safe and positive environment. Parents and carers have welcomed the regular newsletter and have made positive suggestions for the school/home communication strategies. The parents have become more actively involved in bringing their children to school, staying for a chat and a cup of tea as well as attending our daily gathering and end of term events and performances. The school has listened to a number of carer suggestions and initiatives and put them into place. One suggestion was for the children to learn First Aid; we have planned for this to be conducted in Term 3 each year. The parents also emphasised the importance of land and country and the children’s value of this so we have introduced recycling programs reducing waste and learning how each of us can care for our own space.
Due to our contact with Northcott, many families are being supported with respite packages which gives an opportunity for the children to be provided with services and support outside the school. | http://www.rjc.nsw.edu.au/parent-events/ |
When teachers receive their roster each school year, they are handed more than a list of names—they receive an opportunity to invest in lives.
It's likely that some of these lives are impacted by crime and incarceration. 2.7 million children in the United States have a parent behind bars.
Teachers and school administrators play a significant role in creating a positive or negative experience for all of their students, but particularly those who come from more vulnerable backgrounds.
Several strategies can help educators support prisoners' children in school:
TREAT STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS, NOT PRODUCTS
As an article in Education Week points out, students who have an incarcerated parent are statistically more likely to be incarcerated themselves one day. Students with incarcerated parents are often and unfortunately stigmatized as criminals (or on the path to becoming one) themselves. Sadly, bullying is common for children who have a parent in prison. Teachers should be on the lookout for this behavior and intervene.
Other ways that educators can come alongside students with a parent in prison are highlighted by Project Avary, a program that supports children of prisoners:
- Addressing students' feelings about incarceration without focusing on the crimes of the parent
- Offering one-on-one attention and validation
- Praising and helping students grow in their talents and natural positive qualities
- Collaborating with caregivers positively to support students
- Avoiding generalizations that highlight the student's challenging situation
VALIDATE AND ENCOURAGE EMOTIONAL PROCESSING
Most children react with strong emotions to the incarceration of a parent. The emotions can be confusing, especially for younger children. Youth.gov explains that having a parent incarcerated is classified as an "adverse childhood experience" (ACE), just as abuse and other traumatic experiences are.
School staff can help students with incarcerated parents by encouraging them to express their emotions in healthy ways. Behaviors should be corrected, but emotions should't be punished. Validating that a student has a right to experience their own feelings and develop their own opinions can help students take personal responsibility while also healing from the trauma.
MAINTAIN EXPECTATIONS WITH GRACIOUS FLEXIBILITY
School psychologist Eric Rossen outlines several elements of supporting students with incarcerated parents. One is that students need to be given flexibility without lowering expectations. He explains that teacher expectations influence student performance.
When teachers maintain high expectations, students are challenged in a positive way to live up to these expectations. Due to lifestyle changes and hardship that may affect students' ability to focus or complete homework as quickly, some flexibility, such as extra academic support or understanding of the emotions behind a problematic behavior, is also important.
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES
Since the incarceration of a parent can be isolating for a child and negatively affect a student's social relationships, educators can support students by encouraging participation in extracurricular activities. Before- and after- school activities give students:
- Personal interaction with adults and mentors
- Something in common to share with peers
- A space to relax and develop skills they desire
- Oversight that may be lacking at home during those hours
Students often benefit from involvement in activities and events outside of school as well. For instance, children with incarcerated parents may be especially blessed by attending summer camp such as Angel Tree Camping®. Educators can discover opportunities like these and share them with students. Some even choose to use their skills in education to support students at camps throughout the summer.
RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF EDUCATION
One of the main reasons that an educator has an amplified effect on the lives of students with incarcerated parents is because these children often face a variety of significant obstacles. They lack not only the presence of a parent, but also may face instability at home, financial insecurity, little oversight or structure outside of school, inconsistency, and much more.
For many students living with challenges like the incarceration of a parent, school is one of the only places that is stable and consistent. Educators have the opportunity to make that inherent structure safe and positive so that children who may not have support elsewhere have the opportunity to shape their lives for good.
An important note: Children may not be aware that their parent is in prison. If a caregiver discloses this information, the educator should hold that information in confidence unless given permission to share it.
ABOUT BETHANY
A learner at heart, Bethany McIlrath loves to share about her Savior and ways to lovingly serve others whom God has so loved. You can find Bethany's writing on her blog: FirstandSecondBlog.com. She is a guest blogger for Prison Fellowship®.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE
FROM OUT OF THE DEPTHS: OCEAN’S STORY
"Life really is like climbing a mountain. You don't get to the top without some scratches and some scars. I'm not at the top yet, but I'm on a new path."
NEGLECTED DAUGHTER FINDS HER PLACE
"I never really understood my story until probably about a year ago," Kerri says. | https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2017/08/educators-key-players-lives-prisoners-kids/ |
At Shema Kolainu-Hear Our Voices we have an individualized parent training program as well as offer workshops to the community, parents and professionals. The Program is designed to deliver training to parents and other caregivers from the community that will enable them to work with their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the home and community environments with the goal of generalizing behaviors across all domains. We instruct parents/caregivers on becoming effective teachers, offer resources, and support their advocacy efforts.
Our instructors provide the following:
1. Specific research findings concerning autism spectrum disorders.
2. The framework used to design and implement each individualized instructional program, including assessments, interventions, educational materials and progress-monitoring practices for learning language, play and other functional skills.
3. Evidence-based practices to guide the child’s caregiver in how to enhance the relationships within their family (e.g., communication, play and other skills).
4. Practical and evidence-based instructional plans for caregivers to support the child’s in-school and/or home-based learning to help them progress in academic and functional skill areas.
5. Tools to incorporate the use of technology into the caregiver program of instruction in order to increase the child’s focus on tasks, improve communication and ultimately enhance their achievement across all areas of learning.
According to each family’s situation, parents and other caregivers will be taught to implement instructional programs based on the principles of behavior. The parent/caregiver will be taught to implement techniques based on ABA in the child’s natural environment during daily routine activities in their home and community.
Individualized parent training is provided through 1:1 sessions where parents/caregivers explain and describe specific behaviors and communicative concerns. Following a brief description a Board Certified Behavior Analyst operationally defines the target behavior and identifies all the conditions that affect that behavior. A treatment plan is developed and data collection procedures are set in place with the collaborations of all team members. Finally, follow up individualized sessions are completed on an as-needed basis. The training helps parents control unwanted behaviors that occur outside of the school environment, reinforce what has been learned during the in-school/classroom experience, and prevent regression while supporting the objectives of the learning experience. The training also extends the children’s training time, which has proven to improve success rates. It also creates a collaboration between parents/caregivers and educators by partnering to reinforce positive children response patterns.
Many parents complain that children who have acquired skills in school (day programs) are not demonstrating these capabilities in the home and community. The Parent/Caretaker Training Program will help children achieve greater generalization of skills through reinforcement in the home. The barriers to acquiring the skills to participate in the children’s program would be 1. The willingness of the parent or caregiver to persevere until the child begins to respond; 2. The parent/caregivers’ capacity to handle the program; and 3. The level of responsibility they are willing to accept. Workshop effectiveness is evaluated based on the pre and post surveys results.
The workshops are presented by professionals with expertise in specific areas in autism education and behavioral analysis.
The Workshops to be presented for the 2010-2011 year are:
Networking with your Child’s Team- Being a Strong Advocate.
Presented: November 18th, 2010
Communicating and understanding doctors, therapist, teachers, and administrators. Increasing Autism Awareness and keeping up with the research, assisting in fundraising for Autism and finding a cure.
Adaptive Daily Living Skills- the Road to Independence
Presented: January 13th, 2011
Toilet training: baseline, training and follow-up.
Self care skills: brushing teeth, dressing, showering, and eating.
Pre-Vocational skills: following a task analysis, activity schedules and PSI.
Teaching Communication in Different Ways
Understanding Non verbal communication: Using Augmentative communication in the home and in the community
Presented: March 24th, 2011
Alternative and augmentative communicational) assessment, training procedures and integration of AAC in everyday life.
Understanding Verbal communication: Verbal emersion, Verbal behavior, Verbal imitation and fluency.
Using Technology to Increase Independence & Learning
Presented: May 26th, 2011
Introduction to: Videos and internet resources
Software and interactive play
Social stories and PowerPoint
Preacademic and academic skills
To register or for more information:
By phone: 718.686.9600
By email: [email protected]
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Today’s post comes from Salvador Herrando-Pérez (who, incidentally, recently submitted his excellent PhD thesis).
—
The hips of John Travolta, the sword of Luke Skywalker, and the teeth of Jaws marked an era. I still get goose pimples with the movie soundtrack (bass, tuba, orchestra… silence) solemnizing each of the big shark’s attacks. The media and cinema have created the myth of man’s worst friend. This partly explains why shark fishing does not trigger the same societal rejection as the hunting of other colossuses such as whales or elephants. Some authors contend that we currently live in the sixth massive extinction event of planet Earth (1) 75 % of which is strongly driven by one species, humans, and characterized by the systematic disappearance of mega-animals in general (e.g., mammoths, Steller’s seacow), and predators in particular, e.g., sharks (2, 3).
The selective extirpation of apex predators, recently coined as ‘trophic downgrading’, is transforming habitat structure and species composition of many ecosystems worldwide (4). In the marine realm, over the last half a century, the main target of the world’s fisheries has turned from (oft-large body-sized) piscivorous to planctivorous fish and invertebrates, indicating that fishery fleets are exploiting a trophic level down to collapse, then harvesting the next lower trophic level (5-7).
Myers et al. (8) illustrate the problem with the fisheries of apex-predator sharks in the northeastern coast of the USA. Those Atlantic waters are rife with many species of shark (> 2 m), whose main prey are smaller chondrichthyans (skates, rays, catsharks, sharks), which in turn prey on bottom fishes and bivalves. Myers et al. (8) found that, over the last three decades, the abundance of seven species of large sharks declined by ~ 90 %, coinciding with the crash of a centenary fishery of bay scallops (Agropecten irradians). Conversely, the abundance of 12 smaller chondrichthyes increased dramatically over the same period of time. In particular, the cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus), the principal predator of bay scallops, might today exceed > 40 million individuals in some bays, and consume up to ~ 840,000 tonnes of scallops annually. The obvious hypothesis is that the reduction of apex sharks triggers the boom of small chondrichthyans, hence leading to the break-down of scallop stocks.
Eating and being eaten
Trophic downgrading is an example of a trophic cascade. In simple terms, a trophic cascade represents a predator-prey (or parasite-host) relationship, the balance of which affects the abundance, biomass or productivity of a third species (9). Thus, fish species in a freshwater lake might enhance local pollination of terrestrial plants if, by feeding on aquatic larvae of dragonfly, diminish the abundance of adults of dragonfly that forage on pollinating bees (10).
Trophic cascades can originate from human action (e.g., trophic downgrading), natural factors, or both. Thus, at the beginning of last century, overhunting of Alaskan sea otters (Enhydra lutris) brought the species to the brink of extinction, but provoked the explosion of their preferred prey, sea urchins, which devoured kelp forests. Subsequently, kelp forests recovered after several decades of otter protection (11). Now some authors suggest that killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation on sea otters might jeopardize kelp forests again (12-14).
Most importantly, trophic cascades result not only from direct mortality of prey species, but due to change in prey behaviour avoiding their enemies (15). In Australia, tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) can shape local distribution and abundance of seagrass beds, because dugongs (Dugong dugon) avoid the lush shallow-water seagrass, in favour of deeper waters with less food, yet lower risk of shark encounters (16).
Globally, trophic cascades brought about by extirpation or introduction of predators or megaherbivores promote or exacerbate a range of severe, long-term environmental impacts such as wild fires, invasion of foreign species, disease bouts, CO2 emissions, water hypoxia or impoverishment of species richness (4). Those outcomes manifest the complexity of trophic chains, and the need to account for species’ ecological functions in our (largely failed) endeavour of regulating our encroachments on nature and ecosystem services. | https://conservationbytes.com/2012/05/05/custodians-of-fisheries/ |
Mammal extinctions and the increasing isolation of humans on the tree of life.
Pavoine S., Bonsall MB., Davies TJ., Masi S.
A sixth great mass extinction is ongoing due to the direct and indirect effects of human pressures. However, not all lineages are affected equally. From an anthropocentric perspective, it is often purported that humans hold a unique place on Earth. Here, we show that our current impacts on the natural world risk realizing that expectation. We simulated species loss on the mammalian phylogenetic tree, informed by species current extinction risks. We explored how Homo sapiens could become isolated in the tree if species currently threatened with extinction disappeared. We analyzed correlates of mammal extinctions risks that may drive this isolation pattern. We show that, within mammals, and more particularly within primates, extinction risks increase with the number of known threat types, and decrease with geographic range size. Extinctions increase with species body mass, trophic level, and the median longitudinal extent of each species range in mammals but not within primates. The risks of extinction are frequently high among H. sapiens close relatives. Pruning threatened primates, including apes (Hominidae, Hylobatidae), from the tree of life will lead to our species being among those with the fewest close relatives. If no action is taken, we will thus not only lose crucial biodiversity for the preservation of Earth ecosystems, but also a key living reference to what makes us human. | https://www.neuroscience.ox.ac.uk/publications/971228 |
Bald Eagle had been at high...
biology
Asked on November 22, 2019 by
Nuqra Mehrotra
Bald Eagle had been at high risk of extinction due to its
A
Large size
B
Low reproductive potential
C
High trophic level
D
Change in migratory route
MEDIUM
Answer
When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, small population, and position at a higher trophic level favour extinction.
So, the correct answer is 'High trophic level'.
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Since the origin of life on earth, there were five episodes of mass extinction of species.
(i) How is the 'sixth extinction', presently in progress, different from the previous episodes?
(ii) Who is mainly responsible for the 'sixth extinction'?
(iii) List any four points that can help to overcome this disaster.
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The extinction and disappearance of some species is because of the _____
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Which of the following is/are factors that pose a great threat to biodiversity?
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What are the major causes of species losses in a geographical region?
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The alien species of catfish is ............ which is a great threat to local catfishes in our rivers.
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What is mainly responsible for extinction of wildlife?
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Wildlife is destroyed most when
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Explain the three causes for biodiversity depletion.
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Which one has become endangered due to extinction of Dodo
(Raphus cucullatus)?
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Which of the following practices has caused maximum damage to the diversity of Indian forests? | https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/bald-eagle-had-been-at-high-risk-of-extinction-due/ |
Objectives: The goal of this study is an overall assessment of natural resources potential and environmental “health” of the city of Ishim according to the indicating characteristics of small mammals. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The assessment of natural resources potential was made by means of biological monitoring with the use of species biodiversity and cenosis stability indicators. The animals were collected by means of non-selective non-recoverable capture method. Snap traps were placed in trap lines, the animals were identified by morphological and craniological characteristics. The material was collected near Sinitsino village, which is located on the territory of nature reserve in Ishim district. Findings: Within the anthropogenic impact gradient, significant changes have been indicated. Including statistically significant decrease in the number of small mammal species, a simplification of taxonomic cenosis structure, change of their ecological structure in favor of the increase of the percentage share of eusynanthropes and synanthropes and the decrease of the relative share of anthropophilic and neutral species to the extent of their total extinction in both settlement zones.A consistent decrease of species diversity index and stability of small mammal’s community has been indicated all the way from the parkland zone towards the high-rise building area. By means of quality cluster analysis, it has been proven that the zone of city inarable land is differentiated from the parkland zone. Such findings can be explained by the loss of connection with native habitat, the increase of complex influence of urbanization factors, which results in extinction of some neutral and anthropophilic species, a decrease of the number of red-toothed shrews, which take a higher trophic level than other rodents, etc. Application/Improvements: The study has revealed that the essential conditions for the conservation of species biodiversity potential of Ishim include such factors as preservation of greater greenfield areas and protective habitat capacity and a variety of microsites.
Keywords: Biodiversity Potential, Ecology, Environment, Natural Resources, Small Mammals
Subscribe now for latest articles and news. | https://indjst.org/articles/environmental-condition-of-the-city-of-ishim-as-a-quality-of-life-indicator |
Groupers are a large group of predatory fishes in the family Serranidae, functioning as top predators in many tropical aquatic ecosystems. Grouper are easily recognizable due to their stout, round bodies and large mouths that are used to engulf prey whole. Common Caribbean grouper species include:
- Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio)
- Rock Hind (Epinephelus adscensionis)
- Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
Habitat
Suitable habitat for grouper includes hard bottom reef and rocky offshore environments both nearshore and offshore, at depths of up to 300 feet. Juvenile fish can typically be found in nursery environments or shallow reefs, with adult fish moving into deeper waters.
Diet
Their diets typically consist of crustaceans and small fishes, with larger species preying almost exclusively on fish. Grouper are slow swimmers that rely on their large mouths to inhale prey, often habitualizing prey species to their presence in order to conserve energy.
Reproduction
Grouper have a long and complex life cycle, reaching sexual maturity at roughly 5 years of age. They spend the first portion of their lives in mangroves, shallow reefs, or other nursery habitats, after which they swim out to deeper water where they live out the rest of their lives. Groupers spawn in large groups called aggregations along the outer continental shelf, making them easy targets for commercial fishing operations that have discovered aggregation sites. Spawning typically occurs during the winter, with courtship and gamete release occurring between one female and a group of males. As Protogynous Hermaphrodites, Grouper are able to switch from female to male, a change that typically occurs in preparation for aggregation spawning.
Additional info
Like many reef fishes, Grouper have the ability to quickly change coloration. This ability can be used as a means of signaling, or camouflage for juvenile fishes. Grouper often use color signaling around small gobies when they desire to be cleaned of parasites and other bothersome ailments.
History of Overfishing
Grouper Overfishing
As one of the highest valued families of reef fish, grouper have faced consistently heavy fishing pressure for decades. Grouper are also particularly vulnerable to overfishing because of the way they reproduce. By forming fish spawning aggregations (very large groups of fish coming together to release sperm and eggs into the water column at the same time), grouper are able to be harvested in large quantities with low effort during spawning season. Additionally, grouper take several years to become sexually mature, making it even more difficult for grouper populations to recover from overfishing. For these reasons, many species of grouper are considered endangered and most grouper fisheries throughout the world are depleted. The consistent overfishing of grouper that has occurred since the 1970s is responsible for the depleted fisheries and explains why fish sold as "grouper" in restaurants is so frequently mislabeled.
Ecological Consequences
Because of grouper's position near the top of the food chain in reef ecosystems, the removal of this predator can have a large impact on the abundance of species on lower trophic levels. The trophic level of different grouper species varies, as do their roles on different reef ecosystems, but the presence of a top-level predator such as Nassau grouper or goliath grouper has been found to help recruitment of reef fish on lower trophic levels. These predators help to maintain balanced populations of intermediate predators and species on lower trophic levels, and their removal can lead to a decrease in biodiversity. Additionally, the role of some grouper as ecosystem engineers that excavate burrows in reefs supports greater biodiversity by providing habitat for other species. Due to their roles as top-level predators and ecosystem engineers, the removal of grouper can have serious impacts on reef biodiversity and biogeochemistry.
Nassau Grouper
Prior to the 1970s, Nassau grouper were one of the most common species of grouper in the United States. However, heavy fishing pressure and the expansion of local fisheries to large grouper spawning aggregation sites caused populations to collapse. Currently, Nassau grouper is commercially extinct throughout much of its geographical range and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. | https://www.coraldigest.org/index.php/Grouper |
Susceptibility to extinctio...
biology
Asked on November 22, 2019 by
Katwe Suthar
Susceptibility to extinction is due to
A
Large body size
B
Small population
C
High trophic level
D
All of the above
MEDIUM
Answer
When there are no more individuals of a species (plant or animal) alive anywhere in the world, the species is said to be extinct. Extinction is also known as the process of dying out. The process is a completely natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a higher and a faster rate than usual. Factors such as large body size, small population and position at a higher trophic level favour extinction.
So, the correct answer is 'All of the above'.
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Most of the endangered species are victims of
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(a) Taking one example each of habitat loss and fragmentation, explain how are the two responsible for biodiversity loss.
(b) Explain two different ways of biodiversity conservation.
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Which of the following type of animal is chiefly protected by man?
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Extinction of numerous wild animals is due to
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Wildlife population are decreasing due to _________
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More than ............ species, worldwide are facing threat of extinction.
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Polar bears are just one species whose biodiversity has been affected by human activities Which of these is the greatest threat to the polar bears? | https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/susceptibility-to-extinction-is-due-to/ |
The concept of the food web is one of the oldest in modern ecology, dating from Charles Elton’s landmark 1927 book, Animal Ecology. Elton was interested in those fundamental but perhaps overlooked processes that have the power to shape entire communities. One such process was getting food. “Animals are not always struggling for existence,” he wrote, “but when they do begin, they spend the greater part of their lives eating.” How an animal caught its food was not important. What mattered was the way energy moved from one level of organisms to the next— from, as Elton saw it, a plant, to an herbivore, to a carnivore.
For Elton, those schematics were “food-chains”; all the food chains in a given community constituted its “food-cycle”. Over time, the metaphor evolved from a chain, with its reliance on single linkages, into its more modern iteration, the web. This better reflects the many roles a single organism can play, or the fact that the relationships between different trophic levels and functional groups are not necessarily linear. So, too, do scientists draw food webs in a number of ways, depending on the scale of what they are trying to show, or the nature of the interactions between species. Within the Salish Sea, for instance, there can be terrestrial and aquatic food webs; or, to parse more finely, freshwater and marine food webs; or to parse more finely still, a soft-bottomed nearshore food web, a pelagic (open marine waters) food web, and so on.
The Salish Sea is rich in life, home to thousands of species of marine invertebrates, hundreds of species of plants, more than 200 species of fish, nearly 200 species of seabirds, and more than 30 species of mammals. All of them are part of at least one food web. They may be top-level predators, like seabirds or most of the marine mammals. They can be mid-level consumers, like juvenile fish, shorebirds, or sea stars, acting as links between the food web’s lower and upper levels. There are herbivores and detritivores near the base, which graze either on plants or other non-living organic matter. And there are the primary producers—the phytoplankton, algae, and vascular plants—that form the very base of the food web.
All food webs are dynamic. Changes in the abundance of almost any species can cause strong ripples as the remaining organisms reshuffle themselves. Along the west coast of North America, one of the most famous examples of a so-called trophic cascade is that of the sea otter; or, more accurately, its absence. Sea otters are top-level predators in kelp forest food webs. Among other things, they prey on sea urchins, helping to control their numbers. When trappers hunted sea otters to near extinction from the mid-18th through the early 20th centuries— sea otters were completely extirpated from the state of Washington until their reintroduction in 1972— populations of urchins suddenly thrived, as they now had unfettered access to their preferred food, kelp. Heavily consumed, the kelp suffered as a result. But it wasn’t just kelp that paid the price for the absent sea otters: all the species that depended on kelp for shelter or protection were affected, too. More recently, the widespread loss of sea stars has left scientists watching to see how the rocky intertidal food web will reassemble itself, suddenly deprived of a keystone species.
All throughout the Salish Sea, food webs are in a near constant state of flux, whether due to local or regional conditions, seasonal changes, or large-scale perturbations, the potential consequences of which often remain unknown. As scientists study ocean acidification, for example, they have begun to try to predict where in the marine food web it will have the greatest impacts. The lowering of pH is felt most keenly by species that build shells or other internal structures from calcium, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Of these, mollusks have so far received the most popular attention. But ecosystem-based models show that changes to crustacean abundance—most especially copepods, a kind of zooplankton—will most likely have the strongest impact on overall food web structure. | https://www.eopugetsound.org/articles/food-webs |
In this activity, students model trophic cascades, which are also explored in a variety of related resources, using cards of animal and plant species from seven different habitats. It is designed to illustrate the species relationships in a food chain and the effect of predators on the trophic levels below.
Trophic cascades have been described in numerous ecosystems, ranging from kelp forests ofthe Pacific Ocean, to arctic islands, to Central American jungles, to salt marshes. Trophic cascades occur when predators reduce the abundance or change the activity of their prey, thereby allowing species in the trophic level below to increase in number. These indirect effects by the predator can trickle down (or cascade) to many lower levels of the food chain.
This activity complements the concepts explored in the Exploring Trophic Cascades Click & Learn, the short film Some Animals Are More Equal than Others, and the Ecology of Rivers and Coasts and Patterns and Processes in Ecology Science Talks.
Student Learning Targets
- Arrange organisms according to trophic level in a variety of different ecosystems.
- Distinguish between direct and indirect effects of organisms in their environment. | https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/modeling-trophic-cascades |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10316/41303
|Title:||Effects of Alien Plants on Insect Abundance and Biomass: a Food-Web Approach||Authors:||Heleno, Ruben
|
CEIA, RICARDO S.
RAMOS, JAIME A.
MEMMOTT, JANE
|Keywords:||Animals; Biodiversity; Biomass; Insects; Plants; Population Dynamics; Conservation of Natural Resources; Food Chain||Issue Date:||2009||Serial title, monograph or event:||Conservation Biology||Volume:||23||Issue:||2||Abstract:||The replacement of native plants by alien species is likely to affect other trophic levels, particularly phytophagous insects. Nevertheless, the effect of alien plants on insect biomass has not yet been quantified. Given their critical role in transferring energy from plants to higher trophic levels, if alien plants do affect insect biomass, this could have far-reaching consequences for community structure. We used 35 food webs to evaluate the impacts of alien plants on insect productivity in a native forest in the Azores. Our food webs quantified plants, insect herbivores, and their parasitoids, which allowed us to test the effects of alien plants on species richness and evenness, insect abundance, insect biomass, and food-web structure. Species richness of plants and insects, along with plant species evenness, declined as the level of plant invasion increased. Nevertheless, none of the 4 quantitative food-web descriptors (number of links, link density, connectance, and interaction evenness) varied significantly with plant invasion independent of the size of the food web. Overall, insect abundance was not significantly affected by alien plants, but insect biomass was significantly reduced. This effect was due to the replacement of large insects on native plants with small insects on alien plants. Furthermore, the impact of alien plants was sufficiently severe to invert the otherwise expected pattern of species-richness decline with increased elevation. We predict a decrease in insect productivity by over 67% if conservation efforts fail to halt the invasion of alien plants in the Azores.||URI:||http://hdl.handle.net/10316/41303||Other Identifiers:||10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01129.x||Rights:||openAccess|
|Appears in Collections:||I&D CFE - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais|
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The population dynamics of organisms living in short-lived habitats will largely depend on the turnover of habitat patches. It has been suggested that epiphytes, whose host plants can be regarded as habitat patches, often form such patch-tracking populations. However, very little is known about the long-term fate of epiphyte individuals and populations. We estimated life span and assessed environmental factors influencing changes in vitality, fertility, abundance, and distribution of the epiphytic lichen species Lobaria pulmonaria on two spatial scales, individual trees and forest patches, over a period of; 10 years in 66 old-growth forest fragments. The lichen had gone extinct from 7 of the 66 sites (13.0%) where it was found 10 years earlier, even though the sites remained unchanged. The risk of local population extinction increased with decreasing population size. In contrast to the decrease in the number of occupied trees and sites, the mean area of the lichen per tree increased by 43.0%. The number of trees with fertile ramets of L. pulmonaria increased from 7 (similar to 1%) to 61 (similar to 10%) trees, and the number of forest fragments with fertile ramets increased from 4 to 23 fragments. The mean annual rate of L. pulmonaria extinction at the tree level was estimated to be 2.52%, translating into an expected lifetime of 39.7 years. This disappearance rate is higher than estimated mortality rates for potential host trees. The risk of extinction at the tree level was significantly positively related to tree circumference and differed between tree species. The probability of presence of fertile ramets increased significantly with local population size. Our results show a long expected lifetime of Lobaria pulmonaria ramets on individual trees and a recent increase in vitality, probably due to decreasing air pollution. The population is, however, declining slowly even though remaining stands are left uncut, which we interpret as an extinction debt. | https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/en/publications/local-population-extinction-and-vitality-of-an-epiphytic-lichen-in-fragmented-oldgrowth-forest(f1cd77c3-5699-4753-9dc6-e90fd32caa97).html |
where N1 is the number of individuals at time 1, N0 is the number of individuals at time 0, B is the number of individuals born, D the number that died, I the number that immigrated, and E the number that emigrated between time 0 and time 1. While immigration and emigration can be present in wild fisheries, they are usually not measured.
A fishery population is affected by three dynamic rate functions:
- Birth rate or recruitment. Recruitment means reaching a certain size or reproductive stage. With fisheries, recruitment usually refers to the age a fish can be caught and counted in nets.
- Growth rate. This measures the growth of individuals in size and length. This is important in fisheries where the population is often measured in terms of biomass.
- Mortality. This includes harvest mortality and natural mortality. Natural mortality includes non-human predation, disease and old age.
If these rates are measured over different time intervals, the harvestable surplus of a fishery can be determined. The harvestable surplus is the number of individuals that can be harvested from the population without affecting long term stability (average population size). The harvest within the harvestable surplus is called compensatory mortality, where the harvest deaths are substituting for the deaths that would otherwise occur naturally. Harvest beyond that is additive mortality, harvest in addition to all the animals that would have died naturally.
Care is needed when applying population dynamics to real world fisheries. Over-simplistic modelling of fisheries has resulted in the collapse of key stocks.
Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Population size
- 3 Virtual population analysis
- 4 Minimum viable population
- 5 Maximum sustainable yield
- 6 Recruitment
- 7 Fishing effort
- 8 Overfishing
- 9 Metapopulation
- 10 Age class structure
- 11 Population cycle
- 12 Trophic cascades
- 13 Basic models
- 14 Predator-prey equations
- 15 See also
- 16 Notes
- 17 References
- 18 Further reading
- 19 External links
History
The first principle of population dynamics is widely regarded as the exponential law of Malthus, as modelled by the Malthusian growth model. The early period was dominated by demographic studies such as the work of Benjamin Gompertz and Pierre François Verhulst in the early 19th century, who refined and adjusted the Malthusian demographic model. A more general model formulation was proposed by F.J. Richards in 1959, by which the models of Gompertz, Verhulst and also Ludwig von Bertalanffy are covered as special cases of the general formulation.
Population size
The population size (usually denoted by N) is the number of individual organisms in a population.
The effective population size (Ne) was defined by Sewall Wright, who wrote two landmark papers on it (Wright 1931, 1938). He defined it as "the number of breeding individuals in an idealized population that would show the same amount of dispersion of allele frequencies under random genetic drift or the same amount of inbreeding as the population under consideration". It is a basic parameter in many models in population genetics. Ne is usually less than N (the absolute population size).
Small population size results in increased genetic drift. Population bottlenecks are when population size reduces for a short period of time.
Overpopulation may indicate any case in which the population of any species of animal may exceed the carrying capacity of its ecological niche.
Virtual population analysis
Virtual population analysis (VPA) is a cohort modeling technique commonly used in fisheries science for reconstructing historical fish numbers at age using information on death of individuals each year. This death is usually partitioned into catch by fisheries and natural mortality. VPA is virtual in the sense that the population size is not observed or measured directly but is inferred or back-calculated to have been a certain size in the past in order to support the observed fish catches and an assumed death rate owing to non-fishery related causes.
Minimum viable population
The minimum viable population (MVP) is a lower bound on the population of a species, such that it can survive in the wild. More specifically MVP is the smallest possible size at which a biological population can exist without facing extinction from natural disasters or demographic, environmental, or genetic stochasticity. The term "population" refers to the population of a species in the wild.
As a reference standard, MVP is usually given with a population survival probability of somewhere between ninety and ninety-five percent and calculated for between one hundred and one thousand years into the future.
The MVP can be calculated using computer simulations known as population viability analyses (PVA), where populations are modelled and future population dynamics are projected.
Maximum sustainable yield
In population ecology and economics, the maximum sustainable yield or MSY is, theoretically, the largest catch that can be taken from a fishery stock over an indefinite period. Under the assumption of logistic growth, the MSY will be exactly at half the carrying capacity of a species, as this is the stage at when population growth is highest. The maximum sustainable yield is usually higher than the optimum sustainable yield.
This logistic model of growth is produced by a population introduced to a new habitat or with very poor numbers going through a lag phase of slow growth at first. Once it reaches a foothold population it will go through a rapid growth rate that will start to level off once the species approaches carrying capacity. The idea of maximum sustained yield is to decrease population density to the point of highest growth rate possible. This changes the number of the population, but the new number can be maintained indefinitely, ideally.
MSY is extensively used for fisheries management. Unlike the logistic (Schaefer) model, MSY in most modern fisheries models occurs at around 30-40% of the unexploited population size (see e.g. ). This fraction differs among populations depending on the life history of the species and the age-specific selectivity of the fishing method.
However, the approach has been widely criticized as ignoring several key factors involved in fisheries management and has led to the devastating collapse of many fisheries. As a simple calculation, it ignores the size and age of the animal being taken, its reproductive status, and it focuses solely on the species in question, ignoring the damage to the ecosystem caused by the designated level of exploitation and the issue of bycatch. Among conservation biologists it is widely regarded as dangerous and misused.
Recruitment
Recruitment is the number of new young fish that enter a population in a given year. The size of fish populations can fluctuate by orders of magnitude over time, and five to 10-fold variations in abundance are usual. This variability applies across time spans ranging from a year to hundreds of years. Year to year fluctuations in the abundance of short lived forage fish can be nearly as great as the fluctuations that occur over decades or centuries. This suggests that fluctuations in reproductive and recruitment success are prime factors behind fluctuations in abundance. Annual fluctuations often seem random, and recruitment success often has a poor relationship to adult stock levels and fishing effort. This makes prediction difficult.
The recruitment problem is the problem of predicting the number of fish larvae in one season that will survive and become juvenile fish in the next season. It has been called "the central problem of fish population dynamics" and “the major problem in fisheries science". Fish produce huge volumes of larvae, but the volumes are very variable and mortality is high. This makes good predictions difficult.
According to Daniel Pauly, the definitive study was made in 1999 by Ransom Myers. Myers solved the problem "by assembling a large base of stock data and developing a complex mathematical model to sort it out. Out of that came the conclusion that a female in general produced three to five recruits per year for most fish.”
Fishing effort
Fishing effort is a measure of the anthropogenic work input used to catch fish. A good measure of the fishing effort will be approximately proportional to the amount of fish captured. Different measures are appropriate for different kinds of fisheries. For example, the fishing effort exerted by a fishing fleet in a trawl fishery might be measured by summing the products of the engine power for each boat and time it spent at sea (KW x days). For a gill-net fishery the effort might be measured by summing the products of the length of each set net and the time it was set in the water (Km x soak time). In fisheries where boats spend a lot of time looking for fish, a measure based on search time may be used.
Overfishing
The notion of overfishing hinges on what is meant by an acceptable level of fishing.
A current operational model used by some fisheries for predicting acceptable levels is the Harvest Control Rule (HCR). This formalizes and summarizes a management strategy which can actively adapt to subsequent feedback. The HCR is a variable over which the management has some direct control and describes how the harvest is intended to be controlled by management in relation to the state of some indicator of stock status. For example, a harvest control rule can describe the various values of fishing mortality which will be aimed at for various values of the stock abundance. Constant catch and constant fishing mortality are two types of simple harvest control rules.
- Biological overfishing occurs when fishing mortality has reached a level where the stock biomass has negative marginal growth (slowing down biomass growth), as indicated by the red area in the figure. Fish are being taken out of the water so quickly that the replenishment of stock by breeding slows down. If the replenishment continues to slow down for long enough, replenishment will go into reverse and the population will decrease.
- Economic or bioeconomic overfishing additionally considers the cost of fishing and defines overfishing as a situation of negative marginal growth of resource rent. Fish are being taken out of the water so quickly that the growth in the profitability of fishing slows down. If this continues for long enough, profitability will decrease.
Metapopulation
A metapopulation is a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. The term was coined by Richard Levins in 1969. The idea has been most broadly applied to species in naturally or artificially fragmented habitats. In Levins' own words, it consists of "a population of populations".
A metapopulation generally consists of several distinct populations together with areas of suitable habitat which are currently unoccupied. Each population cycles in relative independence of the other populations and eventually goes extinct as a consequence of demographic stochasticity (fluctuations in population size due to random demographic events); the smaller the population, the more prone it is to extinction.
Although individual populations have finite life-spans, the population as a whole is often stable because immigrants from one population (which may, for example, be experiencing a population boom) are likely to re-colonize habitat which has been left open by the extinction of another population. They may also emigrate to a small population and rescue that population from extinction (called the rescue effect).
Age class structure
Age can be determined by counting growth rings in fish scales, otoliths, cross-sections of fin spines for species with thick spines such as triggerfish, or teeth for a few species. Each method has its merits and drawbacks. Fish scales are easiest to obtain, but may be unreliable if scales have fallen off of the fish and new ones grown in their places. Fin spines may be unreliable for the same reason, and most fish do not have spines of sufficient thickness for clear rings to be visible. Otoliths will have stayed with the fish throughout its life history, but obtaining them requires killing the fish. Also, otoliths often require more preparation before ageing can occur.
An age class structure with gaps in it, for instance a regular bell curve for the population of 1-5 year-old fish, excepting a very low population for the 3-year-olds, implies a bad spawning year 3 years ago in that species.
Often fish in younger age class structures have very low numbers because they were small enough to slip through the sampling nets, and may in fact have a very healthy population.
Population cycle
A population cycle occurs where populations rise and fall over a predictable period of time. There are some species where population numbers have reasonably predictable patterns of change although the full reasons for population cycles is one of the major unsolved ecological problems. There are a number of factors which influence population change such as availability of food, predators, diseases and climate.
Trophic cascades
Trophic cascades occur when predators in a food chain suppress the abundance of their prey, thereby releasing the next lower trophic level from predation (or herbivory if the intermediate trophic level is an herbivore). For example, if the abundance of large piscivorous fish is increased in a lake, the abundance of their prey, zooplanktivorous fish, should decrease, large zooplankton abundance should increase, and phytoplankton biomass should decrease. This theory has stimulated new research in many areas of ecology. Trophic cascades may also be important for understanding the effects of removing top predators from food webs, as humans have done in many places through hunting and fishing activities.
- Classic examples
- In lakes, piscivorous fish can dramatically reduce populations of zooplanktivorous fish, zooplanktivorous fish can dramatically alter freshwater zooplankton communities, and zooplankton grazing can in turn have large impacts on phytoplankton communities. Removal of piscivorous fish can change lake water from clear to green by allowing phytoplankton to flourish.
- In the Eel River, in Northern California, fish (steelhead and roach) consume fish larvae and predatory insects. These smaller predators prey on midge larvae, which feed on algae. Removal of the larger fish increases the abundance of algae.
- In Pacific kelp forests, sea otters feed on sea urchins. In areas where sea otters have been hunted to extinction, sea urchins increase in abundance and decimate kelp
A recent theory, the mesopredator release hypothesis, states that the decline of top predators in an ecosystem results in increased populations of medium-sized predators (mesopredators).
Basic models
- The classic population equilibrium model is Verhulst's 1838 growth model:
- where N(t) represents number of individuals at time t, r the intrinsic growth rate and K is the carrying capacity, or the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support.
- The individual growth model, published by von Bertalanffy in 1934, can be used to model the rate at which fish grow. It exists in a number of versions, but in its simplest form it is expressed as a differential equation of length (L) over time (t):
- where rB is the von Bertalanffy growth rate and L∞ the ultimate length of the individual.
- Schaefer published a fishery equilibrium model based on the Verhulst model with an assumption of a bi-linear catch equation, often referred to as the Schaefer short-term catch equation:
- where the variables are; H, referring to catch (harvest) over a given period of time (e.g. a year); E, the fishing effort over the given period; X, the fish stock biomass at the beginning of the period (or the average biomass), and the parameter q represents the catchability of the stock.
- Assuming the catch to equal the net natural growth in the population over the same period (), the equilibrium catch is a function of the long term fishing effort E:
- r and K being biological parameters representing intrinsic growth rate and natural equilibrium biomass respectively.
- The Baranov catch equation of 1918 is perhaps the most used equation in fisheries modelling. It gives the catch in numbers as a function of initial population abundance N0 and fishing F and natural mortality M:
- where T is the time period and is usually left out (i.e. T=1 is assumed). The equation assumes that fishing and natural mortality occur simultaneously and thus "compete" with each other. The first term expresses the proportion of deaths that are caused by fishing, and the second and third term the total number of deaths.
- The Ricker model is a classic discrete population model which gives the expected number (or density) of individuals Nt + 1 in generation t + 1 as a function of the number of individuals in the previous generation,
- Here r is interpreted as an intrinsic growth rate and k as the carrying capacity of the environment. The Ricker model was introduced in the context of the fisheries by Ricker (1954).
- The Beverton–Holt model, introduced in the context of fisheries in 1957, is a classic discrete-time population model which gives the expected number n t+1 (or density) of individuals in generation t + 1 as a function of the number of individuals in the previous generation,
- Here R0 is interpreted as the proliferation rate per generation and K = (R0 − 1) M is the carrying capacity of the environment.
Predator-prey equations
The classic predator-prey equations are a pair of first order, non-linear, differential equations used to describe the dynamics of biological systems in which two species interact, one a predator and one its prey. They were proposed independently by Alfred J. Lotka in 1925 and Vito Volterra in 1926.
An extension to these are the competitive Lotka-Volterra equations, which provide a simple model of the population dynamics of species competing for some common resource.
In the 1930s Alexander Nicholson and Victor Bailey developed a model to describe the population dynamics of a coupled predator-prey system. The model assumes that predators search for prey at random, and that both predators and prey are assumed to be distributed in a non-contiguous ("clumped") fashion in the environment.
In the late 1980s, a credible, simple alternative to the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model (and its common prey dependent generalizations) emerged, the ratio dependent or Arditi-Ginzburg model. The two are the extremes of the spectrum of predator interference models. According to the authors of the alternative view, the data show that true interactions in nature are so far from the Lotka-Volterra extreme on the interference spectrum that the model can simply be discounted as wrong. They are much closer to the ratio dependent extreme, so if a simple model is needed one can use the Arditi-Ginzburg model as the first approximation.
See also
- Ecosystem model
- Depensation
- Huffaker's mite experiment
- Overfishing
- Overexploitation
- Population modeling
- Tragedy of the commons
- Wild fisheries
Notes
- ^ Wilderbuera, Thomas K and Zhang, Chang Ik (1999) Evaluation of the population dynamics and yield characteristics of Alaska plaice, Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus, in the eastern Bering Sea. Fisheries Research. Volume 41, Issue 2.
- ^ Richard W Zabel, Chris J Harvey, Steven L Katz, Thomas P Good, Phillip S Levin (2003) Ecologically Sustainable Yield. Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine American Scientist, March–April.
- ^ Kapur V, Troy D and Oris J (1997) A Sustainable Fishing Simulation Using Mathematical Modeling Archived 2009-05-05 at the Wayback Machine Crossroads.
- ^ Caswell, H. 2001. Matrix population models: Construction, analysis and interpretation, 2nd Edition. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts. ISBN 0-87893-096-5.
- ^ a b Larkin PA (1977) "An epitaph for the concept of maximum sustained yield"[permanent dead link] Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 106: 1–11.
- ^ a b Walters C and Maguire J (1996) "Lessons for stock assessment from the northern cod collapse", Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 6:125–137.
- ^ Richards F. J. (1959) "A Flexible Growth Function for Empirical Use", Journal of Experimental Botany, 10: 290-301.
- ^ Holsinger (2007)
- ^ Europa: European Union (2006) Management based on maximum sustainable yield Archived 2007-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Europa: European Union (2006) Questions and Answers on Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)
- ^ WWF Publications (2007) The Maximum Sustainable Yield objective in Fisheries[permanent dead link]
- ^ New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries. MSY Harvest Strategies.
- ^ Thorpe et al. (2015) Evaluation and management implications of uncertainty in a multispecies size-structured model of population and community responses to fishing
- ^ Houde DE (2009) Recruitment variability in Jakobsen T, Fogarty MJ, Megrey BA and Moksness E. Fish Reproductive Biology, Chapter 3, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-2126-2.
- ^ Beyer, J.E. (1981) Aquatic ecosystems-an operational research approach. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95719-0.
- ^ a b c Ransom A. Myers, 54, Dies; Expert on Loss of Fish Stocks The New York Times, 29 March 2007.
- ^ Bakun A (1985) "Comparative studies and the recruitment problem: Searching for generalizations" Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine CalCOFI Report Vol 26.
- ^ Ransom Aldrich Myers (1952-2007) by Daniel Pauly, Nature, 10 May 2007.
- ^ Myers R.A. (1995) "Recruitment of marine fish: the relative roles of density-dependent and density-independent mortality in the egg, larval, and juvenile stages" Marine Ecology Progress Series, 128: 305-310
- ^ Fishing effort Glossary of Statistical Terms in: Review of Fisheries in OECD Countries, 1998. Updated 5 March 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ Fishing effort European Commission. Retrieved: 21 April 2019.
- ^ Fishing effort measurement. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved: 21 April 2019.
- ^ Coad, Brian W.; McAllister, Don E. (2008). "Dictionary of Ichthyology". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ Levins, R. 1969. "Some demographic and genetic consequences of environmental heterogeneity for biological control." Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, 15, 237-240
- ^ Carpenter SR, Kitchell JF, Hodgson JR (1985) Cascading trophic interactions and lake productivity. Bioscience 35:634-639
- ^ Power ME (1990) Effects of fish in river food webs. Science 250: 811-814
- ^ Estes JA, Palmisano JF (1974) Sea otters: their role in structuring nearshore communities. Science 185: 1058-1060
- ^ Quinn, Terrance J. II (2003). "Ruminations on the development and future of population dynamics models in fisheries". Natural Resource Modeling. 16 (4): 341–392. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.473.3765. doi:10.1111/j.1939-7445.2003.tb00119.x.
- ^ Baranov, FI (1918) "On the question of the biological basis of fisheries" Izvestiya, 1: 81–128. (Translated from Russian by W.E. Ricker, 1945)
- ^ Hopper
- ^ Arditi, R. and Ginzburg, L.R. 1989. Coupling in predator-prey dynamics: ratio dependence. Journal of Theoretical Biology 139: 311-326.
- ^ Arditi, R. and Ginzburg, L.R. 2012. How Species Interact: Altering the Standard View on Trophic Ecology. Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
References
- Berryman, Alan (2002) Population Cycles. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0-19-514098-2
- Brännström A and Sumpter DJ (2005) The role of competition and clustering in population dynamics. Proc Biol Sci. Oct 7 272(1576):2065-72
- Geritz SA and Kisdi E (2004). On the mechanistic underpinning of discrete-time population models with complex dynamics. J Theor Biol. 2004 May 21;228(2):261-9.
- Hopper, J L (1987) "Opportunities and Handicaps of Antipodean Scientists: A. J. Nicholson and V. A. Bailey on the Balance of Animal Populations," Historical Records of Australian Science 7(2), pp. 179–188.
- Kazan-Zelenodolsk; "'Law' of Two Hundred Billions in Context of Civil Society". In materials of Inter-regional scientific-practical conference The Civil Society: Ideas, Reality, Prospects, on April 27, 2006, p. 204-207. ISBN 5-8399-0153-9.
- Ricker, WE (1954). Stock and recruitment. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
- Sparre, Per and Hart, Paul J B (2002) Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries, Chapter13: Choosing the best model for fisheries assessment. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-632-06482-X
- Turchin, P. 2003. Complex Population Dynamics: a Theoretical/Empirical Synthesis. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
- Wright, S. (1931). Evolution in Mendelian populations. Genetics 16: 97-159 Offsite pdf file
- Wright, S. (1938). Size of population and breeding structure in relation to evolution. Science 87:430-431
- Holsinger, Kent (2007). Types of stochastic threats. Version of 2007-SEP-04. Retrieved 2007-NOV-04.
- Encyclopædia Britannica Online 25 August 2005 "Population Ecology" article section on Population Cycles
Further reading
- de Vries, Gerda; Hillen, Thomas; Lewis, Mark; Schonfisch, Birgitt and Muller, Johannes (2006) A Course in Mathematical Biology SIAM. ISBN 978-0-89871-612-2
- Haddon, Malcolm (2001) Modelling and quantitative methods in fisheries Chapman & Hall. ISBN 978-1-58488-177-3
- Hilborn, Ray and Walters, Carl J (1992) Quantitative Fisheries Stock Assessment Springer. ISBN 978-0-412-02271-5
- McCallum, Hamish (2000) Population Parameters Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86542-740-2
- Prevost E and Chaput G (2001) Stock, recruitment and reference points Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique. ISBN 2-7380-0962-X. | http://wiki-offline.jakearchibald.com/wiki/Population_dynamics_of_fisheries |
Decline of demersal resources in North-West Africa: an analysis of Mauritanian trawl-survey data over the past 25 years
AbstractMauritania is characterised by fast-growing fisheries that have developed over the past decades. Since 1982, scientific trawl surveys have been conducted regularly, allowing assessment of the impact of this increasing fishing pressure on exploited species as well as on demersal communities. Based on 55 bottom trawl surveys and using linear model techniques, the annual abundances were estimated for a selection of 24 fish stocks and for the whole demersal biomass. Changes in the demersal community structure were also investigated, using Biomass Trophic Spectra representations. It is shown that the demersal biomass has been reduced by 75% on the Mauritanian continental shelf over the past 25 years, corresponding to a biomass loss of around 20 000t per year. Top predators abundance has been reduced by 8–10-fold and in some case up to 20-fold. The trophic structure has been significantly modified and the mean trophic level of the catchable biomass decreased from >3.7 to <3.5. The results are discussed at the regional scale, taking into account recent studies in Senegal and Guinea in which a similar decline in demersal biomass was observed. This decline was due to severe overexploitation that affected the various groups in succession.
Keywords: biomass decrease, demersal resources, Mauritania, North-West Africa, trawl survey, trophic structure
African Journal of Marine Science 2007, 29(3): 331–345
Published
2008-02-07
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the publisher. | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajms/article/view/33489 |
Increasing evidence that the strengths of interactions among populations in biological communities form patterns that are crucial for system stability requires clarification of the precise form of these patterns, how they come about, and why they influence stability. We show that in real food webs, interaction strengths are organized in trophic loops in such a way that long loops contain relatively many weak links. We show and explain mathematically that this patterning enhances stability, because it reduces maximum “loop weight” and thus reduces the amount of intraspecific interaction needed for matrix stability. The patterns are brought about by biomass pyramids, a feature common to most ecosystems. Incorporation of biomass pyramids in 104 food-web descriptions reveals that the low weight of the long loops stabilizes complex food webs. Loop-weight analysis could be a useful tool for exploring the structure and organization of complex communities.
An increasing number of studies provide evidence for the occurrence in real biological communities of patterns of interaction strengths that are important to community stability (1–8). Such patterns are characterized, for example, by strong links embedded in a majority of weak links (1, 2, 6) or by strong links concentrated on the lower trophic levels (5). However, there remains a need to determine which food-web properties cause the patterns, and to understand the exact form of the patterns and how they influence stability. Here we analyze the stabilizing properties of observed patterns in food webs (5, 9) by looking at the distribution of interaction strengths (10, 11) over trophic loops (12–14) of different lengths.
We carried out our first analysis with seven documented soil food webs (15, 16). The data collected for these communities enabled us to estimate population sizes, feeding rates, and interaction strengths among species (5, 9, 17). Throughout the analysis, species refers to trophic species or functional groups in which species are aggregated that share the same prey and predators and have similar physiological characteristics (18). With respect to interaction strengths, we follow May (10); interaction strengths are the values of the elements of the (Jacobian) community matrix and represent the size of the effects of species on each other's dynamics near equilibrium (10, 11). We present results obtained from the food web of the central plains experimental range (CPER) as a representative example of the seven food webs.
As indicated in the diagram of the CPER food web (Fig. 1A), a loop describes a pathway of interactions from a certain species through the web back to the same species without visiting other species more than once; hence, a loop is a closed chain of trophic links (14). Each step on the path going from one species to another refers to the interaction between the two species (Fig. 1, B and C), which can be either a positive bottom-up effect or a negative top-down effect. The length of a loop is the number of different species visited. Loops of length 2 thus go from a predator to a prey and back (Fig. 1B). Longer loops are formed wherever food chains separate and are connected again (through either polyphagy or omnivory) (Fig. 1C). A three-species omnivorous relation forms two loops of length 3, one with two top-down effects and one bottom-up effect, and the other with two bottom-up effects and one top-down effect (Fig. 1C).
Originally, a loop is quantified as a product of interaction strengths (14). Here, we introduce the term “loop weight,” which is defined as the geometric mean of the absolute values of the interaction strengths in the loop. Quantifying trophic loops in this way allows us to compare loops of different lengths and to use the maximum of all loop weights as an indicator for matrix stability. This indicative value can be understood as follows. Consider community matrix A = (αij), where all elements have been specified except the diagonal elements αii, αii < 0. These diagonal elements refer to the intraspecific interactions. By making the absolute value of αii large enough, community matrix A can be stabilized (all its eigenvalues will have negative real parts). We found that the maximum of all the loop weights in community matrix A is an approximation of the absolute value of αii sufficient for matrix stability (19).
In the CPER food web, we characterized the observed interaction strengths (9) in terms of the weights of the various loops of different lengths, maximum loop weight, and matrix stability. We compared the community matrix, including the patterned interaction strengths (“real matrices”), with a number of randomizations of this matrix (“randomized matrices”). We acquired the randomized matrices by randomly exchanging predator-prey pairs of interaction strengths, keeping these pairs as such intact and preserving the sign structure of the matrix (5, 7, 20). We measured stability as the minimum degree of relative intraspecific interaction needed for matrix stability (s); we called matrices with a smallers “more stable” (11).
We found that loop weights of the longer loops were low in the real matrix, whereas in randomized matrices the longer loops tended to be heavier than the shorter loops (Fig. 2, A and B). This can be explained as follows. It is a well-known regularity that the absolute values of the effects of predators on their prey are, on average, two orders of magnitude larger than the values of the effects of prey on their predators (7, 21). This was also found in the CPER web (9) and hence in the randomizations of the CPER web. Therefore, loops are expected to be heavy when they contain many top-down effects relative to bottom-up effects. This explains the heavy long loops in the randomized matrices. But in the real matrices, the long loops with many top-down effects had a relatively low weight. This showed that not all top-down or bottom-up effects were equal, and it indicated that in the real matrices these long loops contained many relatively small top-down effects. The consequence was that maximum loop weight in the real matrix was much lower than in the randomized matrices; along with this, as expected (19), the real matrix was much more stable (Fig. 2C). Moreover, we found a close correspondence between maximum loop weight and stability within the set of randomized matrices (Fig. 2C). We obtained similar results for the other soil food webs. A sensitivity analysis, evaluating the effects of variation in the input parameter values, showed the general robustness of the stability analysis (22).
A strong biomass decrease over trophic levels, together with the fact that predators may feed on several prey types, caused weak links to aggregate in long loops. The principle is illustrated in Fig. 3 for a three-species omnivorous relation. The omnivore feeds on two prey types, which are at different trophic levels. We assume that it feeds according to prey abundance, and that the biomass of the prey on the lower trophic level is much larger than that of the prey on the higher trophic level (the biomass pyramid). Then the omnivore feeds largely on the lowest trophic level (23). As a result, it exerts a relatively large top-down effect on its lowest prey and a relatively small top-down effect on its highest prey, because the top-down effect is the feeding rate per unit of predator biomass (11). The long loop with two top-down effects contains this relatively small effect of the omnivore, together with the large top-down effect of the intermediate predator on the bottom prey; that is, the two relatively large top-down effects are in different loops (Fig. 3B). Hence, the result of biomass pyramids is that long loops with relatively many top-down effects always contain at least one relatively small top-down effect: the effect of the omnivorous predator on its high trophic-level prey. Randomization (20) means that large top-down effects from different trophic loops may end up in the same loop, causing very high loop weights, leading to instability.
We tested the effect of biomass pyramids on loop weight and stability with the use of 104 food webs in the collection assembled by Cohenet al. (24). We imposed a pyramidal biomass structure on these webs (22) and calculated interaction strengths for all these communities (11), carrying out the same analysis as was done for the soil food webs (Fig. 4). Notwithstanding the acknowledged shortcomings of this particular data set and the criticisms it has attracted (3,25), the analysis reveals that the 104 pyramidal (derived from pyramidal structure) webs had the same characteristic distribution of loop weights over loop lengths as did the CPER web—that is, long loops had low loop weights (as shown in Fig. 2A)—giving these webs a lower maximum loop weight and a much lower level of intraspecific interaction needed for stability than their randomized (20) counterparts. Looking at the complexity of the 104 webs, we found that the more complex webs contained relatively long loops (Fig. 4A) but had roughly the same maximum loop weight and stability as less complex webs with shorter loops (Fig. 4, B and D). In the set of randomized matrices, webs with longer loops had a larger maximum loop weight and were less stable than webs with shorter loops (Fig. 4, C and E). Varying the shape of the trophic pyramid in the range from no decrease to a factor of 50 decrease of biomass per trophic level showed that roughly a factor of 10 biomass decrease over trophic level was sufficient to generate strong stabilizing patterns of interaction strengths. As more extreme decreases in biomass over trophic levels are very common in natural ecosystems (26), the results identify a regularity in a broad class of ecosystems: In complex food webs with pyramids of biomass, long loops contain weak links, resulting in a low maximum loop weight and a low level of intraspecific interaction needed for stability (27).
Stabilizing effects of patterns of interaction strengths have been put forward by empiricists and theoreticians. Establishing interaction strengths in species manipulation and perturbation experiments, Paine (1) and Wootton (2) showed that communities are characterized by a few strong links embedded in a majority of weak links. Yodzis (7) demonstrated the importance of the patterning of strong and weak links for model stability. De Ruiteret al. (5) showed the importance of energetic organization for food-web stability. McCann et al. (6) revealed that particular combinations of weak and strong links are crucial to stability. This analysis contributes to these findings by showing that stabilizing combinations of strong and weak links are organized in trophic loops, linking this organization to trophic pyramids and explaining the effect in terms of general mathematical stability criteria. The potentially destabilizing effect of long loops is well known (12–14, 28); our results indicate how weak links prevent complex food webs with long loops from being unstable (22). Although it remains difficult to decide on the level of detail with which feeding relations are distinguished, loop-weight analysis could be a useful tool for assessing the structure and organization of complex networks of ecological relations. Characterizing complex structures is relevant, because it is often on this level of multitrophic communities that questions about the fragility of system structure and functioning are most pressing. | https://science.sciencemag.org/content/296/5570/1120?ijkey=1f6df4de501cd9e700397353c2da34111342cfee&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha |
This article analyses the zooplankton species composition and species structure in the dumping area. The research was carried out in spring and summer of 1998—2009. Rotifera‚ Copepoda and Cladocera groups of zooplankton were studied. Certain changes to the zooplankton species ...
On the basis of 1948—2011 materials, this article characterises the zooplankton of three large lakes of similar age and origin found at different trophic stages and in different landscapes of the Pskov region. It is shown that the structural features of the organization and direction of succession of zooplankton communities ...
... summer of 1998—2009 in the framework of national monitoring. The species composition of the Calanoida group was identified as well as the variations in their abundance and biomass. A seasonal (spring – summer) increase in the abundance and biomass of zooplankton and Calanoida was observed. The seasonal increase took place against the background of a steady decrease in the abundance abundance and biomass of crustacean throughout the period (1998—2009).
1. Бондек В. М. Зоопланктон ... | https://journals.kantiana.ru/eng/search/?fields=keyword&q=zooplankton |
Where was The Revenant 2015 filmed?
Canada
Although the film is set in the US, most of it is actually filmed in Canada. According to the Atlas of Wonders website, many scenes were shot near Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Kananaskis Country, a system of parks in the mountain ranges in the Canadian Rockies, is a key filming location.
What river was the movie Revenant filmed on?
Kootenai River
The Revenant has been nominated for a dozen Oscars at next month’s Academy Awards, including best picture and best cinematography. Paddlers who’ve seen the film might recognize a few of those cinematic scenes were shot on Montana’s Kootenai River.
Where did Leonardo DiCaprio stay while filming The Revenant?
Alberta
This coveted estate has graced magazine pages as a feature in National Post, Best Home Alberta, has served as a set for an award-winning mini-series and was Leonardo DiCaprio’s home during the filming of ‘The Revenant’.”
Did Leonardo DiCaprio really eat a raw fish in The Revenant?
Warning: this story contains spoilers. Oscar-tipped western The Revenant has drawn a mix of praise and criticism from survival expert Ray Mears for scenes in which Leonardo DiCaprio’s 19th-century trapper eats raw bison liver, catches fish with piles of stones and sleeps inside a dead horse.
Is The Revenant historically accurate?
The Revenant is based on a true story As The Hollywood Reporter pointed out, Hugh Glass was a real frontiersman, explorer, and fur trapper who traveled near the Upper Missouri River in the 19th century. That being said, early accounts of his life are unreliable and often fictitious.
Is the Revenant historically accurate?
Did Leonardo get hurt in The Revenant?
That was DiCaprio’s actual, phlegmy misery. He had to simulate getting attacked by a bear: After a recent screening, DiCaprio’s co-star Will Poulter said that many viewers ask if the bear attacking DiCaprio was real. Nope, although it certainly looks terrifyingly true to life.
Where did they shoot The Revenant?
Most of The Revenant was filmed in Kananaskis Country, an area of parks and reserves in the Canadian Rockies situated west of Calgary . The spectacular scenery of Alberta ’s Bow Valley can become an extreme location in winter.
Where does ‘The Revenant’ take place?
Although the The Revenant was mostly filmed in an extensive area near Calgary in Alberta, Canada, its remote filming locations also included a scene shot in the neighboring state of Montana as well as – for lack of snow – the southern tip of South America in Argentina.
What is The Revenant movie?
According to wikipedia.org, The Revenant is a 2015 American epic Revisionist Western film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. | https://runyoncanyon-losangeles.com/tips/where-was-the-revenant-2015-filmed/ |
The Revenant released its first full-length trailer on Tuesday. The film, which is based on true events, finds DiCaprio taking on the role of Hugh Glass, the explorer who made a nearly 200-mile trek to civilization for vengeance after his fellow travelers left the frontiersman for dead and killed his only son.
Directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who was at the helm of the Oscar-winning Birdman, The Revenant cast also includes Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter.
The Revenant hits theaters on Christmas 2015 in a limited release before premiering widely on Jan. 8, 2016. | http://www.thedevilseyes.com/2015/09/leonardo-dicaprio-tom-hardy-revenant-trailer.html |
Set in the uncharted wilderness of Alberta, Canada in 1823, The Revenant is the legendary tale of a grief-stricken dad desperate for revenge on the man who betrayed him. This spectacular film showcases the breadth of landscape that Canada has to offer.
Film Released
2015
Gross Box Office
$183,637,894
Filming Locations
Canada and Argentina
Landmarks and Locations
- Kananaskis Country, Alberta
- Bow Valley, Alberta
- Fortress Mountain, Alberta
- Drumheller, Alberta
- Squamish, British Colombia
- Rio Olivia, Argentina
Why You Should Visit
The Revenant is probably best known for two things: being one of the most challenging movies to film and the movie that finally gave Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar. As well as this, the Canadian backdrop stole the limelight in some of the scenes – they’re certainly worth a visit to explore the stunning scenery.
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Did You Know?
Nominated for 12 Academy Awards, The Revenant won three, including Best Actor .
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Did You Know?
DiCaprio, a vegetarian, forced himself to eat raw bison liver for the role.
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Did You Know?
When filming, temperatures rarely made it above -30C.
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Did You Know?
Due to delays in filming, the snow began to melt in Canada before the movie wrapped and so they relocated the production to Argentina, where there were similar conditions.
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Did You Know?
You can relive the route that Glass (DiCaprio) took through desolate wilderness – avoiding bears, of course. | https://www.travelbag.co.uk/bucket-list-blockbusters/alberta-canada.htm |
It's true that the difficulties encountered by the filmmakers has driven the narrative for The Revenant and without them we might be looking at a different race. However, if you look back at the roster of Oscar winners from the beginning, it has quite often been the film that seemed to have been the most difficult to make that won the award. There have been obvious exceptions, of course, like The Apartment over The Alamo, Tom Jones over Cleopatra and The Sound of Music over Doctor Zhivago, but from Wings to Cimarron to Mutiny on the Bounty to Gone With the Wind to The Greatest Show on Earth to Around the World in 80 Days to Ben-Hur to Lawrence of Arabia to Patton to The Deer Hunter to Gandhi to Out of Africa to Schindler's List to Braveheart to Titanic to Gladiator to Crash, some good, some not so good, it has often been the film that had the perceived toughest shoot that won.
While I can't think of a single instance where an actor whining about how difficult it was to film a movie for which he was compensated millions of dollars, there have been plenty examples of actors and actresses winning for suffering for their art including last year's best actor winner and he didn't have the "due" card to play.
The film will almost certainly win for Best Actor, Direction and Cinematography. The big question is will Best Picture be another 1960 (The Apartment over The Alamo) or 2005 (Crash over Brokeback Mountain). We'll know in about 48 hours.
A Thought About The Revenant And Oscar 2016
For the films of 2015
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Re: A Thought About The Revenant And Oscar 2016
“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” - Voltaire
Re: A Thought About The Revenant And Oscar 2016
There's probably some truth to this. So much of its Oscar campaign was based on how difficult the movie was to make, so I definitely think things might be different without that angle.
A Thought About The Revenant And Oscar 2016
Here is a thought I have about The Revenant and this year's Oscars. It seems to be that much of The Revenant's success is a result of its campaign that emphasized the arduousness of its filming. What if, instead, The Revenant was filmed on sets in a soundstage along with using blue screen/cgi? An identical film, just made differently, could have had a very different awards fate. | http://uaadb.cinemasight.com/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=10343&p=138141 |
The associate artist Ryuichi Sakamoto has made film music for over thirty films. He got his start in 1983 with the film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence by film director Nagisa Oshima - a film he also played a role in himself, alongside David Bowie. He went on to compose soundtracks for Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987), The Sheltering Sky (1990) and Little Buddha (1994), for Pedro Almodovar’s High Heels (1991), Oliver Stone’s Wild Palms (1993) and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant (2015). As well as for many smaller, but no less interesting films, like Tony Takitani (Jun Ichikawa, 2004).
The collaboration between the Holland Festival and associate artist Ryuichi Sakamoto is a reason for Eye to put the spotlight on Sakamoto’s impressive oeuvre of film music and the ways it continues to inspire new generations of (film) composers.
Joker
Hildur Guðnadóttir was no newcomer to Hollywood, thanks to her cello performance in Ryuichi Sakamoto’s score for The Revenant (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2015) and many other films. Not long after, she received an Oscar for the score she composed for Joker, making history as the first woman ever to win in that category.
Guðnadóttir’s film music is regularly cited as an example of the striking shift taking place in the world of film music. For a long time film scores were too often weakened into quasi-interchangeable orchestral music. Now, however, young film composers with guts, with a signature of their own and a disregard of conventions have lately been coming to the fore.
The score for Joker is a shining example of this trend. Bombastic themes are discarded to make room for an abstract, ominous sound design interspersed with trenchant solo cello playing. The score is nonconformist, does not aim to please and is arranged with singular austerity. Guðnadóttir thus single-handedly managed to lift the film, including Joaquin Phoenix’s maniacal role as The Joker, to a higher plane. | https://www.hollandfestival.nl/en/program/2021/joker/ |
The Gradebook is the ratings of newly released films by the contributors and fans of We Live Film and We Live Entertainment. If you are interested in participating, join the We Live Film Fan Chat Page...
Daniel Rester counts down his top 10 favorite films from the 2015 movie year.
The first trailer for Alejandro González Iñárritu's "The Revenant" has arrived. | http://weliveentertainment.com/tag/the-revenant/ |
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The 88th Academy Awards ceremony took place in the Dolby Theater this past Sunday, February 29, and honored the best English-language films of the past year.
Actor and comedian Chris Rock hosted Hollywood’s biggest night, which was notably filled with controversy over the overwhelming lack of diversity in nominations. Rock tackled this issue head on during the televised broadcast; within minutes, he dubbed it the “White People’s Choice Awards” and later quipped, “You realize if they nominated hosts, I wouldn’t even have this job.”
He went on to deliver a scathing monologue, highlighting the systematic racism that has impacted the film industry for decades. He explained why Oscars diversity was not addressed in the 50’s and 60’s, when African-Americans had “real things to protest”, taking time to acknowledge those who were snubbed.
Rock kept the controversy front and center during the entire show. The most prominent examples: sketches of Oscar-nominated films starring African-American characters, and African-American men and women giving their Oscar speeches outside a movie theater in Compton. During one of the evening’s many highlights, he raised $65,243 for the Girl Scouts by selling cookies to the audience. At the end of his monologue, on a very serious note, he stated, “We want opportunity. We want black actors to get the same opportunity as white actors. That’s it. And not just once.”
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As for the winners: Although The Revenant led the pack with a whopping twelve nominations, it was Spotlight, a “tense drama about investigative journalism at its finest”, that won Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The Revenant didn’t go entirely empty-handed, however: it bagged 3 Oscars, including Best Cinematography. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of a fur trapper earned him his first Best Actor Oscar, after six nominations. Alejandro González Iñárritu took the award for Best Director, making history by becoming the first director in 66 years to have two consecutive wins in the category (Iñárritu previously won for 2014’s Birdman).
Mad Max: Fury Road was the biggest winner of the night, taking home 6 Oscars exclusively in the technical categories: Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Production Design, Film Editing, Costume, and Makeup.
Rising star Brie Larson won Best Actress for her portrayal of an abducted mother held in captivity with her five-year-old son in Room, while Alicia Vikander won Best Supporting Actress, as an artist whose husband undergoes gender reassignment surgery in The Danish Girl. Best Supporting Actor Mark Rylance won for his role as a Russian spy in Bridge of Spies, over heavily-favored Creed star Sylvester Stallone.
Amy took home the Oscar for the Best Documentary Feature Film, while A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness won Best Short Documentary.
The Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar went to the The Big Short, a film dealing with the financial crisis of 2008.
“Writing’s on the Wall”, the theme song of the James Bond film Spectre, won for Best Original Song. The award went to British singer Sam Smith and songwriter Jimmy Napes. At age 87, Italian composer Ennio Morricone took home his first Oscar for Best Original Score in The Hateful Eight.
The Best Foreign Language Film went to Son of Saul, chronicling the life of a Jewish man forced to work at a Nazi death camp.
Unsurprisingly, Pixar’s Inside Out won Best Animated Feature.
Despite being the highest-grossing film of 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens did not receive awards in any of the 5 categories in which it was nominated. Its presence was only felt when C-3PO, BB-8, and R2-D2 presented an award for visual effects, and director J.J. Abrams presented the award for Best Director.
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The ceremony also featured a poignant performance by Lady Gaga, singing her Oscar-nominated song, “Til It Happens to You”. The song was featured in the documentary The Hunting Ground, which dealt with the incidents of sexual assault on American college campuses, with survivors joining her on stage. The performance was preceded powerful introduction by Vice President Joe Biden, who urged the 34.4 million viewers to visit the White House’s new campaign to end campus assault, itsonus.org.
What’s certain is the controversy initially surrounding this year’s ceremony has led to change: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has pledged to change its recruitment process to include double the number of female and minority members by 2020.
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs took the stage to address the upcoming changes. | https://thedublinshield.com/entertainment/2016/03/14/2016-oscars-diversity-issue-takes-center-stage/ |
The Revenant is a 2015 American survival drama western film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith and Iñárritu is based in part on Michael Punke's 2002 novel of the same name, describing frontiersman Hugh Glass's experiences in 1823. The Revenant - Der Rückkehrer ist ein Abenteuerfilm aus dem Jahr 2015 von Alejandro González Iñárritu mit Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy und Domhnall Gleeson. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. With Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson. A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. 30.01.2019 · Sometimes, the chilly scenes of winter onscreen are real: Remember Leonardo DiCaprio, chattering his teeth all the way to an Oscar for "The Revenant"? Then again, sometimes there's not. Tour our photo gallery of the 15 greatest Leonardo DiCaprio films, ranked worst to best, including 'Titanic,' 'The Revenant,' 'The Departed'.
Simply Leonardo DiCaprio is an unofficial fansite and is not associated in any way with Leonardo DiCaprio or his management. This is a fan site. We cannot send you his autograph nor send a message to him. We are just fans like you are supporting his career. All images were obtained through public domain and will be taken down immediately upon. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio geb. 11. November 1974 ist ein amerikanischer Schauspieler, Filmproduzent und Umweltaktivist. Seine Filmkarriere begann er mit Josh in Critters 3, bevor er in der Verfilmung der Memoiren This Boy's Life 1993 zusammen mit Robert De Niro spielte. DiCaprio wurde für seine Nebenrolle im Drama What's Eating Gilbert. The Revenant 2015 His work is indeed incredible, and the movie is stunning. Inception 2010 It’s both overly praised and overly panned. Inception is an interesting movie that’s great to look at, and Leo is at his most confident and charismatic. RomeoJuliet 1996 It’s hard to avoid a soft spot for this flick when you grew up in the 90s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are officially reteaming. Imperative Entertainment has attached Scorsese to direct and DiCaprio to star in the feature adaptation of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the New York Times best-selling book by David Grann. Leonardo Wilhelm „Leo“ DiCaprio 11. November 1974 in Los Angeles, Kalifornien ist ein US-amerikanischer Filmschauspieler, Produzent, Oscar-Preisträger und Umweltschützer. Er zählt zu den bestbezahlten und erfolgreichsten zeitgenössischen Schauspielern Hollywoods und arbeitet regelmäßig mit renommierten Regisseuren zusammen.
On December 25, Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film ‘The Revenant’ was released in the U.S. with a full release on January 8, 2016. Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure. | http://iimlmanfest.com/leo-dicaprio-movie-revenant |
October 2018 – Masters research of Angus Dowson with supervision by Pascal Sirguey and Nicolas Cullen was featured in an article published on stuff.co.nz. The article described Angus’s application of remote sensing to estimate mass balance of the glaciers in the Gardens of Eden and Allah region.
May 2018 – Radio New Zealand quoted Trevor Chinn and Andrew Lorrey in describing the shrinkage of the glaciers observed during the end of summer snowline survey, attributing the effect to the hot summer.
March 2018 – NIWA and Victoria University of Wellington issued a press release describing anticipated findings of the annual glacier snowline flight and the research of Lauren Vargo . Stuff.co.nz ran the story.
February 2018 – Dr Brian Anderson was interviewed on RNZ National by Kathryn Ryan discussing his life and his glacial research, specifically his time-lapse imagery.
January 2018 – Dr Pascal Sirguey and Dr Nicolas Cullen feature in www.stuff.co.nz and www.nzherald.co.nz describing the melt conditions this year in January being similar to last year in March for the Gardens of Eden and Allah regions of the Southern Alps.
September 2017 – Dr Pascal Sirguey’s satellite image analysis featured in the New Zealand Herald and the American Geophysical Union’s The Landslide Blog. Pascal, in association with Dr Simon Cox found evidence of instability of the bedrock where Murchison Hut sits in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. The image analysis showed the movement of the hut over recent years and the delineation of large recent fractures in the rock surrounding the, now closed, hut.
February 2017 – Several media outlets (Radio New Zealand’s Our Changing World, Otago Daily Times, Stuff, NZ Herald, UPI picked up on the new research published by Associate Professor Andrew Macintosh and friends in Nature Communications which provides new modeling evidence to support the idea that glacier advances observed in NZ glaciers through the 1990’s was driven by local depression of temperature rather than increased precipitation.
January 2017 – Dr Brian Anderson and his time lapse photography featured on the TVNZ Channel 1 television programme “Wild New Zealand”.
August 2016 – The recent “Sustainable Summits” conference at Mt Cook, run by the NZ Alpine Club led to several media articles regarding glaciers, quoting Brain Anderson of Victoria University of Wellington. Articles were published by the Otago Daily Times and The Press
July 2016 – The recently published article by Emma Stewart from Lincoln University and colleagues in the journal Tourism Geographies about the relationship between tourism and glacier change at Fox and Franz Josef was picked up by Glacierhub.org with a blog post, and referenced in a Newstalk ZB interview with Sven Tveitdal, a freelance Norwegian climate consultant.
July 2016 – Brian Anderson (Victoria University of Wellington) and Andrew Lorrie (NIWA) are quoted in the about the recent retreat of the Franz Josef Glacier by NZ Media Entertainment agencies NZ Herald and NewstalkZB
March 2016 – Heather Purdie (University of Canterbury) and Julian Thompson (GNS) featured on the first episode of the television documentary “Beneath New Zealand” on Prime TV on Monday the 8th. Featured as experts on glaciers and mountain geology they provided authoritative commentary in describing the Southern Alps, and in Heather’s case, some of her research. With luck it will be available in a store near you soon.
October 2015 – Andrew Macintosh from the University of Victoria was quoted on Radio New Zealand about the unprecedented retreat of New Zealand glaciers and the likely contribution of humans to that retreat. The quote follows the release of “Environment Aotearoa 2015” a state of the environment report prepared by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand which reports a NIWA-sourced estimate of a 36 % decline in glacier volume between 1978 and 2014. The on-line version of the Radio New Zealand article includes a timelapse video created by Brain Anderson of the Fox Glacier showing the retreat of the glacier front from January 2014 to January 2015
October 2015 – Glacier errosion rates established from Franz Josef Glacier studies were a feature of a GNS press release following publication in Science (the cover story!) of a paper by Frédéric Herman and others including Simon Cox of GNS. The press release was picked up by Radio New Zealand, ABC Online, Globalpost and NZ Herald
August 2015 – Global reduction in glacier volume is reported in stuff.co.nz following publication in the Journal of Glaciology of a paper by Zemp and others about recent unprecedented glacial decline. Brian Anderson is quoted providing a local perspective.
January 2015 – Brian Anderson is quoted in a New York Times article about the effect of glacier retreat on tourism in New Zealand. | https://sirg.org.nz/about/media/ |
USA. 2009.
Crew
Director/Screenplay/Producer/Visual Effects Supervisor – Kerry Prior, Photography – Peter Hawkins, Music – Wendell Hobbes, Makeup Effects – Amy Mills & Chris Mills, Production Design – Thomas William Hallbauer. Production Company – Wanko Toys/Putrefactory Limited, LLC.
Cast
David Anders (Bart Gregory), Chris Wylde (Joey Luebner), Jacy King (Mathilda), Louise Griffith (Janet), Emiliano Torres (Miguel), Yvette Freeman (Scientological Nurse), Ralph Richeson (Overworked Homeless Man), Robert Axelrod (Racially Confused Veteran), Eric Payne (Baily)
Plot
Bart Gregory is killed while on duty as a soldier in Iraq. His body is brought back to Los Angeles for the funeral. Afterwards, the undead Bart turns up on his best friend Joey’s doorstep. Joey has difficulty believing what has happened and Bart has no idea himself. They ask help of their nurse friend Mathilda who urges that Bart’s head has to be cut off but Bart doesn’t like that idea. In order to stave off putrefaction, Bart needs to consume blood. His attempts to rob a blood bank go awry. When they are then held up in the street, Bart turns and attacks the hoodlum, drinking his blood. With Joey as his accomplice, they start attacking petty criminals and drug dealers, killing them and Bart drinking their blood. Their antics get them a reputation in the media as vigilantes. During one of their raids, Joey is also shot and returns as undead too.
Not to be confused with the high-profile, Academy Award-winning Leonardo DiCaprio wilderness survival film The Revenant (2015), this is a modest, generally overlooked film. Amusingly, this Revenant uses its title phrase in the way it was originally meant (as a ghost or someone who returns from the dead) rather than as the DiCaprio film did where the title is simply meant it as being ‘someone who returns’.
The Revenant was the second film from Kerry Prior who had previously made Roadkill (1996), which does not appear to be widely seen. Prior to this, Prior had worked in visual effects at the now defunct DreamQuest Images and has credits on films such as The Lost Boys (1987), The Blob (1988), The Abyss (1989) and Air Force One (1997), plus a couple of the A Nightmare on Elm Street sequels, among others.
The Revenant resembles a number of films, usually played as comedies, that all feature someone, almost always a boyfriend or girlfriend, returned from the dead and the comic complications that ensue. See the likes of A Little Bit Zombie (2012), Burying the Ex (2014), Life After Beth (2014) and the more serious likes of Zombie Honeymoon (2004), Make-Out With Violence (2008) and the quite amazing Nina Forever (2015). At the outset with David Anders turning up on his best buddy Chris Wylde’s doorstep, The Revenant seems to be heading in the same direction. However, the film soon begins to develop a sense of humour that takes it in unique directions and stands it heads and shoulders above these others.
One of the more eccentrically amusing scenes is where David Anders attempts to rob a blood bank and promptly comes up against a nurse (Yvette Freeman) who tries to convert him to Scientology. The film wittily expands out as David Anders and Chris Wylde turn into vigilante bandits robbing, killing and devouring criminals. It sort of becomes less a zombie relationship comedy as the abovementioned do than something akin to an undead variant on The Boondock Saints (1999).
David Anders and Chris Wylde make an appealing comic duo. The film reaches its comedic peak with Chris Wylde trying to get David Anders’ severed head to talk using a vibrator as a makeshift electrolarynx device to Anders’ ongoing attempts to kill himself only to result in constant failure. This is a film that sustains its sarcastically deadpan tone consistently right throughout and with rather hilarious results. | http://www.moriareviews.com/horror/revenant-2009.htm |
Pleased to announce our 2018 documentary trailer for “Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way” won a best-in-category award at the Buddha Film Festival (June 9-10, 2018) in Pune, Maharashtra, India, rated as one of the top 100 best reviewed on Film Freeway. All results are viewable at their website.
Tag: movies
Native Perspectives Film Review: “The Revenant” (2015)
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Writers: Mark L. Smith (screenplay), Alejandro González Iñárritu (screenplay)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson & Full Cast
Review:
With its honest portrayal of life spend in nature, the shifts between intense action and often tedious but necessary patient waiting and work, “The Revenant” was rumored to be an unforgettable film centered on Leonard DiCaprio’s performance and it delivered. “The Revenant” is directed by Mexico-born Alejandro González Iñárritu, an award-winning writer, director and producer born, an artist known for works highlighting the complexity of human motivations and needs. Self-described as music more often influencing for his work than other films, one easily discerned this in his latest offering for it was like watching a movie equivalent of a symphony: slow movements, a rising crescendo, and at last a finalé and resolution.
There have been survival dramas in the past, and the closest equivalent I can think of is “Jeremiah Johnson” (1972), whose titular character was played by Robert Redford. A similar theme of vengeance against those who wronged and murdered his adopted native family is central, as well as the poignant ending. DiCaprio’s character Hugh Glass was left to die after a bear attack, though mostly because his former comrades rationalize this eventuality is best to save themselves from threatening natives. Thomas Hardy’s character, John Fitzgerald, is most outspoken to abandon Glass along with a half native son, whose people and all natives John deeply hates. However, he volunteers to stay behind to witness Glass’ passing, but as soon as the others leave his rancor is made evident to both Glass and his son. Continue reading “Native Perspectives Film Review: “The Revenant” (2015)”
#Native Perspectives- #Film #Review: “The Last Saint” (2014)
Tagline: “Sometimes doing right means doing wrong.”
Special Notes: Debut feature film from the director.
Director/Writer: Rene Naufahu
Stars: Beulah Koale, Calvin Tuteao, Joseph Naufahu
Production Companies: Imaginex Studios, The Reservoir
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Release Date: August 28, 2014
Plot: “Minka is a teenage Polynesian boy living in the heart of the city. With his P-addicted mother well on the way to going completely off the rails, three people enter his life – each with a promise – each with the power to destroy.”
Review:
“Minka lives in a home where his mother obviously loves him, but who suffers from emotional and mental disorders due to domestic violence and intergenerational trauma. She has long attempted to self-medicate through substance abuse, triggering episodes where she terrorized and abused her son leaving him traumatized as well. Like many children in such homes, however, he is deeply devoted to her, serving as a keeper, a parent, his own childhood lost through having to take care of both her and himself, a lonely existence.
When his long absent father Joe returns offering him work, his mother having used all their funds on drugs, Minka accepts, not knowing what it really involves. Soon, the reality of the ‘requirements’ hits hard, leaving Minka between the proverbial ‘rock and a hard place’. While he might gain a sense of belonging through the gang and attempts at ‘normalizing the family, the ‘live skills’ Joe attempts to teach him and the casual, terrible violence and aggression often involved makes him question where will it all end. When tragedy occurs, Minka finds the answer for himself.
Continue reading “#Native Perspectives- #Film #Review: “The Last Saint” (2014)”
Native Perspectives: #Film Review “Bone Tomahawk” (2015)
“Four men set out in the Wild West to rescue a group of captives from cannibalistic cave dwellers.”
Writer/Director: S. Craig Zahler
Released: 23 October 2015
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins
To also see the full review of “Bone Tomahawk”, please visit my profile at IMDb, but its minus the cultural/societal observations given here.
“Russell, Fox and Jenkins give realistic, believable portrayals in their roles. Facing danger and death with the stoicism and dry wit historically attributed to many European settlers, as well as the historic though understated bigotry towards any non-whites one character voiced. Russell was on-point, his expressions and reactions excellent as Sheriff Hunt, and his “back-up” deputy Chicory played by Richard Jenkins and he had personal dynamics that really made the film. | https://redhaircrow.com/tag/movies/ |
Leonardo DiCaprio went wild, literally, in The Revenant, trekking through the wilderness with just a bear skin on his bare body, wild hair, and beard, a lonely wolf against the elements, the icy cold, and the white man’s cruelty. With this revenge tale inspired by the story of frontiersman Hugh Glass, set in the northern mountains around 1820, and hinged on the plight of Native people, DiCaprio won his third Golden Globe as Best Actor (out of ten nominations), and his first Academy Award after five attempts.
This was extreme filmmaking by any measure from Mexican auteur Alejandro Iñarritu. The Mexican director conceived the film as an homage to the oeuvre of Russian master Andrei Tarkovsky and wanted total realism. And he got it: DiCaprio risked hypothermia. And when the production needed a few extra weeks (after photography in Alberta, Canada, and Montana), they searched for more winter and snow in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
Iñarritu's temperamental nature and the tough filming conditions caused several crew members to leave the project. Iñárritu explained, "As a director, if I identify a violin that is out of tune, I have to remove it from the orchestra." But the result was indeed convincing, a gutsy throwback to a filmmaking style reminiscing of Jeremiah Johnson (1972).
At the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, The Revenant won three Globes (Best Film–Drama, Actor, and Director). The other Globe nominees in the drama section were Mad Max: Fury Road, Room (for which Brie Larson won Best Actress – Drama), Carol and Spotlight. In the acting category, DiCaprio competed against Will Smith (Concussion), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) and Bryan Cranston (Trumbo).
During his acceptance speech at the Globes, DiCaprio, after thanking Iñárritu and all his team, said: “I want to share this award with all the first nation people represented in this film and all the indigenous communities around the world. It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people that are out there to exploit them. It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations." Iñárritu, accepting his Golden Globe for Best Director, recognized the toll the making of the film had on many people, but, he added, “every film is difficult to make ... but we all in this room know very well that pain is temporary, but a film is forever." | https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/2016-drama-revenant |
The 73rd Golden Globes were held on Jan. 10, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which is made up of about 90 journalists, honored some of the most notable successes of 2015 in film and television.
In case you weren’t able to watch the Golden Globes live, some of the most buzzed-about moments of the night included:
- Host Ricky Gervais delivering on his promise to offend Hollywood with his mean jokes.
- JLaw and Amy Schumer fans taking to Twitter to demand the besties host next year’s award show.
- Leonardo DiCaprio giving Lady Gaga some serious side eye as she walked passed him to receive an award for her role in American Horror Story: Hotel.
- Denzel Washington getting recognized for his contributions to the entertainment world with the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
- Eva Longoria and America Ferrara helping us all get our Latina actresses straight.
- Taraji P. Henson handing out actual cookies as she walked to accept her award for playing Cookie Lyon in Fox’s Empire.
If you’re like my family, you may have been too busy oohing and ahhing over the beautiful ball gowns to remember who won each award (please don’t judge us) — but, like most, we did pay attention for two of the night’s biggest awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. Here were this year’s nominees:
Best Motion Picture – Drama nominees:
- Mad Max: Fury Road (May 15, 2015)
- Room (Sept. 4, 2015)
- Spotlight (Nov. 6, 2015)
- The Revenant (Dec. 25, 2015)
- Carol (Nov. 20, 2015)
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy nominees:
- Joy (Dec. 25, 2015)
- Spy (June 5, 2015)
- The Big Short (Dec. 11, 2015)
- The Martian (Oct. 2, 2015)
- Trainwreck (July 17, 2015)
Now, you may consider yourself to be pretty media-savvy, but be honest — had you heard of all 10 nominees before watching the show (or realize that The Martian was a comedy)? If you did, that’s great! You definitely know your stuff. If not, you’re not alone.
Do you know your movies?
I did a little unscientific research in Buffalo during the week leading up to the awards show. By talking to 50 strangers at Target (2626 Delaware Ave., Buffalo) and Spot Coffee (765 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo), I was able to find out what percentage of average people had actually recognized these titles. Here’s what I found:
Best Motion Picture – Drama nominees:
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy nominees:
What I learned (besides finding out no one knew about Spotlight)
Stay away from holiday shoppers! Just kidding (sort of). While I did run into a few cranky customers — apparently not everyone got what they wanted from Santa — most people were more than happy to spend a quick moment talking to me.
A huge number of people had never heard of (let alone seen) a notable chunk of the movies up for the two biggest Golden Globe awards. Some of the most shocking numbers? Only 6 percent had heard of Spotlight and 8 percent had heard of Room. In fact, most shoppers were unaware of the movies in the Drama category in general, shaking their heads in frustration until I got to the comedies.
Unsurprisingly, Joy and Trainwreck sparked the most conversation — mostly because of the movies’ female stars. While most hadn’t seen Joy yet (it had just came out), they raved about Schumer’s comedy. It turns out raunchy comedy appeals to all ages! Even an elderly couple admitted they watched (and enjoyed) it after their granddaughter raved about it.
The biggest disappointment? Only one guy, who seemed like the tech-savvy hipster we all know and love, was familiar with all 10 movies.
SPOILER ALERT: The Revenant won best drama and The Martian won best musical or comedy.
Hollywood, social media trends and the digital age
So why did so few people recognize the year’s top films? It all has a little something to do with social media marketing plans.
“It used to be that you had to go to the theater to see the trailers for the next batch of upcoming films,” Mashable’s Christina Warren writes. “Then TV shows dedicated to showcasing previews hit the scene. While watching movie previews online has been old-hat for more than a decade, the rise of social media has changed how information gets exposed to fans.”
In other words, as we increasingly hold the ability to pick and choose what media is exposed to us, we can intentionally or unintentionally avoid even the huge-budget movie marketing machines because we either deftly avoid or are blissfully unaware of their campaigns. Although we consume more media than ever, it’s the media we want — and if a biographical drama about Boston Globe reporters exposing child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church doesn’t fit our parameters, and we don’t fit into the target audience defined by the film marketers, we may never hear about it.
Social campaigns for films that worked
What did the most popular films’ advertising teams do right? Let’s take a look at the two most-recognized movies for both categories.
Joy: According to Engagement Labs, a social analytics company, Joy held the top spot on Instagram and had the highest active social media user base, meaning the highest percentage of people who follow the channel and actively engage with it through comments and likes. What did the film do so well? It posted content more frequently than its competitors and highlighted its cast. A post congratulating star Jennifer Lawrence on her Golden Globe win earned an impressive 1,500 liked within an hour.
One thing Joy has not done, unfortunately, is break out at the box office. The film has raked in less than $47 million in its first three weeks, underperforming despite the significant hype.
Trainwreck: Unlike Lawrence, who refuses to personally join the Twittersphere, Trainwreck star Amy Schumer went all-out while promoting her film on her own account. Not only did she tweet about the movie herself, but she interacted with publishers, celebs and fans by retweeting their pictures and responding to their praise.
Although JLaw beat Schumer for the crown of best actress in a comedy, Schumer’s movie was much more successful. Trainwreck brought in over $30 million opening weekend, with a domestic gross total of over $110 million.
The Revenant: The latest DiCaprio epic also focused on creating a strong social media presence, taking in the number one spot on Engagement Labs’ Facebook eValue and Engagement score. And just like that bear, The Revenant isn’t done just yet. The film gained the highest number of followers on Facebook, adding 10,000 fans the day of the award show.
To mirror the movie’s social media success, The Revenant performed extremely well in the box office. On opening weekend, it brought in an impressive $38 million, taking second only to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Mad Max: Fury Road: Mad Max: Fury Road engaged with its Facebook and Twitter fans by asking movie-related questions that drew them into the fictional post-apocalyptic world. The account used the hashtag #askgeorgemiller and had the film’s director (George Miller) respond to questions through Twitter’s video function. Mad Max also took advantage of Snapchat’s new Discover feature, which allowed users to access exclusive content right through the app.
Mad Max: Fury Road is another film that met its anticipated hype. Its opening weekend earned over $45 million, and it’s reached close to $154 million since its debut in May.
Are social media trends working in film?
Does a kick-ass social media strategy equate to box office results? Well, not necessarily. While we’ve seen what a solid campaign can do to awareness levels, it won’t guarantee the film will resonate well with moviegoers (think Joy). This isn’t to say it shouldn’t be used. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
“Social media and its powers of viral marketing have ensured that the film industry stays afloat,” Hootsuite’s Sam Milbrath explains. “Not only does it generate massive buzz, but it connects fans directly with the film, producers, actors and other fans, while minimizing distribution and marketing costs in the process.”
Like any advertising platform used for film, social media trends are experiments that we are still learning about.
Did you recognize all the top Golden Globe nominees this year? Let me know! Tweet me at @QuinlanCompany or @gracegerass. | http://www.quinlanco.com/ideas/social_media_trends_for_movies/ |
First Look: Leonardo DiCaprio In Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant
Entertainment Weekly has recently revealed the first images of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming project, The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Will Poulter. The film is timed to be released in select theaters on Christmas Day 2015.
The film will be distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, the same parent company that distributed Iñárritu’s Birdman, which was recently nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Actor (Michael Keaton), and Best Picture.
The Revenant is based on Michael Punke’s novel The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge about a trapper who goes after the men who robbed him and left him to die after a bear attack. | https://insidepulse.com/2015/01/22/first-look-leonardo-dicaprio-in-alejandro-gonzalez-inarritus-the-revenant/ |
The more that Eternals director Chloé Zhao discusses her upcoming Marvel movie, the more unique it begins to sound. Zhao has now cited a very unexpected inspiration for the cosmic comic book adventures’ action sequences, 2016’s brutally grim Western, The Revenant. While discussing her approach to the world of Marvel, Zhao explained how two seemingly very different movies could share such similarities.
“Well, there’s multiple films for Eternals. I had to assign a few because of the scale of the film. But I think for the action sequences, which I just had such a great time working on with such a great team, I wanted to reference The Revenant a lot. The Revenant is a film that I love so much. And I think we’ve watched The Revenant so many times, every meeting when we come to our action sequences because most of those sequences are shot on location. And I love how immersive and the way how you feel the dash and sequences in The Revenant. It’s definitely a film that we aspire to. And Marvel really, really supported that idea and really went for it.”
Certainly, audiences felt Leonardo DiCaprio’s every gruelling step and struggle during The Revenant, a performance for which the actor won his first Academy Award, and the idea that Eternals will be equally immersive is a very intriguing one, especially considering the science fiction elements and wide array of superpowers.
Zhao also discussed her experience working with Marvel Studios, with the filmmaker heaping praise on their approach and allowing her to make the movie she wanted. The director also likens the change of pace that Eternals will bring to that of Disney+ series WandaVision, something which has proven to be quite experimental within the MCU.
“Oh, I mean, the only experience that I had with Marvel, with everyone there, is all about doing the right film, adopting the right style for the right story. And then I think it’s about the filmmaker and what they bring in and the kind of story that they want to tell, how they want to tell it. They’re very, very, director-driven in my experience. And I think they have a very small intimate team that really helps foster those voices. And I am very happy for WandaVision. To have them before Eternals, that’s pressure for us. And I’m so glad they’re doing well. And it’s really, really, really exciting.”
Eternals will introduce audiences to the titular Eternals, a species of immortal aliens from a mysterious, distant planet who first arrived on earth thousands of years ago and have been protecting humans since the dawn of time. Created by the even more mysterious Celestials, a race of powerful extra-terrestrial cosmic beings who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years, The Eternals must reunite to protect humanity from their evil counterparts.
Directed by Chloé Zhao and written by Matthew K. Firpo and Ryan Firpo, Eternals stars Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Kit Harington as Dane Whitman/Black Knight, Gemma Chan as Sersi, and Barry Keoghan as the villainous Druig. Eternals is currently scheduled to hit on theatres on November 5th. This comes to us from The Playlist. | https://leakingnews.com/eternals-director-compares-her-mcu-action-scenes-to-leonardo-dicaprios-the-revenant/ |
The Full List of Oscar 2016 Winners
It was on February 28, 2016 that the 88th Academy Awards ceremony took place on at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, los Angels. It was presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS). The Academy Awards (commonly known as Oscars) are presented in 24 categories by AMPAS. The full list of Oscar winners for the 2016 Oscars are right here!
BEST PICTURE : Spotlight
The film Spotlight is directed by Tom McCarthy and Written by Mccarthy and Josh Singer. It is basically a 2015 American biographical crime drama film.
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE : Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio got it for his leading role in The Revenant. In this film he portrays Hugh Glass, a 19th century American frontiersman.
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Brie Larson
The role played in Room brings the Oscar to Brie Larson in actress in a leading role. She portrays herself captivating for seven years in a small shed and strives to create a normal life for her son.
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Mark Rylance
In Bridge of Spies, Mark Rylance portrays Rudolf Abel, who is an undercover KGB agent, apprehended and tried for espionage.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Alicia Vikander
In The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander plays the role as Gerda who wrestles her course of action when her husband reveals his desire that he wants to live as a woman.
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Inside out
Inside out is basically a American 3D Computer animated comedy-drama and adventure film directed and co-written by Peter Docter. This film released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is based on a young girl named Riley Andersen.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: The Revenant
Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki won an Oscar for his work on The Revenant. This is the third year in a row that Lubezki has taken home the award for Best Cinematography. He got in 2013 for Gravity and in 2014 for Birdman..
COSTUME DESIGN: Mad Max: Fury Road
Jenny Beavan got the Oscar award in costume design category for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road. Her design fleshed out the brutal desert landscape of the movie.
DIRECTING: The Revenant
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu got the Oscar award for his work in The Revenant. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a Mexican film director, producer, screenwriter.
Documentary (Feature) - Amy
It is a British documentary film that is based on the life and death of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse .This film is directed by Asif Kapadia and is produced by Krishwerkz Entertainment.
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT): A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
A Girl in the River - The Price of Forgiveness is a short subject documentary film directed by Shameen Obaid-Chinoy about the honor killings in Pakistan. The film is produced by Tina Brown and Sheila Nevins . The makeup and hairstyling team of Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin received their first Oscar for George Miller’s postapocalyptic actioner Mad Max: Fury Road for their work.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - SON OF SAUL
It is a Hungarian drama film and is directed by Laszlo Nemes and is co-written by Nemes and Clara Royer.
PRODUCTION DESIGN MAD MAX - FURY ROAD
Australian production designers Colin Gibson received the Oscar for his deserving work in Mad Max: Fury Road
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) - BEAR STORY
Bear Story is a Chilean animated short film directed by Gabriel Osorio Vargas, co-written with Daniel Castro and produced by Pato Escala Pierart.
It was a great event where Mad Max: Fury Road won six awards out of 10 nominations in the Oscar ceremony followed by The Revenant which won three out of 12 nominations. | https://successstory.com/inspiration/the-full-list-of-oscar-2016-winners |
Alejandro González Iñárritu, rating as a director
Alejandro González Iñárritu; credited since 2014 as Alejandro G. Iñárritu; born August 15, 1963) is a Mexican film director, producer, screenwriter, and former composer. He is the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing, for Babel in 2007. He is also the first Mexican-born director to have won the Prix de la mise en scene, the best director award at Cannes.
His five feature films – Amores perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), Babel (2006) (comprising the "Death Trilogy"), Biutiful (2010) and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) – have garnered wide acclaim and numerous accolades including Academy Award nominations. In 2015, he won the Academy Award for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture for Birdman. His sixth film, The Revenant, was released on December 25, 2015. More: en.wikipedia.org. | https://www.opiwiki.com/vote/209667/Alejandro-Gonz%C3%A1lez-I%C3%B1%C3%A1rritu-rating-as-director |
By Kenneth Paul Tan
This booklet offers a close research of ways governance in Singapore has developed on the grounds that independence to develop into what it truly is this present day, and what its clients will be in a post-Lee Kuan Yew destiny. to start with, it discusses the query of political management, electoral dominance and legislative monopoly in Singapore’s one-party dominant method and the system’s longevity. Secondly, it tracks advancements in Singapore’s public management, severely analysing the formation and transformation of meritocracy and pragmatism, key parts of the kingdom ideology. Thirdly, it discusses advancements inside civil society, focusing particularly on concerns with regards to patriarchy and feminism, hetero-normativity and homosexual activism, immigration and migrant employee exploitation, and the competition over background and nationwide narratives in academia, the media and the humanities. Fourthly, it discusses the PAP government’s efforts to connect to the general public, together with its nationwide public engagement workouts that may be interpreted as a subtler method of social and political regulate. In more and more advanced stipulations, the kingdom struggles to keep up its hegemony whereas securing a pre-eminent place within the international financial order. Tan demonstrates how developments in those 4 components converge in ways in which sign believable futures for a post-LKY Singapore.
Read or Download Governing Global-City Singapore: Legacies and Futures After Lee Kuan Yew (Politics in Asia) PDF
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A Crisis of Leadership and the Role of Citizens in Black America: Leaders of the New School
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Geneva Water Hub: Massive Online Course (MOOC) on International Water Law now available in English
During the last decades, international law has undergone major developments seeking to take into account the multifaceted nature of freshwater management and protection. Adopting universal, regional and river-basin tools stresses the importance of studying the evolution of international regulations concerning water and identifying the main principles in this area. This course aims at providing the foundations required to examine and understand the rules applying to transboundary freshwater resources, especially to rivers, lakes and aquifers. It illustrates the legal principles and standards governing the use, sharing, management and protection of these resources. The MOOC is composed of 5 modules that can be visualized in any order, since each addresses a specific theme. Nevertheless, this order follows a defined educational logic, so as to facilitate the understanding of the course by people who are not familiar with the subject. An evaluation quiz accompanies each module. The MOOC will follow a unique path leading to a certificate for learners, with an average of over 80% on the quizzes.
This MOOC was originally created in French. It has English subtitles.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the challenges and opportunities related to the regulation of transboundary freshwater resources;
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Partners:
The MOOC has been developed by the Geneva Water Hub’s Platform for International Water Law. It is funded by the Global Water Programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and has been supported by the “MOOC’s Cellule” of the University of Geneva. Various international practitioners and experts have contributed to the course. | https://www.aida-waterlaw.org/2018/01/18/geneva-water-hub-massive-online-course-mooc-on-international-water-law-now-available-in-english/ |
A senior mainland official has said that the central government must overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure the city is governed by “patriots”, appearing to liken the top-down political changes to Beijing’s imposition of the national security law last year.
The remarks from Guo Weimin, spokesman for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), came as sources told the Post that Hong Kong delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC) would be briefed on Thursday evening on Beijing’s package to shake up the city’s political system.
“A detailed proposal will be communicated to the Hong Kong delegation to seek their opinion,” a Beijing-based official source said on Wednesday.
Guo, meanwhile, added his voice to a chorus of officials who have called for the city to be administered by officials whose loyalty to the central government was beyond question.
“Patriots governing Hong Kong is a fundamental principle that we must insist on as we implement one country, two systems comprehensively and accurately,” Guo said, referring to the framework under which the city enjoys a degree of autonomy in managing its own affairs.
“Whether it is drafting and enacting the Hong Kong national security law [last year], or improving Hong Kong’s electoral systems, the goal is to insist on and improve one country, two systems, so that it can be carried forward along the correct direction in the long run.”
Guo was speaking as Hong Kong’s delegates to the CPPCC and its deputies to the NPC arrived in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of the two bodies’ plenary sessions, which start on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
The annual political events – collectively known as the “two sessions” – are a window into the central government’s priorities and plans for the coming year.
On Thursday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will travel to the capital via Shenzhen for the NPC’s opening ceremony on Friday, and will return to the city on Sunday.
Apart from endorsing China’s next five-year plan, the NPC and CPPCC are expected to scrutinise Beijing’s plans to revamp the city’s electoral systems based on the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, sources have said.
Guo echoed that language on Wednesday when he said the CPPCC would firmly support the central government’s policies and principles on Hong Kong, including the need for patriotism to play a crucial role in the city’s administration.
The spokesman was also asked if the central government would roll out any measures to help Hong Kong amid an economic contraction brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. But rather than answer directly, Guo pointedly noted that the social unrest that rocked the city in 2019 was also to blame for its economic woes.
“The enactment of the national security law has effectively safeguarded national security, and improved the systems under one country, two systems,” he said.
“Hong Kong’s fate has always been intertwined with the motherland’s … The central government would support Hong Kong in enhancing its role as an international financial centre, and help the city’s enterprises in expanding the mainland market.”
As for fighting the pandemic, Guo said Beijing had helped Hong Kong secure equipment, expand its testing capacity, and build community treatment facilities and makeshift hospitals.
Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head. | https://hksar.org/mainland-official-says-legislature-will-take-up-hong-kong-electoral-overhaul |
Yatsenyuk names required principles for Cabinet team to continue its work
In a Sunday’s televised address Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that the Government team is ready to continue its work under five principles, according to the prime minister’s press service.
According to Yatsenyuk, the first principle is the lack of political pressure and political corruption: "Each minister appointed by the coalition, bears overall responsibility for the area of his work and for the policy, which he defines in the industry. None of the political figures, none of the businessmen who have their own interests, have the right to put pressure on a minister and forcing them to take the decisions that contradict with the minister’s policy and the Ukrainian interests."
"No more political quotas in state governing bodies. No political and business interests in the management of state-owned companies and state banks," he added.
The second principle is a "zero tolerance toward corruption – both political and economic."
"Any appointment to the state-owned companies will be carried out exclusively through an independent nominating committee. So, 60 of the largest state-owned companies will have new and independent managers. Independent of both the political factions and parties, and from business groups and business elites," said the prime minister.
Read alsoUkraine PM offers Parliament to vote non-confidence in CabinetAt the same time, he stressed that "fair and transparent privatization" should start in Ukraine in 2016.
"Odesa Portside Chemical Plant should be put to privatization, as well as Centrenergo company, and other energy companies," he said.
"Parliament should pass a law that allows a strategic investor to purchase state-owned companies in the open and fair transparent tenders in order to attract foreign investment, create new jobs, modernize the Ukrainian economy and rid the state of political influence and a status of feeding mothers for different political parties and forces," said Yatsenyuk.
The third principle is the principle of "full transparency of the activity of the officials from executive authorities, local self-government and the members of parliament of Ukraine."
Read alsoAbromavicius sees Jaresko as premier – media"We must overcome the rule of “law by telephone” and any attempt of shadow arrangements in the backstage of transparent Ukrainian politics," the head of government stressed.
For this purpose, according to Yatsenyuk, the Cabinet has decided on the introduction of a code of ethical conduct for public servants and is submitting to the Verkhovna Rada of the Code of the Politician’s Integrity.
"These solutions provide for mandatory record all meetings and negotiations, politicians and heads of state power in Ukraine", - he said.
The fourth principle is the principle of responsibility.
Read alsoUkrainian ex-PM's visit to U.S. highlights obstacles facing peace pact: NYT"This means that the government fulfills its part of the job as the executive branch of power. But the Ukrainian parliament votes for the laws that are necessary for carrying out reforms in the country and confides in the government, which it has formed. It also helps the government to change the country and implement decisions that are right for Ukraine," said Yatsenyuk.
The fifth principle, he said, is the principle of separation of authority.
"The President of Ukraine is the Head of the Ukrainian State. While the Cabinet of Ministers is responsible before the president," he said. | https://www.unian.info/politics/1257985-yatsenyuk-names-required-principles-for-cabinet-team-to-continue-its-work.html |
Our 1776 suit no longer fits
Much has changed in 230 years. In 1776, the United States counted 2.5 million people living in 13 colonies scattered along the East coast. We were white, migrated from Europe, and fended for ourselves in a land of unlimited opportunity.
Today (2022), the United States is a very different place. Our population stands at 332 million people spread across a continent and the Pacific Ocean. The economic equality that largely existed in post-Revolutionary America (among whites) has been replaced by a swelling divide between the haves and have-nots. Today, non-Latino whites makes up less than 60% of the population; there are large Latino, Black and Asian minorities. Congress has faltered; the Supreme Court has become a political hotbed; and the President is swamped by the tasks placed upon him.
The original principles endure (Fire Bell in the Night, Schwartz). But we have outgrown the suit our Framers created for us in 1787. Where do we start? Here are a few ideas.
Our Constitutions: A Political Constitution and a Legal Constitution
It is often said that the United Kingdom lacks a written constitution. The U.K. does have a written constitution; it’s just spread across many written documents. This pattern provides an outline for our country. In Article I, the delegates drew a bright red line beneath the constitutional branch responsible for making fundamental policy decisions—Congress; and, in Article III, another line beneath the branch responsible for deciding “case or controversy”—the Courts.
The Framers did not intend the Constitution to function solely as a legal document. It was intended to frame a broader vision of political, social, and economic principles. (See Schwartz, ibid.)
We have outgrown the roles the Framers envisioned for Congress and the Supreme Court. The 1787 Convention very much wanted judicial review; but they didn’t want courts making fundamental policy decisions. The Court has become an entity unto itself rather than an integral part of the governing process. Too often, the Supreme Court deflates the role that other institutions—political, economic, and social—play in defining the landscape of American society. At a basic level, our judicial system has taken on an agenda it is structurally ill-equipped to handle.
We should have two Constitutions: the current Constitution, to serve as a basis for Supreme Court decisions. And, a political constitution which guides our elected representatives. Both rest on the same values and principles which frame the Constitution; but provide separate foundations for our justices and elected representatives to make fundamental decisions governing our society.
We need to find someone who will take our country’s measure and cut a new suit that fits the nation we have become.
At the same time, the electoral sieve intended to elevate experienced individuals with thoughtful views to Congress has been replaced by money, an indifferent electorate, and media attention as key ingredients for political decision making.
The responsibility for quarter-backing the government falls on the President. Today, that task is largely beyond any President’s means. George Washington headed a federal government composed of three departments. Today, the number of employees employed by the national government number 20,000 spread over 440 agencies and departments. Our elected President has been dwarfed by a mammoth bureaucracy which for all intents and purposes governs the country.
No group on this planet would leave executive decisions for an entity as large as the United States to one executive, albeit one surrounded by legions of advisers and an ever-expanding civil service. We could add several vice presidents, each responsible for a geographic or functional constituency. And, replace the bureaucracy with functional areas reporting to each of these vice presidents.
Our Federal system
The Framer’s model was premised on a decentralized decision-making process. Disaggregating the federal government while strengthening both federal and state governments is essential. The original checks and balances inherent in restraints on a single source of authority have morphed from diverse contiguous interests into fiefdoms of separate voices, each striving for supremacy and control rather than compromise and consensus.
Responsibility for certain areas should be returned to local governments (the states). They should have exclusive jurisdiction over education, criminal justice, and social transfer payments. The federal government would oversee certain areas including national defense, foreign trade, and monetary policy. Both governments could share responsibility in areas such as the environment, energy, and infrastructure. The Supreme Court would enforce the boundaries set between them as well as the rights and restraints the Legal and Political Constitutions establish.
The Economy
Though the Framers were foremost involved in a political act, pressure for the Convention largely arose from economic concerns. Our economic model reflects our commitment to let individuals compete among market forces of supply and demand, while asking government to prevent abuses. We need to recommit to this model. There is no a fortiori reason to believe that government officials are better at managing the economy than executives in the private sector.
Moreover, the country has many competent and honest business leaders. Instead of hauling them before hostile Congressional committees, we should invite them to participate in local decision-making. The eighteen-century Irish statesman Edmund Burke said (in some form), that “evil prevails when good men do nothing.” The good men and women of the business community form an important voice when battling the juggernaut of crony capitalism and political pandering.
Our social fabric: National service, elite schools, and the increasing divide between haves and have nots
Our social fabric supports our economic, political, and legal systems. It is in dire need of repair. Madison’s political theory assumed a pluralistic society. Rather than a common good arising from compromise, however, pluralism has created an ill-suited fabric of combative pecking orders and clashing demands.
A way exists to mend the cloth, though it will take a generation. We should look to our schools and armed forces. For those entering, our schools and military have largely become the realm of those who cannot afford better. The result: government and societal elites who are insensitive to the needs of their peers because they have never met.
If an equalitarian society forms the bedrock of our country, the most defining element is how we educate our youth. No state, it seems, can prevent the stratification of society. But, at one time, our education system (and the military) mirrored our society. Today, the key to America’s future, education, continues to see its mission politicized and programs cut. Elite high schools and universities are no longer the exclusive province of the wealthy but have created new elites. The vast majority of our schools fail to teach basic intellectual skills not to mention civic education. Moreover, by segregating the brightest from everyone else, aren’t we short changing both groups?
Compulsory national service is another path. I entered the military as a “slick sleeve,” the lowest private out there. I served with people I didn’t even know existed. I grew to respect many, but I met them all.
Finally, we must end our culture of dependency (and entitlement). One model is “you gave, we give,” whose approach lies in social security and the GI Bill. No one is too poor or sidelined to give back in some way. We need to include them and ask for their contribution. In return, the government can assist with health care, scholarships, and business loans. As President Kennedy put it 60 years ago: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Batman (Adam West) asks, “who’s your tailor?” We need to find someone who will take our country’s measure and cut a new suit that fits the nation we have become.
Dan Schwartz served as Nevada State Treasurer (2015-2019) and is currently a candidate for LT Governor in 2022. | https://policytoday.com/politics/244-we-need-a-new-suit |
Despite their importance, most human epigenetic modifiers likely remain unknown. My lab is identifying potential new epigenetic modifiers. This is revealing the role of epigenetics in development and disease. Our ultimate aim is to develop treatments for disease that manipulate epigenetic modifiers, where our focus is activating or inhibiting the epigenetic regulator SMCHD1.
We aim to understand the molecular mechanisms behind epigenetic silencing. We use several model systems to study the interaction between known and novel epigenetic modifiers: X inactivation, embryonic and haematopoietic stem cell activity, and embryonic development.
In each case, we seek to understand how epigenetic modifiers elicit transcriptional silencing, and how this relates to functional outcomes for the cell. We use a combination of genetic, genomic and advanced imaging techniques to address these questions.
By studying the molecular mechanisms governing epigenetic control in normal development, we hope to understand how it goes awry in disease. This may reveal how we can manipulate epigenetic state for therapeutic gain.
Our current focus is the epigenetic regulator SMCHD1. We are screening for small molecule activators and inhibitors of SMCHD1: the former as potential treatments for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, the latter for Prader Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes. These diseases have no current targeted treatments.
Coursera course: This course covers the principles of epigenetic control of gene expression, how epigenetic control contributes to cellular differentiation and development, and how it goes wrong in disease. | https://wehi.edu.au/people/marnie-blewitt |
The process of selecting a policy or incentive should include deep consideration of these strengths and limitations as they relate to a variety of political, institutional, economic, and environmental factors. These factors can influence and impact policy design, deployment, and efficacy.
Critically, long-term power system planning exercises can be a crucial foundation for policy development and deployment. These planning efforts tend to work best when they meaningfully and consistently involve a wide variety of power sector stakeholders, as this helps build understanding of and support for new policy. Visit the Clean Power Hub’s guides focused on supporting power sector planning if you are interested in learning more.
Clean power can support a variety of national and local goals, objectives, and targets, including economic growth and development, industrial modernization, social well-being, air and water quality, and more.
Careful consideration and prioritiza...
The structure of and relationships between the governing institutions and power system stakeholders in your country – and their decision-making and implementation capacity – will influence a policy’s effectiveness, as well as your ability to build suppo...
Political economy refers to the – often complex and nuanced – interactions between the political, economic and social forces that participate in and/or shape national, sub-national and international decision making. Studying political economy may help c...
Increasing clean power in your power system can lead to job creation, economic growth, and many other socio-economic benefits, but – as is the case with many other areas of public policy – these benefits may not distribute themselves equally across indu...
The abundance and quality of renewable resources varies significantly internationally, nationally and sub-nationally. A clear understanding of the available renewable energy resources is crucial for policy design.
High-quality geospatial and rene... | https://www.cleanpowerhub.net/enable-clean-power/select-and-develop-clean-power-policies-and-incentives/27690 |
Five main developments could follow SYRIZA's landslide victory in the early elections on Sunday, according to political scientist Cas Mudde, who has been studying radical political parties for years.
In an analysis published on Open Democracy, Mudde says the Greek party system will "consolidate a new two-party dynamic" following a scenario in Italy, where the old system imploded in 1990s due to corruption scandals. In Greece, "on the left, PASOK has imploded, but is replaced by SYRIZA."
"Greece will not follow the path of Weimar Germany," Mudde goes further ruling out the country could turn into a weak democracy threatened by "strong extremist parties." Despite not being "a committed liberal democratic party", SYRIZA is not very different from the "left-wing populist PASOK", in his words. He believes Tsipras's party will have to come to terms, albeit "grudgingly", with accepting communism and minority rights.
Another expected development will be its consolidation into a more traditional party as it currently consists of a coalition of small radical and extreme left "groupuscules". But "the pressures of governing a country in crisis, as well as the internal divisions and struggles of the party, will provide Tsipras and his team with strong incentives to build SYRIZA into a real political party," the political scientist opines.
Mudde has also downplayed a potential rise of the far left, since "in Cyprus, Ireland and Italy left-wing populist parties might grow... mostly in the form of established forces" due to the fact that their development is mostly driven by "apparatchiks and opportunists who could not convince their electorates to overcome their distrust of previously defeated ideologies."
The article's last point reads that the EU "will not change fundamentally" since Europe and Tsipras are most likely to reach "a compromise that is essentially a SYRIZA defeat." As a consequence, the EU will most likely "soften austerity rhetoric, but to a lesser extent policy" Mudde notes: "Even if Podemos comes to power in Spain later this year, and that is a big if, the majority of European governments will continue to support austerity politics, if only because their political fate is tied to it." | https://www.novinite.com/articles/166168/Cas+Mudde%3A+Five+Predictions+of+Greece%27s+Future+after+SYRIZA+Landslide |
by Toby Dodge
This memo was presented at a workshop organised by the LSE Middle East Centre on 29 June 2018 looking at the comparative politics of sub-state identity in the Middle East.
Principle Visions in Iraq
Deploying a ‘Bourdieusian’ approach to explaining the rise of sectarianism within Iraq’s political field after 2003 involves identifying and explaining the rise to dominance of sub-state communalist ‘principles of vision and division’, that ‘limit the universe of political discourse’.
The principle vision through which the US sought to understand and transform Iraq had two aspects to it. The first was a transformative Neoliberalism. The second aspect of the Bush administration’s vision was how Iraqi society was understood. Across Central Intelligence Agency reports, National Security Council briefing papers, documents drawn up by both the State Department and Defense Department, Iraq was perceived of as irrevocably divided along ethnic and religious lines between homogeneous and mutually antagonist communities of Shi’a, Sunni and Kurd. This sectarian trope dominated American perceptions of Iraq to the exclusion of almost anything else.
The Muhasasa Ta’ifia Principle Vision
The Iraqi principle vision that came to dominate the country after 2003, the muhasasa ta’ifia or sectarian apportionment system, was largely developed in exile in the early 1990s after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. This assertion, in exile, of a principle of vision that reordered and divided Iraq’s political field along identitarian lines reached a peak of coherence at an opposition conference held in Salah al-Din, an area of northern Iraq recently liberated from Baghdad’s rule, in October 1992. The 234 exiled politicians present at the event established a number of councils and committees that were to act as a unified opposition and government in waiting. Most importantly, positions on these governing and planning bodies were allocated according to the ‘Salah al-Din principles’, the division of jobs according to the conference’s assessment of the percentage of the population which were Shi’a, Kurdish and Sunni.
It was this principle of vision, brought back to Iraq in 2003, that ordered its political field. This was imposed through the establishment of the muhasasa ta’ifia system and electoral mobilisation in the elections of 2005, 2010 and 2014.
The muhasasa ta’ifia principle vision restructured the political field and the state, empowering politicians who were championing sectarian identities as the dominant way to reclassify the social world.
The use of the muhasasa ta’ifia system to divide up the institutions of the state, tied access to the state’s economic capital to the parties asserting sectarian identities. The Iraqi Governing Council, formed in 2003, the interim government of 2004, and governments formed after each national election, in 2005, 2010 and 2014 were all shaped by the the muhasasa ta’ifia principle vision. This dictated that the cabinet was divided, and ministries and their resources were awarded to the ethno-sectarian parties as their reward for mobilising voters along ethno-sectarian lines and then taking part in governments of national unity. Each party would then exploit the resources of the ministry they were awarded to gain economic capital in their struggle to dominate the political field. As a result, access to government employment, still dominant in the Iraqi job market, was only guaranteed by pledging alliance to one of the political parties promoting the muhasasa ta’ifia.
As such, Iraqis seeking government jobs were interpolated as members of exclusive ethno-sectarian communities, Sunni, Shi’a or Kurd, with their habitus being socialised through the muhasasa ta’ifia principle vision in return for access to economic capital.
In addition to the muhasasa ta’ifia principle vision imposing a sectarian symbolic violence on Iraq’s political field, electoral mobilisation also drove the increase in sectarianism.
Electoral Mobilisation in Iraq
During 2004–5, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani developed a plan to maximise Shi’a representation in the Iraqi parliament after the January 2005 elections. He set up a six-man committee to choose candidates for the electoral coalition that fought the elections. The result was the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), an overtly Sh’ia coalition which held within it all the Shi’a Islamist political parties and a large number of independent politicians.
The rules under which the elections were fought exacerbated this dynamic, creating one nationwide electoral constituency. Local issues and personalities were minimised during the campaign, politicians and parties were marshalled into large coalitions, and candidates played to the lowest common denominator, deploying ethnic and sectarian rhetoric to define and then mobilise their constituencies.
The electoral campaign itself was shaped by the deployment of Sistani’s cultural, symbolic and social capital in the UIA’s fight to win. The Shi’a section of the electorate were hence powerfully interpolated and mobilised to vote not only and exclusively as Shi’as but Shi’as who were to be represented in parliament and government by Islamist political parties.
Electoral turnout for the December 2005 elections rose from 58 to 79.6 percent, indicating that the Sunni section of Iraq’s political field had also now been successfully interpolated on the basis of their sectarian identity and hence integrated into the muhasasa ta’ifia. The main electoral alliance involved in this process, the Accord Front (Jabha al-Tawafuq al-Iraq), was built around the Iraqi branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Party (IIP).
The third national elections of 2010, saw the first sustained challenge to the muhasasa ta’ifia system. Iyad Allawi, the leader of Iraqi National List (Iraqiya), set out to capitalise on a new fluidity in the struggle to dominate the political field. Allawi built Iraqiya’s principle vision around its lack of contamination by the sectarianism and corruption central to the muhasasa ta’ifia since 2005. Iraqiya’s principle vision also promoted an overt secular nationalist politics. It set out, as key part of its electoral campaign, to interpolate and mobilise the Iraqi electorate as secular Iraqi citizens.
Iraq’s newly competitive political field and Allawi’s successful accrual of both social and symbolic capital, meant the election delivered a three-way split, with Iraqiya winning 24.7 percent of the vote, Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law, 24.2 percent and the Iraqi National Alliance, 19.2 percent.
However, Nuri al-Maliki, the then-Prime Minister, managed to use the systemic threat of Iraqiya’s vote to impose a rough and ready unity on the Kurdish and Shi’a parties, who had a great deal to lose. Allawi and Iraqiya were brought into yet another government of national unity.
The muhasasa ta’ifia, with its reassertion of sectarian identity, its defence of elite interests, its encouragement of both personal and political corruption and government incoherence, once again triumphed. Cabinet posts and the resources they brought with them were divided between the winning electoral coalitions. This was once again justified in the name of sectarian quotas.
By bringing Iraqiya into another government of national unity on the basis of the muhasasa ta’ifia’s principle of vision, the rest of Iraq’s governing elite hoped that the threat it posed would be neutered. Iraqiya could now be treated as just another communalist party, replacing Tawafuq as the representatives of the ‘Sunni’ vote.
Conclusions
The arguments developed have sought to move beyond the instrumentalism central to the sectarianisation thesis. For example, although Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has long been deeply committed to a unitary political field in which a civic Iraqi nationalism was meant to marginalise sectarianism, his backing of the UIA as a vehicle for Shi’a empowerment inadvertently led to the interpolation of Shia’s as Shia’s and increased the sectarianisation of Iraq’s political field.
The US played a major role in the sectarianisation of Iraq’s political field but they did so because they believed they were working with social divisions which already existed not actively creating and then institutionalising them.
A ‘Bourdieusian’ explanation to the rise of sectarianism in Iraq does not seek to discount the explanatory veracity of both the sectarianisation thesis nor the ‘culturalist’ approach. However, it seeks to broaden out the explanation and understand the causality behind it.
Unlike the ‘culturalist’ approach, a Bourdieusian one sees identities as relational, created, shaped and then mobilised by the interaction between people and institutional and ideational structures they encounter. Under this analytical rubric, the sectarian rhetoric that flourished in Iraq after 2003 was not a return to nor a rejuvenation of previous identities suppressed under Ba’athism. Instead, the success of sectarian entrepreneurs was driven by the way that the political field being fought over was transformed by the invasion and its aftermath. What was ideationally attractive at times after 2003 was therefore the result of that transformation not a continuum of events before it.
At the centre of this explanation is the principle of vision and division used by Iraqi politicians in their attempt to order and dominate Iraq’s political field. This principle of vision was clearly deployed instrumentally by agents competing in Iraq’s political field. However, the actions of those agents were also shaped by the principle vision they were working within, their own agency was constrained by the ideational structures, the symbolic violence they were deploying.
Ali Allawi, The Occupation of Iraq. Winning the War, Losing the Peace (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007).
Other memos in the series: | https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2018/09/13/tracing-the-rise-of-sectarianism-in-iraq-after-2003/ |
The American Conservatism and Governing Fellowship brings together cohorts of successful mid-career public-service professionals to explore the foundational principles of American conservatism. The fellowship will help leaders refresh and deepen their thinking about conservatism in America and its application to the work of governing. When a mayor, governor, legislator, cabinet secretary, or president is looking for talented, ethical, experienced public-service professionals who are committed to American conservatism and can be entrusted with governing responsibility, they will look to products of this fellowship.
Though much attention has been paid in recent years to populism, nationalism, liberalism, and even the policies of other nations, the principles of American conservatism remain an indispensable guide for those engaging in the public’s business. These principles are suited to America’s history and character, they have contributed mightily to our nation’s success, and they can help us solve today’s most pressing challenges.
But those engaged in the difficult day-to-day work of public leadership—especially when they are inundated with toxic commentary about the latest political spat—can lose sight of these principles. That is, the burdens associated with actually governing and the distorted picture of America painted by social media can make it difficult to reflect on conservative principles and decide how they can best be applied to real-world problems.
This fellowship brings together cohorts of approximately 15 individuals from across America to read and discuss the ideas behind the seminal texts of American conservatism. Each cohort convenes in person twice over the course of a year for five days of text-based seminars and related events. Participants will explore, among other topics, why classical republicanism—and its focus on self-governing citizens, civic virtue, the common good, and a limited state—was essential to our founding; why American conservatives are dedicated to preserving the Constitution, including federalism, separation of powers, ordered liberty, and equal protection; why conservatives aim to strengthen individuals, families, communities, and civil society; why conservatives rely on voluntary associations and small-scale democracy instead of a presumptuous national government and an expansive administrative state; and why conservatives prefer practical wisdom and tradition to technocracy.
Unlike similar programs, this fellowship is designed, first and foremost, for those committed to a life of public service, primarily those who will spend some portion of their careers working for local, state, and/or federal government. This fellowship is meant to help develop the next generation of knowledgeable, virtuous, responsible, conservative public leaders. All seminars will be moderated by individuals with governing experience, and all sessions will relate to the application of conservative principles to the work of governing.
Applicants need not currently work for a government entity; the fellowship is open to those serving in a variety of public-leadership and policy roles, including in the fields of advocacy, research, and philanthropy. But aspiring fellows should be committed to a career of public service, including inside-the-government work. Also, the fellowship is open to those focused on any level of government, but we will give particular attention to those interested in close-to-home service (e.g. at the state, local, and community levels).
Lastly, applicants need not identify as political conservatives. Those with other views are welcome; the fellowship prizes free and rigorous discussion of the texts. The only requirement is that applicants must want to learn more about American conservatism. This program is premised on the belief that the principles of American conservatism add enormously to American governing and help explain many characteristics of American society. An appreciation for conservatism’s principles can deepen public servants’ knowledge, strengthen American institutions, improve policymaking, and enable leaders to better understand the views of others engaged in the political process.
Background
This type of professional-development opportunity—focused on ideas, policy, and fellowship among public-minded professionals—is needed in our unusual political moment. Current American policy conversations have become simultaneously toxic and exhausted. Our political parties are polarized, serious debates are often conducted in soundbites on cable news, and the public square is increasingly uncivil. Tragically, too many public officials behave in unethical ways, undermining America’s system of virtuous self-government. At the same time, fresh, workable solutions to today’s most pressing problems are in short supply. In total, then, we have a reduced capacity to do the public’s work.
This is especially troubling because this era demands energetic, creative, principled, civil leaders. Substantial changes in the economy, demographics, and culture are causing new challenges, destabilizing old orthodoxies, and possibly leading to political realignments. Now is the time to consciously invest in the next wave of public-service leaders.
This fellowship’s emphasis on first principles of governing is designed to inform, challenge, inspire, and invigorate participants. The fellowship encourages participants to focus on ideas and policy rather than politics and partisanship so they can lead and contribute to efforts to solve concrete problems. In this way, the program aims to strengthen fellows’ understanding of conservatism as well as their commitment to careers in public service.
This fellowship is built on the view that decentralized authority, ordered liberty, self-government, tradition, civil society, natural rights, pluralism, capitalism, practical wisdom, and virtue contribute mightily to America’s success. But the fellowship doesn’t demand that participants agree that American conservatism holds the only answers to our problems; in fact, the curriculum asks fellows to grapple with the tension between various conservative principles, understand how conservative principles have been used to defend unjust practices, and appreciate different visions of conservatism today. Our readings will prompt challenging conversations about today’s most difficult issues. So, while the program is unapologetically built on the view that American conservatism adds enormous value to governing, discussions begin with curiosity and a spirit of inquiry.
This fellowship fills an important gap. There are programs on conservatism for college students and recent graduates. There are programs led by academics and commentators. There are professional-development opportunities for people working in public service. There are gatherings for people generally interested in conservatism but not committed to careers in public service.
This fellowship, however, is specifically designed for those who are already building successful careers in public policy and public service and want to learn more about the animating principles of American conservatism, especially as they relate to the practice of governing. This is a sustained, intellectually rigorous program based on engagement with seminal texts and extended discussions. And unlike most other programs in this space, which are led by those with little to no experience in governing, this program is by and for those dedicated to governing.
Program
The American Conservatism and Governing Fellowship brings together cohorts of approximately 15 individuals to engage in text-based conversations. Fellows come to the Manhattan Institute’s New York City office to participate in five-day learning sessions twice over the course of a year. The first session focuses primarily on seminal texts and the defining principles of American conservatism. The second session focuses more on the application of governing principles to policymaking. Sessions are moderated by Andy Smarick (the program’s founder and director) and a series of conservative thought leaders with experience in public policy.
Fellows represent a wide array of domestic policy fields, including education, workforce development, social services, criminal justice, and more. Some work for government bodies, others work for outside-of-government public-service organizations. The fellowship is particularly interested in applicants committed to state and local service, Most policymaking—especially that which most directly affects citizens’ lives—occurs in state capitals and local governments; political debates are less polarized outside of the Beltway; those outside of Washington often lack access to policy-related professional development; and if conservatism believes in decentralization, pluralism, and local wisdom, we ought to purposely invest in those working at the state and local levels.
During their fellowship year, participants continue to work in their current positions. Fellows commit to reading the extensive packets of texts prior to each of the two seminars and being “fully present” during the sessions (no screens during conversations, no stepping out for work calls, etc.). During the five-day sessions, there will be group dinners and activities as well, but there will also be scheduled down time for fellows to recharge and catch up on personal and professional obligations. The program is free of charge to Fellows; the cost of their travel, hotel, and incidentals are covered by the Fellowship.
Application
We are seeking applications from successful mid-career professionals (those with a track record of success and at least five years of professional experience) who are committed to a career in public service and are interested in learning more about the application of American-conservative principles to governing.
Candidates should apply via this website by September 30th. You will be prompted to upload your most recent résumé or CV and then respond to two prompts (each response should be 500 words or fewer). The first question asks why you are interested in this fellowship at this point in your career. The second question asks about your career aspirations (i.e. what you hope to accomplish, what you aim to contribute to public life, and what roles/positions you believe will enable you to accomplish your goals and maximize your contributions).
Submissions will be reviewed, and some applicants will be asked to submit additional information, provide references, and participate in an interview. | https://www.manhattan-institute.org/fellowships/american-conservatism-and-governing-fellowship |
Inventory Management in PPIC Abstract Palestine Plastic Industry Company (PPIC) is one of the largest companies in the Palestinian market. PPIC was incorporated in February 1999 as a public shareholding company with a total declared capital of US$ 7 million. The main shareholder of PPIC is Palestine Industrial Investment Co. with a total ownership of 67%. The company's headquarter is located in Nablus. The company applies a system in quality control, management control with Basic principles in the Forecasting and assessment of the procurement process and the quantities of raw materials should be available in stores. But in the same time the company doesn't enjoy a precise system for inventory, warehouses, retailers and the information flow system.Our project is going to study and discuss these matters. ABC Classifications and the Forecasting concept and other Industrial Engineering principles will be used in our project ending up with the final solutions Represented by building the dynamic model of Inventory and warehouses in additional to building the information flow system in the company. The study of Supply chain management in PPIC is essential in the company's success and customer satisfaction. The objectives in applying this project on PPIC Company are: Reducing inventories along the chain, Better information sharing among the partners, Planning being done in consultation rather than in isolation. The benefits too would be reflected in terms of: Lower costs, Better customer service, efficient manufacturing, and Better trust among the partners. In this report we are going to introduce a brief introduction of the components of the project, literature review, problem statement, methodology. 1.1 Plan of the project and methodology: Palestinian market study: Collection of the essential information in order to forecast the demand. Applying the supply chain strategies (using mathematical applications) on our case-study. Ending up with the best for our company in Palestine which can be implementing in order to achieve all objectives. 1.3 Inventory and Warehouses system: ABC classification Analyzing of PPIC products into three categories provides a mechanism for identifying the items that will have a significant impact on overall inventory cost. While also providing a mechanism for identifying different categories of stock that will require different management and controls. Studying the demand and finding the best method for forecasting Tracking the pattern of the demand in order to identify the best method for forecasting for example: Time series methods, methods for stationary series, trend-based methods and methods for seasonal series and so on. Studying the inventory problems and classify the warehouses items. 1.4 Information flow system modifications and improvement: Studying the information flow system of the company Detecting and identifying the problems and the area for improvement Build the information system for the company with the improvements and modifications Ending up with final information flow system, which will be the solution for our problem. | https://repository.najah.edu/items/21d82550-37c5-4441-9bad-a9188f27dd0b |
Description: The meaning of governance is the act or process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of something (such as a country or an organization) : government. How to use governance in a sentence.
2. Text link: Governance - Wikipedia
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Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance
Description: Governance is all the processes of interaction be they through the laws, norms, power or language of an organized society over a social system (family, tribe, formal or informal organization, a territory or across territories). It is done by the government of a state, by a market, or by a network. It is the decision-making among the actors involved in a collective problem that leads to the creation, reinforcement, or reproduction of social norms and institutions". In lay terms, it could be described as the political processe…
3. Text link: Governance - definition of governance by The Free …
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Link: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/governance
Description: Define governance. governance synonyms, governance pronunciation, governance translation, English dictionary definition of governance. n. The action, manner, or power of governing: principles …
4. Text link: Governance: what is it and why is it important? | https://ikeyword.net/query/governance |
Comparative public administration is a systematic comparison of public administration systems, concepts or categories. It is also the theory of public administration applied to diverse culture and national settings and the body of factual data by which it can be explained.
It is concerned with making rigorous cross-cultural comparisons of the structures and processes involved in the activities of administering public affairs in the states. Comparative public administration means identifying similarities and difference between administrative systems with the main purpose of explaining these difference and similarities between the different systems and understanding the circumstances, context, environment, and the conditions (political, social, cultural, economic and technology) that respectively influence or shape them.
For instance, in a comparative public administration, one may decide to study and compare administration system of a country to find out their public financial management system, staff recruitment, training, promotion process, budgetary system, electoral system, political leadership succession and their legislative, executive and judicial structures. Comparative public administration stands for cross cultural and cross-national public administration comparison and understanding.
Factors that led to the Emergence and Growth of Comparative Public Administration
The study of comparative public administration started at the end of the Second World War in the United States of America. Research in comparative public administration can be traced by the following specific factors:
USA World War 11 Experience: after the Second World War, USA embarked on aid programmes and projects in the developing nations of Africa and Asia through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In administering these aid programme and in assisting in the rebuilding of the administrative system of these developing nations, America discovered that her own administrative system that were being adopted in those nations were not working the way it works in the United States.
As a result of this experience and understanding, the American administrators recognized the importance and influence of environment in the practice of public administration. Therefore they came into conclusion that there is no universal principle in the practice of public administration.
The Setting up of Comparative Administrative Group: this group encouraged research in comparative public administration. The objective of this group was to encourage research in comparative public administration, to encourage teaching of comparative public administration and to contribute to more effective public policy formulation and implementation in the field of development administration.
Comparative public administration got further impetus in 19662 when the comparative administrative group received fund for research and development in comparative public administration from Ford Foundation. This fund enabled the group to engage in wider research in the administrative system of other countries.
The need to develop and implement sound policies: after the Second World War, there was a need to formulate effective public policies and to ensure their effective and efficient execution in order to meet the critical and urgent development challenges, needs and objectives of the developing nations.
The possibility of achieving this requires practical knowledge of any given public administration system either by foreigners or indigenous bureaucrats. The research undertaken to compare public administration system were intended to serve or promote development.
Dissatisfaction with traditional Public Administration: the traditional public administration dominated the administrative study and practice during the first half of the nineteenth century. The traditional public administration after the Second World War became perceived as too arrow and parochial as it was based essentially on Western model particularly the United States.
Beside, the traditional approach consisted in merely providing parallel description of the administrative institution without any conscious and systematic effort to compare them. Riggs in 1961 argue that American Public Administration should just be viewed as a subfield because public administration is global in scope.
Ecological Approach on Comparative Public Administration
Ecological approach on comparative public administration emphasizes the ecological approach that involves studying the dynamics of interaction between administrative system and its environment. Fred Riggs through his books entitled “Administration in Developing Nations” published in 1964 suggested that public administration is related to its environment in much manner that organisms are studied in relation to the habitat.
The argument being made by Riggs and other ecological theorist is that bureaucracies or administrative institutions can better be understood if the surrounding conditions like politics, economy, and social values are properly analyzed in relation to the administrative system. This is because these ecological factors exert significant influence or impact on administrative actions and behaviours through different means and channels, stimulating or stifling traits and performance.
The concept of ecology has been accepted as very important in studying and understanding public administration. This is because the conduct of public administration has been observed to be actually shaped or influenced by its environment.
It is generally accepted that within any society, political, economic and socio-cultural factors interact with the administrative sub-system, influencing and being influenced by it. For instance, from the social environment comes in the influence of traditional, religious and other primordial and cultural values.
In comparison, one finds out that bureaucrat in Nigeria, for instance, are more likely to succumb to primordial pressure and ignore the bureaucratic principle of impersonality. Again from the political environment comes reasonable level of influence. For instance, the extent of the realization of politics-administration dichotomy which influences public administration is dependent on the nature and pattern of political influence.
For instance, in Nigeria where political control of the bureaucracy is tightly exercised without effective institutionalized control, the existence of neutral or impartial bureaucracy is very difficult.
This is quite in contrast to the situation in a country like the United States of America where there is greater separation of politics from administration and where the bureaucracy is more autonomous from contending social and political forces within the country.
Again, the difference evident in various forms of government (like federal, unitary, parliamentary, presidential, military, autocratic, monarchical, republican or democracy) can lead to variance in the administrative system as they may respectively define who is in charge of administrative departments, who controls the administration and the relative participation of administrators in policy formulation and that of political officials in policy implementations.
For instance, in democratic governance, the scope and objectives of public service and values to be applied when delivering services may be different from that in autocratic governance.
Generally, a look at the structure and functions of public administration in different countries will reveal that, though there are manifest similarities in formal organization, yet their informal behavioral patterns posse’s considerable diversities, each being shaped by its societal environmental factors.
And so even in western developed nations which are often grouped into one administrative category, their administrative system have never developed and functioned in a uniform pattern. So is the case in the category of developing nations.
The conclusion from this is that public administration is culture or environment bound. The structures of public administration of one environmental setting cannot be easily transplanted into a different cultural environment or society.
Institutions transplanted as such may even develop in an unpredictable ways and may serve needs different from those satisfied in the place of origin. Despite the fact that Nigeria bureaucracy is modeled and developed by the British on principle of merit, impartiality, political neutrality among others, its nature and functions cannot be understood in terms of these ideal principles but in terms of Nigeria’s cultural, political and economic environment and which made it to function in almost entirely opposite direction.
Contributions of Comparative Study of Public Administration to the General field of Public Administration
- Cross cultural comparison of public administration system profoundly add to student’s capacity for better analysis and improves their appraisal of world affairs. Certainly their knowledge of other countries administrative system is the best way to achieve a balanced perspective and to reduce myopic view of others.
- It has helped to eliminate the narrowness of provincialism and regionalism in the general practice and study of public administration.
- It has broadened the field of public administration integrating it with the entire field of the social sciences by its emphasis on ecology and behaviorism.
- It has led to greater scientific outlook in theory construction. The comparative method is essential for the development of administrative theory and improvement in its application.
- It has played important role in making the subject of public administration broader, deeper and useful and liberates public administration from parochialism.
- It permits one to see wider range of administrative actions, identifying a variety of problems and improves ones understanding of the short comings and limitations of given administrative contexts.
- Comparative public administration has aided administrative improvements in many countries through reforms, innovations and system adaptation.
- Administrative knowledge and information generated through the comparative methods serves public administrators needs and expand their horizon of choice and improves their capacity to observe, learn and improve management performance. | https://www.walyben.com/comparative-public-administration/ |
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:27 p.m.) — A new study showed that the Philippines placed 53rd out of 195 examined countries when it comes to global health security capabilities while adding that no nation in the world is sufficiently prepared for the next pandemic.
"National health security is fundamentally weak around the world," the first Global Health Security Index of The Economist Intelligence Unit said Friday. "No country is fully prepared for epidemics or pandemics, and every country has important gaps to address."
The summary was based on a number of healthcare indicators which included prevention, detection and reporting, rapid response, robustness of health systems, compliance with international norms and risk environment.
For their analysis, the GHS Index largely relied on open-source information consisting of locally or internationally-published data about each country. "The GHS Index was predicated on data transparency out of a firm belief that all countries are safer and more secure if they understand each other’s gaps in epidemic and pandemic preparedness," the report said.
Unpreparedness, a global epidemic
After the global average overall score was put at 40.2 out of a possible 100, GHS asserted that overall international preparedness worldwide was weak, noting that "fewer than 7% of countries scored in the highest tier for the ability to prevent the emergence or release of pathogens."
According to the report, not even world powers, including the United States, were ready enough to face global pandemics, even though higher-income countries reported an average score of 51.9. "Most countries (67%) score in the bottom tier for health system indicators," the report added.
When it came to funding, GHS noted that “Although 86% of countries invest local or donor funds in health security, few countries pay for health security gap assessments and action plans out of national budgets.”
Thailand and South Korea placed among the best-performing countries in the index’s 195 included countries, but the report noted that the rest of Asia still faces sizable gaps.
A matter of policy
In a segment outlining the principles behind the formation of the report, the index included:
- The exercise and execution of existing capacities aimed at addressing bio threats
- The presence of stable political and social systems to initiate and complement existing healthcare systems to combat future pandemics
- Identifying and preventing future biohazards before they happen
- The reduction of existing “Global Catastrophic Biological Risks”
- Global transparency with regards to pandemic preparedness
The report pointed to worldwide trends that could result in mass population loss if left unchecked. “Global trends in technology, travel, trade, and terrorism are increasing the risk of a globally catastrophic biological event, but decision makers are not yet planning for [future] biological events,” the GHS Index said.
Interestingly, the report also noted that "countries with effective governance and political systems" generally scored higher overall scores than countries that didn't.
Listing key findings and recommendations, the index said that "only 23% of countries score in the top tier for indicators related to their political system and government effectiveness, which can have a major impact on national capability to address biological threats."
Outlining the principles of its index, the report said that "global health security depends on the presence of a stable political, social, and economic environment." It also asserted that “political will is needed to save lives and build a safer and more secure world.”
Closer to home
Although the Philippines ranked well above the average score worldwide for many of the GHS Index indicators, one area the archipelago notably lacked was risk environment. Under this category, political and security risks notched a score of 39.3 out of a worldwide average of 60.4, while infrastructure adequacy was ranked 33.3 out of 49.0 and public health vulnerabilities scored 41.4 out of 46.9. The epidemiology workforce indicator of the detection and reporting category scored 25 out of 42.3.
Alarmingly, the country scored 0 in linking public health and security authorities, communications with healthcare workers during a public health emergency, dual-use research and culture of responsible science, bioscience, and joint external evaluations and performance of veterinary services.
Today, groups are calling the public healthcare situation in the country a crisis of its own with many bemoaning the system’s pronounced underfunding. Beyond this, the country also has the outbreak of infectious diseases and growing distrust in vaccines to reckon with. Just last September 20, a three-year-old girl in Lanao del Sur was reported to have contracted polio, the country's first case since being declared polio-free in 2000.
These issues come as the Department of Health prepares for the implementation of the Universal Health Care law in 2020.
In the Philippines, the health worker-to-person ratio stands at only 19 per 10,000, massively below the World Health Organization recommendation of at least be 45 health workers for every 10,000 persons.
Recommendations
A joint project of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the Nuclear Threat Initiative and The Economist Intelligence Unit, the report outlined a number of recommendations for administrations, including:
- That governments and international organizations alike "should commit" to addressing issues related to health security, and later convene for a "heads of state summit" called by the UN Secretary-General to address issues and explore the possibility of "a dedicated international normative body" for identifying looming biohazards
- That world leaders take steps to improve and operationalize linkages between public health and security bodies, an area that consistently ranked in the lower-tiers across all the included nations
- The provision of more financing mechanisms from both the public and private sector to address existing preparedness gaps
- The regular measurement, assessment and testing of existing mechanisms and future measures taken, to be succeeded by the publication of findings, a theme consistently emphasized throughout the report
For the GHS Index, gathering, analyzing and publishing existing data would spur political will, give way to informed decisions on the part of policy-makers and incentivize further improvements on healthcare systems. | https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/25/1963258/philippines-ranks53rd-epidemics-preparedness-study-global-outlook-not-looking-good |
Sie befinden sich hier: Forschung Archiv Progressive inclusion: migrant citizenship and transnational migration
This book explores two principles governing migrant citizenship in Germany: the principle of progressive inclusion and the principle of static attribution. It develops both the structural and the legal dimensions of both principles and proposes a model for the legal empowerment of migrants.
The first Chapter introduces the concept of transnational migration. Transnational migration forms a specific type of migration mainly characterized by multiple ties to several countries, a phenomenon which has been largely disregarded by current migration law so far. Transnational migrants regularly cross borders in different directions, have family in their residence country as well as in other countries, are economically active in two or more countries simultaneously or during their lifetime, and finally they have a political interest in more than just one country. The concept of transnational migration is exemplified by three fictional migrant families from Italy, Turkey, and Ukraine, who are introduced in this Chapter and whose situation is traced in each of the following Chapters.
The second Chapter suggests that migrant citizenship is governed by two principles which are in potential tension with one another. The principle of progressive inclusion says that migrants are to be included in the host society by approximating their rights progressively to the rights of the citizens of that country. This aim shall be reached by progressively equipping migrants with ever more rights with regard to their host state, corresponding to the growing duration of their stay or their increasing social and economic ties to the host society. Moreover, these rights should be progressively deepened, so that they can no longer be easily withdrawn. According to the principle of progressive inclusion, citizenship is no prerequisite for societal and democratic participation. To the contrary, migrants shall be empowered by rights to enable participation so that becoming a citizen is only the consequence of their legal inclusion. The principle of static attribution, on the other hand, argues that citizenship remains the essential prerequisite for full participation in social, economic and political life. Granting citizenship means rewarding successful integration, according to this principle. Consequently, the principle of static attribution argues for exclusive attribution and loyalty of a person to one state, meaning that multiple citizenships need to be avoided. Tracing the historic emergence of both principles, this Chapter shows how the principle of static attribution developed together with the rise of the modern territorial state, while the principle of progressive inclusion mainly evolved along with the idea of universal human rights after World War II.
Chapter 3 explains why principles are a useful instrument for the study of the legal regime governing migrant citizenship: as structuring principles, their function is to organize and systematize the existing legal material. As legal principles, they allow for a normative evaluation of existing legal norms.
The structuring function of principles is illustrated in the fourth Chapter analyzing four legal complexes governing transnational migration: residence law, nationality law, social security law and political rights of migrants. Each of these areas of law can be structured by the principle of progressive inclusion on the one hand and by the principle of static attribution on the other hand.
While the older principle of static attribution is still prevalent in most of these four fields, the principle of progressive inclusion increasingly gaining ground. This Chapter also reveals that the sample case of transnational migration highlights not only legal difficulties faced by transnational migrants but also by “traditional” migrants who finally settle in their host country.
Chapter 5 argues that both principles are also legal principles and can be understood as general principles of law in the sense of Article 38 of the ICJ Statute. Elements of both principles are reflected in numerous international treaties, general comments, ILO Conventions, in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Finally, Chapter 6 argues that both principles, in their legal dimension, imply minimum requirements in relation to the legal situation of both transnational and settled migrants. In analyzing the current legal situation in Germany in light of these requirements, the Chapter discovers shortcomings particularly with respect to the so-called “option model” in German nationality law, the lack of diplomatic protection for resident migrants, the political participation of migrants and the protection against expulsion of second-generation migrants. The Chapter concludes by proposing a model for enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of progressive inclusion in migration law. This model includes a minimum set of rights for all migrants, an entitlement to equal rights based on duration of residence or social ties, the acceptance of multiple citizenship, a permanent residence status with privileged rights, and a fast track to citizenship. | https://www.mpil.de/de/pub/forschung/archiv/progressive-inclusion.cfm |
2 edition of Centrally planned economies in Europe found in the catalog.
Centrally planned economies in Europe
Josef Adamek
Published
1985
by The Conference Board in New York, N.Y
.
Written in English
Edition Notes
|Statement||[by] Josef Adamek.|
|Series||Conference Board report -- no.879|
|Contributions||Conference Board.|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||36 p. :|
|Number of Pages||36|
|ID Numbers|
|Open Library||OL13587567M|
This volume resulted from the Conference on Modelling of Disequilibrium and Shortage in Centrally Planned Economies, held in Apr. at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England. ISBN Richard Pomfret examines the countries’ relations with external powers and the possibilities for development offered by infrastructure projects as well as rail links between China and Europe. The transition of these nations from centrally planned to market-based economic systems was essentially complete by the early s, when the region.
In this book, Barry P. Bosworth and Gur Ofer provide a balanced assessment of the progress of integration among the formerly centrally planned economies. So far, the results of the reform process range from amazing success in China to economic and political disarray in . Hence, some of the centrally planned countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia intended to move towards a market economy because this is the only way to conquer the gap between these socialist economies and the western-like market economies (“Economic reforms (transition to a market-based economy)”, ).
Economic planning is a term used to describe the long term plans of an incumbent government to manage the economy. Economic planning is a common feature of big government and usually dictates increased spending and deficits to fund government programs and public works projects.. As the Great Depression deepened and widened due to the protectionist policies of governments which caused the. You can spot a centrally planned economy from miles away by looking for one outcome - waste. A centrally planned economy is economy of waste because of the way it is designed. It’s an inherent vice. By default, a centrally planned economy is socia.
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Centrally Planned Economy: A centrally planned economy is an economic system in which the state or government makes economic decisions rather than the interaction between consumers and businesses. Get this from a library. Centrally planned economies in Europe: economic overview, [Josef Adamek; Conference Board.].
A planned economy is a type of economic system where investment, production and the allocation of capital goods take place according to economy-wide economic plans and production plans. A planned economy may use centralized, decentralized or participatory forms of economic planning. [need quotation to verify]The majority of countries adopting socialism (including those based on the Soviet.
The countries of eastern and central Europe are of particular interest because they have transformed the institutional framework from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy during. The average level of dependence on oil has never been high among the centrally planned economies of Eastern Europe.
What is important is the apparent lack of flexibility in the East European energy system compared with that of the USSR. In Romania, which has a long history of oil production, the level of output has been declining for some years. In recent years, the growing disenchantment with the Socialist economic model has led to reforms in the transitional economies of Asia (TEAs).
The breakdown of the international economic bloc centered in the former Soviet Centrally planned economies in Europe book gave further impetus to this process. Although it is difficult to identify the beginning of the reform process, it is accepted that the process started in the People's.
The following chapters examine the adjustment made by East European economies to external disturbances; external inflation, balance of trade, and resource allocation in small centrally planned economies; whether the Soviet Union was affected by the international economic disturbances of the s; and the relationship between foreign trade and.
Economic system - Economic system - Centrally planned systems: No survey of comparative economic systems would be complete without an account of centrally planned systems, the modern descendants of the command economies of the imperial past.
In sharpest possible contrast to those earlier tributary arrangements, however, modern command societies have virtually all been organized in the name of.
Planned Economy country is one that defines goals for a future certain period, say, 5 years with the expected budget inflows that can be spared for planned expenditure i.e. after meeting fixed outlays like salaries to the Govt.
staff & security pe. Hence the "coordinated capitalism" of this book's title. the centrally planned economies of Eastern Europe were able, initially at least, to perform tolerably well. The centrally planned. centrally planned economy: A national financial system where the country's government operates, owns and manages production facilities.
Most communist countries have attempted to operate using a centrally planned economy model, although the huge bureaucracy typically created to manage it has led to considerable criticism of the model as. A distinctive feature of the state socialist societies of Eastern Europe is that, with the partial exception of Yugoslavia (and to some extent, Hungary since ), they are all centrally planned economies.
The level of output of manufacturing industry is the most frequently cited yardstick of Author: Joni Lovenduski, Jean Woodall. Role of the central government in centrally planned economies: a. the government rather than individual producers& consumers, answers the key economics questions decides what to produce, how to produce it, and whom to produce it.
Effects on agriculture, industry, and consumers in the Soviet Union. Most economies with a legacy of central planning are changing in fundamental ways. With the rapid economic, social, and political changes in these economies an update of the first edition of Historically Planned Economies (HPEs): A Guide to the Data, has become necessary.
This book provides a comprehensive account of the structure, conduct, and performance of the centrally planned economies of Eastern Europe, the USSR, Communist China and the Marxist LDCs, looking at 26 nations in all. The author focuses on reform, perhaps the most important issue facing countries such as the USSR, Poland, Hungary, and s: 1.
Poland Table of Contents. This development strategy brought about a specific pattern of economic growth in Poland. As in the other centrally planned economies, rates of growth depended on increases in the quantity of inputs rather than on improvements in productivity.
European centrally planned economies in the 's: a preliminary view (English) Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some characteristics of the trade and balance of payments of the European Centrally Planned Economies (CPEs) in the : A.
Epdce Elsaas. A command economy also ignores the customs that guide a traditional economy. In recent years, many centrally-planned economies began adding aspects of the market economy.
The resultant mixed economy better achieves its goals. The centrally planned economies (CPEs) of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have experienced severe imbalances in domestic and external markets over the past several decades.
As a result, they have been chronically afflicted by problems such as excess demand, repressed inflation, deficits of commodities, queues, waiting lists, and forced savings. ON THE NATURE OF CENTRALLY-PLANNED ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: INSIGHTS FROM THE ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE DATA Peter Murrell University of Maryland EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The research summarized here analyzes which broad economic theories can best explain the differences between capitalist and socialist economies.
Start studying Chapter 2 - Section 3: Centrally Planned Economies. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.Economics of Socialism: Principles Governing the Operation of Centrally Planned Economies in the USSR and Eastern Europe Under the New System Hardcover – January 1, by J Wilczynski (Author) › Visit Amazon's J Wilczynski Page.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Author: J Wilczynski.The economics of socialism: Principles governing the operation of the centrally planned economies in the USSR and Eastern Europe under the new system (Studies in economics) [Wilczynski, J] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.
The economics of socialism: Principles governing the operation of the centrally planned economies in the USSR and Eastern Europe under the new system Cited by: 1. | https://genyryderapubetuh.wiztechinplanttraining.com/centrally-planned-economies-in-europe-book-17304nz.php |
The people’s scathing verdict at the December 2014 general elections should have above all been read as the final nail in the coffin of Proportional Representation (PR) in the country. In their collective wisdom, the people confronted with the combined forces of the Labour-MMM alliance, emphatically rejected the proposals to pervert our electoral system and water down the vote of the multitude through Proportional Representation. It would simply be daft not to humbly learn from this crying lesson from vox populi. Some clearly never learn.
The people’s stance basically reflects the ethos and principles which underpinned from the outset the unwavering and resolute position of all the progressive forces fighting for independence during the constitutional debates at the London Conference, against the proposal of Proportional Representation assiduously canvassed by the reactionary forces opposed to independence. In an official letter to the British colonial authorities, true to the seminal values of the Labour Party, its President, Guy Forget, firmly opposed Proportional Representation on the grounds that it would inter alia prevent the normal development of a Mauritian identity, ‘aggravate and perpetuate divisions among Mauritians on racial and religious lines’ which the Labour Party considered its duty to prevent. They had therefore robustly quashed PR and its insidious object of bending the rules and tipping the scales against the people’s democratic will in a First Past The Post (FPTP) based general elections, as was the case in colonial times.
The sacrosanct principle that the choice of the electorate as established by FPTP based general elections should remain paramount and should under no circumstances be reversed is also enshrined in the manner the Best Loser System (BLS), detailed in the First Schedule of the Constitution, is couched. Thus, the method of determining the second set of 4 BLS nominees of the 8 allowed also takes into consideration best losers from the victorious party/coalition at the polls to correct/mitigate any imbalance caused by the distribution of the first four nominees, so as not to reverse or distort the choice of the electorate.
In the ten general elections since Independence, barring landslide victories, the victorious Party/coalition obtained at least 4 of the Best Loser seats and the main losing Party/coalition obtained between 2 and 4 Best Loser seats; the remaining seats going to other parties. At the 2014 general elections, the winning L’Alliance Lepep obtained 4 out of the 7 BLS seats allocated.
The Prime Minister (PM) seems to have imbibed this cardinal lesson of our political history as when speaking of PR recently he declared in a public speech that he was opposed to Proportional Representation owing to its perverse effects on the results of elections. He ardently canvassed the principles of ‘Pas vinn bouleverse verdik électorat’ and ‘mazorité… faudré pas li débalancé’ . He added that it is for these very principles that he had personally been against the introduction of PR in Rodrigues.
There are now similar rumblings against PR from Rodrigues that it had distorted the results of the elections under the simple majority system. During the recent visit of the PM there, there were cries from the leadership in Rodrigues to revisit the PR provisions of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act with the intent of ensuring through amendments to the Act that the system is improved so that the outcome of the elections and the majority obtained through the simple majority system is not eroded and undermined. This has set the cat among the PR hawks.
The eternal High Priests of Proportional Representation in the country headed by the Leader of the Opposition basically used Rodrigues as a guinea pig to experiment their unproven model of party lists and PR inducted in the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act 2001. It caused distortions to the outcome of the elections based on the simple majority system. A complex and obtuse electoral system also prevents the electorate from reading the outcome of the elections as in the case of the simple majority electoral system.
For example, the February 2012 Rodrigues Regional Assembly Elections resulted in the comfortable majority of 4 obtained by the Organisation du Peuple de Rodrigues (OPR) party in the simple majority elections in the six regions being shaved down to only one after the application of the PR provisions. Such a system is fraught with risks of a hung Regional Assembly, is a formula for weak government and a recipe for political instability.
As is the case in Israel and Italy where PR is applicable, the political situation is unmanageable as the government is held ransom to all sorts of sectarian or political lobbies. No wonder there is discomfort and calls for change among the ruling and other political parties in Rodrigues to ensure that the scales are in no way tipped against those who obtained the majority vote.
Aware of the risks of distortions to the outcome of general elections, the people in Mauritius have thus, in line with the principles which anchored the constitutional model which ushered Independence in 1968, once again, 46 years after, unequivocally rejected in December last the system of Proportional Representation and any variant or ‘dosage’ thereof. It is therefore equally important that the Human Rights Committee ruling is not once again used as last year as a Trojan Horse to introduce the repeatedly rejected system of PR through the back door. There are other ways to address the Human Rights Committee issue and priority attention should be given to these.
Any serious intent to address the issue of electoral reform should instead focus on much more important issues such as inter alia the financing of political parties, the limitation of mandates of the PM and the President, a true democratisation of political parties encompassing gender, the separation of politics from religion or the review of the number of elected Members per constituency in the context of the wide disparity in the number of voters per constituency in the country, in order to ensure equal weight to each vote.
The sorry state of political governance is evidenced by the issue of the financing of political parties. This is no longer an abstract issue. Its magnitude and tentacular ramification have been exposed by the discovery of the equivalent of hundreds of millions of Rupees stashed in suitcases and safes half of which in foreign currency, purportedly received from well-wishing and generous donors, some of them with their names and best wishes penned on envelopes.
How can such colossal ‘donations’ of funds meet the test of good governance and integrity for both donors and recipients?
Why would half the ‘donations’ be in foreign currency if the professed intent is to help finance the electoral campaign of the Party?
As this is the amount found after the December general elections, how much more was received before the campaign?
What is the equivalent situation with the other main political parties in the country?
The main political parties are deafeningly silent on the issue of financing conscious presumably of the collateral damage for their own parties if this can of worms is opened. Such a covert situation involving hundreds of millions of Rupees in occult financing of parties to be in the good books of the main political parties in the teeth of purportedly strict rules governing private sector governance is unhealthy and highly impairing for our democracy. It needs to be regulated in a transparent manner which meets the highest standards of probity and governance.
The government already has too much on its plate. The country’s urgent priorities are socio-economic and not political. We cannot therefore put the cart before the horse. The ability of the government to aptly manage the urgent economic and social priorities facing the country is already under stress against the backdrop of mounting impatience among the people. This is thus not the time to be distracted by the wild goose chase of political reform when this is not a burning priority for the nation only ten months into the term of office of the government and aeons ahead of the next general elections.
It is not for the roundly disavowed opposition but for government to drive the national agenda which best responds to the priorities and needs of the people. | http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/mrinal-roy-59/ |
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 28 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland. It is the counterpart of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
The mission of WOSM is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Scout Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society. WOSM is organized into regions and operates with a conference, committee and bureau.
The World Scout Conference (WSC) is the governing body and meets every three years, preceded by the World Scout Youth Forum. The World Scout Conference is the general assembly of Scouting and is composed of six delegates from each of the member Scout associations. If a country has more than one association, the associations form a federation for coordination and world representation. The basis for recognition and membership in the World Scout Conference includes adherence to the aims and principles of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and independence from political involvement on the part of each member association.
The Conference meets every three years and is hosted by a member association. At the World Scout Conference basic cooperative efforts are agreed upon and a plan of mutual coordination is adopted. The Conference directed the move of the World Scout Bureau from Ottawa, Canada to Geneva on May 1, 1968.
Full article ▸
The article content of this page came from Wikipedia and is governed by CC-BY-SA. | http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/World_Organization_of_the_Scout_Movement.html |
Fazzaro, Charles J.
Democratic Ideals and the Valuing of Knowledge in American Education Two Contradictory Tendencies
1990
0-88946-943-1
Analyzes and critiques the relationships between the means and ends of American public education, based upon the premise that policies governing the system of education should be consistent with its social/political philosophy. In America, this means that public education must be based on the fundamental principles of the American democratic ideal: concern for natural rights of freedom and independence for the individual, while ensuring the responsibility of each individual for society as a whole. Postulates that American education at this time is more concerned with institutionalizing a rigid class structure than upholding democratic principles; suggests that the curricula be modified so that they are based on a philosophy of idealism; and encourages students to engage in a life of praxis.
Price: | https://mellenpress.com/author/charles-j-fazzaro/3216/ |
The question ‘What is Law’ has perplexed legal philosophers over the centuries. The term has not succeeded at acquiring any specifically limited and technical meaning that is universally acceptable for all times.
Understandably, writers have begun to question the wisdom of spilling so much ink and consuming so much time, and energy on arid definitional exercise which is of no conceivable utility to the judges, legal practitioners or anyone concerned with the life of the law. After all “Law is not a brooding omnipotence in the sky but a flexible instrument of social order”. It cannot be divorced from the political, economic and social experiences in the life in the society, which it is meant to serve.
On other hand, other philosophers have contended that a short definition of the subject under discussion is of essence. It seeks to clarify from the outset the most basic of all legal concepts – the concept of law itself. Early legal philosophers and legal writers know little of Africa and did not have continent in their contemplation when they wrote.
Yet Africa, it is claimed, is the cradle of humanity from where Homo sapiens spread to other parts of the world or from where various skills that enabled other hominids to evolve in their own turn were diffused.
It is necessary therefore to re-examine the concept of Law critically and re-assess objectively their various legal expositions in the light of the African and local situations and in contemporary times.
The lecture also affords opportunity to look deeper into some definitional discrepancies and the factors responsible for them.
In this post, you should be able to define Law, compare Law with other Phenomena, state the different ideas of Law, and their affiliation with each country’s political, economic and social values and describe and define the concept of law in Africa.
Conceptual Clarification
A legal system has been described as:
1. The aggregate of legislations and accepted legal principles and the body of authoritative grounds of judicial and administrative actions, e.g. the law of the land.
2. The Institutions (i.e. the Police, the Courts and Tribunals, the
Prisons) which are involved in the administration of Justice
3. The process or machinery for administration of justice i.e.
(i) Basic structure of the Court system
(ii) Basic procedure involved in a civil or a criminal proceeding.
(iii) Process of submitting disputes to law.
(iv) The manner in which the substantive law is applied.
4. The Persons in the law – judges, magistrates, legal practitioners, Attorneys-General or Solicitors-General, The Nigeria Police Force, Registrar of Court, Sheriff and Bailiff, The Nigeria Prisons etc.
Components of a Legal System
A legal system comprises the law, the institution, machinery and the process for administration of justice (civil and criminal) and the persons in the law. It is sum total of all rules.
Each of these components may now be defined briefly:
What is Law?
In simple words, Law is a definite rule of behavior which is backed by the sovereign power of the State. It is a general rule of human conduct in society which is made and enforced by the government' Each Law is a binding and authoritative rule or value or decision. Its every violation is punished by the state.
The word ‘law’ implies in Latin: the command of him who is invested with sovereign power. It has been defined or described in various ways but only a few will be discussed here:
Law has been defined as follows:
(a) “A set of rules governing human activities and relations”.
This definition appears extremely wide, accommodating rules of every game, of clubs, even of gangs of thieves.
(b) “A rule of action prescribed or dictated by some superior which some inferior is bound to obey” and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of actions, whether animate or inanimate, rational or irrational (Blackstone).
(c) A command set either directly or circuitously by a sovereign individual or body to members of some independent political society in which his authority is supreme (John Austin).
Note these observations:
Blackstone & Austin’s definitions seem to be silent on omission or inaction. Description of Law as a rule of action is wide enough to cover: Rules of a father to his son, or rules of a husband to his spouse which are no law.
(d) A body of principles recognized and applied by the state in the administration of justice (Salmond). Does the State not apply moral principles, which do not answer the descriptions of law?
(e) Rules, which the Courts will follow, the prophesies of what the courts will do, in fact, and nothing more pretentious (Oliver Wendell Home). This is a classic egg and the chick case.
(f) Rules, which the Courts – the Judicial Organs of that body – lay down for the determination of legal rights and duties (John Chipman Gray). In other words, law means the rules of Court.
(g) An aggregation of legislations and accepted legal principles and the body of authoritative groups of judicial and administrative actions. This is more a description than a definition.
(h) A general body of such rules of conduct expressing the will of the ruling class as are established by legislation and such customs and rules of community life as are sanctioned by the government the application of which body of rules is secured by the coercive force of the state for the protection, consolation, and development of the social relations and the public order, beneficial and desirable for the ruling class.
(i) A general body of such rules of human conduct established or sanctioned by the government power, the execution of which rules is secured by the coercive power of the state.
Admittedly, Law is a complex word with multiple meaning and none of the meanings enjoys a universal acceptance. Probably, definitional discrepancies may have been historical, ideological, social or cultural or mere battle between words and meanings. It appears that problems of language may never be solved. New words keep creeping into usage and older ones acquire new meaning.
Since the general elections, 1979 (not earlier), what is two-thirds of nineteen states has agitated and still will agitate many Nigerians for a time but it now settled law
You should be conversant with the notion of law in different countries and be able to define ‘law’ in several ways, and discuss the merits and demerits of each of them as well as justify their choice.
Characteristics of Law
Law is distinguished from other phenomena
1. Body of Norms: Literally, a norm is a model or a standard accepted (voluntarily or involuntarily) by the society or other large group against which society judges someone or something.
It refers to the actual or set standard determined by the typical or most frequent behaviour of a group. An example of a norm is the standard for right and wrong behaviour.
In legal theory, Hans Kelsen maintains that laws are norms that a society’s legal system is made up of its norms, each legal norm deriving its validity from the other legal norms. In essence, the validity of all laws is tested ultimately against the basic norm (also termed the grundnorm).
2. Imperative: The Imperative theorists believe that law consists of the general commands issued by a country or other political community to its subjects and enforced by courts with the sanction of physical force. They contend that if there were rules predating or independent of the country, those rules might closely resemble law or even substitute for it, but they are not law.
3. Sanction: Sanction is derived from a Latin word ‘sancio’ meaning, “to ordain, confirm or forbid under penalty”. It is a penalty or coercive measure that results from failure to comply with a law, rule or order. Violation of Statute attracts physical sanction as a matter of law. Sanction for a moral wrong is ostracism or some other while excommunication and hell may follow a violation of religious norm.
In international law, sanctions against a renegade nation may take the form of economic or military coercive measure by one or more countries to force it to comply with international law. Truthfulness is a moral norm only and observance of religious rites a religious norm.
The duty of Courts is to apply law, neither moral nor religious norm. However, morality is a validity criterion. Besides, every Nigerian is a moral being endowed with a concept of what is right or wrong, although the concept may not be consensual e.g. for psycho-social reasons.
John Austin states that every rule of law is backed by sanction but it would appear that law predates sanction. In most cases a sanction is a legally authorized post-conviction deprivation or some pecuniary loss imposed upon a party and in favour of the injured party, by reason or in consequence of judgment of a court.
Certain classes of people in certain situation are exempted from sanctions even though their conduct would have attracted liability under normal circumstance.
Read on: What is the Importance of Taxation?
Conclusion on what is law? and Its Characteristics
In this post, you have learnt some legal terms and their definitions. Several references were brought into the fore in trying to define what law really is, drawing inspirations from different continents and from Nigeria.
In the absence of any universally acceptable definition of law, you learnt the features which can assist you in identifying ‘law’ when you come across one. You are perhaps challenged into attempting your own definition of law, having fully understood the merits and demerits of those you have learnt. | https://www.wefinder24.com/2022/06/what-is-law-and-its-characteristics.html |
Successful completion of a project is not an easy endeavor. It calls for a series of tasks to meet stakeholder and client requirements; a lot is involved in the process before the project reaches the completion phase. No matter what type of project you are working on, having comprehensive knowledge about the Project life cycle, project phases, or process groups is essential. It keeps your ongoing projects more organized and viable from ideation to completion.
What is Project Management Life Cycle?
A Project Management life cycle (Process Group) is a five-step framework to assist project managers in successfully completing projects.
The primary competency of a project manager is to gain a thorough understanding of project management stages. Knowledge and planning for the five Project Management steps will help you plan and organize your projects so that it goes off without any hitches.
It is simpler for a project manager to handle all the current details of the project when the project is broken down into various phases. Each cycle phase is goal-oriented, has its own characteristics, and contains product deliverables, which are reviewed at the end of the Project Management steps.
Why Process Groups in Project Management?
For a project to be successful, the project team should:
- Determine suitable processes required to meet the project objectives
- Work to achieve requirements by using a defined approach
- Arrange and maintain appropriate communication and engagement with stakeholders
- Comply with requirements to meet stakeholder needs and expectations
- Balance the critical constraints of scope, schedule, budget, quality, resources, and risk to produce the particular product, service, or result
The project manager and his team are responsible for deciding which processes are appropriate and how to utilize them to get the best out of the project.
The processes in Project Management are connected and aligned to each other in one way or the other. Modifications and changes performed during one process affect other related processes also. For instance, a change in scope typically affects project cost, but it may not affect the level of risk. These process interactions often require compromises among project requirements and objectives. These adjustments could vary from project to project and organization to organization. The role of a project manager is to manage these interactions to meet sponsor, customer, and other stakeholder needs. Sometimes, a process or set of processes may need to be iterated several times before achieving the required outcome.
Characteristics of a Project Life Cycle
The generic life cycle structure commonly exhibits the following characteristics:
- At the start, cost and staffing levels are low and reach a peak when the work is in progress. It again starts to drop rapidly as the project begins to halt.
- The typical cost and staffing curve do not apply to all projects. Considerable expenses secure essential resources early in their life cycle.
- Risk and uncertainty are at their peak at the beginning of the project. These factors drop over the project’s life cycle as decisions are reached and deliverables are accepted.
- The ability to affect the final product of the project without impacting the cost drastically is highest at the start of the project and decreases as the project advances toward completion. It is clear from figure 2 that the cost of making new changes and rectifying errors increases as the project approaches completion.
These features are present almost in all project life cycles but in different ways or degrees. The intent of the adaptive life cycles lies particularly with keeping stakeholder influences higher and the costs of changes lower throughout the life cycle than in predictive life cycles.
Let’s take a look at how knowledge of the project life cycle benefits an organization:
- It helps professional services teams to be more proficient and profitable.
- The project life cycle helps the organization.
- It makes the flow of communication easier.
- The knowledge emphasizes reporting and examining previous projects.
Important Elements of Project Management Process Groups
There are some Project Management processes, apart from the five above, which run through all of the phases:
- Phase Management: As the name suggests, a project manager’s job is to satisfy the conditions for completing each phase and starting the next one. Before exiting a phase, he must be fully aware of the deliverables that must be completed and accepted by the concerned stakeholders.
- Communication: Communication plays an integral part in any project. A project manager must ensure that communication responsibilities are clear with team members, the project board, the different stakeholders, and related third parties. Insufficient or improper communication is a common problem area for projects and needs to be appropriately addressed.
- Procurement: This is a specialist area. Some projects, like the ones involving information technology, hire third parties to manage purchasing or any other department. Efficiently managing these third parties is an essential task for a project manager.
- Integration: Many projects impact their department or area and other business areas. As a project manager, one must ensure that he reflects on how the project will interface with other projects or functions or affect other businesses.
Predictive Life Cycles
In predictive life cycles, also known as fully plan-driven the three major constraints of the project, the scope, time, and cost, are determined early in the project life cycle. These projects progress through a series of sequential or overlapping phases. Now the planning can be done for the entire project at a detailed level from the beginning of the project. Different work is usually performed in each phase. Therefore, the composition and skills required of the project team may vary from phase to phase.
5 Phases of Project Management Life Cycle
1. Project Initiation
Project initiation is the first Project Management life cycle phase, where the project starts. It provides an overview of the project and the strategies required to attain desired results. It is the phase where the feasibility and business value of the project are determined.
The project manager starts a meeting to understand the client and stakeholders’ requirements, goals, and objectives. It is essential to go into minute details to understand the project better. Upon making a final decision to proceed, the project can move on to the next step: assembling a project team.
The Project Charter is considered to be the most important document of any project as it comprises:
- Business vision and mission
- Project goals and benefits
- List of stakeholders
- Scope of the Project
- Project deliverables
- Risks associated with the project
- Project budget and resources
1. Undertake a Feasibility Study
In the initial stage, it is essential to understand the project’s feasibility. See if the project is viable from the economic, legal, operational, and technical aspects. Identifying problems will help you analyze whether you can solve issues with appropriate solutions.
2. Identify the Project Scope
Identifying the project scope involves defining the project’s length, breadth, and depth. On the other hand, it’s equally essential to outline functions, deadlines, tasks, features, and services.
3. Identify the Project Deliverable
Upon identifying the project scope, the very next step is to outline the project deliverables. The project deliverables include defining the product or services needed.
4. Identification of Project Stakeholders
A thorough identification of project stakeholders is essential. It is better to meet with team members and experts to identify project stakeholders. Documentation of relevant information on stakeholders and their impact on the successful completion of the project is required.
5. Develop a Business Case
Before developing a business case, check whether the essential pillars of the project such as feasibility, scope, and identification of stakeholders, are in place. The very next step is to come up with a full-fledged business case.
The creation of a statement of work (SoW) and the formation of a team wrap up the project initiation phase.
2. Project Planning
A lot of planning related to the project takes place during this phase. On defining project objectives, it is time to develop a project plan for everyone to follow.
The planning phase frames a set of plans that help guide your team through the implementation and closing phases. The program created at this point will help you manage cost, quality, risk, changes, and time.
The project plan should include all the essential details related to the project goals and objectives and how to achieve them. It is the most complex phase in which project managers take care of operational requirements, design limitations, and functional requirements.
The project planning phase includes the following components:
1. Creating a Project Plan
A project plan is a blueprint of the entire project. A well-designed project plan should determine the list of activities, the time frame, dependencies, constraints involved, and potential risks. It assists the project manager in streamlining operations to meet the end objective and tracking progress by taking appropriate decisions at the right time.
2. Creating a Resource Plan
The resource plan provides information about various resource levels required to accomplish a project. A well-documented plan specifies the labor and materials to complete a project. Resources used should have relevant Project Management expertise. Experience in the concerned domain is a priority.
3. Budget Estimation
Framing a financial plan helps you to set the budget and deliver project deliverables without exceeding it. The final budget plan lists expenses on material, labor, and equipment. Creating a budget plan will help the team and the project managers to monitor and control the costs throughout the Project Management life cycle.
4. Gathering Resources
Gathering resources is an essential part of project planning as it helps monitor the project’s quality level. It is not enough to assemble a well-balanced team from internal and external resources. Resources like equipment, money, software solutions, and the workplace should be given to complete the assigned tasks.
5. Anticipating Risks and Potential Quality Roadblocks
The risk plan will help you identify risks and mitigate them. It will comprise all the potential risks, the order of severity, and preventive actions to track it. Once threats are under control, it is possible to deliver the project on time, adhering to quality.
3. Project Execution
Project execution is the phase where project-related processes are implemented, tasks are assigned, and resources are allocated. The method also involves building deliverables and satisfying customer requirements. Project managers or team leaders accomplish the task through resource allocation and keeping the team members focused.
The team involved will create project deliverables and seek to achieve project goals and objectives as outlined in the project plan. This phase determines whether your project will succeed or not. The success of the project mainly depends on the project execution phase. The final project deliverable also takes shape during the project execution phase.
There are a lot of essential things that are taken care of during the execution phase. Listed below are a few of them:
1. Reporting Progress of a Project
During the project execution phase, it is essential to get regular project updates as it provides the required information and even identify the issues.
2. Hold Regular Meetings
Before you kick off a project meeting, be clear about the agenda and inform team members of the meeting well in advance. If communication is timely and straightforward, the productivity of ongoing projects and those in the pipeline will not be affected.
3. Manage Problems
Problems within the project are bound to occur. Issues such as time management, quality management, and a weakening in the team’s morale can hinder the success of a project. So make sure all problems are solved in the beginning.
4. Project Monitoring and Control
The project monitoring and control phase is about measuring the project’s performance and tracking progress. It is implemented during the execution phase. The main goal of this phase is to check whether everything aligns with the Project Management Plan, especially concerning financial parameters and timelines.
It is the responsibility of the project manager to make necessary adjustments related to resource allocation and ensure that everything is on track. A project manager may conduct review meetings and get regular performance reports to aid this.
Monitoring project activity after the project execution phase will allow the project manager to take corrective actions. Meanwhile, considering the quality of work will also help to make the necessary improvements. Keeping an eye on the budget will help to avoid unnecessary expenses and resources.
5. Project Closure
With much time and effort invested in project planning, it is often forgotten that the final phase of the Project Management life cycle is equally important.
The project closure phase represents the final phase of the Project Management life cycle, also known as the “follow-up” phase. Around this time, the final product is ready for delivery. Here the main focus of the project manager and the team should be on product release and product delivery. In this stage, all the activities related to the project are wrapped up. The closure phase is not necessarily after a successful completion phase alone. Sometimes a project may have to be closed due to project failure.
Upon project completion and timely delivery to clients, the project manager’s role is to highlight strengths, list the takeaways of the project, identify the ambiguities, and suggest how they could be rectified for future projects. Taking time to recognize the strengths and weaknesses will help to handle projects with more dedication; this, in turn, builds the project manager’s credibility.
Once the product is handed to the customers, the documentation is finalized, the project team is disbanded, and the project is closed.
Types of Project Management Life Cycle
There are several different types of project management life cycles, each with its own set of steps and processes. Some of the most common types include:
- Waterfall: This is a linear, sequential approach in which each phase of the project must be completed before moving on to the next. It is often used for projects with well-defined requirements and a clear end goal.
- Agile: This is a flexible, iterative approach that emphasizes rapid development and continuous improvement. It is often used for projects with rapidly changing requirements or unclear end goals.
- Iterative: This is a cyclical approach that involves repeating the project life cycle multiple times in order to refine and improve the project. It is often used for projects with complex requirements or a high level of uncertainty.
- Hybrid: This approach combines elements of two or more project management life cycle types. It is often used for projects that have characteristics of different types of projects and require a tailored approach.
- Lean: This approach is based on the principles of Lean manufacturing, it emphasizes on reducing waste, maximizing value, and empowering the team.
- Kanban: This approach is a scheduling system for lean manufacturing and just-in-time manufacturing (JIT). Kanban is a visual process-management system that tells team members what to produce, when to produce it, and how much to produce.
Each type of project management life cycle has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose the right one for your specific project.
Project Management Lifecycle in Different Industries
Construction Industry
The project life cycle in the construction industry typically includes the following stages:
- Conceptualization and planning (defining project goals and objectives, developing a project plan and schedule, identifying and allocating resources)
- Design and engineering (creating detailed design plans and specifications, obtaining necessary permits and approvals)
- Procurement and construction (soliciting bids and awarding contracts, managing the construction process)
- Closeout and commissioning (completing final inspections and tests, obtaining final approvals and certificates, conducting a project review, and identifying lessons learned)
Software Development Industry
In software development, the project life cycle typically includes the following stages:
- Planning and analysis (defining project goals and objectives, identifying project scope and constraints, creating a project plan and schedule)
- Design and development (creating detailed design plans and specifications, developing and testing software)
- Implementation and maintenance (deploying the software, providing ongoing support and maintenance)
- Closeout and review (conducting a project review, identifying lessons learned, conducting post-implementation evaluations)
Product Development Industry
The project life cycle in the product development industry typically includes the following stages:
- Research and Conceptualization (Defining the problem, researching solutions, creating a concept)
- Design and Development (Creating detailed design plans and specifications, prototyping and testing)
- Production and Distribution (Manufacturing and delivering the product to customers)
- Closeout and Review (Evaluating the product, identifying lessons learned, conducting post-launch evaluations)
Manufacturing Industry
In this industry, the project management lifecycle includes the phases of product design, process design, equipment design, implementation, and maintenance. This process involves coordinating the efforts of engineers, production workers, and management to design, build, and maintain manufacturing equipment and processes according to the project’s specifications and budget.
Pharmaceutical Industry
The project management lifecycle in this industry includes the phases of discovery, research, development, testing, and launch. This process involves coordinating the efforts of scientists, medical researchers, and regulatory affairs to develop, test and launch a new drug.
IT Industry
The project management lifecycle in this industry includes the phases of initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing. This process involves coordinating the efforts of IT professionals, such as network administrators, software developers, and IT managers, to design, implement, and maintain IT systems and infrastructure.
The project life cycle can vary depending on the industry and the specific project. Still, these examples give you an idea of the stages and activities typically included in different projects.
Project Management Lifecycle example
One example of a project management lifecycle case study is the construction of a new hospital.
- Initiation: The project is initiated by the hospital board, which identifies the need for a new facility to meet the community’s growing healthcare needs. A project manager is appointed to lead the project, and a project charter is developed outlining the project’s objectives, scope, and stakeholders.
- Planning: The project manager works with architects and engineers to design the new hospital, considering factors such as patient flow, medical equipment needs, and building codes. A detailed project plan is developed outlining the schedule, budget, and resources required for the project.
- Execution: The project manager coordinates the efforts of the construction team, including workers, subcontractors, and suppliers, to build the new hospital. Regular progress meetings are held to ensure the project stays on schedule and within budget.
- Monitoring and Controlling: The project manager closely monitors the project’s progress and makes adjustments as necessary to keep the project on track. This includes identifying and addressing any risks or issues that may arise.
- Closing: The project manager reviews the project to ensure that all objectives have been met and that the new hospital is ready for operation. The project is formally closed, and the project team is disbanded.
Throughout the project, the project manager communicates regularly with the hospital board and other stakeholders to keep them informed of the project’s progress and to address any concerns they may have.
Conclusion
It’s vital that professional project managers are familiar with the practice and execution of five main process groups. The only way to make oneself most worthy or valuable to a company is to know how one can effectively initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close a project. As the project manager undertakes and leads more projects, he/she gains enough experience which is necessary to understand what works best for the progress and growth of the company. Give yourself a chance to grow in your Project Management career with PMP certification training, and gain the best skills and practices to manage projects.
- Know more about Project Management best practices through Invensis Learning’s Project Management certification training on PMP Online Training, CAPM Certification Prep, Prince2 Course, Project Management Fundamentals, etc.————————————————————————————————————————————-Organize Corporate Group PMP Certification training for your teams around the world
Invensis learning provides In-person and live virtual instructor-led corporate training program customized for enterprise teams who wish to train their employees on specific aspects of their job processes or responsibilities. The corporate training by our expert certified trainers will enhance your learning curve and enable your teams to utilize their skills to meet industry standards. | https://www.invensislearning.com/blog/5-phases-project-management-lifecycle/ |
12 Key Benefits of Using Project Management Software
Managing a project is by nature no easy task. Project managers often face having to handle multiple projects at once. With so many moving parts involved in managing multiple projects, it is easy to miss out on crucial elements and for the projects to seem chaotic and unorderly.
To manage multiple projects successfully, you need to use project management software. Without using a project management tool, you will spend more time than necessary on tasks and overall record lower productivity levels.
The absence of project management tools when managing projects makes it difficult to track your project team’s progress and activities. Collaboration and communication among team members and project stakeholders are ineffective without project management tools. You can easily miss out on deadlines and produce deliverables that leave your clients unsatisfied.
An efficient project management system helps you manage your projects throughout their life cycles. In this article, you will learn 12 key benefits of using project management software.
Let’s get started.
Essential Project Management Functions
Project management is the process involved in achieving the goals and objectives of a project. It involves the process of planning, managing, and executing the project.
1. Planning
One of the essential functions of project management is planning and working towards realizing the goals and objectives of the project. This includes drawing up a project charter that describes all that the project is about to give a clear understanding to all parties.
Planning acts as a guideline for the project and also serves as a reminder to the team on how to carry out the project. In the process of planning, the project undergoes a thorough evaluation which will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the project and the team.
The planning stage involves the project plan, project schedule, and project estimates. This entails all information about the project to plan every sector or department that will be responsible for delivering the project. Project managers through these plans map out how best to achieve the purpose of the project.
2. Organizing
Project management organizes the process of the project as well as the team that will be carrying out the objectives of the product.
The work breakdown structure (WBS) helps organize the team’s work into manageable sections. Through a hierarchical outline of tasks, project managers can easily assign tasks and organize each department to meet their deadlines or targets.
Through a well-organized system, project managers can easily process or adjust scope creep into the scheme of work without interrupting the project.
A good and detailed project management plan will include a risk breakdown structure, a work breakdown structure, and project management software.
In addition to using online project management software like Monday.com and ClickUp organizing roles and tasks for effective communication of task schedules, use online collaboration tools like Slack to communicate tasks to teams.
3. Monitoring
This involves procedures to ensure a well effective team and high-quality project. Project management monitors the project timelines to ensure the project does not exceed the time frame and it does not come out too early as well.
Monitoring of the project involves managing the project team to ensure they work towards the attainment of the project goals. It also includes managing the cost and budget of the project so it stays within budget and brings the possible best result.
Project management ensures a strong and effective communication channel between the team and the management.
4. Managing
Management is a key component of project management. This component is so important that a job was created from it to help organize, coordinate and execute projects.
A project manager is the one responsible for managing all aspects of the project. He or she oversees all departments and gets reports from heads of these departments and reviews the progress of the project.
The project manager performs the following responsibilities:
- Leads the project team to achieve all project goals
- Allocate all necessary inputs and apply them to meet the pre-defined objectives
- Produce a complete project that meets the client’s objective
Benefits of Project Management Software
1. Effortless Project Planning
A plan is a guideline or a first step towards delivering a project. Project management software helps to easily plan schedules, tasks, and objectives of a project. This includes laying out key project deliverables.
Through web-based project management software like Monday.com, ClickUp, and Wrike, you can create a plan to provide an overview of the entire project. This is where you create a project charter. The project charter describes and explains the purpose of the project including the end goal.
Project management software creates effortless planning that makes the job of the project manager less cumbersome and easy to focus on other important aspects of the job. This helps to assign tasks easily in a well-organized manner.
With a detailed view of the project, the project team gets an idea of what they are working towards. When every aspect Is planned to the letter using project management software, it makes changes easier and planning faster.
2. Easy Task Management
A well-planned project makes assigning tasks easier. The project objectives will define the tasks that will be given to the team.
Simple project management software makes assigning these tasks easier as well as tracking the progress of these tasks. This helps to reduce the workload of the project manager as his or her presence will not be required in all sectors.
The project manager can manage and supervise the whole team by using project management tools that enable steady communication and monitoring of tasks. These software tools help to track milestones of the team and also make accountability easier.
Reviewing project tasks helps you know team members who are meeting their targets and those who are slacking behind. You can use these tools to calculate the percentage of work effort of each department. With these project management applications, you can organize and create a task schedule for the team.
3. Balanced Resource Management
Balanced resource management is when you manage all tasks, human resources, budget, or funding properly. This includes allocating, scheduling, and planning the project’s resources.
To start a project, resources are very important as they are the core elements needed to achieve a goal. However, you have to manage these resources well to reach the goal of the task.
Resources include the funding, the time, and the staff involved in the project. Without these resources, you cannot run a successful project.
Project management software helps to strategize and prioritize these resources across the portfolio to maximize their value. This simply means project management tools are essential for organizations to ensure they allocate resources to the right initiatives.
The best project management applications provide resource planning, resource utilization, and resource allocation features for users.
4. Higher Project Visibility
One of the key benefits of using project management software is that it creates a clear view of the project status and its overall plan. Higher project visibility can improve communication, help manage resources, and result in better decision-making.
5. Improved Team Collaboration
Although over-reliance on project management tools can bring about less human activity, its importance in creating a channel or link through which team members can collaborate and work together cannot be overemphasized. Project management tools help teams to communicate effortlessly and work on delivering the project.
6. Real-Time Project Budget Management
Budget management is one of the key elements needed to finish a project successfully. Cost tracking helps project managers to examine every phase of the project and their necessary resources.
Project budget management includes the process of overseeing the finances related to the project. This ensures the project delivers the quality Intended, makes it easier for the project team to stay on track, and gives accurate budget analysis for a company’s long-term prospect.
7. Real-Time Project Reporting
Project reporting software analyzes data, filters specific errors, and shares findings or progress with the project team. You can use this tool to communicate the progress of the project to stakeholders. This enables improvement and allows for adjustments where needed.
Real-time project reporting provides real-time project data, allows easy tracking of current progress and milestones, and provides background detail and a final summary to the entire project.
8. Effective Internal & External Communication
Communication is key in any organization. This project management skill gives room for improvement and growth not only for the project but for the organization of the team.
Internal communication will provide higher visibility about what the project entails with the project team. Easy transfer of information from the project manager down to the least member of the project team enhances productivity.
External communication with the stakeholders and customers provides transparency. This will create a link between the project management and the stakeholders.
Effective internal and external communication enables the exchange of information and ideas, facilitates the achievement of goals and objectives, and faster decision making and conducting stress-free meetings.
9. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
The end goal of every project is to meet the requirements of the customer. Project management software plays a huge part in helping you manage projects successfully and deliver deliverables that satisfy your customers.
Thanks to planning, tracking, task management, and communication features, you can communicate effectively and seamlessly with your client or customer throughout the project’s life cycle.
Enhanced customer satisfaction will increase your customer lifetime value (CLV) as satisfied customers are very likely to become repeat customers.
10. Increased Team Productivity
You can increase team productivity and enhance customer satisfaction by avoiding holding unnecessary team meetings that eat up time and produce little results for the project.
You can use the web and video conferencing software tools such as RingCentral, Zoom, and UberConference to hold work meetings with your project team and stakeholders from any location.
The ability to hold work meetings conveniently makes decisions faster. You do not have to wait for physical meetings to make decisions.
11. Better Project Risk Management
Project management software helps to calculate the risk level in a project and analyze the weak spot so you can easily address it. A risk breakdown structure analyses all levels of risk. Project management software organizes these risks according to their level of seriousness and urgency.
This helps to identify and evaluate potential risks, prevent loss and falling short of the desired outcome, and prevent unplanned scheduling of events and scope creep.
12. Enables 24/7 Remote Project Management Capabilities
Unlike humans, project management applications do not need rest or develop fatigue. They can operate 24/7 without time out. Although they may experience some technical issues, it can go all day and serve an unlimited number of people. | https://www.founderjar.com/benefits-of-project-management-software/ |
The Resource Management Checklist is a comprehensive list of necessary resources for a project. It includes items such as personnel, equipment, supplies, and materials needed to complete a project. It also covers budgeting, scheduling, and tracking of resources. The checklist outlines the specific tasks to be completed and the resources required for each task. It also helps ensure that no resources are overlooked or underutilized. The checklist allows for the efficient management of resources and increases the chances of project success. It is an important tool for project managers to ensure their projects are completed on time, within budget, and with the right resources.
What is the purpose of a Resource Management Checklist?
What are the steps involved in a Resource Management Checklist?
What are some tips for creating a successful Resource Management Checklist? | https://checklist.gg/templates/resource-management-checklist |
The Opportunity:
BluMetric Environmental is seeking a dynamic full time Water/ Wastewater Project Manager with an Engineering background for the Ottawa, Ontario office. The Project Manager is the primary point-person responsible for planning, executing, and delivering corporate projects on time, within budget, and in accordance with specifications. The ideal candidate will help define project requirements and scope, acquire project resources and supervise the efforts of project team members. This position will perform critical tasks that must be executed throughout each project lifecycle including efficient delivery of project deliverables, effective quality control, and clear communication of expectations to stakeholders, and upward reporting to the PMO.
Key Job Responsibilities:
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses, risk analyses, and ROI calculations to determine project feasibility.
• Conduct stakeholder meetings and forums in order to solicit feedback, input, and expectations; incorporate these into project plans.
• Identify and resolve conflicts within project teams and associated work; create contingency plans to mitigate risk.
• Establish a Project Charter for each approved project, defining the projects goals, objectives, risks, assumptions, staffing levels, roles and responsibilities, work breakdown structure, milestones, and deliverables.
• Manage project activities throughout lifecycle, including the allocation of adequate resources, scheduling, documentation, budget, and other factors necessary for success.
• Plan all project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and micro-deliverables using the appropriate software tools and/ or PM methods.
• Organize project teams into suitable workgroups and guide the teams throughout their efforts to produce deliverables according to specification.
• Negotiate with other business units to obtain required skill sets.
• Produce regular reports (status, escalations, etc.) on the progress of projects; deliver these reports during regular stakeholder meetings.
• Follow the formal change management program and adhere to established methodologies for project management.
• Track all project costs to ensure completion within budget; procure extra budget funding where necessary.
• Closely monitor the efforts and billing of third-party workers, such as consultants, contractors, and other specialists.
• Manage project dependencies.
• Conduct project post-mortems in order to identify opportunities for improvement; make recommendations based on findings.
Qualifications, Education, and Skills:
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience of technical project management or Technical Support.
• Post-Secondary Education in Engineering, Construction Management or other relevant degree.
• Demonstrated success in execution of project management methods and project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience in development of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), scheduling and schedule analysis, cost estimating and cost control, budget development, reporting, and record/ document control.
• Proven experience in project management and process/ mechanical engineering review/ selection for water and wastewater treatment equipment.
• System Commissioning and Plant Operations experience would be considered an asset.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Strong business acumen.
• Proficient in common desktop packages, i.e. MS Office suite of tools, Word, Excel, MS Project.
• Certification such as PMP, Prince or related certifications.
• This is not an engineering design position.
To Apply: Please forward your resume and include “Project Manager – Water/ Wastewater # 4-104” in the Subject Line. | https://www.blumetric.ca/careers/project-manager-water-wastewater/ |
- – Why is Resource Management important to organisational health (80 to 100 words).
1.2 – Choose a common household item on which to base this activity.
Where do the resources used to make this item come from – Internal or external sources? What constraints might impact on the acquisition and use of these resources? (Discuss in 150 – 180 words)
|ITEM:|
|Resource List||Source: Internal / External||Constraints|
|
|
- – What is the link between resource acquisition and quality outputs? (30 – 50 words)
- – Are the customers for the outputs of a team / section / division / plant different from the customers for an organisation? (Discuss 50 – 80 words)
- – What are 3 consequences of failing to involve a wide range of people in resource planning?
- – List 5 methodologies that can be used to consult with customers, other stake holders & employees when planning resource use and acquisition?
Activity 2
- – Explain in 150 – 180 words, how an organisation determines if an action supports its intent in
regards to effective resource management.
- – Describe (100 – 120 words) the process you should follow when preparing a resource proposal. A proposed resource purchase or expenditure item?
Activity 3
3.1 – Explain in roughly 100 words why hiring the right people for the job is a critical factor for resource management?
3.2 – Discuss how measuring & monitoring individual or work group performance links with the management of effective business resources (120 – 150 words)
3.3 – How important to the achievement of objectives, targets and goals is the management of Human Resources? Explain 120 – 150 words
3.4 – List 5 consequences of not sharing information in an organisation.
Activity 4
4.1 – Why must stock be controlled and, if required, rationalised? (100 – 120 words)
4.2 – Discuss how you can allocate resources necessary to achieve objectives (150 – 180 words)
4.3 – Discuss the role of consultation with individuals and teams in the allocation of resources used to meet an organisation’s goals – 200 – 250 words
Activity 5
5.1 – List 4 ways to build effective, quality-based relationships with suppliers?
5.2 – Discuss the benefits of building such relationships in 50 – 80 words
5.3 – In 120 – 150 words, explain whether it is best to use external suppliers with whom you have built effective relationships, or whether you should constantly shop around for the cheapest deal. Give sound reason for your answer.
5.4 – Explain in 120 – 150 words how resource management is related to quality management and to continuous improvement.
Activity 6
6.1 – Why is it necessary to maintain records concerning equipment and resource purchases? Provide a list of at least 7 operational aspects that must be monitored in terms of resource use.
Summative Assessment 1
Q1 – Identify 3 common business resources (equipment), their functions, and common faults that can effect performance.
Q2: How can organisational policies and procedures help ensure that:
- Physical resources are acquired as soon as and when they are needed
- Resources are checked to ensure quality
- Resources are allocated promptly and efficiently to work teams
- Work teams are encouraged to provide feedback on resource use, quality, timely delivery and suitability
Answers should be detailed and cover each of these aspects of resource management – 120 – 150 words.
Summative Assessment 2
Project 1
Write a 2000 word report on the importance of effective resource management. Your report will be based on a workplace, sporting club or social club so long as all of the following report components can be addressed.
- Why is it essential for resource requirements to be determined in accordance with plans
- How opportunities can be given to individuals and groups to contribute to the identification of resource requirements
- How recommendation’s on resource requirements should be presented
- How resource expenditure can be contained to a realistic budget
- How resource use can be made as efficient as possible
- How resources must be checked to ensure quality and to ensure that they match what was requisitioned
- The importance of allocating resources promptly
- Why resource planning should be monitored for effectiveness
- Why monitoring methods must allow for timely and accurate reporting
- The importance of continual improvement of resource management systems
- Why keeping accurate records of equipment and resource purchases is important
Address and discuss any considerations in relation to legislation that may affect aspects of business operations.
Use the following coupon code : | https://www.bestacademicexperts.com/resource-management-important-organisational-health-2/ |
What you’ll get up to:
- Initiate new business opportunities.
- Develop and foster client relationships for long-term growth.
- Ensure projects are managed successfully in terms of design and staff and that they are completed on schedule and on budget to meet or exceed client expectations.
- Work with clients to provide the best and most appropriate design solutions for their projects.
- Analyze client design proposals and specifications to determine cost effective solutions.
- Provide guidance to clients, technical staff and sub-consultants to ensure projects are technically sound and completed successfully.
- Coordinate with other disciplines internally as well as externally with consultants and architects.
- Ensure professional quality services in all facets of work.
- Provide quality and cost control during the design and construction process.
- Lead the project team to ensure technical accuracy of project deliverables.
- Provide mentoring to technical staff, assigning duties as required.
- Oversees the development of staff competence and assist in the training and teaching of new technicians and engineers.
- Manage project activities throughout lifecycle, including the allocation of adequate resources, documentation and other factors necessary for success.
- Prepare and review specification and concept reports.
- Maintain project schedules and project cost summaries to track work progress, budge status and manpower resource utilization.
- Identify and address the need for additional services and fees to clients in a timely fashion.
- Work with the field review team during the construction phase and ensure ASHRAE compliance and LEED where applicable.
- Keep apprised of industry and technical trends, codes, and standards.
- Responsible for professionally sealing documents.
What we’re looking for:
Qualifications, Experience and Education:
- Post-secondary education in Mechanical Engineering or another relevant discipline such as Building Systems.
- Professional Engineering Designation (P. Eng.) in the Province of British Columbia.
- 10+ Years of Engineering and/or design coordination experience in the consulting industry would be beneficial.
- Experience in multi-disciplined project coordination and management.
- LEED Certification is an assets.
- Experience in HVAC, Plumbing & Fire Protection. | https://www.ssaltd.com/canada/vacancies/mep-project-manager/ |
FH Ethiopia, a non-governmental organization engaged in relief and development activities, would like to invite potential candidates to apply for the following position:
Basic Responsibilities:
Key Result #1 – Staff and material management
· Gives overall guidance, manages and coaches to staffs under his/her supervision;
· Ensures that performance evaluation forms for all employees are completed and submitted to the FH/E Head Office timely;
· Ensure that project vehicles are properly managed as per vehicles management guideline of FH/E
· Ensures that human resources, materials and commodities are adequately available and properly utilized
Key Result #2 – Project Design, planning, implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation
· Coordinate the preparation of project plans and ensures their timely submission to Title II Program Manager and other concerned body;
· Ensures that project activities are implemented in accordance with the project proposal signed between FH/E and the Government;
· Conduct situation analysis in the project areas and designs appropriate intervention plan in line with the vision of FH/Ethiopia;
· Ensure the preparation and submission of various periodic reports to Title II Program Manager and other concerned staffs at FH/E Head Office;
· Monitors and evaluates project activities in collaboration with stakeholders, FH/E head quarter monitoring team and other concerned bodies;
· Present the project profile, plan, report and different cases concerning the project on different woreda, zonal and regional level forums;
· Ensure that project implementation status is regularly gauged against the indicators in the project proposal to identify gaps and suggest correction measures to Title II program Manager;
· Propose project ideas to design new projects and secure funds from different sources;
· Prepare quarterly procurement plan and get approval for timely purchase of materials jointly with other projects to ensure wise use of resources.
Key Result #3 – Financial management
· Ensures that financial resources of the project is handled properly;
· Show a higher integrity in handling resources belonging to the organizations;
· Ensure that resource utilization is economical and efficient in the project;
· Prepares detail annual project budget in collaboration with concerned FHE head office staff;
Key Result #4 – Coordination
· Makes the necessary contacts with Woreda, Zonal and Regional Offices for smooth relationship and maintains good understanding in the implementation process of the project;
· Maintain good relationship with stakeholders.
· Co-ordinates and creates team spirit among project staffs to maximize the achievements of the project
· Represent the project in behalf of FH/E on different forums
· Avail sound transportation service to partners at woreda and zonal level based on their CAP ADMIN budget
Job Requirements
Requirements:
· Education –Bachelor degree in management, Rural Development, Agriculture, or Economics, Natural Resource management or other related fields;
· Experience –Minimum of Six years related experience in the field of out of which at least two years in a coordination or managerial position preferably in a similar program or INGO. | http://esework.com/tasks/ngo-job-vacancy/project-manager-ii-ngo-job-vacancy-ethiopia-2019/ |
Services-based businesses succeed when they can standardize operations. Standardizing operations often involves simplifying team collaboration, project accounting, billing and invoicing as well as resource utilization tracking and reporting. Many business management solutions aim to bring these elements into a unified solution to work more efficiently and complete projects on time and within budget.
But that’s not as easy as it sounds. Projects are supposed to be defined by their nature – they have defined beginning and end dates, a defined scope, and defined resources. They are not routine operations and have very specific and unique goals for the stakeholders. Project teams often include people who do not typically work together, spanning multiple departments and geographic areas, who aim to operate effectively within the project’s parameters to achieve the goal on time. Project managers, then, are the individuals who work to ensure that a team meets these requirements by applying specific knowledge, tools, and skills.
For project managers, meeting deadlines and remaining within the project’s defined scope parameters are the top priorities. From initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing, these individuals are focused on delivering projects efficiently while increasing company profitability.
As with many business processes, things don’t always go as planned, and projects can fail to meet outlined goals. The reasons for this can vary greatly, but below we’ll take a brief look at some of the most common issues with project management that could be causing your projects to lose profitability.
Issue #1: Over Budget
Obvious, right? Projects can run over budget for many reasons, from inadequate planning and resource allocation to poor productivity. The most effective project managers can account for these issues with methodical project observation and a comprehensive understanding of the project status.
The key to this task is data accrual and analysis. Project managers need to ensure complete and accurate records tracking progress and cost at all times so that issues arising which might cause a project to miss the budget requirements can be intercepted before they become insurmountable.
The most effective way for a project manager to solve a budget problem is to anticipate it before it occurs. That just can’t happen if a project manager is unaware of the project status. Specialized tools like project management software can help managers stay on top of problems as they manifest while integrating critical data into a central database that makes advanced project observation more accessible and practical.
Issue #2: Poor Productivity
Collaboration is critical for the success of a project – so if productivity is low, there are a few things a project manager can consider. For one, a re-examination of communication processes and methods should be done, particularly if the team is relying on outdated email correspondence to send time-sensitive information.
Software solutions that offer embedded communication capabilities in their systems help keep project execution and collaboration in one place. This also makes it easier for the project manager to manage the project, by allowing them increased observation over team progress and project status. With many project meetings now entirely virtual, utilizing conferencing tools effectively has become incredibly important. Project managers need to ensure that a team communicates accurately and collaborates effectively to meet the project requirements and deliver profitability for their clients.
Issue #3: Resource Mismanagement
Allocating resources is a crucial job for a project manager, with mismanaged resources often resulting in a loss of profitability for a project. Comprehensive ERP solutions are a valuable tool for allowing project managers to minimize the amount of manual labor spent on routine administrative tasks. Now valuable team member time can be freed while reducing costs by automating accounting and reporting processes that would otherwise need to be done manually. Project management solutions allow for high customization capabilities and powerful integration applications to make project transitions more seamless and efficient.
Optimize Project Profitability with Sage
Sage project management software significantly enhances the project manager’s toolkit. The bottom line for increasing project profitability is to optimize your project management efforts. Know the project thoroughly, communicate effectively, and have the necessary information and tools at all times.
Focusing on these critical management tasks allows project managers to anticipate project issues before they can cause profitability problems.
To learn more about how Sage helps keep projects more profitable, on time, and on budget, contact one of our project management experts. | https://e2btek.com/3-reasons-why-your-projects-arent-profitable/ |
We all have heard a famous adage, “Time is money,” at one point or another in our lives. While it applies to almost every sphere of life in some way or another, it befits a typical business scenario even more.
Especially for a professional service-based company, completing every project on time is vital for winning the client’s trust and maintaining its reputation. Inefficient time management causes a myriad of consequences like billable losses, quality compromise, unprecedented delays, and others.
Research also shows that:
26% of projects fail due to inaccuracy in estimating task completion time, which forms a crucial aspect of time management.
It is, therefore, essential for project managers to be the “champions” of time management. However, even most seasoned project managers may find it tricky to manage time effectively throughout the project lifecycle. Nevertheless, some good strategies combined with the right technology solutions can help overcome time management challenges during a project.
This article explores the importance of time management and its best practices. But first, let’s start by answering,
1. What is Time Management?
Time management is the process of managing the time spent on a project to ensure it adheres to its predefined deadline. It comprises planning, scheduling, tracking, and managing all the project’s activities from start to end. It also encompasses taking corrective actions to eliminate any bottlenecks in real-time to avoid future issues or delays.
The end goal of time management is to finish the project on time and in the best way possible. Thus, project managers aim to develop a foolproof plan that dedicates a set timeframe to individual tasks and keeps resources informed of their deadlines. It allows managers to manage tasks better and complete projects on time within the set budget.
2. Importance of Managing Time in Projects
Projects are mostly bound by a fixed time limit and budget. So, it is of utmost importance for project managers to aim for zero waste of time, ideally. Typically, the company and client sign an agreement with all the terms and conditions laid down for the project. These terms and conditions are rigid, and you can’t change them after you sign the agreement and start off.
These contractual obligations make it mandatory for project managers to streamline time management. Failing to manage a project’s timeline well can lead to missed deadlines, increased costs, and severe repercussions like project cancellations or legal penalties. Hence, time management is indispensable for time-boxed and budget-bound projects.
3. Effective Time Management Strategies for Project Managers
1. Allow Sufficient Time to Prepare a Project Plan
A project plan forms the foundation of your entire project. Hence, don’t be in a hurry while devising it. Instead, put your best foot forward in deciding the flow of the project. It’s because giving very little time to your project plan can pose unprecedented challenges like a shortage of resources, last-minute hiring, and more. They can deteriorate the quality of tasks, delay them, or even stall the entire project.
Also, refrain from giving too much time to preparing your plan to end up leaving little time for actual project execution. It can lead to myriad consequences like accidental missing out on critical aspects, negative impact on the project’s schedule, and missed deadlines.
Simply put,
“Dedicate neither too much time nor too little time to creating your project plan. Always aim for a fine balance between the two.”
2. Track Tasks Regularly and Ensure Timely Completion
Once you have your project’s plan in place, the execution begins. However, project managers sometimes fail to keep a tab on the progress of tasks in real-time and foresee possible issues. As a result, it leads to an overall delay in meeting the deliverables.
Real-time task tracking helps ensure the project progresses per the plan and gives insights into the potential issues that can cause significant disruptions in the entire project flow at a later stage. Accordingly, you can take proactive and corrective measures to mitigate these risks before they become issues.
One needs to give special attention to the tasks which are there in the critical path as they have a direct implication on the overall timeline. However, the project managers can go a little easy on slacked tasks depending on the allowable buffer.
3. Provide Enough Lead Time for Resource Onboarding
According to a recent survey by PwC, 30% of projects fail due to a lack of resources.
Often project managers send resource requisitions at the eleventh hour to the resource manager, which results in last-minute hiring/firing. To avoid this situation, give your resource manager sufficient lead time to help you get the best-fit resource with the right skills for the task. It prevents overshooting the budget caused by hiring an overqualified resource or scheduling overruns with an underqualified alternative. Resource forecasting and capacity planning allow managers to analyze the demand vs. capacity gap to identify the resource excesses and shortages ahead of time. Accordingly, appropriate resourcing treatments help avoid last-minute firefighting of competent resources and give sufficient lead time to resource managers in case of a shortfall.
4. Delegate and Outsource Work when Required to Avoid Delays
Despite leaving no stone unturned in following a project plan religiously, often things don’t go as planned. Unprecedented events like unplanned attrition, change in client requirements, and a critical project member’s sudden absence can hamper project delivery. As a result, project managers need to walk a tightrope between requesting resources and keeping a check on the overall project cost sometimes.
It is where you can tap into the value of delegation and outsourcing. Outsourcing relieves your experienced resources of the burden of non-critical tasks and gives them more time to focus on high-priority and complex tasks. Moreover, it also saves you over-expenditure in hiring resources and doesn’t let your project’s execution derail.
5. Avoid Distractions and Interruptions to Meet Project Deadlines
Every project management strategy aims to meet the deadlines. So, it’s essential to keep unnecessary interruptions or distractions at bay and not let them impact your project plan. There are some excellent ways to minimize your resources’ time that goes into non-priority work. For instance, unless genuinely required, don’t indulge all your project team’s resources in meetings or participating in mundane activities.
Instead, the domain or team leads can attend project status meetings, and the action items can be communicated to their respective teams. Thus, it will ensure that all project team members are productively utilized and, at the same time, are aware of the project updates. Besides, keep a check on the number of meetings conducted and ensure that it doesn’t consume a big chunk of resources’ working hours.
6. Facilitate Effective and Timely Communication at Every Level
According to FinancesOnline, a leading business software research and discovery platform, 29% of projects fail due to improper communication.
This figure necessitates effective communication with the right person at the right time for a project’s success. Therefore, the onus is on you as the project manager to sustain effective communication at every level. Make yourself approachable for seniors in charge and junior team members alike.
Encourage them not to bottle up and effectively communicate their concerns before they get stressed or burnt out. Clearly communicate every project member’s responsibility and constant motivation of how their performance will influence the project’s progress enhances task ownership and employee engagement. This continuous communication helps build a sense of duty and drive resources to work responsibly to achieve on-time project completion.
7. Implement a Time Management Culture within the Project Team
Your time is important, and so is every member’s. That is why there is a need to inculcate a proper time management culture within your project team. Ensure that they value each other’s time, be punctual in meetings, give updates, finish priority tasks, etc.
Follow the deadlines, start and end meetings on time, complete your tasks, and assign them to your team members at the right time. Be the “role model” and inspire your team members to understand the value of time. Possessing a sense of duty to meet deadlines yourself and nurturing it in your team can help you make your time management seamless.
4. Use Tools to Create an Effective Time Management Strategy
Combining your strategies with the right technology can take your time management strategy up a notch. Various resource management tools can help you with that. With the 360-degree visibility that a resource management tool provides, you can find out the enterprise-wide resource allocation and availability. Accordingly, you can identify the resources with matching skill sets for each task. This way, you can prevent allocating over/under-skilled resources to save delays and project cost escalation.
It also enables you to identify resources’ excess or shortfall and take appropriate timely actions. Moreover, it provides business intelligence reports and dashboards which help stakeholders make quick and informed decisions. Forecast vs. actuals report helps you identify the actual time taken against the estimates and align future forecasting to reality. It also gives an overview of the utilization levels of your project team members so that you can take appropriate measures to optimize their billable and effective utilization for on-time project completion within the stipulated budget.
5. Conclusion
Time management is one of the cornerstones of a successful project. It involves complete control over the time you spend on every task throughout a project. Following a solid time management strategy helps optimize the scheduling, allocation, and execution of a project’s tasks in a time-efficient manner.
Time management, thus, contributes to meeting all your project deadlines without exceeding your estimated budget. Some good practices combined with the right technology solutions can set the stage for perfect time management for a project.
What would your time management strategy be?
6. Saviom Solution
SAVIOM has over 20 years of experience helping multinational clients manage their resources efficiently and effectively. With over 20 years of experience, this Australian-based MNC has a global presence across 50 countries and has helped 100+ clients meet their specific business goals. Saviom also provides tools for project portfolio management, professional service automation, and workforce planning software. So, SAVIOM can help your business to establish an efficient system geared towards your specific business challenges. | https://www.saviom.com/blog/time-management-how-it-is-important-for-project-delivery/ |
This article aims to help you achieve successful project deliveries using the following five steps for project lifecycle management. We’ll discuss each in detail.
A successful initiation increases the chances of a project’s success. Project initiation is the first step in a project lifecycle and involves building a strong business case. The business case is a document that explains the need for the project, its scope, and its vision to the team. A detailed business plan also helps in soliciting funding for the project.
Create a project charter/business case: The charter/case is needed to explain the project vision, objectives, scope, stakeholders, roles, and responsibilities, as well as the high-level project plan and budget.
Undertake a feasibility study for a business case: Here, you need to identify a business problem that your project will solve.
Identify project stakeholders: You should know how the project will impact your teams. You also need to understand your teams’ expectations from the project.
Include the scope of opportunity management in the project initiation phase. This way, you can avoid loss of opportunity and plan resources ahead of time.
The difference between a successful and an unsuccessful project depends on how good, or how bad, the plan is. To ensure you have a good plan, this phase is essential.
In this phase, a project plan document, or a set of documents, is created. The project plan explains what the project team will do and how they will do it. It lists all the processes (financial, quality, project development, etc.) required for the project to be successful.
Create a project road map: First, identify the project goals and timeline. Draw a chart and visualize the significant milestones that should be achieved. Also, create a scope statement based on the project objectives and key milestones.
Estimate budget for the financial plan: It’s important to understand the capital that you’ll need for the project and the return on investment that’s expected from it.
Form a functional project team: You should evaluate the resources in your organization and form a project team to complete all the project tasks.
Identify potential roadblocks: Making a list of foreseeable risks will help you mitigate these risks successfully and ensure project quality through a project’s lifecycle. Common risks could include budget cuts and resource crunch.
Develop a communication plan: You need the right messaging to communicate with your stakeholders—both internal and external—about the project initiation. Also, create a schedule to effectively deliver this communication.
Create a schedule for regular collaboration meetings with other departments such as business intelligence, product, and marketing. This will give you buffer time for the discussions, while ensuring that you maintain realistic project timelines.
This phase is the longest in a project lifecycle and requires putting into action the project plans you made in the earlier stage. In this stage, the deliverables are constructed and presented to the clients. During the project execution stage, a project manager would be involved in managing the people, processes, and communication.
Organize workflows: You should assign tasks to the appropriate team members. Explain their responsibilities, dependencies, and project processes for the smooth functioning of the project.
Hold regular status team meetings: Regular team catch-ups will help you track the team’s progress on the assigned project tasks. This will ensure that team members are meeting their goals, while giving you the opportunity to address any risks or concerns.
Communicate with clients: It’s vital to keep your clients updated about all kinds of developments in the project during this phase.
Discuss how you’d like to incorporate client feedback in this phase, how often you’ll solicit the feedback, and define the turnaround time for incorporating the feedback. This will help you reduce the cost of conflicts later, as there won’t be any rework in the final stages of the project.
This phase is about measuring project progression and performance to ensure that the project is going as planned. Project managers can review and track progress at any time during a project to make adjustments to the plan, so that things runs smoothly.
Measure the project’s progress: The key performance indicators will track project progress and ensure that tasks are on schedule. Tracking them will ensure that you meet the deadlines of the deliverables. To ensure the project budget doesn’t overrun, the project manager should track the cost of all the resources being spent.
Evaluate project risks and find solutions: You should be monitoring any risks arising in the project. Make adjustments and find solutions to ensure that despite these risks, the project scope and budget don’t undergo extensive alterations. You should document the solutions for reference in future projects.
Sit down with your team once in a while to discuss additional financial opportunities in this phase. Monitoring the project will help you accurately understand the total resources being spent and identify areas in which you can save to create extra profit.
This phase indicates that the project has been completed. It’s the final stage that involves a postmortem and follow-up. A project manager identifies the strengths and weakness of the project in terms of the time taken, processes followed, and resources used in this phase. The weaknesses are assessed so that project managers can develop strategies to overcome them.
Re-evaluate resources: You need to analyze your team members’ performance in terms of the timely deliveries and quality of work. You’ll be required to terminate the contractual resources at this time and retain the full-time resources for the next project.
Hold a team meeting: This involves getting the team together and formally closing the project with a discussion about its achievements, misses, risks, and failures. This will help you compile learning for future projects.
Document project completion and prepare final project report: You’ll need to document all the aspects of the project once it’s complete. Perform a final analysis of the overall performance. Conduct an audit of all the project phases and prepare a report for stakeholders to discuss the goals achieved, tasks completed, on-time deliveries, final budget spent, total resources spent, risks encountered, etc.
Hold a project closing meeting with your client and understand their perspective on the overall project performance. You can incorporate their feedback in areas pertaining to project management and improve your team’s efficiency. This can help you win client trust and boost your brand image as a trusted service provider in the market.
Identify a project management platform that works with your preferred lifecycle model and offers features such as task management, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and documentation.
Get your team’s feedback on the project lifecycle methodology and incorporate their opinions when tweaking the methodology. It’s vital to ensure that the methodology works for your unique business needs when following the steps we’ve mentioned in the article. | https://lab.getapp.com/step-by-step-project-lifecycle-methodology/ |
Lesson 2 2 What is Planning and Scheduling
What is scheduling?
Creating a schedule involves determining who will complete specific project action plan steps and when. Companies evaluate their resources, including equipment, team members, and time, during the scheduling phase to determine which ones are required to complete the project’s goal and whether they need to acquire more. Businesses examine when specific project milestones must be reached as they create a schedule, establishing crucial checkpoints. The project team will use those checkpoints to determine whether the project is ever behind schedule and whether adjustments are necessary to meet their goal.
What is planning?
One of the early phases of project development is planning, during which organizations and businesses decide how they will accomplish a goal. Many project managers develop an action plan during the planning stage to help them see the steps they need to take in order to accomplish the project’s goal. The planning stage would be used, for instance, if a business launched a new marketing campaign with the aim of gaining ten new clients within the coming year.
Planning and scheduling in the workforce
Some businesses designate two separate employees to oversee the planning and scheduling duties while a project is being created. Companies frequently create two distinct positions because the two jobs call for different skill sets. To understand what the company can accomplish when planning, people frequently need strong risk assessment skills and knowledge of research and development. To ensure they finish the project on schedule with money and resources to spare, people must have strong administrative abilities and time management skills.
However, some businesses combine the duties of both roles into a single position. It’s critical for an employee to have strong communication skills when a company assigns them the planning and scheduling responsibilities so they can work effectively with other company departments. Individuals can successfully carry out their responsibilities and ensure the project is successful by seeking guidance and knowledge from various company departments, such as accounting, marketing, and research and development.
Planning vs. scheduling
Although both scheduling and planning are crucial for a project’s success, they have different roles to play in assisting the project in achieving its objectives. The planning phase takes place before the project begins. Project managers then present or pitch the idea to company executives and managers using the developed plan. However, as project managers allocate resources and assign roles, scheduling is one of the first steps in completing the project. Once the schedule is finished, the project officially begins as the team concentrates on finishing the first action plan step.
Companies frequently rely on the data from the planning stage during scheduling to create the schedule and effectively distribute resources. For instance, if a business is aware that their action plan calls for more marketing specialists than they currently have, they may plan to enlist the assistance of marketing consultants at various stages of the project. It’s also possible that some managers may learn during scheduling that they can’t finish the project in the allotted amount of time. Project managers may need to go back to the planning stage if that happens to decide whether they need to change the project or extend the deadline.
Major steps for planning and scheduling a project
The following are some essential actions businesses take when beginning a new project:
1. Establish project scope
Identifying the project’s scope is the first step in project planning. The project’s scope includes everything the company can successfully produce or complete before its deadline. When coming up with features or ideas for the project, managers and project executives will need to assess each suggestion and determine whether the company can implement it without compromising the quality of the project.
An employee might propose a feature for the app that calls the doctor if the user is running late, for instance, if a business was developing a new mobile application to help users keep track of their doctor appointments. The project manager must decide whether the feature fits the project’s scope and can be completed by the project’s deadline if they approve of the idea. The team can clearly identify the project’s main objective and what constitutes success once the scope has been officially decided.
2. Develop the action plan
The business can create the project’s action plan by identifying its major tasks once the project’s primary objectives have been determined. Project managers frequently divide the project into smaller, more manageable goals when creating the action plan to help them identify key roles and project checkpoints. For instance, if a business wants to develop a new type of computer software, their first action plan step might be to describe the software’s features. The following step might be to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) for testing.
3. Determine resources
It’s crucial to comprehend what resources the project will require before developing the schedule and beginning it. Resources can include a wide range of distinctive things, including team members, materials, equipment, and more. Identifying the resources required for the project is crucial because doing so can make it easier for the project manager to develop an accurate budget and schedule. For instance, a company may require 3D rendering software, manufacturing equipment, and prototype materials if it wants to develop and produce a new kind of energy-efficient flashlight.
4. Create the schedule
Most project managers use the action plan’s information along with a list of required resources to create the schedule in order to determine the most efficient budget and timeline. It’s crucial for project managers to know how many resources the team needs for each step of the action plan, as well as roughly how long each step will take. Project managers who are aware of these two facts can more effectively create project budgets and allow the team ample time to complete each action plan step.
Planning and scheduling software
Some businesses may use impressive planning and scheduling software when creating the project plan and schedule to help speed up and improve the process. Some companies offer software so that businesses can work together and produce impressive action plans and timelines to efficiently manage the project. However, not all software enables businesses to quickly make significant changes during the project, which can present difficulties or lead to delays for the team.
Some businesses use spreadsheets to make a customizable plan and schedule that can be very helpful to the team and project manager in order to prevent delays and allow for more manual organization. Although there are fewer automated functions, the manager may find it easier to change any significant deadlines or action plan steps manually than to try to work with a software’s automation.
Tips for coordinating planning and scheduling
Here are some additional pointers for juggling scheduling and planning in your professional life:
Gather resources first
Before beginning the scheduling phase, it’s crucial for businesses to first gather or understand their resource requirements after the planning stage. Although a business may have a list of the resources it anticipates using, it’s crucial for them to understand how much of each resource they currently have and where they will get the rest. The efficiency of the project can be increased when the company knows where the resources are coming from or if there are enough of them already.
Prioritize efficiency
When scheduling, giving priority to a project’s efficiency can help you avoid duplications and cut down on delays. For instance, it is advantageous to schedule the use of a piece of equipment that two company departments might need at various times so that no department is ever waiting for another to finish their work.
Additionally, it’s critical to clearly define key roles and assign each department with a specific action plan step. The company can ensure that no two people are working on the same task and potentially causing project delays when each department knows exactly what it is doing.
Foresee major challenges
It is beneficial to attempt to foresee any significant challenges the project may face when planning and scheduling. Project managers can increase productivity by anticipating problems and allocating the proper resources and time to each task. Giving a task more time to complete in case any unforeseen issues arise is helpful if a manager is having trouble identifying any significant challenges it might face.
Focus on communication
It’s critical that the planning and scheduling team stay in close contact with one another while creating the plan and schedule. Giving each other feedback on each other’s work can help each team develop and improve their concepts. A step in the action plan, for instance, might not be feasible when creating the schedule due to a lack of funds or resources. If this happens, the scheduling team may speak with the planning team to update the project scope and action plan.
FAQ
What is difference between scheduling and planning?
- “Life is what we experience while we are preparing for other things,” ” .
- “If you live close to a live dragon, it does not do to leave him out of your calculations. ” .
- “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” …
- “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” …
- “The future has already arrived; it’s just not distributed equally.”
What is planning and scheduling in engineering?
The primary distinction between planning and scheduling is that one determines what must be done and how much, whereas the other specifies who must perform the operations and when. Even though they are distinct procedures, operation and production scheduling brings them together.
What are the benefits of planning and scheduling?
Planning: The division of a project’s tasks into their individual events, and the sequencing, resourcing and strategy of those events. Scheduling: Detailed assignment of logic, duration & start/finish dates to. project activities, within the overall plan. | https://carreersupport.com/planning-and-scheduling/ |
- Serves as a senior survey methodologist in NASS applying statistical and survey methodology standards to develop or refine survey instruments, and data collection protocols, incorporating survey standardization and quality measures.
- Applies survey methodology principles to plan, direct, implement, and document projects to improve or test the efficacy of data collection instruments, data collection materials, and data collection methodologies.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates qualitative and operational research related to large scale and complex data collection surveys.
- Is responsible for formulating and recommending programs carried out by the Branch, Division, other State and Federal Agencies, universities, and private organizations.
- Provides advice and consultation to internal and external stakeholders on the design of data collection instruments, materials, and methodology.
- Initiates, tests, and evaluates new methods and procedures to improve survey methodology, quality standards, specifications, and presents recommendations for consideration by the Agency.
- Works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project alignment with both business and technical objectives.
- Provides direction to those administering the survey specification process as it relates to survey methods.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required in this position.
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
14
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Job family (Series)
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This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/556312500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered. | https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/556312500 |
Research, evaluation, and program planning all require good quality data collection. For good quality data collection, you must know what data you need, how you will collect it, and how you will ensure consistency (for example, that all the people answering a question interpret it in the same way). Some data can be collected through observations or document review. Data collection often requires the use of “instruments” such as surveys or questionnaires, interview guides, and focus group protocols. A program logic model can help you understand the data you need to collect; it helps clarify what your project intends to do and what it hopes to accomplish, as well as document the potential impact to the agency. That information can reveal the information you need to collect about your activities and results.
Resources on instrument design, testing, and implementation are provided below along with tips for developing a logic model for your program. Developing quality instruments can be a challenging process; starting with a few examples can make it easier. CVR has a collection of sample instruments measuring victimization, community and victim needs, satisfaction with victim services, and victim outcomes, as well as some sample logic models. You can search this collection below. We are also continuing to build this collection, and welcome additional submissions.
Tools and Tips
Questionnaire Design (Pew Research Center). This guide provides tips for creating questions that accurately measure the opinions, experiences, and behaviors of individuals. This guide details the important steps involved in questionnaire design including question development, use of open- and closed-ended questions, question wording, question order, and pilot testing and conducting focus groups and pretests to examine how individuals respond to the questions.
Cognitive Interviewing: A “How To” Guide (Research Triangle Institute). Cognitive interviewing is a process to make sure people understand what the questions are asking and are interpreting them the same way you are. This guide walks you through the process of testing your questions through cognitive interviewing.
Assessing Community Needs and Resources (Center for Community Health and Development). This guide contains 24 sections detailing how to identify and assess community concerns, needs, and assets. This guide includes information on how to collect your own data (primary data collection) and how to find and use existing data (secondary data collection). Detailed guidance on how to develop and implement data collection through focus groups, surveys, and interviews is provided.
Evaluation Toolkit: Using a Logic Model (The Pell Institute and Pathways to College Network). While the Pell Institute concentrates on education issues, we found this resource very helpful. This guide explains the logic model and walks you through the five basic elements (inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact). Be sure to check out the How to Create a Logic Model section for tips on how to make one for your program.
National Crime and Victimization Data Analysis Tools
Two national data collections on crime and victimization are conducted through the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program and the related National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) used in many jurisdictions; and the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). A brief description of the UCR and NCVS can be accessed here. The FBI provides more details on NIBRS on its website. A more in-depth introduction to the NCVS can be found in this webinar presentation by staff from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
The FBI is developing its Crime Data Explorer (CDE) to make its UCR data more accessible. The CDE includes UCR data collected under the traditional summary system as well as the detailed NIBRS format. The CDE tool allows users to search, sort and compare national and state data as well as agency-level crime statistics. It also provides a way to download selected reports and data. Details about the CDE and the UCR data included in the tool are available here.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) hosts an “Easy Access to NIBRS” data tool. This tool focuses specifically on victims of violence and capitalizes on many of the details collected by NIBRS including victim demographics, victim-offender relationship, weapon, and residential location. OJJDP provides information on data decisions made in creating the underlying NIBRS data accessed by the tool as well as a glossary of terms for concepts used in the tool. Reading and understanding these methods will help users accurately interpret their findings.
BJS created the NCVS Victimization Analysis Tool (NVAT). Users can analyze violent and property victimization by select victim, household, and incident characteristics. Users can access preset “quick” tables that provide trends in crime and reporting to the police as well as enter customize searches to generate tables that meet their needs. The NVAT User’s Guide is a helpful resource for those new to data tools and the NCVS. The NVAT also provides users with documentation about its methodology and definition of terms used in the tool.
Search CVR’s Instruments Collection
CVR is compiling a collection of instruments for use in collecting data for conducting research and evaluation (for screening and assessment instruments, see the Screening & Assessment page). Example logic models are also being gathered from a variety of victim service program types. CVR provides this collection as a public service and does not endorse specific instruments. An instrument should always be tested prior to use. Additionally, if any instrument is intended to be used for research (i.e. beyond informing only a local program), the study must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Please see the Victim Protection page for more information on IRBs and protecting individuals in research.
This collection is a work in progress. We rely on your contributions and are always accepting new submissions. Please contact us if you have an instrument you would like to contribute. | https://www.victimresearch.org/tools-training/collecting-data/ |
Develop the Project M&E Plan in close coordination with the USAID COR and the USAID/Pakistan Program Office.
Review and revise the project logical framework (Logframe), Work Plan, and the initial indicative targets/indicators developed as part of the project technical proposal.
Coordinate with the various component leads to identify indicators, benchmarks, and data sources.
Work with USAID/Pakistan in developing a baseline data collection plan, including survey design, sampling method and size, data sources, and enumerator training activities, as appropriate.
Develop ToR/RFP documents for M&E baseline establishment, follow up surveys – sampling, questionnaire and interview design, identify/develop key result measurement/impact indicators, and administer appropriate data collection techniques to enhance accuracy, validity and reliability of baseline data/findings.
Establish program database/MIS for contract/partner management, result monitoring through appropriate data collection mechanism and generate information/report for program management including logistic and other reporting requirements.
Develop and utilize a variety of research approaches including quantitative (e.g., beneficiary/participants surveys, business surveys, training records) and qualitative (e.g., focus group discussions, key informant interview) methods to ensure effective monitoring and measuring of project outcomes.
Develop tools and procedures that ensure data on women participation in project interventions are adequately collected, analyzed and reported including for example training local partners to conduct female focus groups to ensure receiving adequate feedback from the women/girls groups.
Produce routine reports on program progress to be shared internally and with external stakeholders including regular reporting to USAID/Pakistan on progress against indicators to be provided on a Quarterly and Annual basis or as required by the USAID/Pakistan.
Orient program staff and partner institutions on M&E Systems and standards, periodic reporting and tracking of projects’ progress.
Work closely with the project implementing partners to create a reliable data collection system that uses consistent data definitions to ensure they can be aggregated. Help partner institutions collect and analyze data on enrolment, retention, placement and private sector leverage and report to the project.
Design and utilize tools necessary to assure data quality including: 1) verify that data are of reasonable quality based on USAID’s data quality standards (Validity, Integrity, Precision, Reliability, Timeliness); 2) review data collection, maintenance, and processing procedures to ensure consistent application; 3) take steps to address identified data quality limitations; and 4) retain documentation including all relevant source documents on electronic files and hard copies.
iv. Indicator 4: Capacity built of youth organization indirectly benefiting from improved services.
Other activities assigned by the COP.
Specific activities and deliverables for this position will be determined on an annual basis, per the work plan.
At the end of the program, design and lead conducting an end-line performance evaluation of the project interventions.
Candidate will report to the Chief of Party (COP).
Master degree in development studies, social science, statistics and other relevant areas.
Mid to senior-level similar experience (5+ years) in successfully designing and implementing M&E Systems for development interventions/programs.
Experience in Monitoring and Result Measurement (MRM) and M&E standard frameworks, and familiar with development result indicators.
Experience in research, survey, database, result monitoring and evaluation.
Experience in training delivery/management to other staff on MRM and M&E techniques.
Exposed to M&E system of USAID, and familiar with other standards.
Experience in Pakistan, with extensive experience in the program target areas.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work individually and within a team.
Excellent English language skills and writing specialized reports with minimum editing.
Ability to present to groups on complex research, monitoring and evaluation topics.
Pakistani National and able to live and travel throughout targeted districts in Pakistan.
Please note that we reserve the right to cancel one or all applications. We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity in its workforce. We welcome people from diverse backgrounds, culture and experience. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. | https://jobzinn.com/2018/10/05/monitoring-and-evaluation-manager/ |
Introduction Patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments should be developed according to rigorous guidelines in order to provide clinically meaningful, scientifically sound measurement. Understanding the methodology behind instrument development informs the selection of the most appropriate tool. This mixed methods protocol describes the development of an internationally applicable PRO instrument, the CLEFT-Q, for evaluating outcomes of treatment for cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).
Methods and analysis The study includes three main phases that occur iteratively and interactively. In phase I, we determine what concepts are important to patients regarding their outcome. A conceptual framework for the CLEFT-Q is formed through a systematic review and an extensive international qualitative study. The systematic review ascertains what concepts have previously been measured in patients with CL/P. The qualitative study employs interpretive description and involves in-depth interviews with patients in high-income and lower-middle income countries. Preliminary items are generated from the qualitative data. Preliminary scales are then created for each theme in the framework. Cognitive debriefing interviews and expert clinician input are used to refine the scales in an iterative process. In phase II, the preliminary scales are administered to a large international group of patients with CL/P. The modern psychometric method of Rasch Measurement Theory analysis is employed to define the measurement characteristics. The preliminary scales are shortened based on these results. In phase III, further tests assess reliability, validity and responsiveness of the instrument.
Ethics and dissemination The study is approved by Research Ethics Boards for each participating site. Findings from this study will be published in open access peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Integrated knowledge translation is employed to engage stakeholders from the outset of the study. Successful execution of the CLEFT-Q will result in an internationally applicable PRO instrument for children and young adults with CL/P.
- patient-reported outcomes
- child health
- cleft lip and/or palate
- psychometrics
- quality of life
- speech
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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Strengths and limitations of this study
Multicentre, international study that includes patients in high-income and lower-middle income countries will ensure the CLEFT-Q is internationally applicable.
Extensive qualitative component of the study will ensure content validity of the CLEFT-Q.
Adherence to rigorous guidelines of instrument development and use of modern psychometric methods will make the CLEFT-Q as scientifically sound and clinically relevant as possible.
The scope of the study, which includes participants from high-income and lower-middle income countries, necessitates a long time frame to completion.
The CLEFT-Q field-test will not include children with CL/P aged under 8 years.
Introduction
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly important in the assessment of treatment effectiveness.1 ,2 If PRO data are to be used to drive quality improvement and treatment decisions, PROs should be evaluated in a scientifically sound manner using a PRO instrument developed according to rigorous guidelines.3 The methodology behind the development or ‘validation’ of an instrument can be complex. A clear description and understanding of the methods can help to inform researchers selecting an appropriate PRO instrument for their target patient population.
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly, with 7.94 cases per 10 000 live births annually.3 The condition affects individuals worldwide and impacts an individual's appearance, dentition, hearing and speech. Treatment protocols vary widely, within and between countries.4 5 Observer-reported or clinician-reported outcomes form the majority of clinical outcome assessments (COAs) to date.6–8 However, the goal of treatment of CL/P is to improve the patient's physical, psychological and social health, all of which are difficult to evaluate accurately with observer-reported or clinician-reported outcomes. Measuring these outcomes requires the patient perspective, but there is currently no comprehensive, specific PRO instrument for patients with CL/P available.9
Beyond the scope of CL/P, few scales exist that measure appraisal of appearance from the patient perspective.10 Congenital anomalies, trauma and other benign and malignant conditions can cause facial or other differences that are stigmatising and may lead to social isolation. The treatment of these conditions addresses form and function, yet the outcomes of treatment cannot be measured without appropriate PRO instruments that evaluate these concerns specifically and directly. The current study begins to fill this gap in measurement of appraisal of appearance from the patient perspective.
Many clinical conditions are prevalent around the world in high-income as well as low-income and middle-income countries. Multinational studies are increasingly common, and PROs are frequently used as primary or secondary end points. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) recommendations for reporting randomised controlled trials have included a PRO extension to guide PRO reporting.2 However, PRO instruments have typically been developed in a single language and often in a single country.11 Few PRO instruments have been designed for use in low-income and middle-income countries.4 While COAs such as clinician-reported or observer-reported outcomes are more easily compared between countries, it is difficult to compare PROs globally in the absence of instruments designed for global use. While guidelines exist for translation and cross-cultural adaptation of PRO instruments,11 the optimal design would be to develop the instrument in a cross-cultural manner from the outset.
Establishing scientifically sound, cross-cultural measurement tools involves a rigorous process. The following protocol describes the methodology for an international study to develop a cross-cultural PRO instrument for children and young adults with CL/P, called the CLEFT-Q. To the best of our knowledge, the CLEFT-Q will be the first international PRO measure that evaluates appraisal of appearance in addition to quality of life and function.
Methods and analysis
Development of the CLEFT-Q follows the guidelines set forth by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Outcomes Trust,12 the USA Food and Drug Administration13 and the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research.14 15 The aim is to develop a self-report instrument for patients 8–29 years of age that is internationally applicable, multidimensional (eg, measures a number of different concepts of interest (COIs)) and useful in clinical practice as well as in clinical audits and research.
The study employs a multiphase mixed methods approach, with an iterative combination of qualitative and quantitative inquiries.16 Measurement properties of instruments fall into the three categories of (1) reliability, (2) validity and (3) responsiveness. The Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was designed to ensure and evaluate validity and reliability in measuring health-related PROs.17 18 Similarly, a minimum standard for PRO instruments was outlined by members of the International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL).19 There are three main phases to developing a PRO instrument, including item generation, item reduction and psychometric evaluation, and these phases are carried out in an iterative and interactive manner as opposed to a linear progression (figure 1). These three phases ensure that the resulting instrument fulfills the minimum standards outlined by ISOQOL as well as the COSMIN criteria for reliability and validity. The components of each phase are shown in figure 2.
Phase I: what should we measure?
The aims of phase I are to establish content validity of the CLEFT-Q and to generate preliminary scales. First, a systematic review of the literature was performed to ensure that there was indeed no existing instrument available and to define what PRO instruments have been validated and used in patients with CL/P in the past.20 A comprehensive search following PRISMA guidelines yielded 4595 citations, of which 26 studies met inclusion criteria.20 The studies were carried out in 9 high-income countries, confirming the lack of PRO measurement in low-income and middle-income countries. Twenty-nine different PRO instruments were used in the 26 studies, and 20 measures were used only once. On the basis of these findings, a need for a comprehensive PRO instrument for CL/P exists, and we proceeded with the current study.
Conceptual framework
The first step in phase I is to develop a conceptual framework, or ‘a rationale for and description of the concepts and the populations that a measure is intended to assess and the relationship between those concepts’.12 From the systematic review performed at the outset of the study,20 COIs that were previously measured are mapped to create a preliminary conceptual framework.
Qualitative study
Next, a comprehensive qualitative study is carried out with participants with CL/P in high-income and lower-middle income countries. The qualitative methodology employed is Interpretive Description, which seeks to generate relevant knowledge for a clinical context presuming that there is theoretical and clinical knowledge informing the study.21 ,22 For this study, the theoretical knowledge is derived from the systematic review, and clinical knowledge is derived from the team members carrying out the study. The philosophical underpinning of the qualitative study is pragmatism, meaning that the individual's understanding of a concept is of greatest importance, regardless of clinical explanations.23
Participants, setting and recruitment
Eliciting knowledge in high-income and lower-middle income countries allows for cultural differences to be identified from the outset, facilitating accurate targeting of the scales in subsequent phases. The participating centres in this phase of the study are in six countries (Canada, Kenya, India, Philippines, UK and USA). Recruitment takes place at cleft care centres. In the high-income countries (Canada, UK, USA), participants are recruited either through posters in clinics (and contacted by telephone to arrange an interview), or face-to-face in the clinical setting. In the lower-middle income countries (Kenya, India, Philippines), a study team member recruits participants face-to-face in the clinical setting. Participants are eligible for inclusion if they have a diagnosis of CL/P. In the high-income countries, participants between 8–29 years of age are included. In the lower-middle income countries, participants of any age are included if they are presenting for clinical care to maximise the information gathered at these sites. In addition, parents of children with CL/P in the lower-middle income countries are invited to participate if the child prefers. This difference is important since a study team member, foreign to these countries, is present and working with a translator, which may make the child feel less comfortable if they are alone. Exclusion criteria include the inability to speak the language of the interviewer or translator in each country or a cognitive delay such that the individual cannot participate in a semistructured interview.
Sampling
Participants are purposively sampled to gain a heterogeneous sample based on age, gender and cleft type. Sampling continues until the point of saturation, when no further new concepts arise in subsequent interviews.24
Data collection
After obtaining written assent and/or consent as appropriate, a study team member trained in qualitative interviewing technique carries out individual, semistructured interviews that are audio-recorded, using a translator in the lower-middle income countries as needed.24 Participant age, gender and cleft type is documented. An interview guide is developed based on the preliminary conceptual framework, providing a list of open-ended questions for the interview. The interviewer probes new concepts as they arise. As standard qualitative methods dictate, data from interviews are analysed on an ongoing basis, allowing for changes to be made to the interview guide for subsequent interviews to include new concepts that warrant further probing.
Data analysis
Interviews are transcribed verbatim. Interviews performed through a translator, which would have language in English and the target language, are again translated to English by a bilingual individual to confirm the translation. The interview data are then analysed within NVivo V.8 software (QSR International Pty, 2012) using the line-by-line approach to coding data, with constant comparison used to identify and classify the COIs identified. These concepts are then categorised into overarching domains with themes within the domains to refine the preliminary conceptual framework. Concurrent and iterative data collection and analysis are performed, allowing for changes to be made to the interview guide as new concepts arise. When no further new concepts are elicited from interviews, data collection ends and the conceptual framework is finalised. This conceptual framework represents all the COIs to patients in six different countries with CL/P.
Rigor
Rigor in the qualitative study is ensured using several strategies. One team member performs data coding, and a second team member then confirms the analysis. By performing interviews in an iterative fashion, member-checking is employed to confirm that concepts identified are indeed valuable and important to participants with CL/P. Finally, peer debriefing is used to verify data analysis between members of the study team.
Item generation
Coding of the qualitative data creates an exhaustive list of potential items to include in scales. A list of scales to be created is derived from the conceptual framework arising from the qualitative study. Each theme within the domains of the conceptual framework is turned into an individual preliminary scale. In this way, the entire suite of scales should cover all the COIs to patients with CL/P. Individual scales are populated with items generated from the patients’ own language whenever possible with the lowest feasible grade reading level (Fleisch-Kincaid level). Positive or neutral wording is adopted for the items in the scales as much as possible to limit any negative effects of filling out the CLEFT-Q in the future.
Refining the preliminary scales
The final stage of phase I aims to refine the preliminary scales through an iterative process of returning to the patients to perform cognitive debriefing interviews14 and obtaining expert multidisciplinary clinician input.
Cognitive debriefing interviews
Once the preliminary scales are formed, further semistructured individual interviews are carried out to ensure that patients with CL/P understand the items on the scales and to confirm that no concepts are missing. Recruitment is carried out in a similar fashion to the qualitative study with participants from multiple countries to ensure cross-cultural input. Participants go through all the items on the preliminary scales with the interviewer using the ‘think aloud’ technique. The interviewer records items that are problematic and the reasons why these items are problematic. Cognitive debriefing interviews are carried out iteratively alongside obtaining expert clinician input as described below. Data from both sources are analysed concurrently, again allowing for progressive improvements to the scales. Cognitive debriefing interviews follow a similar strategy as the qualitative study in that interviews continue until no further issues with the items on the scales arise.
Expert clinician input
Expert clinician input is sought to ensure that no further concepts should be included in the scales. Clinicians involved in cleft care from different disciplines (nursing, orthodontics, otolaryngology, paediatrics, psychology, social work, speech-language pathology, surgery) are purposively sampled from multiple countries through the networks of the study team. Focus groups with groups of clinicians are performed in a similar fashion to the cognitive debriefing interviews. In cases where focus groups cannot be performed, individual input is sought. The interviewer goes through all the items on the scales, looking for input on any missing items or on the wording of items. Again, data are analysed concurrently with the cognitive debriefing interviews to refine the scales.
Translation
In the next phase of the study, the scales are field-tested in a large population of patients from multiple countries. The preliminary scales are translated into the necessary target languages according to guidelines set forth by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research25 and Mapi Research Trust.26 Briefly, each translation is performed using two translators whose mother tongue is in the target language and are fluent English. The two translators perform independent translations of the CLEFT-Q from English to the target language. Resulting translations are then reconciled to create a single translated version. A third individual whose mother tongue is English and is fluent in the target language then translates this version back into English, and this English version is compared to the original. The group then resolves the discrepancies together. The translated versions are taken back to the patient population in further cognitive debriefing interviews to ensure that the meaning of the items, response options and instructions are the same, and that the wording is appropriate. At the end of this phase, a complete set of CLEFT-Q scales is ready to be tested in a population of patients.
Phase II: what questions are effective in measuring the concepts identified in phase I?
The next phase of developing the CLEFT-Q involves field-testing the scales in a large population of patients with CL/P to determine which items on the scales are the most effective in measuring the COIs. We employ the modern psychometric method of Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) analysis to identify which items perform well on scales and to determine the measurement properties of the scales.27 In order to provide rigorous measurement, the data must fit the requirements of a mathematical model, that is, the Rasch model. Briefly, RMT creates a scale where an individual is placed along the scale based on the probability that he/she answered the questions or items in a certain way. This method contrasts with classical test theory, where scores are designed for group level analyses. This difference in mathematical modelling allows RMT analysis to provide an accurate individual person estimate. A RMT scale can be conceptualised as a ruler, with an ordered arrangement or hierarchy of items from a low to high ‘amount’ of the construct. RMT analysis creates interval-level measurement, or a scale where the notches on the scale are evenly spaced, as opposed to ordinal-level measurement, or a scale where the notches are not necessarily evenly spaced. Interval-level measurement allows for accurate tracking of change over time.28 In addition, RMT analysis results in a scale that provides person estimates that are independent of the sampling distribution of the items. In other words, the scale functions the same way regardless of the people that it is measuring, meaning that the same scale can be used accurately in different subsets of the target population (eg, participants in different countries, or of different ages).
Through the RMT analysis, the psychometric properties of the scale are defined. Items that are effective in measurement within the preliminary scales are then kept, and items that do not function as well in measurement or items that are identified as being redundant can be dropped. The final scales are created through this process of item reduction as described below.
Pilot field-test
A large-scale field-test of the CLEFT-Q is planned to take place in multiple countries. Since a multicentred field-test is a resource-intensive endeavour, a pilot field-test is carried out at two sites in Ontario, Canada, to identify any logistic obstacles and to perform an early preliminary RMT analysis to troubleshoot any early issues with scale performance.
Study participants
Patients with CL/P who are 8–29 years of age and who do not have a cognitive delay resulting in an inability to fill out the scales are recruited from two clinical settings in Canada. A minimum of 200 patients is required to perform the preliminary RMT analysis. Since this pilot study is meant to optimise the scales prior to the large-scale field-test, the preliminary RMT analysis may trigger further data collection and recruitment prior to finalising the field-test versions of the scales.
Data collection
Participants are asked to fill out the CLEFT-Q scales on paper and to give qualitative feedback in written format on completion. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, cleft type and stage of treatment are collected. Participants are also asked if they feel that the length of the entire CLEFT-Q is ‘about right’, ‘too long’ or ‘too short’. The time to complete the scales is recorded.
Data analysis
Qualitative feedback is analysed in a similar fashion to the cognitive debriefing interviews. Details of the RMT analysis are described in further detail below. The results from the qualitative and RMT analyses are used to further refine the scales. This iterative nature to scale development optimises the likelihood that the scales will function well with minimal logistical obstacles in the ensuing large-scale field-test.
International field-test and RMT analysis
The goal of the international field-test is to gather CLEFT-Q data from a large population of patients with CL/P internationally to define which items should be included in the final scales and to examine the measurement properties of the scales.
Study participants
The international field test includes participants from 12 countries (Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Ireland, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and USA). Centres are included based on interest and feasibility of recruiting the sample size required in a reasonable time frame. Participants with CL/P between the ages of 8 and 29 years are recruited to fill out the CLEFT-Q scales. Exclusion criteria include a cognitive delay resulting in the inability to complete the scales. Recruitment takes place either face-to-face or by mail depending on each centre's preferences. The goal is to recruit a minimum of 108 from each country; a sample size from 108 to 200 results in item calibrations that are stable within 0.5 logits (person location estimates) with a 99% CI.29
Data collection
The demographic characteristics collected are listed in table 1. Participants will fill out the CLEFT-Q scales either on paper or on tablets in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), a secure, web-based application for electronic data capture.30
Data analysis
Field-test data are entered into REDCap if participants filled out the scales on paper. Completed data files are then downloaded into IBM SPSS 22.0 (IBM Corp. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. 22.0 ed. Armonk, New York, USA: IBM Corp., Released 2013). The SPSS file is then imported into RUMM2030, the Rasch analysis software.31 Each scale is analysed independently. The psychometric function of each scale is examined using a number of tests and various criteria. First, the thresholds for the item response options must be ordered, meaning that a ‘1’ on a 4-point scale must sit lower in the continuum than a ‘2’, and so on. The RMT analysis then defines the hierarchy of items on the scale, from the ‘easiest’ question for a patient to endorse to the ‘hardest’ question. Second, 3 item fit statistics are used to evaluate whether the items in a scale work together as a set: (1) log residuals, which represent item-person interaction; (2) χ2 values, which represent item-trait interaction and (3) item characteristic curves. Items that are not functioning well with respect to these 3 statistics will be dropped from the scales unless they represent clinically important concepts. Third, the scale must be targeted to the population. The range of the construct measured by the scale is compared to the range of the construct experienced by the population, and maximal overlap is preferable to ensure that the scale can measure the construct in the population of interest.
The next component of the analysis ensures internal consistency, which refers to the interrelatedness among items on a scale. First, the scale is tested for unidimensionality, or whether the items on the scale all measure a single construct.32 Second, the scale is evaluated using the Person Separation Index, a measure of the precision of a person estimate, which is a corollary of reliability (Cronbach's α) in classical test theory.33 At any stage of the analysis, scales that are not functioning appropriately can be analysed with poorly functioning items dropped. This process continues until all the above statistics are within the acceptable range.
Differential item functioning
Since the Rasch model creates a fixed ruler that is independent of the individual person estimates, differences between subgroups can be identified. Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when one subset of the target population answers a question differently than another subset.33 In creating an international PRO instrument for children and young adults, differences based on country and age are an important consideration in creating scientifically sound instruments. In the field-test, DIF can be identified in RUMM2030 and items that show DIF can be dropped in the item reduction phase or kept in with adjustments made to the scoring to account for the differences.
Item reduction
From the item and threshold locations, the location of each question within the field-test scale on the overall ruler can be determined. Poorly functioning items can be dropped as described above, and extra items that measure in a similar fashion (showing residual correlations in the RMT analysis) can be dropped to develop a scale with the optimal number of items. It should be noted that at some point, further dropping of items will result in less precise measurement. The final decision regarding the optimal number of items depends on the distribution of the item locations as well as some clinical indication of a requirement for a certain degree of precision. Once item reduction is complete, the scales are finalised. The RMT analysis then provides a scoring table for each scale, since calculating the score on each scale is more complex than simply summing the responses to each of the individual items.
Normative data and construct validity
Once the scale scoring has been determined, scores are calculated for the field-test participants. Normative data and basic associations between scores and demographic characteristics can then be calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS.
Construct validity includes the aspects of structural validity, which assesses internal relationships, hypotheses testing and cross-cultural validity. Structural validity and cross-cultural validity are addressed in the RMT analysis with unidimensionality and DIF, respectively. Hypotheses testing is used to establish whether the responses either correlate or differ in different patient groups in a way that would be expected.34 In the CLEFT-Q, we test the following hypotheses: (1) that patients with a visible difference, that is, CL and CL/P, will have lower scores on appraisal of appearance compared to those with an invisible difference (ie, CP only); (2) that patients undergoing speech therapy or speech surgery will have lower scores on the speech scales than those not requiring any further intervention; (3) that patients requiring further treatment to the nose, lip or jaw will have lower scores on the appearance scales as well as the quality of life scales compared to those not needing any further treatment; (4) that patients who rank their appraisal of their overall appearance or speech to be higher (‘like’ their appearance more) on a four-point scale will have higher scores on the appearance or speech and quality of life scales, respectively and (5) that patients who are receiving psychological counselling or therapy will have lower scores on the quality of life scales. ANOVA in SPSS will be used to test these hypotheses.
Phase III: how does the instrument work?
Several components of the COSMIN checklist are addressed in phases I and II of development. Additional tests to ensure reliability, validity and responsiveness comprise phase III. All tests of the CLEFT-Q employ the finalised scales in this phase.
Reliability
Reliability includes two measurement concepts: (1) internal consistency, which is evaluated in phase II; and (2) test–retest reliability, which is evaluated in phase III. To establish test–retest reliability, a smaller group of patients complete the CLEFT-Q scales and then complete the scales again 1 week after the first administration. Scales that are reliable will have a minimum test–retest reliability of 0.70 in studies including at least 50 patients.35
Validity
In the COSMIN checklist, the domain of validity includes three measurement properties, that is, content validity, construct validity and criterion validity.17 ,18 Content validity is addressed in phase I of the study, and construct validity is addressed in phase II.
The final component of validity is criterion validity, or the degree to which the instrument reflects the findings on a ‘gold standard’ instrument.17 When an instrument is comparable to similar instruments, concurrent validity is established. While we did not identify any single instrument as comprehensive as the CLEFT-Q, the aim of this substudy is to compare the results on the CLEFT-Q to two other instruments used in the past in patients with CL/P: (1) the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP),36 ,37 and (2) the CHASQ.38 We hypothesise that CLEFT-Q scores for similar constructs will moderately correlate with the scores on these other instruments.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness evaluates the instrument's ability to detect clinically meaningful change over time. The two main methods of evaluating responsiveness include an anchor-based and a distribution-based approach. In the anchor-based approach, patient-rated, clinician-rated or condition-specific variables are used to estimate a minimally important difference (MID) for a scale.39 The distribution-based approach estimates the MID based on the distribution of scores from a target population.39 Techniques to evaluate responsiveness are debated in the literature.17 RMT analysis has been shown to allow for increased detection of responsiveness.40 We employ a variety of methods to best define responsiveness.
Study participants
Participants for the test–retest reliability and criterion validity testing are recruited simultaneously. Again, participants from 8-29 years of age are recruited from the clinical setting with the same exclusion criteria as the field-test. Since this phase requires fewer numbers of participants (50), the number of participating centers is lower than the field-test (Canada, UK, USA). To study responsiveness, participants who are undergoing either (1) orthognathic surgery, (2) rhinoplasty or (3) lip revision are recruited.
Data collection
Participants fill out the CLEFT-Q scales in addition to the COHIP and the CHASQ on tablets through REDCap. Contact information is collected, and participants are sent a link to complete the CLEFT-Q scales online 1 week later. Similar demographic data to the field-test is collected. For the responsiveness substudy, participants fill out the CLEFT-Q scales preoperatively. Contact information is collected and participants are sent a link to the complete the CLEFT-Q scales again at least 6 months later.
Data analysis
Test–retest reliability
CLEFT-Q scores are calculated from the two separate administrations of the scales for each participant. Test–retest reliability is then calculated in SPSS.
Criterion validity
CLEFT-Q, COHIP and CHASQ scores are calculated for each participant. Scores on each of the scales are then compared using a Pearson's r correlation in SPSS.
Responsiveness
Anchor-based techniques are used to calculate the MID from the transformed Rasch scores. To support the anchor-based methods, a distribution-based approach is used. The transformed Rasch scores are compared using paired t-tests, and then an effect size and standardised response means, two indicators of change, can be calculated.39 ,40 One of the strengths of RMT analysis is the ability to perform individual person level analyses for responsiveness. The tests listed above provide group level comparisons. In individual person level comparison, the significance of a person's own change can be calculated using the individual person estimates, which are associated with bespoke standard errors.40 Using group level and individual level comparisons, the responsiveness of the CLEFT-Q can be defined as clearly as possible.
Ethics
Throughout the study, participants may be asked to discuss or answer questions about issues that are sensitive and may experience distress as a result. To address this concern, study team members explain during the consent process that should this occur, an option to follow-up with a clinical team member will be provided. Participants are also assured that all information is kept confidential; in the qualitative phase, interviews are transcribed with no identifying data, and in the qualitative phase, identifying data are kept in a separate file at each institution.
Dissemination
The intention of the study is not to directly compare different centres with respect to their outcomes. Any publications or presentations arising from this study will not identify specific centres.
An integrated knowledge translation approach is taken in this study. Collaborations with multiple sites internationally will hopefully result in increased uptake and the use of the CLEFT-Q in the future. All phases II and III results for participants from each site will be sent back to the individual sites for their own use.
Finally, results of the study will be published in open access journals as required by the granting agency. Study team members will present the results at international and national conferences.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge our partners in cleft care centres around the world for participating in data collection in various phases of the study.
References
Footnotes
Twitter Follow Anne Klassen @anneklassen and Karen Wong Riff @KWongRiffMD
Contributors KWYWR and AFK conceived of the study. KWYWR, AFK, ET, TG, CRF, ALP and SJC participated in the design of the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding This work is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Open Operating Grant number 299133 (to AFK, KWYWR, ALP and CRF), the Physicians’ Services Incorporated Foundation Resident Research Grant (to KWYWR, AFK and CRF) and the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Educational Foundation Grant (to KWYWR, AFK and CRF).
Competing interests KWYWR, ET, TG, CRF, ALP and AFK declare that they have no competing interests. SJC started Modus Outcomes, a company that designs PRO instruments, after the inception of this study.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; peer reviewed for ethical and funding approval prior to submission.
Data sharing statement No additional data are available.
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If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways. | http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/1/e015467 |
2M has an opening for a Research Analyst - Bilingual. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong research methods and analytic capabilities, and communication and organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, work under pressure, meet deadlines under strict timelines, quality focused, and attentive to detail. Bilingual in English/Spanish is required. Experience interviewing in a bilingual setting, strong knowledge of language and cultural differences amongst Spanish-speaking countries, and editorial experience for English/Spanish-speaking written translations.
Responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with research teams to design, execute, and manage health and human services research, evaluation, and technical assistance projects using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods
- Perform background research, collect data, conduct analysis, and prepare reports
- Develop recruitment and data collection materials, such as project descriptions, survey instruments, focus group discussion guides, and interview guides in both English and Spanish, as needed
- Conduct literature reviews, environmental scans, and background research
- Coordinate stakeholder recruitment, schedule interviews, assemble and distribute various materials, including study supplies and data collection forms, to field or clinical sites
- Prepare training materials; lead training sessions for data collectors, and support other data quality assurance tasks in both English and Spanish, as needed
- Collect and review data, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, obtained through observations, interviews, medical record abstraction, or other sources according to established guidelines
- Participate in or lead site visits, focus groups, or interviews in both English and Spanish, as needed
- Lead and perform primary and secondary data cleaning, quality assurance, and quality checks to ensure accuracy
- Code qualitative data and conduct thematic analysis
- Conduct in-depth data analysis
- Draft and contribute to preparing client deliverable reports, case studies, briefs, memos, dashboards, data visualization, and presentations; written materials may be in both English and Spanish, as needed
- Manage correspondence and project communications under the guidance of the Project Director
- Work with a high degree of independence under direct guidance from the Project Director, collaboratively with project teams, and/or as a task lead
- Meet tight-deadlines in this project-based, deliverable-driven, outcomes-focused environment
- Support the growth of 2M by assisting with proposals and business development activities
- Support other tasks as assigned by management
Position Requirements: | https://utaustin.joinhandshake.com/jobs/7177997/share_preview |
Posted on :
27 Aug, 2020
27 Aug, 2020
NACOSA is a network of over 1,900 civil society organisations working to turn the tide on HIV, AIDS and TB in Southern Africa. NACOSA promotes dialogue, builds capacity with accredited training, mentoring and technical assistance and channels resources to support service delivery on the ground, particularly among key populations, vulnerable children and women and girls. As a community of learning, as well as a large grant-maker, NACOSA is a rewarding environment for people who want to make a difference in the HIV, AIDS and TB response.
Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Location: Century City, Western Cape, South Africa
Reference: # 2020025
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Market Related
Specification
The role
The DREAMS Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is a permanent position to develop and implement monitoring and evaluation strategies, systems and tools that will ensure accurate and timely GBV prevention programme data.
The key performance areas of the role are:
•Develop, implement and manage robust M&E systems and frameworks for the GBV prevention programming and implementing partners. Including, but not limited to, M&E frameworks, data management systems, data flows, data collection systems, quality assurance and reporting.
•Management and oversight of the collection, capturing, analysis & reporting of programmatic data by NACOSA implementing partners.
•Conduct M&E visits to implementing partners to provide M&E related orientation, training and mentorship for NACOSA implementing partners and programme staff.
•Conduct offsite and onsite data verification of NACOSA implementing partners.
•Data management including maintenance and interrogation of data using a data management system.
•Create or refine and enforce programme-wide M&E protocols, including manuals and reference guides, for proper implementation of the M&E system, frameworks and related functions.
•Design, project manage and provide technical input for external programme evaluations and other research studies.
•Assist with all other strategic information related to programmatic activities which involves data collection and analysis and enhanced data use to inform programme improvements.
Qualifications and experience:
•Post Graduate degree or equivalent in Monitoring and Evaluation/Research/Public Health or related discipline
•Minimum of 5 years’ experience developing monitoring and evaluation systems for programmes in the health and/or social development sectors. HIV/AIDS, OVC, or GBV prevention programme experience preferred
•Experience with bilateral and multilateral donor M&E reporting requirements. USAID experience preferred
•Demonstrated understanding in the design, development, use and improvement of data management systems
•Strong skills in data review, interrogation and interpretation
•Ability to use data to suggest programmatic improvements or adaptions to programming
•Experience managing, consolidating, analysing and reporting on large national datasets
•Experience in monitoring and promoting data quality
•Experience in capacity development of field staff in M&E
•Demonstrated capacity to lead workshops, trainings, and strategic planning sessions
Skills and attributes:
•Strong computer skills with work experience using data management systems and MS Office (in particular MS Excel and MS Access)
•Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify data quality issues and synthesis data efficiently and effectively
•Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and thorough engagement with tasks
•Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, high stress environment
•Must be a self-starter and able to work independently with little supervision
•Strong planning, time management and project management skills
•Results-oriented, professional, accountable and proactive
•Strong interpersonal communication skills
•Proven ability to work as a team member with multidisciplinary teams
•Valid drivers’ license, own reliable vehicle and willingness to travel extensively within South Africa. | https://joblistsouthafrica.com/nacosa-ongoing-job-recruitment-apply-now-2.html |
Abstract:In our paper we describe the security capabilities of data collection. Data are collected with probes located in the near and distant surroundings of the company. Considering the numerous obstacles e.g. forests, hills, urban areas, the data collection is realized in several ways. The collection of data uses connection via wireless communication, LAN network, GSM network and in certain areas data are collected by using vehicles. In order to ensure the connection to the server most of the probes have ability to communicate in several ways. Collected data are archived and subsequently used in supervisory applications. To ensure the collection of the required data, it is necessary to propose algorithms that will allow the probes to select suitable communication channel.
Keywords: Communication, Computer Network, data collection, probeProcedia PDF Downloads 230
5 Utilising an Online Data Collection Platform for the Development of a Community Engagement Database: A Case Study on Building Inter-Institutional Partnerships at UWC
Authors: P. Daniels, T. Adonis, P. September-Brown, R. Comalie
Abstract:The community engagement unit at the University of the Western Cape was tasked with establishing a community engagement database. The database would store information of all community engagement projects related to the university. The wealth of knowledge obtained from the various disciplines would be used to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration within the university, as well as facilitating community university partnership opportunities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore electronic data collection through the development of a database. Two types of electronic data collection platforms were used, namely online questionnaire and email. The semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data related to community engagement projects from different faculties and departments at the university. There are many benefits for using an electronic data collection platform, such as reduction of costs and time, ease in reaching large numbers of potential respondents, and the possibility of providing anonymity to participants. Despite all the advantages of using the electronic platform, there were as many challenges, as depicted in our findings. The findings suggest that certain barriers existed by using an electronic platform for data collection, even though it was in an academic environment, where knowledge and resources were in abundance. One of the challenges experienced in this process was the lack of dissemination of information via email to staff within faculties. The actual online software used for the questionnaire had its own limitations, such as only being able to access the questionnaire from the same electronic device. In a few cases, academics only completed the questionnaire after a telephonic prompt or face to face meeting about "Is higher education in South Africa ready to embrace electronic platform in data collection?"
Keywords: Database, Knowledge sharing, Community Engagement, data collection, University, electronic platform, electronic toolsProcedia PDF Downloads 126
4 Data Collection with Bounded-Sized Messages in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Min Kyung An
Abstract:In this paper, we study the data collection problem in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) adopting the two interference models: The graph model and the more realistic physical interference model known as Signal-to-Interference-Noise-Ratio (SINR). The main issue of the problem is to compute schedules with the minimum number of timeslots, that is, to compute the minimum latency schedules, such that data from every node can be collected without any collision or interference to a sink node. While existing works studied the problem with unit-sized and unbounded-sized message models, we investigate the problem with the bounded-sized message model, and introduce a constant factor approximation algorithm. To the best known of our knowledge, our result is the first result of the data collection problem with bounded-sized model in both interference models.
Keywords: Wireless Sensor Networks, Approximation, data collection, SINR, collision-free, interference-free, physical interference model, bounded-sized message modelProcedia PDF Downloads 92
3 Improved Safety Science: Utilizing a Design Hierarchy
Authors: Ulrica Pettersson
Abstract:
Collection of information on incidents is regularly done through pre-printed incident report forms. These tend to be incomplete and frequently lack essential information. ne consequence is that reports with inadequate information, that do not fulfil analysts’ requirements, are transferred into the analysis process. To improve an incident reporting form, theory in design science, witness psychology and interview and questionnaire research has been used. Previously three experiments have been conducted to evaluate the form and shown significant improved results. The form has proved to capture knowledge, regardless of the incidents’ character or context. The aim in this paper is to describe how design science, in more detail a design hierarchy can be used to construct a collection form for improvements in safety science.
Keywords: Design Science, data collection, incident reports, safety scienceProcedia PDF Downloads 85
2 A Systematic Review on Measuring the Physical Activity Level and Pattern in Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Kuni Vergauwen, Ivan P. J. Huijnen, Astrid Depuydt, Jasmine Van Regenmortel, Mira Meeus
Abstract:A lower activity level and imbalanced activity pattern are frequently observed in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) due to debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM). Identification of measurement instruments to evaluate the activity level and pattern is therefore important. The objective is to identify measurement instruments suited to evaluate the activity level and/or pattern in patients with CFS/ME and review their psychometric properties. A systematic literature search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science until 12 October 2016. Articles including relevant measurement instruments were identified and included for further analysis. The psychometric properties of relevant measurement instruments were extracted from the included articles and rated based on the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The review was performed and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A total of 49 articles and 15 unique measurement instruments were found, but only three instruments were evaluated in patients with CFS/ME: the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Activity Questionnaire (CFS-AQ), Activity Pattern Interview (API) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), three self-report instruments measuring the physical activity level. The IPAQ-SF, CFS-AQ and API are all equally capable of evaluating the physical activity level, but none of the three measurement instruments are optimal to use. No studies about the psychometric properties of activity monitors in patients with CFS/ME were found, although they are often used as the gold standard to measure the physical activity pattern. More research is needed to evaluate the psychometric properties of existing instruments, including the use of activity monitors.
Keywords: Physical Activity, Psychometrics, chronic fatigue syndrome, data collectionProcedia PDF Downloads 109
1 Urban Noise and Air Quality: Correlation between Air and Noise Pollution; Sensors, Data Collection, Analysis and Mapping in Urban Planning
Authors: Massimiliano Condotta, Giovanni Borga, Chiara Scanagatta, Paolo Ruggeri
Abstract:Architects and urban planners, when designing and renewing cities, have to face a complex set of problems, including the issues of noise and air pollution which are considered as hot topics (i.e., the Clean Air Act of London and the Soundscape definition). It is usually taken for granted that these problems go by together because the noise pollution present in cities is often linked to traffic and industries, and these produce air pollutants as well. Traffic congestion can create both noise pollution and air pollution, because NO₂ is mostly created from the oxidation of NO, and these two are notoriously produced by processes of combustion at high temperatures (i.e., car engines or thermal power stations). We can see the same process for industrial plants as well. What have to be investigated – and is the topic of this paper – is whether or not there really is a correlation between noise pollution and air pollution (taking into account NO₂) in urban areas. To evaluate if there is a correlation, some low-cost methodologies will be used. For noise measurements, the OpeNoise App will be installed on an Android phone. The smartphone will be positioned inside a waterproof box, to stay outdoor, with an external battery to allow it to collect data continuously. The box will have a small hole to install an external microphone, connected to the smartphone, which will be calibrated to collect the most accurate data. For air, pollution measurements will be used the AirMonitor device, an Arduino board to which the sensors, and all the other components, are plugged. After assembling the sensors, they will be coupled (one noise and one air sensor) and placed in different critical locations in the area of Mestre (Venice) to map the existing situation. The sensors will collect data for a fixed period of time to have an input for both week and weekend days, in this way it will be possible to see the changes of the situation during the week. The novelty is that data will be compared to check if there is a correlation between the two pollutants using graphs that should show the percentage of pollution instead of the values obtained with the sensors. To do so, the data will be converted to fit on a scale that goes up to 100% and will be shown thru a mapping of the measurement using GIS methods. Another relevant aspect is that this comparison can help to choose which are the right mitigation solutions to be applied in the area of the analysis because it will make it possible to solve both the noise and the air pollution problem making only one intervention. The mitigation solutions must consider not only the health aspect but also how to create a more livable space for citizens. The paper will describe in detail the methodology and the technical solution adopted for the realization of the sensors, the data collection, noise and pollution mapping and analysis. | https://publications.waset.org/abstracts/data-collection-related-abstracts |
Creswell (2014) mentions that narrative research includes recreating stories, phenomenological research analyzes statements. Grounded theory has systematic steps. Case study and ethnographic research involves a detailed description of settings and an analysis of the data. Creswell (2014) includes the stages for analyzing qualitative research data to include raw data, organizing and preparing data for analysis, read through all data, coding the data, identifying themes and descriptions, interrelating themes and descriptions, interpreting the meaning, and validating the accuracy of the information.
Creswell (2014) identifies the steps for qualitative analysis to include organizing and preparing the data for analysis, examine all the data, code the data, generate a description, advance the description and theme, and finally make an interpretation in qualitative research.
Qualitative validity means the researcher checks for accuracy of the findings. Qualitative reliability means the researcher is consistent across the research. Creswell (2014) mentions eight strategies for maintaining validity: triangulation, member checking, rich description, check bias, present negative or discrepant information, spend prolonged time, debrief peers, have an external auditor. The interview protocol in qualitative research is a set of directions for conducting interviews. A focus group, led by a facilitator, can be a nonthreatening environment for which participants can express themselves (Patten, 2012). A facilitator can have a questioning route and can describe the topic to be discussed. The facilitator can also query for more detailed responses. The facilitator can also be described as a moderator.
Methods for controlling quality in qualitative research include data triangulation, methods triangulation, researcher triangulation, peer review, auditing, and member checking. In grounded theory, an inductive method of analysis can lead to theories of behavior. Open coding is the first stage of coding data, then axial coding. Finally, a core category is established. Constant comparison in grounded theory compares new elements with past elements (Patten, 2012).
Levy, Livingood, and Maranga (2016) suggest triangulation to conform validity of the data collection and analysis processes. Patten (2012) also suggests methods for maintaining validity include triangulation and inter observer agreements. _Various types of triangulation include data triangulation, methods triangulation, and researcher triangulation. _Using multiple sources of data allows researchers to triangulate the data and make validity checks on the consistency of the data (Patten, 2012). _Combining methods such as interviews and focus groups provides researchers the ability to triangulate research methods. Levy et al. (2016) prescribe attention to the research question, data collection, and research methods, as well as, a proper accounting of the steps in data collection and data analysis.
An independent review, or an audit, of the research study ensure that the research is following proper guidelines and can make necessary suggestions along the way (Patten, 2012). _ Collaborating on the research process provides the ability for researchers to define parameters for the research and to allow for the research to provide adequate structure. _The validity of the research can also be maintained by double checking the research data and verifying that the data entry is correct (Levy et al., 2016). _ The data that is entered can be ensured to be reliable data by proper coding and analysis. _Various stages of coding and analysis can provide information on whether there are any data values that are outside of the common themes of the research.
Forming a research team allows researchers to collaborate and check the validity of each other's research (Patten, 2012). An inter observer agreement allows researchers the ability to discuss differences in their research until there is a consensus. Consensual qualitative research analysis also is a technique that allows researchers to collaborate on their research (Patten , 2012). _In consensual qualitative research methods a team of researchers attempt to reach a consensus on the themes of research.
Other possible techniques for reliability may include duplicating research and representing in the data in analysis. It is also possible to have a second round of interviews or focus groups to validate data with the participants. __The reliability of the data can also be validated by providing visual representations of the data that can display any values of inputs that are errors.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Los Angeles: Sage publications.
Levy, D., Livingood, R., & Maranga, K. M. (2016). Perspectives of qualitative research methods. Schaumburg, IL: Words of Wisdom. | http://managementdesignschool.com/network/page.php?id=1 |
Qualitative Data Support
HPDP staff offers a variety of skills and experience to support qualitative research, including consulting with faculty investigators and contributing to presentations and publications.
Services
Qualitative data support is available for consultation at all stages of development of a study and can provide services in the following areas:
- refining study objectives, research questions and identifying key variables,
- choosing the data collection methods and instruments that will best accomplish the investigator’s objectives,
- designing interview and focus group guides that are appropriate for the study design,
- developing formative and process evaluation data collection forms
- training interview moderator and assistants
- conducting interviews and focus groups
- preparing the qualitative analysis section of a grant proposal and/or study protocol,
- managing and preparing qualitative data for analysis,
- conducting and interpreting qualitative analyses of research data, and
- reporting research results, including development of abstracts, presentations for professional meetings, and manuscripts submitted to professional journals.
Requesting Services
Please contact Maihan B. Vu, DrPH, MPH to discuss your project’s qualitative research needs. Dr. Vu is Director of Formative Research for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and coordinates and provides qualitative research services to projects. When requesting support for the preparation of a grant proposal, it is essential that the investigator allow adequate time prior to the submission deadline. | https://hpdp.unc.edu/research-services/qualitative/ |
It helps us to look for and organised the data and evidence relevant to the problem at hand. A manager does not get all data he needs well organised and presented to him on a platter.
The cases may bring out the complexity of the environment in which managers have to take decisions. Any different between research design and method of research? I personally need a consensus answer to this question. I hope our research experts will help us here.. I feel research method consist of the type of research - qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods as well as the research design and all proceudues used in collecting and analysing data with which to find valid answers to research questions or carry valid test of research hypotheses.
Johnson Nenty, hjnenty yahoo. What is the Meaning of research methodology? How does experimental research differ importantly from correlational research methods?
Correlational Research are predictions and are mostly based on statistics. Whereas Experimental Research is based on experiment and explaination. What is difference between research methods and research tools? Distinguish the difference between research method and research methodology? Method is a particular way of solving a specific problem. Methodology, therefore, means the collection of methods you used in a particular piece of research.. What is comparative research methodology?
What is the difference between research design and methodology? The difference between research design and methodology is in theirmeaning. Research design is the model used for the research whilemethodology refers to the specific methods used. What are the limitation of research methodology? Research methodology has been debated and discussed by historians and scientists alike for hundreds of years. What they can agree upon is that research is only limited to the extent of what is being researched.
What is editing in research methodology? At the stage of Analysis of Data: After data collection, the task of analyzing is to be done. The analysis requires number of operations such as establishing categories, application of catagories to raw data through coding, tabulation and then drawing stastistical intererences.
Editing is the procedure that improves the quality of the data for Coding. Sample of research methodology paper? You can find these papers online to help come up with ideas. Asimple keyword search can help you find the papers that you want. What is the difference between research questions of qualitative and quantitative methodologies? What is field setting research methodology? By- Jagadish chandra porichha. What are the different types of research in research methodology?
What is the difference between methods and methodology in economics? Importance and scope of research methodology? The scope of research methodology are as follows: For making government policy 3.
Pilot testing in research methodology? Several sites that discuss this are found at http: This effective practice describes advantages of pilot testing, lists simple procedures to pilot test instruments, and provides additional resources to help programs conduct their own pilot tests and was submitted by Project STAR in September A pilot test usually involves simulating the actual data collection process on a small scale to get feedback on whether or not the instruments are likely to work as expected in a "real world" situation.
A typical pilot test involves administering instruments to a small group of individuals that has similar characteristics to the target population, and in a manner that simulates how data will be collected when the instruments are administered to the target population.
Pilot testing gives programs an opportunity to make revisions to instruments and data collection procedures to ensure that appropriate questions are being asked, the right data will be collected, and the data collection methods will work.
Programs that neglect pilot testing run the risk of collecting useless data. Pilot testing provides an opportunity to detect and remedy a wide range of potential problems with an instrument. These problems may include: Questions that respondents don't understand. Questions that combine two or more issues in a single question double-barreled questions. Questions that make respondents uncomfortable. Pilot testing can also help programs identify ways to improve how an instrument is administered.
For example, if respondents show fatigue while completing the instrument, then the program should look for ways to shorten the instrument. If respondents are confused about how to return the completed instrument, then the program needs to clarify instructions and simplify this process.
What is observation method in research methodology? Observation is the basic method of getting into about any event. It becomes a scientific tool for research when we use observation in a systematic manner with a scientific attitude. What is data collection in research methodology? This refers to the way you choose to collect information from people or observe your surroundings - interviews, questionnaires, observations, participations, or reports.
Discuss the research methodology? WikiAnswers will not do your homework for you. Nor will it write your discussion paper, critiques or essays. That is considered cheating. If you have a specific question in the subject we are more than willing to help. What is the difference between research design to research method? Differentiate between human mind and computer in research methodology? Nowadays, most computers and search engines, such as google, rely on key terms, or key something or other.
Advanced searchs in google merly further specify and cross-reference a number of terms. Even the type of paper.
It is true on could program a computer to cross-reference all of these different variables, however, the computer would only know as much as you tell it, while a human may be able to infer something.
What are the differences between method and methodology? Research methodology in qualitative research? How much has the average temperaturgreenhouse effect If none are given in the article think of some on your owen risen Pose possible solutions to the?
What is the difference between concept and construct in research method? Concept - A concept is a generally accepted collection of meanings or characteristics that are concrete whereas a construct- construct is image or idea invented for a particular theory or research problem; a construct is an abstract concept. To successfully perform a research, we must form common ground; hence, the need for concepts and constructs. What is the difference between model specification and research methodology?
For this type of research, the measurements are usually arbitrary, following the ordinal or interval type. Questionnaires are an effective way of quantifying data from a sample group, and testing emotions or preferences.
This method is very cheap and easy, where budget is a problem, and gives an element of scale to opinion and emotion. These figures are arbitrary, but at least give a directional method of measuring intensity.
By definition, this experiment method must be used where emotions or behaviors are measured, as there is no other way of defining the variables. Whilst not as robust as experimental research , the methods can be replicated and the results falsified. Observational research is a group of different research methods where researchers try to observe a phenomenon without interfering too much.
Observational research methods, such as the case study , are probably the furthest removed from the established scientific method. Observational research tends to use nominal or ordinal scales of measurement. Observational research often has no clearly defined research problem , and questions may arise during the course of the study. Observation is heavily used in social sciences, behavioral studies and anthropology, as a way of studying a group without affecting their behavior. Whilst the experiment cannot be replicated or falsified , it still offers unique insights, and will advance human knowledge.
Case studies are often used as a pre-cursor to more rigorous methods, and avoid the problem of the experiment environment affecting the behavior of an organism. Observational research methods are useful when ethics are a problem.
In an ideal world, experimental research methods would be used for every type of research, fulfilling all of the requirements of falsifiability and generalization. However, ethics , time and budget are major factors, so any experimental design must make compromises. As long as a researcher recognizes and evaluates flaws in the design when choosing from different research methods, any of the scientific research methods are valid contributors to scientific knowledge.
Check out our quiz-page with tests about:. Martyn Shuttleworth Jun 19, Retrieved Sep 13, from Explorable. In qualitative research the data is either obtained from observations, interviews or from questionnaires. The purpose of data coding is to bring out the essence and meaning of the data that respondents have provided.
The data coder extract preliminary codes from the observed data, the preliminary codes are further filtered and refined to obtain more accurate precise and concise codes.
Later, in the evaluation of data the researcher assigns values, percentages or other numerical quantities to these codes to draw inferences. It should be kept in mind that the purpose of data coding is not to just to eliminate excessive data but to summarize it meaningfully.
The data coder should ascertain that none of the important points of the data have been lost in data coding. Usually in these stores you get maximum range of products you want to purchase. You get profits through deals and sales. The data coder can assign different codes to what the respondent narrated above.
These codes might be as following;. When data coder assigns codes to the observed data, he cannot manage to assign well-refined codes in the first instance. He has to assign some preliminary codes first so that the data has become concise. He later on, further refines the codes to get the final codes.
It must be kept in mind that codes are not the final words or phrases on the basis of which evaluation will be made. The researcher will filter the preliminary codes and then the final codes.
Data analysis methods in the absence of primary data collection can involve discussing common patterns, as well as, controversies within secondary data directly related to the research area.
A source of confusion for many people is the belief that qualitative research generates just qualitative data (text, words, opinions, etc) and that quantitative research generates just quantitative data (numbers). Sometimes this is the case, but both types of data can be generated by each approach.
The purpose of this page is to describe important data collection methods used in Research.. Data Collection is an important aspect of any type of research study. Inaccurate data collection can impact the results of a study and ultimately lead to invalid results. Data coding in research methodology is a preliminary step to analysing data. The data that is obtained from surveys, experiments or other sources are in raw form.
The methods section describes actions to be taken to investigate a research problem and the rationale for the application of specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information applied to understanding the problem, thereby, allowing the reader to critically. CHAPTER 4 Research Methodology and Design Introduction data collection methods used in the study was discussed. Finally, in order to ensure trustworthiness of the research, appropriate criteria for qualitative researchwere Research methodology and design. Chapter 4: Research methodology and design research. 4 of. | http://harleos.cf/mmmx/data-in-research-methodology-fid.php |
Following the APA format and the Final Project Template, prepare the “Method Section” that describes the methodology used to test your hypotheses. This should include (a) participants, (b) procedures, (c) measures and/or instruments, and (d) data analysis plan.
Support your assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.
GUIDE
Week 8: Method Section (6–8 pages)
For Week 8, you write the “Method Section” of your Final Project. Consider research methodologies and designs appropriate to solve your research problem. Then decide which research paradigm, i.e., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methodology, you plan to use in your study. In addition, describe your strategies for data collection and analysis. Below are key areas you need to address to complete the Methods Section.
Participants (1–2 pages)
- Population
Define the population.
- State criteria for selecting participants.
- State population size (if known) or approximate/estimated size.
- Sample and Sampling Procedures
- Identify and justify the type of sampling strategy.
- Explain specific procedures for how the sample will be drawn.
- Sampling frame (Inclusion and exclusion criteria)
- Use a power analysis to determine sample size and include:
- Justification for the effect size, alpha level, and power level chosen
- Citation of the source of calculation or the tool used to calculate sample size
Procedures (1–2 pages)
- Procedures For Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection (students collecting their own data)
- Thoroughly describe recruiting procedures and particular demographic information that will be collected.
- Describe how participants will be provided informed consent.
- Describe how data are collected.
- Explain how participants exit the study (for example, debriefing procedures, etc.).
- Describe any follow-up procedures (such as requirements to return for follow-up interviews, treatments, etc.).
- Procedures For Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection (students using archival data)
- Include all procedures for recruitment, participation, and/or data collection associated with the main study.
- Describe the bounds of the data to be extracted (e.g., records from 2005-2008).
- Describe the procedure for gaining access to the data.
- Describe necessary permissions to gain access to the data (with permission letters located in the IRB application).
Measures/Instrumentation (2–3 pages)
- Instrumentation and Operationalization of Constructs
- Identify each data collection instrument and source (published or researcher produced)
- For published instruments provide:
- Name of developer(s)
- Appropriateness to the current study
- Mention of permission from developer to use which permission letter included in the appendix
- Published reliability and validity values relevant to their use in the study
- Where/with what populations used previously and how validity/reliability are/were established in the study sample
- For researcher-developed instruments provide:
- Basis for development
- Literature sources
- Other bases (such as pilot study)
- Evidence of reliability (internal consistency, test-retest, etc.)
- Evidence of construct validity
- Establish sufficiency of instrumentation to answer research questions
- Basis for development
- For studies involving an intervention or the manipulation of the IV:
- Identify materials/programs applied as treatment or manipulation.
- Provide information on the developer of the materials/programs/manipulations.
- If published, state where, how, and with what populations used previously
- If researcher developed, state basis for development and how developed.
- Provide evidence that another agency will sponsor intervention studies (such as clinical interventions).
- Operationalization: For each variable describe:
- Its operational definition
- How each variable is measured or manipulated
- How the variable/scale score is calculated and what the scores represent
Data Analysis Plan (1–2 pages)
oIdentify software used for analyses.
oProvide explanation of data cleaning and screening procedures as appropriate to the study.
oRestate the research questions and hypotheses here as written in Chapter 1.
oDescribe in detail the analysis plan including the elements below including: | https://www.studypool.com/questions/561907/reward-as-a-way-of-motivating-workers-in-a-workplace |
- Overall data collection approach:
- Proctored assessment of student achievement
- Self-administered surveys for students, parents, teachers, and school principals
Target population
School children in the participating countries in grades representing 4 years of formal schooling
Sample design
Stratified two-stage cluster sample design
First stage: sampling schools
- Probability proportional to the size of the school (PPS)
- Stratifying schools (optional):
- According to important (demographic) variables (e.g., region of the country, school type or source of funding or languages of instruction)
- Two forms possible: explicit or implicit stratification
- Random-start fixed-interval systematic sampling
- Schools sampled at the same time for field test and main data collection
- Sampling of two replacement schools for each school sampled (main data collection only)
Second stage: sampling classes within schools
- Only after sampled schools agreed to participate in the study
- One or more intact classes from the target grade of each school, selected using systematic random sampling
General notes
- School sampling conducted by Statistics Canada, class sampling by participating countries
- All sampling activities monitored and documented by Statistics Canada and IEA Hamburg staff
Sample size
Full Information has not been published yet.
Per country
- School sample: minimum 150–200 schools
- Student sample: about 4,500 students
In total
Approximately 340,000 students
Data collection techniques and instruments
Student Assessment
- Written format – PIRLS and PIRLS Literacy
- Computer-based - ePIRLS
- Reading passages/online reading tasks and accompanying questions:
- Multiple-choice (at least half the number of total points)
- Constructed response
- Achievement items
- 12 item blocks (passages) for PIRLS, 12 item blocks for PIRLS Literacy, and 5 ePIRLS tasks
- 16 test booklets for PIRLS, 16 test booklets for PIRLS Literacy, and 12 task combinations for ePIRLS
- Items per assessment
- PIRLS: 175 items
- PIRLS Literacy: 183 items
- ePIRLS: 91 items
- Items per assessment
- Linking mechanisms between booklets and between cycles
- PIRLS and PIRLS Literacy have 4 common item blocks/passages
- New PIRLS passages and items in 2016: 4 blocks
- 6 PIRLS blocks are trend passages and (unreleased) items from PIRLS 2001, PIRLS 2006, and 2011
- New PIRLS Literacy passages and items in 2016: 6 blocks
- 4 PIRLS Literacy blocks are trend passages and (unreleased) items from prePIRLS 2011
- Matrix sampling of passages/items (rotated test booklet design)
Background questionnaires
- Student questionnaire, in print format; modular design
- Learning to Read survey (home questionnaire), to be completed by students’ parents or primary caregivers, print and online format (online for some countries)
- Teacher questionnaire, to be completed by the reading teachers assessed classes, print or online
- School questionnaire, to be completed by the principal of each school sampled, in print or online format
- ePIRLS student questionnaire, in computer-based format
Curriculum questionnaire
- To be completed by NRCs
- Modular design
- Online format
Descriptive encyclopedia chapters
- One chapter for each participating entity
- Written by experts from ministries of education, research institutes, or institutions of higher education (in countries and benchmarking entities) based on an internationally agreed-upon outline.
Techniques
- achievement test
- questionnaire
Languages
- Assessment instruments administered in 40 languages for PIRLS, 10 languages for PIRLS Literacy, and 15 languages for ePIRLS.
- Instruments (assessments of achievement and student questionnaires) administered in two or more languages in 24 countries and four benchmarking entities.
- The most common languages: English (17 countries), Arabic (7 countries)
Translation procedures
- International version of all assessment instruments developed in English by TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center.
- Instruments then translated and adapted by participating countries into their languages of instruction.
- Translations verified by independent linguistic and assessment experts in order to ensure their equivalence with the international version.
Quality control of operations
During data collection
- National Research Coordinator (NRC) in each participating country responsible for data collection
- Standardized survey operations procedures: step-by-step documentation of all operational activities provided with manuals
- Full-scale field test of all instruments and operational procedures (in each participating country and benchmarking entity)
- Provision of software tools for supporting activities (e.g., sampling and tracking classes and students, administering school and teacher questionnaires, documenting scoring reliability, creating and checking data files)
- Training of NRCs and their staff, school coordinators, test administrators, etc. | https://ilsa-gateway.org/studies/designs/63 |
This study assessed the management of the outcomes of STEP-B project, to ascertain the extent to which the project is achieving its objectives and the necessary management factors put in place to ensure the sustainability of the STEP-B activities in the area. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and it was conducted in the south-south area of Nigeria. The population of the study was 10,864 comprising: 17 principals, 102 project team members, 290 S&T teachers and the 10,455 S&T students enrolled for external examination from 2008-2013 in the 17 federal unity colleges (FUCs) in the area. There was no sampling as the entire population of 10,864 was used for the study. Six research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Three instruments used for data collection were: a 35-item questionnaire titled Assessment of the Management and Sustainability of STEP-B project questionnaire (AMSSBPQ), an interview guide, and Record verification. The instruments were validated and trial tested to determine their reliability coefficient which was 0.85. Data for the study were collected by direct delivery method. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer four research questions while frequency and percentage were used for two. A One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the four hypotheses at 0.05 probability level. The findings were presented in Tables and Bar charts. It was found that: the STEP-B project built the S&T teachers’ capacity for quality enhancement and innovation in S&T education to a high extent; the facilities procured by STEP-B project are being utilized and maintained to a high extent. The STEP-B activities are being sustained to a high extent. The S&T students’ academic performance improved and enrolment increased. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the mean responses of the project team members and the S&T teachers in the FUCs on the extent the teachers’ capacity was built and the extent the facilities are being utilised. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) on the extent the facilities (including equipment) are being maintained by the federal unity college, and the extent STEP-B activities are being sustained by the FUC authorities in south-south Nigeria. This study has shown that the project was completed and is being sustained; it is also achieving its objective in the FUCs. Therefore, the fears that followed the completion of the project were based on misinterpretation of the management of the project. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the college authorities should make budgets for the continuous sustenance of the STEP-B activities and the FGN should provide the funds; they should continue to train, retrain and motivate the S&T teachers, and also continue to maintain and build on the existing facilities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CERTIFICATION iiTITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL PAGE iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF FIGURES xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 10
Purpose of the Study 11
Significance of the Study 12
Scope of the Study 14
Research Questions 14
Hypotheses 15
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITRATURE 17
Conceptual Framework 18
Concept of Science and Technology Education Post Basic 18
Concept of Project 20
Description of STEP-B Project 21
Concept of Federal Unity Colleges 30
Concept of Assessment 31
Concept of Management 34
The Scope of STEP-B Project Management 42
– Teachers’ Capacity Building and Motivation 42
– Motivation of Teachers 44
– Utilisation and Maintenance of facilities 45
– Quality enhancement and innovation in S&T education 49
Concept of Sustainability 52 – Students’ Academic Performance and enrolment in S&T Subjects 50
Schematic Representation of Assessment of the Management and Sustainability
of STEP-B Project 54
Theoretical Framework 56
Theories of Management 56
– System theory of management 56
– Assessment theory and Models 59
– Targeting Outcomes of Programmes (TOP) evaluation Model 61
Empirical Studies 64
– Studies on Project Assessment 64
– Studies on School Project Management 67
– Studies on Project Sustainability 79
– Studies on STEP- B Project 80
Summary of the Literature Review 82
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD 87
Design of the Study 87
Area of the Study 88
Population of the study 89
Sample and Sampling Technique 90
Instruments for Data Collection 90
Validation of the Instrument 92
Reliability of the Instruments 93
Method of Data Collection 93
Method of Data Analysis 94
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 96
Results 96
Summary of Findings 115
THE STUDY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUMMARY 117CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, IMPLICATIONS OF
Discussion of Findings 117
Conclusion 125
Implications of the Study 125
Recommendations 127
Limitations of the Study 128
Suggestions for further Study 128
Summary of the Study 128
REFERENCES 132
APPENDICES 138
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If you cannot find your proposed project topic on our project database/library or your project supervisor changed your topic and case study, kindly click the request new project topics button below and fill the short form and our project expert will get in touch with you. | https://www.schoolprojecttopics.com/assessment-management-sustainability-science/ |
The purpose of this study is to develop automobile starting and lighting system maintenance training manual for technical college students. Research and Development (R and D) design was adopted for the study. The population of the study is 348, comprising of 76 auto-mechanics teachers, 36 automobile supervisors and 237 students from all the technical colleges in North-Western States of Nigeria. There was no sample for the study; however, purposive sample was used for the students used for trial testing. Six research questions and a null hypothesis guided the study. The instruments for data collection are; Auto-Electricity Training Manual Questionnaire (ATMQ), Auto-Electricity Psychomotor Test (APT) and Auto-Electricity Rating Scale (ARS). The ATMQ, APT and ARS were subjected to face validation by five experts from the University, Technical Colleges and the Automobile Industry. The ATMQ was trial tested on students of Government Technical College Minna and Automobile Supervisors in automobile companies in Minna to establish its reliability. Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the reliability of ATMQ, sections B, C, D, E and F yielded coefficient of 0.72, 0.81, 0.76, 0.78 and 0.73 respectively. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was used to establish the internal consistency of APT and yielded coefficient of 0.75. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while ANOVA was used to test the hypothesis which yielded a coefficient of 0.044 at 0.05 level of significance. The study developed training manual for automobile starting and lighting system with pictorial illustrations for technical colleges. The use of automobile starting and lighting system of training manual is therefore recommended for practical skills training in technical colleges, so as to achieve their objectives. | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/njtr/article/view/126374 |
In honor of Rem Koolhaas' birthday today, we are printing a fascinating piece on his life and work written by Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times from 2004-2011.
Rem Koolhaas has been causing trouble in the world of architecture since his student days in London in the early 1970s. Architects want to build, and as they age most are willing to tone down their work if it will land them a juicy commission. But Koolhaas, 67, has remained a first-rate provocateur who, even in our conservative times, just can’t seem to behave. His China Central Television headquarters building, completed this past May, was described by some critics as a cynical work of propaganda and by others (including this one) as a masterpiece. Earlier projects have alternately awed and infuriated those who have followed his career, including a proposal to transform part of the Museum of Modern Art into a kind of ministry of self-promotion called MoMA Inc. (rejected) and an addition to the Whitney Museum of American Art that would loom over the existing landmark building like a cat pawing a ball of yarn (dropped).
Koolhaas’ habit of shaking up established conventions has made him one of the most influential architects of his generation. A disproportionate number of the profession’s rising stars, including Winy Maas of the Dutch firm MVRDV and Bjarke Ingels of the Copenhagen-based BIG, did stints in his office. Architects dig through his books looking for ideas; students all over the world emulate him. The attraction lies, in part, in his ability to keep us off balance. Unlike other architects of his stature, such as Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid, who have continued to refine their singular aesthetic visions over long careers, Koolhaas works like a conceptual artist—able to draw on a seemingly endless reservoir of ideas.
Yet Koolhaas’ most provocative—and in many ways least understood—contribution to the cultural landscape is as an urban thinker. Not since Le Corbusier mapped his vision of the Modernist city in the 1920s and ’30s has an architect covered so much territory. Koolhaas has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles in search of commissions. Along the way, he has written half a dozen books on the evolution of the contemporary metropolis and designed master plans for, among other places, suburban Paris, the Libyan desert and Hong Kong.
His restless nature has led him to unexpected subjects. In an exhibition first shown at the 2010 Venice Biennale, he sought to demonstrate how preservation has contributed to a kind of collective amnesia by transforming historic districts into stage sets for tourists while airbrushing out buildings that represent more uncomfortable chapters in our past. He is now writing a book on the countryside, a subject that has been largely ignored by generations of planners who regarded the city as the crucible of modern life. If Koolhaas’ urban work has a unifying theme, it is his vision of the metropolis as a world of extremes—open to every kind of human experience. “Change tends to fill people with this incredible fear,” Koolhaas said as we sat in his Rotterdam office flipping through an early mock-up of his latest book. “We are surrounded by crisismongers who see the city in terms of decline. I kind of automatically embrace the change. Then I try to find ways in which change can be mobilized to strengthen the original identity. It’s a weird combination of having faith and having no faith.”
Tall and fit in a tapered dark blue shirt, with inquisitive eyes, Koolhaas often seems impatient when talking about his work, and he frequently gets up to search for a book or an image. His firm, OMA, for the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, employs 325 architects, with branches in Hong Kong and New York, but Koolhaas likes the comparative isolation of Rotterdam, a tough port city. Housed in a brawny concrete and glass building, his office is arranged in big, open floors, like a factory. On the Sunday morning we met, a dozen or so architects sat silently at long worktables in front of their computers. Models of various projects, some so big you could step inside them, were scattered everywhere.
Unlike most architects of his stature, Koolhaas participates in many competitions. The process allows for creative freedom, since a client isn’t hovering, but it’s also risky. The firm invests an enormous amount of time and money in projects that will never get built. To Koolhaas, this seems to be an acceptable trade-off. “I’ve absolutely never thought about money or economic issues,” Koolhaas said. “But as an architect I think this is a strength. It allows me to be irresponsible and to invest in my work.”
Koolhaas’ first test of his urban theories came in the mid-1990s, when he won a commission to design a sprawling development on the outskirts of Lille, a rundown industrial city in northern France whose economy was once based on mining and textiles. Linked to a new high-speed rail line, the development, called Euralille, included a shopping mall, conference and exhibition center, and office towers surrounded by a tangle of freeways and train tracks. Seeking to give it the richness and complexity of an older city, Koolhaas envisioned a pileup of urban attractions. A concrete chasm, crisscrossed by bridges and escalators, would connect an underground parking garage to a new train station; a row of mismatched office towers would straddle the station’s tracks. For added variety, celebrated architects were brought in to design the various buildings; Koolhaas designed the convention hall.
More than a decade after its completion, Koolhaas and I meet in front of Congrexpo, the convention hall, to see how the development looks today. An elliptical shell, the colossal building is sliced into three parts, with a 6,000-seat concert hall at one end, a conference hall with three auditoriums in the middle and a 215,000-square-foot exhibition space at the other.
On this Saturday afternoon the building is empty. Koolhaas had to notify city officials to get access, and they’re waiting for us inside. When Koolhaas was hired to design the building, he was still perceived as a rising talent; today he is a major cultural figure—a Pritzker Prize-winning architect who is regularly profiled in magazines and on television—and the officials are clearly excited to meet him. His presence seems to bring cultural validity to their provincial city.
Koolhaas is polite but seems eager to escape. After a cup of coffee, we excuse ourselves and begin to navigate our way through the hall’s cavernous rooms. Occasionally, he stops to draw my attention to an architectural feature: the moody ambience, for instance, of an auditorium clad in plywood and synthetic leather. When we reach the main concert space, a raw concrete shell, we stand there for a long while. Koolhaas sometimes seems to be a reluctant architect—someone who is unconcerned with conventional ideas of beauty—but he is a master of the craft, and I can’t help marveling at the intimacy of the space. The room is perfectly proportioned, so that even sitting at the back of the upper balcony you feel as though you were pressing up against the stage.
Yet what strikes me most is how Koolhaas was able to express, in a single building, bigger urban ideas. Congrexpo’s elliptical, egg-like exterior suggests a perfectly self-contained system, yet inside is a cacophony of competing zones. The main entry hall, held up by imposing concrete columns, resembles a Roman ruin encased in a hall of mirrors; the exhibition space, by contrast, is light and airy. The tension created between them seems to capture one of Koolhaas’ principal preoccupations: How do you allow the maximum degree of individual freedom without contributing to the erosion of civic culture?
The rest of Euralille is a bit of a letdown. The development lacks the aesthetic unity that we associate with the great urban achievements of earlier eras and that, for better or worse, give them a monumental grandeur. Because of a tight budget, many of the building materials are cheap, and some haven’t worn well. The high-speed train station, designed by Jean-Marie Duthilleul, feels coarse and airless despite vast expanses of glass. The addition of metal cages above the station’s bridges and escalators, to prevent people from throwing refuse onto the tracks, only makes the atmosphere more oppressive.
With time, however, I discern a more subtle interplay of spaces. The triangular plaza acts as a calming focal point at the development’s heart, its surface sloping down gently to a long window where you can watch trains pulling slowly in and out of the station. By contrast, the crisscrossing bridges and escalators, which descend several stories to a metro platform behind the station, conjure the vertiginous subterranean vaults of Piranesi’s 18th-century etchings of imaginary prisons. Up above, the towers that straddle the station, including a striking boot-shaped structure of translucent glass designed by Christian de Portzamparc, create a pleasant staccato effect in the skyline.
Best of all, Euralille is neither an infantile theme park nor a forbidding grid of synthetic glass boxes. It is a genuinely unpretentious, populist space: Streets filled with high-strung businessmen, sullen teenagers and working-class couples pulse with energy. This difference is underscored later as we stroll through Lille’s historic center a few blocks away, where the refurbished pedestrian streets and dolled-up plaza look like a French version of Disney’s Main Street.
Koolhaas’ achievement at Euralille is not insignificant. In the time since the development’s completion, globalization has produced a plethora of urban centers that are as uniform and sterile as the worst examples of orthodox Modernism—minus the social idealism. What was once called the public realm has become a place of frenzied consumerism monitored by the watchful eyes of thousands of surveillance cameras, often closed off to those who can’t afford the price of membership.
In this new world, architecture looks more and more like a form of corporate branding. Those who rose through the professional ranks once thinking they would produce meaningful public-spirited work—the libraries, art museums and housing projects that were a staple of 20th-century architecture—suddenly found themselves across the table from real estate developers and corporate boards whose interests were not always so noble-minded. What these clients thirsted for, increasingly, was the kind of spectacular building that could draw a crowd—or sell real estate.
Koolhaas was born in Rotterdam in 1944, during the Allied bombardment, and grew up in a family of cultured bohemians. A grandfather was an architect who built headquarter buildings for the Dutch airline KLM and the state social security administration; his father wrote magical realist novels and edited a leftist weekly paper. After the war, the family moved to Amsterdam, where Koolhaas spent afternoons playing in the rubble of the state archive building, which had been blown up by the resistance during the German occupation.
His first experience with a mega-city and all of its moral contradictions was as a boy in Jakarta, Indonesia, where his father ran a cultural institute under the revolutionary Sukarno, who had led the country’s struggle for independence. “I had never seen such poverty,” Koolhaas said. “And I almost instantly understood that it was impossible to pass judgment on what you saw. On some level you could only accept it as reality.”
Back in Amsterdam in his early 20s, Koolhaas avoided radical politics, joining a small group of Dutch Surrealist writers at the fringes of the European cultural scene. “There were two kinds of ’60s,” he said to me. “One was avant-garde, highly modernist— Antonioni, Yves Klein. The other was the Anglo-Saxon, hippie-ish, political side. I associated with the avant-garde tendency.” Koolhaas worked briefly as a journalist, writing a profile mocking a vision by the artist-architect Constant Nieuwenhuys for a post-capitalist paradise suspended hundreds of feet above the city on a huge steel frame. A later story satirized the Provos—a group of young Dutch anarchists whose actions (planning to disrupt a royal wedding with smoke bombs) were intended to goad the Dutch authorities. Koolhaas even co-wrote a screenplay for the raunchy B-movie king Russ Meyer. (The film was never made.)
By the time Koolhaas got to London’s Architectural Association, in the late 1960s, he had established himself as an audacious thinker with a wicked sense of humor. The drawings he produced for his final project, which are now owned by MoMA, were a brash sendup of Modernist utopias and their “afterbirths.” Dubbed “The Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture,” the project was modeled partly after the Berlin Wall, which Koolhaas described as a “masterpiece” of design that had transformed the western half of the city into an irresistible urban fantasy. Koolhaas’ tongue-in-cheek proposal for London carved a wide swath through the center to create a hedonistic zone that could “fully accommodate individual desires.” As the city’s inhabitants rushed to it, the rest of London would become a ruin. (Galleries and museums ask to borrow the Koolhaas drawings more often than anything else in MoMA’s architecture and design collections.)
Koolhaas’ book Delirious New York cemented his reputation as a provocateur. When Koolhaas wrote it, in the mid-1970s, New York City was in a spiral of violence and decay. Garbage was piling up on streets, slumlords were burning down abandoned tenements in the South Bronx to collect on insurance and the white middle class was fleeing to the suburbs. For most Americans, New York was a modern Sodom.
To Koolhaas, it was a potential urban paradise. With his new wife, the Dutch artist Madelon Vriesendorp, he saw a haven for outsiders and misfits. Manhattan’s generic grid, he argued, seemed capable of accommodating an intoxicating mix of human activities, from the most extreme private fantasy to the most marginal subculture. The book’s positive spin was underscored by the cover: an illustration by Vriesendorp of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings lying side by side in a post-coital slumber. “It was geared against this idea of New York as a hopeless case,” Koolhaas told me. “The more implausible it seemed to be defending it, the more exciting it was to write about.”
These early ideas began to coalesce into an urban strategy in a series of projects in and around Paris. In a 1991 competition for the expansion of the business district of La Défense, for instance, Koolhaas proposed demolishing everything but a few historic landmarks, a university campus and a cemetery; the rest would be replaced with a new Manhattan-style grid. The idea was to identify and protect what was most precious, then create the conditions for the urban chaos that he so loved to take hold.
More recently, Koolhaas has responded to what he termed “the excessive compulsion toward the spectacular” by pushing his heretical work to greater extremes. Architecturally, his recent designs can be either deliciously enigmatic or brutally direct. The distorted form of his CCTV building, for example—a kind of squared-off arch whose angled top cantilevers more than 500 feet above the ground—makes its meaning impossible to pin down. (Martin Filler condemned it in the New York Review of Books as an elaborate effort to impart a “bogus semblance of transparency” on what is essentially a propaganda arm of the Chinese government.) Seen from certain perspectives its form looks hulking and aggressive; from others it looks almost fragile, as if the whole thing were about to tip over—a magnificent emblem for uncertain times. By contrast, the Wyly Theatre in Dallas (2009) is a hyper-functional machine—a gigantic fly tower with movable stages and partitions encased inside an 11-story metal box.
At the same time, his urban work has begun to seem increasingly quixotic. In a 2001 development plan for Harvard University, which was expanding across the Charles River into nearby Allston, Koolhaas proposed diverting the path of the river several miles to create a more unified campus. The idea seemed preposterous, and Harvard’s board quickly rejected it, but it carried a hidden message: America’s astonishing growth during the first three-quarters of the 20th century was built largely on the hubris of its engineers. (Think of the Los Angeles depicted in Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, a city that diverted water across 250 miles of desert to feed the growth of the San Fernando Valley.) Why, Koolhaas seemed to be asking, aren’t such miracles possible today?
In a 2008 competition for a site off the coast of Dubai, Koolhaas went out on another limb, proposing a development that resembled a fragment of Manhattan that had drifted across the Atlantic and lodged itself in the Persian Gulf—a kind of “authentic” urban zone made up of generic city blocks that would serve as a foil to Dubai’s fake glitz.
His most convincing answer to the vices of global urbanization was a proposal for the West Kowloon Cultural District, a sprawling 99-acre cultural and residential development to be built on landfill on a site overlooking Hong Kong Harbor. Koolhaas traveled to Hong Kong every month for more than a year to work on the project, often wandering up into the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the migrant dwellings and rural marshlands that he found there, he proposed three “urban villages” arranged along a spacious public park. The idea was to create a social mixing bowl for people of different cultural, ethnic and class backgrounds. “In spite of its metropolitan character Hong Kong is surrounded by countryside,” Koolhaas said. “We felt that we’d discovered a really wonderful prototype. The villages were not only a very beautiful urban model, but they would be sustainable.”
The experience ended in disappointment. After more than a year of work on the proposal, Koolhaas lost to Norman Foster, whose projects are known for high-tech luster.
More troubling perhaps to Koolhaas, the architectural climate has become more conservative, and hence more resistant to experimental work. (Witness the recent success of architects like David Chipperfield, whose minimalist aesthetic has been praised for its comforting simplicity.)
As someone who has worked closely with Koolhaas put it to me: “I don’t think Rem always understands how threatening his projects are. The idea of proposing to construct villages in urban Hong Kong is very scary for the Chinese—it is exactly what they are running away from.”
Yet Koolhaas has always sought to locate the beauty in places that others might regard as so much urban debris, and by doing so he seems to be encouraging us to remain more open to the other. His ideal city, to borrow words he once used to describe the West Kowloon project, seems to be a place that is “all things to all people.”
His faith in that vision doesn’t seem to have cooled any. One of his newest projects, a performing arts center under construction in Taipei, fuses the enigmatic qualities of CCTV with the bluntness of the Wyly Theatre. And he continues to pursue urban planning projects: Sources in the architecture community say he recently won a competition to design a sprawling airport development in Doha, Qatar (the results have not been made public). If it is built, it’ll become his first major urban project since Euralille.
Koolhaas first thought of writing a book about the countryside while walking with his longtime companion, the designer Petra Blaisse, in the Swiss Alps. (Koolhaas separated from his wife some years ago and now lives with Blaisse in Amsterdam.) Passing through a village, he was struck by how artificial it looked. “We came here with a certain regularity and I began to recognize certain patterns,” Koolhaas said. “The people had changed; the cows in the meadows looked different. And I realized we’ve worked on the subject a lot over the years, but we’ve never connected the dots. It has sort of been sublimated.”
In the mock-up of the book, images of luxuriously renovated country houses and migrant teenagers in dark shades are juxtaposed with pictures of homespun Russian peasants from a century ago. A chart shows the decline in farming over the past 150 years. In a ten-square-kilometer rural area outside Amsterdam, Koolhaas finds a solar panel vendor, bed and breakfasts, souvenir shops, a relaxation center, a breast- feeding center and a sculpture garden scattered amid land that is farmed mostly by Polish workers. Robots drive tractors and milk cows.
Koolhaas says the book will touch on a vital theme: how to come to terms with the relentless pace of modernization. The countryside has become “more volatile than the accelerated city,” Koolhaas writes in one of the mock-ups. “A world formerly dictated by the seasons is now a toxic mix of genetic experiment, industrial nostalgia
It’s hard to know whether you regard this as nightmare or opportunity, I tell him. “That has been my entire life story,” Koolhaas said, “Running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated. The acceptance of certain realities doesn’t preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.” In fact Koolhaas’ urbanism, one could say, exists at the tipping point between the world as it is and the world as we imagine it.
Reprinted with permission from the author. Originally appeared in SMITHSONIAN September 2012. | https://www.archdaily.com/294302/why-is-rem-koolhaas-the-worlds-most-controversial-architect-by-nicolai-ouroussoff |
Scale is a battleground issue in architecture and urban design, whether it’s debate over the supposed density suggested in the new Unitary Plan for Auckland City, the size of a proposed skyscraper on the city’s Elliott St or the intrusion of Bunnings big box retail into the quiet suburban streets of its Arch Hill neighbourhood. How do buildings interact with the scale of the street, or fit within the context of a suburban environment? Scale is an issue that provokes anxiety over the uncontrollable potential of adverse effects on context and community. Yet big buildings are not a new invention. Italian cities, for one, have a long history of being successfully hinged around large-scale buildings such as churches, often seen as vital ingredients both to the city’s landscape and the community in which they sit.
Written in 1994, architect and cultural commentator Rem Koolhaas’ manifesto of Bigness has a tone of cynical observation about the current realities of architecture and urban design. His intention is to understand the possibilities inherent in the current mode of architectural production – consider, for example, Dubai’s skyscrapers, megamalls and airports. In the manifesto, Koolhaas describes bigness as becoming detached from the modernist dictum of ‘form follows function.’ No longer does a building’s exterior relate to its interior. Bigness becomes detached from the realities of the city, its only connection being through ‘locations of maximum infrastructural promise.’ Bigness doesn’t have a relationship with the city, it is the city.
Koolhaas accepts ‘bigness’ as an implication of progress; no regret, only opportunity. His manifesto can, however, be critiqued as being based around the Laissez-faire, developer-driven model of city building that prospered under the free market policies of the 90s, which led to the increased privatisation of public space.
I am often torn between an interest in the compounding realities of how cities have and are developing, and the loss of intimacies and detachment that this causes. Koolhaas’ observation of the realities of modern cities promotes the idea of insular objectivity, while leaving the street interface up to the designers of infrastructure. This disjunction between buildings and the streetscapes that connect them is where the opportunity for reinvention and speculation lies.
The street is the only place left to the public, controlled by urbanists, politicians, traffic engineers and occasionally by marginal occupation. The street has all of the same possibilities that Koolhaas requires of bigness: ‘programmatic hybridizations / proximities / frictions / overlaps / superpositions.’ In Auckland (NZ), an increase in pedestrian numbers on Queen St has increased the number of street vendors (legal and illegal); shared zones such as Fort St allow pedestrian ownership of the road; the stairs in St Kevin’s Arcade offer a convenient space for teenagers to pre-load; small-scale tenancies on Karangahape Rd offer resilience to commercial failure. The spatial composition and grain of the street becomes an important space for trade and social interaction, overlapping events and episodic intimacy.
The same ideas that are prevalent in the urban environment are also mirrored at a different scale within the suburban environment: the sentimental longing for a lost social connection that was part of the frontyard and villa veranda that overlooks the street is neutralized by fear of the road and a requirement for privacy from a ‘risk society’. The interface of the house to the street is, however, an opportunity for connection and community, not fear and retreat. The layering of road, footpath, boundary fence and driveway offer opportunity for many of the same eccentricities that we want from our city streets, but at the scale of the community.
We are constantly faced with changes to our environment and the challenge of scale. As architects, clients and users we need to reframe our engagement with our built environments and its relationship to context and community. Accordingly, we need to seek out and embrace the opportunities inherent in the scale of the street; the grain of spatial composition, diversity of functions and possibilities of intimate interaction. This is not a call for regressive nostalgia, but an understanding that – as with the Duomo, a big building that is grounded in the language of its immediate context – the streets that surround us can be the perfect mediator of scale.
Dominic Glamuzina co-owns Auckland-based architecture firm Glamuzina Paterson Architects. He also teaches architecture and design at the University of Auckland. | https://impolitikal.com/2014/05/01/dom-glamuzina-on-cities-sustainable-scale/ |
Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta’s work as both an artist and architect transpires in parallel. When stuck on an architectural project, he often turns to his drawings and the manipulation of forms as a path to liberating his mind to overcome a sort of architectural equivalent of writer’s block.
“My inspiration is often derived from the process of problem-solving, but I am never far from architecture,” he explains. “If I am working on office design and I encounter a space that needs to be filled, I start to imagine how different shapes and forms can fill that void.”
De la Vega Zulueta approaches his art as a function of what he sees, what he intends to build, and the materials that he has in mind. With drawings and sketches in hand, he leverages the power of modern technology, using digital techniques to bring his designs to life through parametric diagrams and 3D printing. Infusions of light then create variations of form, resulting in unexpected contours that animate his multifaceted sculptures.
“Architecture without light is just a dark space,” says de la Vega Zulueta. “But by strategically placing light on the pieces, I am able to control the shadows and volume of the work.”
That process can be seen in de la Vega Zulueta’s commissioned work for Mexico’s San Lazaro Legislative Palace Chamber of Deputies, where manipulations of his flowing Silhouette sculpture evolved into a wall-mounted work entitled Chaos and Order. Using white concrete in variations of the original form, and a contrasting vermillion background, de la Vega Zulueta was able to position pieces into a pattern of ‘organized chaos’. Rectangular light patterns create shadows that accentuate the multiple elements of the work, reflecting his interpretation of the chamber’s day-to-day interactions.
With the evolution of technology, the artist and architect has immersed himself in a new combination of art and science. Applicable to any material, including carbon steel, wood, sandstone and much more, his parametric designs can produce 60, 600, or 6,000 similar pieces, all with slight geometric variations.
“In the past, architecture taught us that everything must be modular, like in the use of even-sized bricks in the construction of a façade,” he explains. “But new technologies and techniques have allowed us to break free of what we were taught, opening the door for building things where every piece is slightly different.”
The artist’s Rostro and Cempazuchitl sculptures exhibit the artistic magic of using multiple pieces, all slightly different in size and form and held together by free-flowing tension. Partial laser cuts provide the materials with flexibility, allowing each piece to flow into the next, while strategic lighting provides the shadows that bring it all to life.
In the marriage of art and architecture, Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta sees possibilities as limitless as the imagination. He continues to apply his parametric sculpturing techniques to new materials and new ideas, while envisioning ways to apply his works of art to his architectural works in progress.
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About Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta – estereotomia
Founded in 2010 by Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta, Estereotomia is an extension of the award-winning architect’s devotion to the marriage of art, interior design, and architecture. The practice has established itself through a diverse portfolio of projects, including high-end restaurants, museums, corporate offices, and urban spaces, with a particular focus on space, lifestyle, and function in the creation of exceptional experiences.
Estereotomia also takes the artwork of Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta to new heights, incorporating his sculptures and parametric designs as an added layer of refinement to his architectural projects. His art, both conventional and digital, involves the manipulation of shapes, light, and shadows as finishing touches to works of metal, concrete, wood, plastic, and more. His marriage of art and architecture is prominent in Estereotomia’s vast portfolio of projects, including the sculpted fencing of historic San Jacinto Square, and the sophisticated design of an apartment in the Antigua complex in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City.
Alejandro de la Vega Zulueta is also a design principal with Entasis Architects, a highly-acclaimed firm founded in 1987 in partnership with Ricardo Warman. Entasis’ level of sophistication and refinement has distinguished the firm among Mexico’s top designers and has earned the partners numerous accolades for their work. | https://www.designraid.net/14308/alejandro-de-la-vega-zuluetas-marriage-of-art-and-architecture/ |
(Arabic: زها حديد Zaha Hadid; 31 October 1950 – 31 March 2016) was an Iraqi-British architect.
She was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004. She received the UK’s most prestigious architectural award, the Stirling Prize, in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, she was made a Dame by Elizabeth II for services to architecture, and in 2015 she became the first and only woman to be awarded the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
She was described by The Guardian of London as the “Queen of the curve”, who “liberated architectural geometry, giving it a whole new expressive identity”. Her major works include the aquatic centre for the London 2012 Olympics, Michigan State University’s Broad Art Museum in the US, the MAXXI Museum in Rome, the Guangzhou Opera House in China, and the Beijing Daxing International Airport, also in China. Some of her awards have been presented posthumously, including the statuette for the 2017 Brit Awards. Several of her buildings were still under construction at the time of her death, including the Daxing airport and the Al Wakrah Stadium in Qatar, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Zaha Hadid was born on 31 October 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq, to an upper-class Iraqi family. Her father, Muhammad al-Hajj Husain Hadid, was a wealthy industrialist from Mosul. In the 1960s Hadid attended boarding schools in England and Switzerland.
Hadid studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut before moving, in 1972, to London to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. There she studied with Rem Koolhaas, Elia Zenghelis and Bernard Tschumi. Her former professor, Koolhaas, described her at graduation as “a planet in her own orbit.” Zenghelis described her as the most outstanding pupil he ever taught. ‘We called her the inventor of the 89 degrees. Nothing was ever at 90 degrees. She had spectacular vision. All the buildings were exploding into tiny little pieces.” He recalled that she was less interested in details, such as staircases. “The way she drew a staircase you would smash your head against the ceiling, and the space was reducing and reducing, and you would end up in the upper corner of the ceiling. She couldn’t care about tiny details. Her mind was on the broader pictures—when it came to the joinery, she knew we could fix that later. She was right. Her fourth-year student project was a painting of a hotel in the form of a bridge, inspired by the works of the Russian suprematist artist Kazimir Malevich.
After graduation in 1977, she went to work for her former professors, Koolhaas and Zenghelis, at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Through her association with Koolhaas, she met the architectural engineer Peter Rice, who gave her support and encouragement during the early stages of her career. Hadid became a naturalised citizen of the United Kingdom. She opened her own architectural firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, in London in 1980. During the early 1980’s Hadid’s style introduced audiences to a new modern architecture style through her extremely detailed and professional sketches. At the time people were focused on postmodernism designs, so her designs were a different approach to architecture that set her apart from other designers.
She then began her career teaching architecture, first at the Architectural Association, then, over the years at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge University, the University of Chicago, the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Columbia University. She earned her early reputation with her lecturing and colourful and radical early designs and projects, which were widely published in architectural journals but remained largely unbuilt. Her ambitious but unbuilt projects included a plan for Peak in Hong Kong (1983), and a plan for an opera house in Cardiff, Wales, (1994). The Cardiff experience was particularly discouraging; her design was chosen as the best by the competition jury, but the Welsh government refused to pay for it, and the commission was given to a different and less ambitious architect. Her reputation in this period rested largely upon her teaching and the imaginative and colourful paintings she made of her proposed buildings. Her international reputation was greatly enhanced in 1988 when she was chosen to show her drawings and paintings as one of seven architects chosen to participate in the exhibition “Deconstructivism in Architecture” curated by Philip Johnson and Mark Wigley at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. This, a conference at the Tate in London and some articles written about her began to not only get her name out into the Architecture world, but allowed people to associate a particular style of architecture with Hadid. | https://archgram.com/architects/zaha-hadid/ |
Modernism was a movement generally based on idealism and realism. As a result, it tended to carry an utopian vision on human life and society. So rather than focusing on subjects, the modernist artists focused on experimenting with form, technique, and process. As a whole, Modernism can be recognized by its clarity and simplicity in design. However, the Modernism triggered other movements that were against it.
Mainly, there is Postmodernism that originated around the 1970s in Italy. The movement arose after World War 2 as a reaction to the failings of modernism. They questioned the emphasis that modernists placed on logic, simplicity, and order. The movement itself was a reaction against the ideas and values of Modernism. Unlike Modernism which was optimistic and ideal, Postmodernism was associated with skepticism and irony. They also refused to recognize a single definition of art. Thus, it can be seen being mixed with various art styles and media. It is said that Postmodernism may have urged on the start of pop art in the 1960s and embrace styles including conceptual art, neo-expressionism, and feminist art. In a way, Postmodernism broke the established rules about style and brought about the sense that “anything goes”.
The Postmodernism style can be characterized with the following. First, it was limited to the elite only. As it rejected the industrial process or in other words, mass production, the Postmodernism designs were often costly. Second, it was stylistically diverse. In addition to the want of refusing to limit itself to one definition of art that led to its being mixed with various styles, Postmodernism was a representation of the societies in the 1980s. To adapt it had to become more stylistically diverse. Third, individual interpretation and experience was valued. As Postmodernism challenged the idea of certainty and truth, it helped overturn the perception that there is one inherent meaning to a work of art. Consequently, viewers were an important determiner of the art work’s meaning and in some cases even encourage to take part in the pieces.
The influences of Postmodernism expands to architecture as well. Robert Venturi’s “Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)” can be said to be start of Postmodernism. The writing advocates that “Design should not speak in one voice. It should be in historical layers and vivid juxtapositions.” An example of this is “The Neue Staatsgalerie” by James Stirling. His work was in fact an addition to an existing historical museum. The architecture became a combination of the building’s earlier structure and high tech metalwork. This exemplifies Robert Venturi’s idea on how design should be a juxtaposition.
In addition to Postmodernism, the Anti-Design that started in the 1960s was spurred as a reaction against Modernism. Although, the movements Anti-Design and Postmodernism overlap, Anti-Design is said to have started first and set the hallmark characteristics for Postmodernism. Originating in Italy, the movement emphasized uniqueness, striking colors, scale distortion, irony, and kitsch. In addition, they believed the function of the object was to subvert the way a viewer perceives it. For instance, they created a lamp made up of tubes. The form of the lamp could be chosen by the user as they manipulated the tubes.
After the occurence of Postmodernism and Anti-Design, the Memphis movement started in the 1980s. The movement originated in Milan, Italy by the Memphis group by Ettore Sottsass. Their key features were to create design that was radical, funny, and outrageous. The Memphis was influenced by the geometric figures of Art Deco, the color palette of Pop Art, and the 1950s kitsch.
The Memphis movement can be defined by the following characteristics. First, their usage of laminate and terrazzo materials. Usually, these materials are used for floorings. However, the Memphis incorporated it into tables and lamps. Second, Memphis is known for the bacterio print designed by Ettore Sottsass. Lastly, the Memphis designs largely consist of bright multi color objects with the rejection of typical shapes. For example for the leg of a chair, they would use a triangle or a circle rather than the typical rectangle.
One of the most well known piece from the Memphis is the Carlton Bookcase designed by Ettore Sottsass. It was part of their first collection. As a whole, it uses brightly colored laminates for its pieces. The furniture piece can be considered as a new approach to break apart from the previous restrictions of functionalism. This is because at a first glance, it is difficult for the viewer to determine what the function of the form is. Thus, it can be said that the Carlton Bookcase is an appropriate example of going against the Modernism motto “Form follows function”. In addition, it allows the user to decide the function of the piece. It can be used as a bookcase, room divider, and dresser.
The Deconstruction movement began in the 1980s, after the negative reacts towards Modernism was expressed through movements such as Anti-Design, Postmodernism, and Memphis. Deconstruction can be defined by its tendency to discover, recognize, and understand the underlying implicit assumptions of art works. This movement had a profound impact on many writers and conceptual artists.
Deconstruction was initially a form of criticism initiated by a French philosopher, Jacques Derrida. He asserted that there is no single meaning in a work. Rather, there are many meanings that could even contradict each other. Furthermore, he believed that established ‘constructions’ needed to exist in order for a ‘deconstruction’ to be created and highlighted. Thus, the role of ‘deconstruction’ is to overturn such oppositions.
Deconstructivism is an artistic movement that started in architecture around the 1980s as the equivalent of Deconstruction. Characteristics of the movement includes the breaking down or demolishing of a constructed structure. This opened up infinite possibilities of playing around with forms and volumes. Deconstructivism was influenced by both Russian Constructivism and Modernism. The idea of fragmenting a building and exploring asymmetry of geometry was inspired by Russian Constructivism while it maintained functionality of the space as inspired by Modernism.
The defining characteristics of Deconstructivism is as follows. It removes the essence of architecture and moves toward the extraordinary and innovative. Manipulation of the building’s surfaces through creation of non-rectilinear shapes, fold, and twists are commonly observable. In addition, diagonals, curves, and pointed corners are frequent elements. As the architectures lack symmetry, there is also a deficiency in the harmony and continuity of the structure.
One of the notable key figures of Deconstruction is Frank O. Gehry. An American architect, he was the pioneer of Deconstructivist architecture. Through the use of rough industrial material, he was able to portray the characteristics of Deconstruction with sweeping curves, fragmented forms, and non-rectilinear forms. One of his notable works is “Neuer Zollhof”. Metal slabs were overlaid in a curvilinear matter on a concrete slab.
Another architect is Zaha Hadid. She pioneered in the potential usage of digital technology in architecture. Her architectures were usually highly expressive with sweeping fluid forms that were often abstract and free form geometry. An example of her work is the “Vitra Fire Station”. Obliquely intersecting concrete planes were puncture, tilted, or folded to be put together. Despite being visually and conceptually simple, the planes created crisp abstract lines.
As a whole, it can be learnt that the designs of both Postmodernism and Deconstruction have its roots in the expression of artistic freedom. Such characteristics can be still observed in the present implicitly and explicitly in areas such as but not limited to design. | https://oss.adm.ntu.edu.sg/minjee001/product-design-written-report/ |
Green infrastructure. From nature to the city
Galician cities have always been considered integrated in greenery as a matter of course for their geographical, landscape and ecological characteristics and, in this certainty, little or nothing has been done to obtain well-integrated public or private green spaces. Viggo is not immune to this situation. It is a dense city joined by a significant number of settlements surrounded by agricultural land and externally forested, giving it great diversity as well as complexity.
The municipality of Vigo is configured as a wide basin bordered by medium-high mountains and a narrow coastal strip of 20 km. long. It has approximately 108 km2 and a population of about 300,000 inhabitants, of which approximately 30% live outside the high-density urban area, in a dispersed habitat composed of settlements or generally traditional places, in which an urban continuum appears in some cases.
These places have grown over the last fifty years, supported by a fine network of highways or paths that even facilitate the emergence of new nuclei and remain connected to the parishes with which they maintain a sense of belonging and hence appear as areas of great social cohesion and represent a suitable mark of identity.
This form of settlement leads to the fact that the periphery, resulting from the historical development of Vigo, is not as usually understood with a negative connotation, but rather a collection of parishes that are, in a fragmented way, included in the city center. Boundaries are not like that, but rather have a permeability that turns interstitial spaces into transition zones. This fragmentation, which can create a problem of biodiversity loss, becomes an opportunity by connecting the fabric with a more rural image and the urban fabric with natural spaces and allows us to think about the possibility of promoting both attractive living spaces and healthcare and valuable agricultural productivity in various aspects. Agricultural activity increases the value of the landscape and improves the quality of the environment, creates jobs and at the same time offers local products that are increasingly in demand, both as an argument for sustainability and for improving the quality of food and life.
To all the above is added the survival of the mountains in common hands, which give rise to a vast untouched forest mass, not always well maintained, but in which public forest parks have been created as a sign of sensitivity to nature.
In Vigo, green areas or urban public spaces were originally reduced to two endowments: Monte del Castro and Castrelos Park, joined by the Alameda in the single space planned in the 19th century, and later the Gran Vía as a boulevard or green connector that currently is undergoing transformation, more with the intention of improving mobility than reinforcing this function, leaving aside the consideration that urban trees are the backbone of green infrastructure.
In recent planning, green spaces are designed as small lungs without any connection between them in the peripheral space and as autonomous units in the few empty spaces that have been arranged inside the compact city.
The time has come to talk about green and blue infrastructure in the city, understood not only as an element of the environment, but also as an element of the landscape.
As an example, the existing waterway, which goes beyond the municipal mandate, with a more territorial vision. Ecological corridors with these characteristics are those that guarantee the functioning of green infrastructure.
What was originally born as a green belt concept has evolved over time, from Olmsted’s designs for Boston in the late 19th century, to Abercrombie’s 1945 proposal for London, to models such as the Vitoria recognized for a green city. And so the approach to green infrastructure as an interconnected space through corridors is today considered the basis of an ecosystem that protects biodiversity, makes it possible to deal with the climate crisis and favors sustainability and social equality as a system of access for all citizens to the surrounding green spaces.
We are talking about different green spaces, not necessarily for recreation, but also productive, socially integrating, as urban gardens or as landscape elements of high cultural value.
In 2013, the European Commission defined green infrastructure as a smart and integrated way of managing our natural capital in a broad sense, with ecological benefits for biodiversity, social benefits and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is understood as “a strategically planned network of natural or semi-natural areas, composed of various high-quality environmental elements with other elements of lesser value, designed and managed to provide a wide range of ecosystem services and protect the biodiversity of both the urban space and the environment.rural settlements”. In this sense, the Spanish Urban Program (AUE, 2019) and the National Strategy for Green Infrastructure and Connectivity and Ecological Restructuring, approved in 2021, are also expressed.
Planning
Thus, it would be a matter of implementing a planning strategy for our cities that moves from a fragmented infrastructure of free spaces to a proper relationship between inhabited fabrics and open spaces. This requires recognizing the structuring capacity of green and blue infrastructure, conceived as a way of integrating the city with its biophysical territorial support, giving settlements a positive connotation, with the aim of prioritizing active conservation against the ongoing abandonment of vast agricultural and forest areas, which characterize the traditional Galician settlement.
It would be more in the direction of defining what an agrarian park would be, in which nature permeates and connects or not, incorporating nature and the environment into urban planning and management, beyond the application of green spaces or open spaces defined by the law.
The intention here is not to present a project or make a planning proposal, but rather to propose an approach that allows the territory of Vigo to be understood as a space of opportunity to consolidate already existing infrastructure and create a healthier and friendlier city. There are, as already stated, relevant elements for this, its crown of mountains of great scenic value, the Lagares river system as a continuum that, together with the sea as a blue network, will allow the generation of integrated corridors, green wedges that penetrate the built space and its impart permeability.
Now is the opportunity to take advantage of the moment when a new general development plan is drawn up, taking into account that the system of green areas is not green infrastructure and that it goes beyond the borders of the municipality, covering a wide and continuous territory. | https://omeuoraculo.com/2022/09/11/green-infrastructure-from-nature-to-the-city/ |
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RICARDO BOFILL • Kisembo Emmanuel • Mwesigwa Allan • Musiimenta Ian • Owor Derrick
Short Biography RICARDO BOFILL • Bofill protests about social concerns in Architecture i.e. including wishes and involvement of its users. • Formed an Architectural workshop Taller de Arquitectura in 1963. • CITY PLANNING • LEISURE • TRANSPORT • HOUSING • OFFICES • Born 1939 in Barcelona • He is an honorary AIA member, and has won numerous awards throughout the world for architecture. • Further, he is a published author, co-writing Espaces d’une vie and L’Architecture des Villes.
RICARDO BOFILL’s work draws upon the past, referencing local histories, classical compositions, and/ or traditional building methods, while imagining and innovating stylistically and programmatically to meet the needs and desires of the community that is yet to inhabit these spaces. • The present, the designing of these spaces, lies between retrospect and prospect=Memory -Future STYLE & THEORIES
Such model is defined by a network of public space that connects proportionally scaled streets and squares. • In his book ”Espaces d'une vie” Ricardo Bofill states, ”it is essential to recover the discipline developed during the Renaissance—city design. Personally. • The use of a historical perspective in his design approach allowed for continual analysis and interpretation of a given culture and its architectural heritage. • Defying Socialist and Corbusian urban planning models, which generated ill-used and vacant spaces by creating isolated and repetitive city blocks, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura proposes a sustainable, Mediterranean city model. Bofill Expresses his aims in urban design : “a concern of the firm has always been the common public space…..the goal has been the development of a new typology of urban tissue based on the ambiance of the Medieval. Renaissance and Baroque examples of street, square and open space”
PROJECTS AGRICULTURAL VILLAGE HOUARI BOUMEDIENNE, Abadla, Algeria. Completed in 1980. PORT OF KOBE, Japan. Project 1991 LA FABRICA , Barcelona 1973 VILLAREAL DE SANTO ANTONIO, Portugal. Project 2011 MANZANARES PARK. Madrid, Spain. Completed in 2003
AGRICULTURAL VILLAGE HOUARI BOUMEDIENNE, Abadla, Algeria. PROJECTS “ ” A large central square, such as found in all Arab towns, serves as marketplace, meeting place, setting for festivities and spectacles and vital axis articulating the town Client : Ministry of Housing, Government of AlgeriaTotal area: 36,000 sqm He was interested in the urban planning problems of the developing countries and the experience they had gained in the construction of housing developments by the Algerian government, through the agency of France, to be applied to the construction of new centers of population in semi-desert areas where agriculture was to be promoted.
The composition of the urban nucleus on the basis of the combination of single-family dwellings offered infinite possibilities, which had to be limited and serialized in order to keep the cost of the operation as low as possible. • The geometrical forms chosen, drawn from Arabic and Mediterranean traditions, made for a first grouping of two or three dwellings laid out around a courtyard to compose a block. • A grouping of several blocks composed a neighborhood, and several neighborhoods, a town, with the proportion of built space to open public space being kept constant. PROJECTS
PROJECTS • A grouping of several blocks composed a neighborhood, and several neighborhoods, a town, with the proportion of built space to open public space being kept constant.
LA FABRICA , Barcelona 1973 PROJECTS “ ” • Client : Ricardo Bofill • Abrutalist former cement factory on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. • Ricardo saw the potential to convert this site into what would become a landmark architectural feat of “adaptive reuse of industrial space” that ultimately translated into a remarkable live/work commercial property development. • The conversion of the abandoned cement factory from the late 19th century into RBTA’s studios and Ricardo Bofill’s personal residence, began with a process of destruction, demolishing pieces of the structures to reveal hidden forms.
The renovation project, which began in 1973, incorporates various architectural languages; Catalan Civic Gothic style and Surrealist elements and is an early example of European Post Modernism. • The remaining eight silos were transformed into offices, a model making laboratory, archives, a library, a gigantic space known as "The Cathedral", used for meetings, exhibitions, concerts, and professional activities of the architect. • Above the Cathedral lies Ricardo’s residence, green roofs and terraces. The entire complex was planted with lush gardens to create the effect of an oasis within the industrial area. PROJECTS “ ”
But it is Bofill’s monolithic conversion showcased here that is undoubtedly his most personal work a successful, and beautiful experiment in repurposing space, which has become a landmark of alternative living. • Another striking feature of the build are the lush gardens that surround the building; • these gardens have been brought to life with a variety of trees such as eucalyptuses, palms, olive trees and cypresses. PROJECTS “ ” “The factory is a magic place with a strange atmosphere that is difficult to be perceived by a profane eye. I like life to be perfectly programmed here, ritualized; in total contrast with my turbulent nomad life.” So, have you spotted a disused factory in your area lately? Might you look with new eyes on that space after this?
PORT OF KOBE, Japan 1991 PROJECTS “ ” • Client: Kobe Steel Industries / Mitsubishi Research Institute Inc.Total area: 84 ha • The city of Kobe located in a beautiful natural setting between the Rokko Mountains and Osaka bay, experienced an important growth on a thirty five kilometre long strip along the sea. • The ideas for this site are based on a clear urban scheme, made of streets and plazas connected to its surroundings, which foresees the possibility of extension on the adjacent sites. The identity and the centrality of the project is obtained by the clarity of this relationship to Kobe East, the train station, Oji Park, and by its general skyline, so that it stands out as a major landmark for the area.
PROJECTS “ ” One of the architectural challenges of the scheme was the combination of two different scales; the village scale (Italian village, New York Village, Kyoto traditional districts) which consists of buildings two to three storeys high, and the tower scale, (like in San Geminiano or New York). This contrasts of scales and life styles between the atmosphere of the village, directly linked to the human scale and the very urban, modern way of life that one can experiment in high buildings, was the adequate response to the new demands of current and future generations.
PROJECTS “ ” The district includes residential areas, office towers, business centers, a museum, a concert hall, an educational centre, a scientific research institute, the headquarters of the World Health Organization, hotels and a marina. The streets and the roads of the scheme follow a rigid pattern at the large scale planning to allow for clarity and functionality of the design.
VILLAREAL DE SANTO ANTONIO, Portugal. Project 2011 PROJECTS “ ” Client: Municipality of Vila Real de Santo Antonio Total area: 100 ha The water frontage of Vila Real is an underused wasteland with a great urban potential. The unifying master plan aims to reinforce the presence of the river façade and enhance the public space to create a vibrant mixed-use area. Integrating the natural reserve between Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Monte Gordo, the scheme promotes a sustainable environment.
PROJECTS Inspired by Vila Real’s rich architectural heritage, and particularly by Marques de Pombal modern urban design, the plan is based on a geometrical grid offering generous green areas and encouraging pedestrian circulation. The area around “DocaPesca” starting at “Punta daAreia” and following the coastline to Monte Gordo, provides 150 residential units (hotel and apartments), a retail area, conventions centre, leisure and cultural facilities, parking facilities and a yacht marina. “Punta de Areia” area offers 600 (residential units (hotels and apartments), amenities and parking infrastructure. “ ”
THE MANZANARES PARK, 2003, Madrid, Spain PROJECTS “ ” Client: Municipality of MadridTotal area: 600 ha The ambition of the project was to transform an area containing the Spanish capital’s sanitation and electricity supply infrastructures into a major park, which will also meet the recreational and sporting needs of the surrounding districts. The previous studies on the treatment of the river that begun as part of Madrid’s sanitation plan.
THE MANZANARES PARK, 2003, Madrid, Spain PROJECTS “ ” The environmentally sensitive scheme for the Manzanares Park represents not only the creation of a great natural space but also the recuperation of the Manzanares River for the citizens and visitors. Both elements, nature and river, are the ideal components with which to produce synergy between the site and its vocation as a metropolitan park. The project foresees covering the sewer exits at the northern end of the park and isolating the water purifiers and electricity plant to hide the installations from view and mask possible emanating smells.
Lessons for ugandan towns In Uganda today, the norm is to demolish all existing structures considered dilapidated not taking into account the aspects of a timeless city. To create timeless cities, we ought to take into account the history of buildings and their heritage in contemporary society just like Bofill does in his projects. In Bofill’s urban planning projects, the design respects and adheres, whenever possible, to its contextual setting, creating a smooth and continuous flow of architectural ideas envisioned through time. It is therefore imperative that we compose and develop related typologies that systematically give a feel of time in our cities. It is normal and not uncommon in Uganda today to plan for new urban areas only and mostly in the horizontal sense taking up large areas of a non-renewable and non-expansible, highly valuable resource of land. Bofill introduces new ideas into the realm of the vertical neighborhood, village and city, giving rise to higher densities and lower plot coverage.
Lessons for ugandan towns In all Bofill’s designs, he draws from the meaningful and practically sound pool of cultural heritage of the people among whom he designs giving rise to generally acceptable typologies and neighborhoods at the local scale. Uganda being rich in cultural diversity should utilise and maximise their potential in the development of a multiplicity of design languages, creating regional architecture that is specific to time and place. Many a time, African traditional architecture and planning is not considered during extensive urban planning projects in Uganda. Unlike our planning practices, Bofill draws from ancient and traditional architectural styles such as the Catalan Civic Gothic, Medieval, the Renaissance and Baroque styles to create architecturally rich and habitable neighborhoods. Bofill’s concern has always been about the common public space composed of street, square and open spaces creating a new typology of urban tissue that is both livable and workable. This calls for more usable public open spaces that create connections and links within the cities of Uganda, and less of the inaccessible open areas like city square.
Lessons for ugandan towns From Bofill’s projects like La Fabrica, we are called to a new mindset of adaptive reuse and repurposing of spaces through conversion other than demolition. This calls for a new set of eyes to look upon our existing industrial and warehousing spaces for reuse and purposeful conversion such as the Coffee Marketing Board in Bugolobi. Ricardo Bofill always considers the possibility of future extension of urban centers thereby utilising space efficiently. He also inculcates the ideas of Pedestrian and Transit Oriented Development into his designs, incorporating different scales into the neighborhood for both identity and habitability. Ugandan cities should emulate this model. From the Manzanares Park, we learn the concept of efficient natural resource utilization incorporating ideals of sustainable development and vibrant mixed use areas into the city. Uganda needs to borrow from this concept for more vibrant cities and towns. | https://www.slideserve.com/sadie/kisembo-emmanuel-mwesigwa-allan-musiimenta-ian-owor-derrick-powerpoint-ppt-presentation |
The Norms and Forms of a New Public Realm in Toulouse-le-Mirail.
The new urban district Toulouse-le-Mirail, the biggest ZUP (Zones à Urbaniser en Priorité) in France, was in 1961 planned for 100,000 people. It was located on a farmland on the southwest side of the historical city center of Toulouse (200, 000 inhabitants). Instead of using the much used urban design principle of the ‘mass plan’ (plan-masse) the architects Georges Candilis, Alexis Josic and Shadrach Woods conceived Le Mirail around: „a basic structure [that] may be determined: this structure or stem includes all the servants of the homes, all the prolongements du logis; commercial, cultural, educational, and leisure activities, as well as roads, walkways and services“. The sinuous figure of the stem followed the characteristics of the terrain, positioning itself at the highest points of the terrain and relating to the different historical elements on the site (parks, gardens and castles). As a linear concentration of urban activities the stem was conceived as a newfangled collective pedestrian zone and the car traffic was placed at the edges of the site.
This lecture will use this canonical example of French post-war urbanism as a case-study to talk about one of the much forgotten aspects of post-war urban planning: its radical innovative articulation of a new regime of common spaces. Departing drastically from the age-old and well-known figures of publicness such as the square, the street or the passage, the post-war urban projects suggest a landscape approach to the commons. This radical change in the conception of the collective realm is certainly one of the aspects of post-war planning that is under-evaluated and ill-understood.
This lecture is an attempt to reassess the rich conceptual and formal apparatus of modernist public space that was developed for French housing estates during the 1960s. It will take as its point of departure the work of French landscape architect Jacques Sgard, who introduced in 1958 the idea that the modernist city did not only consists of the 4 CIAM functions (dwelling, work, recreation and transport) but also encompassed a fifth function; la fonction espace vert.
Sgard pointed with its fifth function to an important feature of the numerous new housing estates (grands ensembles) in France that was articulated by landscape architects as Jacques Simon, Michel Corajoud and Bernard Lassus, but also by architects as Fernand Pouillon, Marcel Lods and Candilis-Josic-Woods. This lecture will illustrate through the case-study of Toulouse-le-Mirail that in postwar French housing estates by these designers new notions and forms of the commons emerged that were informed by three main considerations: identification and participation of inhabitants with their dwelling environment, the democratic appropriation of public space and the role of public space—considered a productive landscape—as a basis for autarky.
Tom Avermaete is full professor of architecture at Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. He has a special research interest in the public realm and the architecture of the city in Western and non-Western contexts. With the chair of Methods and Analysis he focuses on the changing roles, approaches and tools of architects. His research examines precedents—design attitudes, methods and instruments—with the explicit ambition to construct a critical base of design knowledge and to influence contemporary architectural thinking and practice.
Avermaete is the author of Another Modern: the Post-War Architecture and Urbanism of Candilis-Josic-Woods (2005), The Balcony (with Koolhaas, 2014) and Casablanca-Chandigarh: Reports on Modernity (with Casciato, 2014). He is a co-editor of Architectural Positions (with Havik and Teerds, 2009), Colonial Modern (with von Osten and Karakayali, 2010), Structuralism Reloaded (with Vrachliotis, 2011), Making a New World (with Heynickx, 2012) and Architecture of the Welfare State (with Swenarton and Van den Heuvel, Routledge, 2014). He is the editor of several books and the curator of several exhibitions. | http://www.50yearsafter.at/s/symposium/tom-avermaete/ |
Deconstruction, as the style of the interior has appeared relatively recently, in the late 1980-ies. This style cannot be confused with one another, it is unique. The main purpose of the design of the apartment in the style of deconstructivism is a retreat from all the usual rules of design.
Each project design in the style of deconstructivism is 100% unique, because. to repeat one and the same work is very difficult.
The main features of deconstruction in the interior are:
- A composition with incongruous design elements
- The asymmetric placement of decorative objects
- The distortion of geometric shapes designs (for example, U-shaped arches slightly littered to one side)
- Idea stress a specific element of the design compared to other
- Combinations of shades, neoclasica each other
- The use of broken and intersecting lines in the design of rooms
Despite its, it would seem, the absurdity, the interior in the style of deconstructivism looks very stylish and unusual. This design of the apartments are suitable for young, dynamic hosts.
View apartment design in the style of deconstructivism you can in this photo gallery:
Also the original idea for the interior of the apartment is the decoration of rooms in Oriental style, photo examples which you can see in this article. | http://samdizajner.ru/en/dekonstruktivizm.html |
Through their visionary ideas, orbanists turn attention to a global consciousness instead of a local preoccupation. Thinking architecture and urban planning according to a (visionary) world scale brings up issues related with the spatial impact of building under demographics explosion or the current and future environmental circumstances on a micro-level.
In order to respond to this new scenario, the orban planner must act according to priorities, no longer based on “esthetic and style’ elements but on a new “situation of ‘do-it-yourself ‘ architecture and self made cities”.
Differently from the figure of the utopian architect, the orbanist assumes primarily the function of the researcher, aiming at instigating new ways of thinking on architecture and urbanism. Besides researching on a specific subject matter it is also clear the importance in devising ‘orban’ tools and research methods, thus amplifying the scope of possibilities within urbanism itself. It is within this context that one can see the figure of the ‘orbanist’ taking action, and ultimately from the need to discuss the current praxis of urban planning.
The exhibition at Stroom Den Haag – Orban Space: Luc Deleu – T.O.P. Office – is mainly structured around the project Orban Space, initiated in 2006. Among other aspects, the project seeks to “develop a theoretical framework and a practical methodology to think about public space on a global scale”. Also displayed are past projects that, in one way or another contribute to the understanding of the project. One of these is The Unadapted City.
The Unadapted City (D.O.S – De Onaangepaste Stad) is a long-term concept based project that focuses on the research and development of models for the implementation of urban facilities. The project establishes itself as a critique to the current aims of architecture and urbanism, where private and corporative interests are privileged towards thinking of infrastructures, services and individual liberties. Within The Unadapted City, Luc Deleu proposes a turn around. In order to do so, he makes use of common urban planning investigation practices such as collecting territorial data, presenting numeric plans and other visual and non-visual elements. Though one could think that he makes use of this not with the ‘same level of seriousness’ as often seen in other urban planning projects (Balau, 2004 ). In fact, Deleu brings into his research a certain level of humor, something that can also be perceived in the way the exhibition Orban Space: Luc Deleu – T.O.P. Office is displayed at Stroom Den Haag.
Another example of his humorous approach is the way cities and infrastructures (within The Unadapted City project) are named– Powerpoint, Unité, Dymaxion, Broodacre, Chandigarh, Brikabrak, Dinkytown, Octopus, Halfweg,… –
Aspects of humor and arbitrariness shouldn’t be mistaken though when considering the seriousness and complexity of the project. These aspects should be taken into account especially regarding the methodology’s critical value. It is perhaps due to this approach that the research sets free from the conventional practices within the real of architecture and urban planning, creating a space for implementing its own rules, measuring tools and ways of display. It clearly doesn’t seek to ‘adapt’ to established forms and practices.
A few months ago and curiously also at Stroom Den Haag, Anthony Huberman brought into discussion the concept of ‘being maladjusted’- a possible methodology and a way to transgress the common practices of curating and/or running an art institution. After encountering the work of Luc Deleu – T.O.P Office I found myself thinking of two figures – ‘The Maladjusted’ and ‘The Unadapted’ – both operating within their specific contexts.
Although coming from different directions, the echoing effect produced between these two is certainly something that deserves audible attention.
ORBAN SPACE: Luc Deleu – T.O.P. Office
Curated by Wouter Davidts & Stefan Vervoort in dialogue with T.O.P. Office
January 20 – March 24, 2013
Reviewed translation of the Orban Planning Manifesto, originally published in the catalogue “Open Space”, 1980, ICC-Antwerp http://www.topoffice.to/Orban%20Planning%20Manifesto.html (accessed 18 March 2013)
idem
Wouter Davidts and Stefan Vervoort, 2013, see exhibition booklet ‘Orban Space, Luc Deleu – T.O.P. Office, Stroom Den Haag, January 20- March 24, 2013.
Luc Deleu: the architect ought to stop asking himself why his work is not art., article on Luc Deleu by Raymond Balau, 2004. http://www.muhka.be/template.php?id=30&la=en (accessed 20 March, 2013). | https://jegensentevens.nl/2013/03/the-unadapted/ |
As viewed from the southeast, the Kunsthal is intersected by a service road Architecture (OMA), cofounded by Dutch design mastermind Rem Koolhaas, Hon . Masterclass Rem Koolhaas — Exclusive for students. Specially for its 25th anniversary, on Thursday 2 November the Kunsthal will focus on. The architect Rem Koolhaas was asked to draw up a design for the present location on the Westzeedijk. His first design, Kunsthal Hoboken Draft Plan (27 April.
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The Kunsthal in Rotterdam is kundthal of the icons of modern architecture and is visited every year by large numbers of architecture lovers from all over the world. Koolhaas involves the concept of assembly by the appearance of simultaneous generation of different elements that, combined, lead to a different component.
However, the set is permanently subjected to the presence or absence and the approach and the distance to other premises.
Read more about the history of the Kunsthal here. One of the access ramp starts at the park and connects to the building across the avenue, in this place is difficult to define whether we are inside or outside, as if it were a problem of inclusions, this element is also the link between interior and exterior of the gallery.
Koolhaas assumes different attitudes compared to the contemporary city: Ramps acquired a role as a connector and as builders of the proposed space. This is where the architect works best indeterminacy. A ramp steps which the audience connects with the terrace is situated above, at a distance, running in another direction.
Kunsthal/Rem Koolhaas
Although very compact and small it contains many faces and layers. How to get there? Lightweight and transparent from one side, the other translucent rose to affirm the presence of the building in its communicative function, especially in the avenue. Extraordinary project that has to be visited to understand completely. We prefer you log in when posting a comment. The Kunsthal is steel, concrete, stone cladding, glazing, also translucent corrugated iron sheets or plywood.
After an intense renovation lasting seven months, the Kunsthal reopened on 1 February Columns inclined defy gravity; slabs, large flat koolhaaz, are conceived as elements which emerge from the columns of concrete, metal or wood. Sundays and public holidays 11 a.
Here the building is open in the interior or exterior-interior-interior relationship. Architecture with many faces The Kunsthal building has many faces. The bottom is a space, only to open the park. Archdaily read the article. Corrupting the pure form, the geometric distortion produced by the imbalance. The various flows, speeds and rhythms are part of the design challenge, exchanges and connections are overlapping, and mutually overlap, as appropriate.
The site presented a dual condition: Location Is located in the vicinity of the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the quiet area of a park, along an avenue of intense traffic.
CityFilmtv Watch the clip. More projects in Rotterdam. A small street to vehicular traffic drilled perpendicular to the square pit producing ramps. Each maintains its identity. The ramp that runs right through the building bridges the difference in height of six metres and links the Museumpark with the Westzeedijk, the Hoboken area and the Park. The park at the northern koolahas, the visitor receives outgoing with a ramp, as a language, devouring expected; divided glass panels with an autonomous language for the restaurant and lounge, while the industry prefers a higher image heavy, and closed firm, with a coating of rectangular slabs of stone.
The Kunsthal rm officially opened on 1 November kunsthzl Home Projects Netherlands Rotterdam Kunsthal. It has a large exhibition space of 3, m2.
The exhibitions are of various characteristics, from a retrospective of Andy Warhol samples compact cars. The continuous ramp winds its way upwards and links the different exhibition spaces. The Kunsthal is a temporary exhibition gallery designed by Ioolhaas Koolhaas with a series of local support that enrich their primary function.
OMA – Rem Koolhaas. The work immediately attracted wide international attention for such features as its innovative use of material, the position of the entrance, and the steep ramps.
Introduction The Koklhaas is a temporary exhibition gallery designed by Rem Koolhaas with a series of local support that enrich their primary function. Contained in a rectangular prism, the building is immediately disrupted by successive approximations, it puts in crisis, for example, the diversity of autonomous enclosures that respond to internal functions or its relation to the context.
Kunsthal, OMA – Rem Koolhaas | Rotterdam | Netherlands | MIMOA
The themes of the activities vary depending on the exhibitions. David studied architecture and construction technology at koolhsas Eindhoven University of Technology, where he is also a professor in the Architecture Design and Engineering department.
Circulations, as well as joining the different points, create instability across the inclined planes requiring the displacement. As a whole it seems straightforward: The result is expressed as a series of changing images, variously integrated, autonomous or partial readings. A second ramp, running parallel and reversed, is terraced to accommodate an auditorium, and beneath it the restaurant.
Its position, wedged between a busy highway and the network of museums and green spaces known as the museum park, allows it to function as a gateway to Rotterdam’s most prized cultural amenities. Opening hours Tuesday – Saturday 10 a. In addition to large-scale and complex projects, he has worked on interiors and small-scale structures, including private houses, product design, and temporary structures such as the Prada Transformer in Seoul More exposition space projects. | https://eyetube.me/kunsthal-rem-koolhaas-38/ |
Deconstructivismo. Ivan Ruiz Tecpil. Jaques Derrida y la Deconstruccion. Rodolfo-J. Rodríguez-R. Literary Criticism: Deconstruction. El deconstructivismo. el proceso de diseño no lineal. de la geometría no euclídea . Jacques Derrida y Peter Eisenman y el primer premio de Bernard Tschumi). However, the father of this style is the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, as has been the largest contributor to define it. It is a style that is encompassed in.
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Some architects identified with the movement, notably Frank Gehryhave actively rejected the classification of their work as deconstructivist. Desde Derrida, para el Derecho. Synthetic cubismwith its application of found object art, is not as great an influence on deconstructivism as Analytical cubismbut is still found in the earlier and more vernacular works of Frank Jaxques. Both Derrida deconstructivisno Eisenman, as well as Daniel Libeskind were concerned with the ” metaphysics of presence ,” and this is the main subject of deconstructivist philosophy in architecture theory.
Some Postmodern architects endeavored to reapply ornament even to economical and minimal buildings, described by Venturi as “the decorated shed. Both were concerned with the radical simplicity of geometric decostructivismo as the primary artistic content, expressed in graphics, sculpture and architecture.
This article is about the architectural style or movement known as deconstructivism. From Postmodernism deconstrucgivismo Deconstructivism,” “Assemblage,” 8pp. Since their exhibitions, some architects associated with Deconstructivism have distanced themselves from it; nonetheless, the term has stuck and has come to embrace a general trend within contemporary architecture. His professional works are formalistic, deconstruction, modern avant-garde, transcendental or later modern, and other trends like Folding.
Deconstructivism Research Papers –
deconstrucyivismo Observing that the philosopher of plasticity omits this digression in its text, we seek to understand its attempt to think of Hegel’s future as a kind of digression that interrupts Hegel’s inscription in the vulgar concept of time and its confinement in the past.
He made architectural sculptures out of books and often coated deconstrutivismo models in texts, openly making his architecture refer to writing. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Library resources about Deconstructivism.
A synchronicity of disjoined space is evident in many of the works of Frank Gehry and Bernard Tschumi. The article addresses jacqques topic of the influence of garden later, park architecture on the development of irrational architecture. Deconstructivism also shares with minimalism a disconnection from cultural references. They evoke basic structural units such as jacqyes of steel or sawn lumber loosely attached, piled, or scattered.
Deconstructivism is a movement of postmodern architecture which appeared in the s, which gives the impression of the fragmentation of the constructed building.
Tschumi stated that calling the work of these architects a “movement” or a new “style” was out of context and showed a lack of understanding of their ideas, and believed that Deconstructivism was simply a move against the deconstructivismmo of Postmodernismwhich he said involved “making doric temple forms out of plywood”.
Deconstructivism – Wikipedia
New synagogue in Mainz by Manuel Herz. Second, we give some elements on the way in which certain forms of decolonialism and liberationism conceive not only their difference with Eurocentrism, but also the difference between the European thinkers cited by them and this Eurocentrism.
The appearance of deconstructivist buildings denote an decnstructivismo ” controlled chaos “, very common, for example, in the work of Frank Gehry. The reading of the postmodernist Venturi was that ornament and historical allusion added a richness to architecture that modernism had foregone. A general theory of jacquws from One example of deconstructivist complexity is Frank Gehry ‘s Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein, which takes the typical unadorned white cube of modernist art galleries and deconstructs it, using geometries reminiscent of cubism and abstract expressionism.
The Pritzker Architecture Prize. Mark Wigley wrote the accompanying essay and tried to show a common thread among the various architects whose work was usually more noted for their differences. Peter Eisenman interprete della decostruzione.
Deconstructivism
For other uses, see deconstruction disambiguation. Since the publication of Kenneth Frampton ‘s Modern Architecture: In addition to Derrida’s concepts of the metaphysics of presence and deconstructivism, his notions of trace and erasure, embodied in his philosophy of writing and arche-writing found their way into deconstructivist memorials.
It is characterized by an absence of harmony, continuity, or symmetry. A Critical History first edition there has been a keen consciousness of the role of criticism within architectural theory.
Fontana de Trevi Review of Peter Eisenman’s Thoughts. El Pensador de Rodin 3.
The ruins of this villa and the newly discovered Golden Palace of emperor Nero made a tremendous influence on late Renaissance artistic worldview. His starting point was a prototypical suburban house embodied with a typical set of intended social meanings.
Its shard-like form and reduction of content to a minimalist text influenced deconstructivism, with its deconstructivimo of fragmentation and emphasis on reading the monument. On the other hand, Eisenman’s aesthetic is a common language between creative activity that emanates from his own nature, experiences, emotions and talents, and the audience who accepts his art.
Jacques Derrida and jacqies Deconstruction of Architecture, Alaby: Liberacionismo, Decolonialismo, Deconstructivismo This is work prefiguring the phenomenology of the spheres by a couple years. Irrationalism in architecture was not formed as a separate trend or movement, but served as a response to the attempt to universalize the main principles of artistic suggestion of architecture and to rationalize the dedrida process. Chief among these are ways are those of mathematics and metaphysics. | http://wwwowww.me/jacques-derrida-deconstructivismo-39/ |
This is a synovial joint between the overhanging lateral end of the clavicle and the under-hanging medial border of the acromion. The articulating surfaces are covered (like those of the sternoclavicular joint) by fibrocartilage (so it is an atypical synovial joint).
Ligaments of acromioclavicular joint:
A sleeve like capsule surrounds the articular surfaces; it is not strong, but on top there is a thickening of fibres which constitutes the acromioclavicular ligament. An incomplete disc of fibrocartilage hangs down into the upper part of the joint cavity.
The coracoclavicular ligament, extremely strong, is the principal factor in providing stability to the joint. It consists of two parts, conoid and trapezoid. Examine the clavicle and scapula. The conoid ligament, an inverted cone, extends upwards from the knuckle of the coracoid to a wider attachment around the conoid tubercle, on the under surface of the clavicle. The trapezoid ligament is attached to the ridge of the same name on the upper surface of the coracoid process and extends laterally, in an almost horizontal plane, to the trapezoid ridge on the under surface of the clavicle.
Nerve supply of acromioclavicular joint:
Lateral supraclavicular nerves (C4) from the cervical plexus.
Movements of acromioclavicular joint:
These are passive; no muscle connects the bones to move the joint. Muscles which move the scapula cause it to move on the clavicle. Scapular movements on the chest wall fall into three groups:
- Protraction and retraction around the chest wall
- Rotation
- Elevation or depression.
These basic movements can be combined in varying proportions, and each of these transmits, through ligaments, corresponding movements to the clavicle. All movements of the scapula involve movements in the joint at either end of the clavicle.
Horizontally, in protraction and retraction of the tip of the shoulder, the scapula hugs the thoracic wall, held to it by serratus anterior and pectoralis minor. The scapula moves in a circle of a shorter radius (i.e. the radius of the upper thorax) than the length of the clavicle. Hence movement takes place between the acromion and the fibrocartilage. The axis of this movement is vertical and passes through the conoid ligament. The acromion glides to and fro on the tip of the clavicle.
In abduction of the arm the scapula does not retain its position relative to the clavicle but rotates around the conoid ligament as it swings forwards on the chest wall, and movement takes place between the fibrocartilage and the clavicle. The axis of scapular rotation passes through the conoid ligament and the acromioclavicular joint; the scapula swings to and fro like a pendulum below these two fixed points on the clavicle. The total range of scapular rotation on the chest wall is about 60°, but only 20° of this occurs between the scapula and the clavicle. The coracoclavicular ligaments are then taut, and transmit the rotating force to the clavicle, whose rotation then accounts for the remainder of scapular rotation on the chest wall. In both movements at this joint the fulcrum around which the scapula swings is the coracoclavicular ligament.
Elevation (shrugging the shoulders) is produced by the upper fibers of trapezius together with levator scapulae and the rhomboids, mutually neutralizing their rotatory effects. Depression of the scapula is produced by the lower fibres of trapezius and the lateral fibers of latissimus dorsi. Elevation and depression move the medial end of the clavicle (see above), but they scarcely move the acromioclavicular joint.
Stability of acromioclavicular joint:
The stability of the joint is provided by the coracoclavicular ligament. The scapula and upper limb hang suspended from the clavicle by the conoid ligament (assisted by the deltoid, biceps and triceps muscles). Forces transmitted medially from the upper limb to the glenoid cavity are transmitted from scapula to clavicle by the trapezoid ligament and from clavicle to first rib by the costoclavicular ligament. Thus a fall on outstretched hand or elbow puts no strain on either end of the clavicle at the joints. If the clavicle fractures as a result, it always does so between these ligaments. Falls on the shoulder may dislocate the acromioclavicular joint, forcing the acromion under the clavicle and tearing the coracoclavicular ligament. | http://www.mananatomy.com/body-systems/skeletal-system/acromioclavicular-joint |
The anatomy of the shoulder consists of the shoulder joint and shoulder girdle. Both work together to produce normal movements. The shoulder is a complex joint with high mobility but a lack of stability. Here we explain the basic anatomy of the shoulder.
The Shoulder Girdle
The anatomy of the shoulder girdle consists of several joints, or articulations, which connect the upper limb to the rest of the skeleton. You may also see this referred to as the pectoral girdle in some textbooks.
The three bones which form the shoulder girdle are the clavicle, scapula, and humerus.
The Scapula (or shoulder blade)
This scapula is an attachment site for muscles which support and stabilise shoulder movement. It sits at the back of the shoulder, over the 2nd – 7th ribs and tilts forward at a 30° angle.
It is encased by 17 muscles which provide control and stabilisation against the thoracic wall (the ribcage). This is sometimes referred to as the Scapulothoracic joint, although it is not technically an actual joint.
The scapula has a shallow fossa (socket) on its lateral (outside) edge into which the head of the humerus fits. The humerus and fossa form the glenohumeral joint.
The Clavicle (collar-bone)
The clavicle is an S-shaped bone and is the main connection between the upper arm and the rest of the skeleton. Consequently, the clavicle is also an important site for muscle attachments including:
- Pectoralis Major
- Trapezius
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Sternohyoid
- Subclavius
The clavicle meets the scapula at the top of the shoulder where it connects to the acromion process, forming the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint). Injury to the ligaments at this joint is an acromioclavicular joint sprain.
The Humerus (upper arm bone)
The humerus is the upper arm bone. The head of the humerus is the ball of the ball and socket joint at the shoulder. The head fits into the glenoid fossa of the scapula.
Shoulder joint
The most important aspect of the shoulder is the large range of movement that it permits, which is central to many activities of daily living. There are three main joints in the shoulder girdle, these are:
- Glenohumeral Joint (GHJ)
- Acromioclavicular Joint (ACJ)
- Sternoclavicular Joint (SCJ)
It is also important to consider another ‘joint’ which is important in shoulder movement:
- Scapulothoracic Joint
The Glenohumeral joint (shoulder ball and socket joint)
Ask someone to point at the shoulder joint, and the chances are they will point at the Glenohumeral joint (GHJ). The Glenohumeral joint is a ball and socket joint enabling most of the shoulder girdle movement.
The head of the humerus articulates (moves) with the glenoid fossa of the scapula – hence the name. The head of the humerus is, however, quite large in comparison to the fossa. As a result, only one-third to one-half of the head of the humerus is in contact with the fossa at any one time.
The glenoid labrum further supports the humerus. This is a ring of fibrous cartilage which extends the fossa slightly, making the joint capsule wider and deeper. As a result, it adds slightly to joint stability.
Both articulating surfaces are covered with articular cartilage. This is a tough, hard, shiny cartilage which protects the bone underneath.
Common injuries include Dislocated shoulder and Glenoid labrum tear.
The Acromioclavicular joint
The lateral (outside) end of the clavicle and the medial (inside) aspect of the acromion process (scapula) forms the Acromioclavicular Joint (ACJ). The ACJ is important for transmitting forces through the upper limb and shoulder to the axial (central) skeleton.
It has minimal mobility b to its supporting ligaments:
- The acromioclavicular ligament restricts anterior-posterior (forwards and backwards) movements
- The coracoclavicular ligament prevents vertical movement
The AC joint sprain is a common injury of this joint.
The Sternoclavicular Joint
The Sternoclavicular joint occurs at the sternum end of the clavicle, in the middle of the chest. As a result, the clavicle connects to the cartilage of the first rib, and the upper and lateral (outside) parts of the manubrium sterni (upper part of the sternum, or breastbone).
- It is the only joint that truly links the upper extremity to the central, axial skeleton, via the clavicles.
- The Sternoclavicular joint functions in all movements of the upper limbs and are particularly important in throwing and thrusting movements.
- A common injury is a Sternoclavicular joint sprain.
The Scapulothoracic Joint
This joint relies entirely on the surrounding musculature for its control. The main muscles which control this joint are:
- Serratus Anterior which holds the medial (inside) angle of the scapula against the chest wall
- Trapezius which rotates and elevates the scapula with elevation (lifting up) of the upper arm
Note that during elevation the Glenohumeral Joint rotates 2° for every 1° of scapulothoracic rotation (most of us don’t need to worry about this fact but it can be handy for clinicians to know).
- A common injury at the Scapulothoracic joint is a Winged scapular. | https://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/shoulder-pain/shoulder-anatomy |
This chapter will consider the function and pathology of the shoulder region, or shoulder complex.
The shoulder complex is one of the largest movement complexes in the musculoskeletal system. It includes the following:
The bony parts and joints in the shoulder girdle (acromioclavicular and sternoclavicular joints).
The sliding scapulothoracic articulation.
The cervicothoracic transition to the cranial rib joints.
The most important principle of function of the shoulder complex is the optimization of arm movements with the greatest radius possible and to provide a mobile and stable base for the arm movements. End-range arm elevation is one of the most complex movements of our body.
The intricate interplay between the individual components of the shoulder complex can lead to a variety of dysfunctions. A cause of restricted shoulder elevation, for example, can be found in every single mobile articulation in the cervicobrachial region.
There are a comparatively large number of causes for shoulder/arm pain. Pain may be referred or projected from the cervical spine and the thoracic outlet, or may be due to several other possible causes ranging from arthritis, ligamentous laxity and instability to soft-tissue lesions such as internal or external impingement or labral lesions and ruptures of the rotator cuff muscles.
When presented with a “shoulder patient,” the therapist is often compelled to thoroughly assess all components of the shoulder complex and frequently finds it quite difficult to interpret results.
2.1.2 Common Applications for Treatment in this Region
Techniques used in this region that require knowledge of palpation include the following:
Joint play tests and manual therapy techniques (e.g., glenohumeral, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular).
Laxity and instability tests of shoulder joints.
Local cross-frictions according to Cyriax, for example, on tendons and at insertion sites of the rotator cuff muscles.
Local application of electrotherapy and thermotherapy on the muscles and articular structures.
2.1.3 Required Basic Anatomical and Biomechanical Knowledge
Therapists should be familiar with the location and form of the articular structures in all shoulder joints, as well as the location, course, and attachments of clinically important muscles, for example, the subscapularis. A good spatial sense is of advantage as the clinically important structures are found close to each other, especially in the GH joint. Knowledge of the shape of the spine of the scapula and the acromion, of the proximal humerus, the dimensions of the clavicle, and the position of the joint spaces is especially important (▶ Fig. 2.1, ▶ Fig. 2.2, ▶ Fig. 2.3).
Glenohumeral Joint
The glenoid cavity or glenoid fossa is the socket of the humeral head. Its concavity is directed laterally, forward, and somewhat upward as an extension of the scapular spine. Since the scapula adapts itself to the shape of the thorax as a relatively flat bone, the socket tips in an anterior direction in the sagittal plane so that the anteroposterior surface of the cavity is not transverse. The head of the humerus is almost spherical; in the transverse plane it exhibits a retrotorsion of approximately 30° to the line connecting the epicondyles of the humerus. This retrotorsion determines the range of motion in outward and inward rotation. A slight retrotorsion leads to a smaller outward rotation. In the frontal plane, the humeral head is angled at 45° to the shaft of the humerus. Since the insertion of the capsule lies at the anatomical neck, directly adjacent to the head of the humerus, the superior portions of the capsule are stretched when the arm is allowed to hang. For equal tension on the superior and inferior portions of the capsule, the arm must be abducted by about 45°. This is the resting position.
On the basis of the anatomy seen in radiographs, it was claimed that the shoulder joint was incongruent and that the radii of curvature of the two members of the joint provided a poor fit. According to this finding, the socket would hardly be able to contribute to the stability of the shoulder joint. However, studies of anatomical preparations and modern imaging techniques (CT and MRI) show a high degree of congruence between head and socket. The decisive factor is the shape of the cartilaginous lining of the socket and the glenoid labrum. The drawing in ▶ Fig. 2.4 summarizes what is known today about the interrelations of shapes in the glenohumeral joint. The cartilage is thicker at the edges than in the center of the socket. The depth of the socket and the resulting congruence play a decisive role in the stability of the glenohumeral joint. The glenoid labrum is a fibrocartilaginous structure that increases the contact surface and functions like a suction cup. Furthermore, it is the origin of the long biceps tendon and the capsule of the labrum.
Overall, the high degree of congruence creates such a strong adhesion between the joint surfaces that it is hardly possible to separate the head from the socket in the direction of traction. In 2003, Gokeler et al. were able to demonstrate in a study that it is not possible to separate head and socket with 14 kg of tractive force.
▶ Fig. 2.5 shows a view of the glenoid cavity with the fibrocartilaginous ring (glenoid labrum) and the interior of the capsule with the reinforcing structures as well as the position of the rotator cuff tendons. The capsular fibers are somewhat twisted in their arrangement, in a clockwise direction in the right shoulder, so that the capsule tenses more rapidly in extension than in flexion. Approximately half of the capsular surface is the area of insertion for the rotator cuff muscles, which greatly strengthens the capsule. The subscapularis (SSC) has the broadest tendon; this muscle supports the capsule anteriorly. In the superior part of the capsule there is a gap in the muscle insertion. At this point, the long head of the biceps brachii leaves the capsule and continues in the intertubercular sulcus. The so-called rotator interval is reinforced and overlapped by two bands of the coracohumeral ligament (Werner et al., 2000).
The three glenohumeral ligaments, the superior, middle, and inferior glenohumeral ligaments, arise at the edge of the labrum. They reinforce the anterior inferior capsule and limit certain movements of the humerus by increasing tension. The effect of this increasing tension is to center the head in the socket with increasing extent of motion. The axillary recess runs between the two portions of the inferior ligament. The most important centering function is performed by the anterior portion of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. With increasing abduction and outward rotation (the back-swing phase of the throwing motion) it wraps around the head of the humerus and thus prevents abnormal forward displacement (subluxation) of the head. The subscapular muscle plays a decisive reinforcing role here.
The acromion, the coracoacromial ligament, and the coracoid process form the summit of the shoulder, the fornix humeri. The tendons of the rotator cuff and the subacromial bursa (not illustrated) lie in the subacromial space. In inflammatory processes, the tendons and the bursa can become impinged (clamped) between the tubercula and the fornix humeri. The tendons of the supraspinatus (SSP) and the infraspinatus (ISP) overlap. Only the teres minor (TM) cannot be clamped in this external impingement.
Acromioclavicular Joint
The acromioclavicular (AC) joint has all the characteristics typical of a classical amphiarthrosis:
It is part of the shoulder girdle motor complex.
Because it does not have its own muscles it moves only together with the neighboring joints.
Because of its rather flat joint surface and very tight ligaments it is not very mobile.
However, the joint is very small, with an intra-articular space of only about 1 cm long (▶ Fig. 2.6). Many people have an intra-articular disk. There are numerous variations in the shape of the acromial end of the clavicle in the frontal and transverse planes (De Palma, 1963; Moseley, 1968) and the clavicle is not always convex. Colegate-Stone et al. (2010) describe an even distribution of vertical, oblique, and curved (convex clavicle) shapes in the acromioclavicular joints of the specimens they studied.
One particular shape variation, with sides raised, looks like a volcano and makes precise location of the intra-articular space much harder.
The reinforcing ligaments of the AC joint (Saccomanno et al., 2014) are divided into the following:
Intrinsic ligaments: Superior and inferior acromioclavicular ligaments. The superior ligament is very strong and primarily limits all transverse movements, for instance the translatory tests of manual therapy (see ▶ Fig. 2.36).
Extrinsic ligaments: The coracoclavicular ligaments (conoid and trapezoid ligaments). Except in passive elevation of the shoulder, they are never completely relaxed. They guarantee stability in the face of large, transverse forces (e.g., when the intrinsic ligaments are torn) and limit vertical movements between acromion and clavicle.
Since the AC joint is an amphiarthrosis, it has no motor muscle supply of its own. Nevertheless, fibers in the descending portion of the trapezius muscle and the clavicular portion of the deltoid muscle can extend across the intraarticular space and, at a deep level, make contact with the capsule. For this reason, both muscles are suitable for active stabilization of the joint.
Sternoclavicular Joint
In the sternoclavicular (SC) joint, the movements of the shoulder girdle are facilitated while the forces for the shoulder girdle movements are exerted more on the scapula (▶ Fig. 2.7). During support of the arm and hand, it transfers compression forces on the thorax. Likewise, end-range arm elevations are transmitted via the first rib to the cervicothoracic transition.
It is anatomically classified as a sellar joint. However, the rotation of the clavicle during arm elevation means that it functions as a ball-and-socket joint. The narrow sternal end of the clavicle articulates with the joint surface of the sternal manubrium by means of a disk that subdivides each joint into two compartments. The joint space tilts in the frontal plane by approximately 45° from superomedial to inferolateral.
The joint, which is rather unstable in terms of its bony structure, derives its stability from intrinsic (directly capsule-reinforcing) and extrinsic ligaments (Sewell et al., 2013):
Intrinsic ligaments: Anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments, and interclavicular ligament.
The costoclavicular ligament is particularly interesting in terms of biomechanics. It is 3 to 10 mm long and is fused directly to the lateral edge of the sternoclavicular (SC) joint (Tubbs et al., 2009). End-range arm elevations are transferred to the first rib via tension of the costoclavicular ligament and further to the cervicothoracic transition. During protraction and retraction, this ligament tenses up and thus becomes a rotational axis. The clavicle therefore behaves consistently with the convex rule during movements in both planes. When a patient falls on an arm with a shoulder in protraction, in the worst case the clavicle can become dislocated in a posterior direction.
2.2 General Orientation—Posterior
2.2.1 Summary of the Palpatory Process
Palpation begins dorsally at the scapula, moves toward the acromioclavicular joint and then toward the SC joint, finishing with the anterolateral aspect.
This order has developed from experiences in continuing education courses and is a purely didactic suggestion. Of course, the therapist can begin the palpation at any point.
Starting Position
When the important structures in the shoulder girdle are being located in detail, a practice starting position (SP) is taken: upright-sitting on a stool or a treatment table with the arms hanging loosely by the sides. In this SP, all components of the shoulder complex are usually found in a neutral position and all structures can be reached with ease. Dorsal orientation in this region begins by observing the topographical location of the scapula in relation to the spinal column and the thorax. The position of the most familiar bony landmarks (inferior angle and acromion) is also checked. To do this, the therapist stands behind the patient.
2.2.2 Topographical Position of the Scapula
According to Winkel (2004), Kapandji (2006), and Williams (2009), the superior angle of the scapula is found at the level of the T1 spinous process and the second rib. The inferior angle of the scapula can be clearly palpated and is found at the same level as the T7 spinous process and the seventh rib. The triangular origin of the spine of the scapula can be located at the level of the T3 spinous process (▶ Fig. 2.8).
The correlations described above are very constant, but only apply when the shoulder is relaxed and a sitting or upright SP is used. They are no longer reliable, however, if the patient changes position, for example, into side-lying, as the position of the scapula has changed (e.g., there is more elevation or abduction).
Medial Border of the Scapula
When the shoulder joint rotates medially, the scapula follows and the medial border of the scapula moves away from the thoracic wall (▶ Fig. 2.9). This assists movement of the arm and is normal. It should not be considered pathological. Only the timing and the range of motion allow the therapist to draw conclusions about the ability of the shoulder joint to rotate medially. Extensive outward movement of the scapula indicates a decreased ability of the glenohumeral joint to rotate inward.
The medial border of the scapula is usually only visible when weakness in the rhomboids and serratus anterior results in insufficient thoracic stabilization of the scapula. Considerable weakness or paralysis in these muscles causes winging of the scapula especially when the arm is raised and is also known as scapula alata (▶ Fig. 2.10).
2.3 Local Palpation—Posterior
2.3.1 Overview of the Structures to be Palpated
2.3.2 Summary of the Palpatory Process
Following completion of the introductory orientation on the posterior aspect of the shoulder, first several important bony structures will be located. The palpation starts medially, over the spine of the scapula toward the lateral region of the shoulder. The different sections of the acromion are of special interest here and guide the therapist to two structures of great clinical importance: the supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
2.3.3 Palpation of Individual Structures
Inferior Angle of the Scapula
The inferior angle of the scapula is an important reference point when assessing movement of the scapula. Therapists use this structure for orientation when they are assessing the range of scapular motion during abduction and inward and outward rotation in relation to the spinal column.
Technique
To assess rotation of the scapula, the therapist first palpates the inferior angle of the scapula in its resting position. The patient is then instructed to raise the arm. With regard to scapular movement, it is of no significance whether this is done through flexion or abduction. Once the arm has been raised as far as possible, the therapist palpates the position of the angle again and assesses the range of motion (▶ Fig. 2.11). This is also compared with the other side. It is more difficult to locate the inferior angle when the latissimus dorsi is well developed.
Range of motion is not the only aspect of interest when analyzing movement of the scapula. Asymmetrical or even jerky movements of the inferior angle as it moves to assist elevation of the arm indicate poor coordination and a possible weakness of the serratus anterior. Two types of movement can be distinguished, particularly at the start and the end of arm elevation—scapular winging and scapular tipping. Scapular winging describes the brief swinging outward of the medial border of the scapula in the transverse plane. Scapular tipping describes the brief lifting of the inferior angle in the sagittal plane. A lack of support by the scapula for arm elevation not only limits the overall movement but can also be the cause of various forms of external or internal impingement of the shoulder joint.
Medial Border of the Scapula
The medial border of the scapula is located using a perpendicular technique and palpating from inferior to superior. This is the first opportunity for students to consciously use this technique and to differentiate between the soft and elastic consistency of the muscles and the hard resistance of the edge of bone.
Technique
The palpating fingertips come from a medial position and push against the border (▶ Fig. 2.12). It is easy to locate the inferior part of the border as relatively few muscles are found here that impede access. If the border is followed in a cranial direction, precise palpation becomes difficult.
If circumstances make it difficult to locate the border, it can help to ease the shoulder into medial rotation so that the medial border of the scapula wings out (see also ▶ Fig. 2.9). However, the aim of this palpatory exercise is to be able to find the edge of bone in any shoulder and with different tissue conditions.
Superior Angle of the Scapula
The superior angle lies at the cranial end of the medial border and approximately at the level of the second rib, thus usually lying higher in a cranial direction than expected.
Technique
The finger is placed as an extension of the medial border at the posterior edge of the descending trapezius muscle belly and palpates from cranial toward the angle.
It is very difficult to palpate the superior angle of the scapula. The trapezius that runs past it and the inserting levator scapulae are often very tense, making it difficult for the therapist to differentiate between the elevated muscle tension and the superior angle. Moreover, the first costotransverse joint, which is often sensitive, lies directly cranial. The therapist can avoid this problem by passively elevating the shoulder girdle. This can be done in any SP. The therapist elevates the shoulder girdle by pushing along the axis of the hanging arm. The superior angle is then recognized by its pressure from caudal against the palpating finger (▶ Fig. 2.13).
Spine of the Scapula—Inferior Edge
The spine of the scapula is another important bony reference point when palpating the posterior aspect. From this point, the therapist has reliable access to the acromion to the side and to the bellies of clinically prominent muscles (supraspinatus and infraspinatus). The spine of the scapula points toward the opening of the socket of the shoulder joint (glenoid cavity) and is the direction for manual therapeutic traction at the GH joint. For this reason, before applying traction to the joint, the manual therapist should determine the direction by palpating the spine of the scapula.
Technique
The inferior and superior edges of the spine of the scapula are palpated using the perpendicular technique we are already familiar with. The supraspinatus and infraspinatus are often quite tense, which makes locating the spine of the scapula more difficult than on the medial border of the scapula.
The inferior edge is palpated from medial to lateral. The spine of the scapula has a rolling, undulating shape that has developed as a result of the pull of muscular attachments, for example, the ascending part of the trapezius.
To locate the inferior edge exactly, the therapist uses the finger pads to push against the elastic resistance of the skin and muscles on the posterior side of the scapula and moves the palpating fingers in a superior direction until the finger pads encounter hard resistance (▶ Fig. 2.14).
The muscle belly of the infraspinatus lies in the space between the lower edge of the spine, the inferior angle, and the lateral border of the scapula.
Acromial Angle
Technique
At the lateral end of the inferior edge there is an angle that is distinctly prominent when the arm is hanging down—the acromial angle (▶ Fig. 2.15). At this point, the inferior edge of the spine describes an almost right-angle bend and runs anteromedial as the edge of the acromion.
Acromion
The acromion is also an important reference point. The height of the acromion in the resting position can indicate the presence of an elevated shoulder. During arm elevation, the acromion is also used for orientation to assess the range and speed of shoulder girdle elevation and, when observed from the side, retraction.
Spine of the Scapula—Superior Edge
In the next stage of the palpation, the superior edge of the spine of the scapula is followed from medial to lateral until it meets up with the posterior edge of the clavicle. The therapist will discover that the spine of the scapula is significantly thicker than imagined. When the superior and inferior edges are projected and drawn onto the skin, they are almost parallel to each other, appear very broad, and are approximately 2 cm apart.
Technique
Palpation uses the same technique of perpendicular palpation, this time with the pad of the finger pushing against the edge from cranial and following the edge from the medial origin of the spine in a lateral direction (▶ Fig. 2.16).
The spine of the scapula can be followed from its base to the acromion. The palpation finishes laterally when the fingertips encounter another hard structure. This is the posterior edge of the clavicle. Both of these bony edges (superior edge of the spine of the scapula and the posterior border of the clavicle) taper in toward each other and connect, forming a posterior V (see ▶ Fig. 2.27).
Supraspinatus—Muscle Belly
The muscle belly of the supraspinatus is found in its bony depression between the superior edge of the spine of the scapula and the descending part of the trapezius. Its muscle belly, and further lateral, the muscle-tendon transition, are palpable between the superior angle and the posterior V.
The muscle occasionally causes difficulties in its muscle belly or its insertion at the greater tubercle (external impingement or tendinosis).
Starting Position
To locate the muscle belly, the patient does not have to adopt a certain position and may remain sitting upright. The shoulder should be easily accessible from the side. For better access to the muscle-tendon transition, the muscle can be brought closer to the level of the scapula by passive abduction (scaption) (▶ Fig. 2.17). In this way, the position of the muscle-tendon transition is shifted and becomes more accessible to palpation.
Technique
The muscle belly of the supraspinatus is found deep in the supraspinous fossa and only the slender superficial section of the muscle can be reached directly. The therapist must therefore use a technique that can be applied to tight spaces but is nevertheless intense enough to reach the affected area.
Transverse friction is used for palpation. This technique is used during the assessment to confirm that this structure is symptomatic. It is also used with other techniques to treat tendinitis or tendinosis at the muscle-tendon junction or in injuries to the muscle belly.
The suitable technique here is to come from the side, positioning the middle finger parallel to the muscle fibers and applying pressure. The index finger is placed over the middle finger as support (▶ Fig. 2.17). Transverse friction is performed with deep pressure, moving from posterior to anterior by supination of the underarm. This technique can be used over the entire length of the muscle between the superior angle of the scapula and the posterior V.
The muscle becomes tendinous laterally. Its insertion into the greater tubercle is of clinical interest but is not accessible when the arm is positioned in neutral, as it is then found underneath the acromion. Location of this tendon is discussed in the section “Local Palpation—Anterolateral” below (Chapter 2.7).
Infraspinatus—Tendon and Insertion
Starting Position
The patient must assume a difficult position in order to make the clinically relevant parts of the infraspinatus accessible (muscle-tendon transition, tendon and its insertion). The patient is prone, very close to the edge of the treatment table on the side to be palpated.
The patient supports themselves on the forearms and a cushion is placed under the abdomen to prevent an uncomfortable hyperlordosis. This position produces a 70° flexion in the shoulder joint. In addition, the joint is slightly adducted (approx. 10°, elbows approximately 1 hand width from the edge of the treatment table) with approximately 20° external rotation (the hand has a firm grip on the edge of the treatment table) (▶ Fig. 2.18). Through the flexion the insertion at the greater tubercle, which is otherwise difficult to access under the acromion, is rotated outward and dorsally (▶ Fig. 2.19).
This position was described by Cyriax in 1984 and confirmed by studies of Mattingly and Mackarey in 1996. The tendon of the infraspinatus is tensed by the adduction and the support on the elbows, with a cranial push to the humerus, and acquires a firmer consistency. This makes it easier to define the boundary between the muscle-tendon transition and surrounding structures. During application of this technique as therapeutic transverse friction, the muscle-tendon transition and the tendon remain stable under the treating finger and do not slide away.
Alternative Starting Positions
The usual SP can cause discomfort in the cervical and lumbar spines despite padding in the abdominal area. Many massage therapists and physical therapists use other positions to avoid this problem:
The patient lies flat on the stomach (not supporting themselves on the forearms). The affected arm hangs down over the side of the treatment table and the forearm rests on a stool. The therapist then attempts to place the GH joint in slight adduction and lateral rotation again (▶ Fig. 2.20).
The patient sits on a stool at the head-end of the table. The head-end of the treatment table is lowered and the arm is placed in the position described above, resting on the head-end of the table (not illustrated). Mattingly and Mackarey were able to confirm in 1996 that the insertion is accessible in the same way.
All alternative starting positions are more comfortable for patients but are not particularly conducive to finding the tendon and the insertion site. They have the drawback that insufficient axial pressure is applied to the humerus to tighten up the tendon. The tendon feels less firm underneath the palpating finger and it is more difficult to differentiate it from the surrounding tissue and its insertion into the bone. The tendon gives way under the pressure applied during transverse friction.
Technique
The palpation starts at the already familiar posterior angle of the acromion (acromial angle, see ▶ Fig. 2.15). The location of the broad muscle-tendon transition of the infraspinatus can be found approximately 2 cm from the acromial angle toward the axilla (▶ Fig. 2.21). The palpating finger feels the muscle-tendon transition as a flat, tense structure that offers a firm, but still elastic resistance to transverse palpation. In order to find the tendon, palpation continues along the structure with transverse friction movements approximately 2 cm laterally, parallel to the scapular spine. The resistance felt by the finger is distinctly firmer. To find the insertion at the middle facet of the greater tubercle (see ▶ Fig. 2.60), palpation continues along the tendon, which becomes progressively flatter, further in a lateral direction until a hard resistance is felt. This is the tenoosseous junction, the infraspinatus insertion. This line of palpation can be repeatedly disturbed by coarse fiber bundles of the deltoid muscle. Their course is typically oblique, rising to the superomedial. | https://basicmedicalkey.com/chapter-2-shoulder-complex/ |
Tagoylo1 Ha AS, Petscavage- Thomas JM, Tagoylo GH. The small bony lump on the top of your shoulder is the acromio clavicular joint ( ACJ). 7% ) and GH arthritis ( 1% ) ; 2 cases of acromioclavicular joint arthritis and one case of malignancy ( multiple myeloma) were also diagnosed ( Table 1). CT performed to better delineate the fracture site. It is the junction between the acromion ( part of the scapula that forms the highest point of the shoulder) and the clavicle. The principal ligament to consider is the coracoclavicular ligament with a lesser role played by the acromioclavicular ligament. Osteolysis may reverse Distal Clavicular Osteolysis. Displaying the acromio- clavicular joint( the joint between the acromion process of the scapula and the head of the humerus). Prog Clin Biol Res. Several ligaments hold the joint in place. There is resorption of the distal clavicle and small cysts in the distal clavicle in this young weight lifter with pain in. ACROMIO- CLAVICULAR ( AC) JOINT DISLOCATIONS 1. They concluded that this was a more accurate guide for anatomic CC ligament reconstruction when compared with reported mean distance measurements, regardless of gender. Acromio- clavicular Joint.
Sinovita acromionului clavicular. Clavicular joint, then the deltotrapezial fas- cia is intact, thereby distinguishing a type III from a type IV injury [ 7]. Acromioclavicular separation refers to abnormal widening of the acromioclavicular joint. Hombro El hombro es la parte donde se une el brazo con el torso. Acromio- Clavicular joint this image shows the anatomy of the bones forming the shoulder joint from anterior view. Acromio- clavicular joint and ligament injuries usually result from a fall or collision. This injury usually results from a fall onto the tip of the shoulder or on to the back of the shoulder. The injury is caused by direct trauma to the shoulder. Determined that each ligament reliably inserts on the clavicle at a proportion of total clavicular length ( 17 % trapezoid, 31 % conoid) from the distal end. Introduction: The acromio- clavicular joint is between the clavicle ( collar bone) and the acromion ( shoulder bone). Syndromes and situations associated with congenital clavicular hypoplasia or agenesis. Superior acromioclavicular ligament This ligament is a quadrilateral band, covering the superior part of the articulation, and extending between the upper part of the lateral end of the clavicle and the adjoining part of the upper surface of the acromion. Acromioclavicular Joint: The Other Joint in the Shoulder Alice S. From the case: Avulsion fracture coraco- clavicular ligament origin. Acromio- clavicular Joint and Ligament Injuries.
A supraclavicular foramen is a normal anatomical variant and incidental finding. And the joint between the. Dec 16, · Rios et al. Case contributed by Dr Chris O' Donnell. Ligamentous injury to the acromioclavicular joint is classified by Grade I, II, and III injuries. 3D VR bone window Avusion of bone from the base of the coracoid on its cephalad surface at the origin of the. The acromion is driven downwards and the tip of the clavicle remains behind; this. Luxación acromioclavicular 1. It' s where the collar bone ( clavicle) meets the top part of the shoulder blade ( acromion). The acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, is a joint at the top of the shoulder. If you suspect an AC injury Petscavage- Thomas2 Gino H. Centros de osificación primarios o de una inadecuada reabsorción ósea de un único centro de osificación clavicular. Clavicular ligaments), and four accessory ligaments ( the conoid, trapezoid, coracoclavicular, and coracoacro- mial ligaments). Está formado por tres huesos: la clavícula, el omóplato y el húmero; así como por músculos, ligamentos y tendones.
1982; 104: 279- 88. Avulsion fracture coraco- clavicular ligament origin. A study on the aetiological profile of pain around shoulder among patients attending physical medicine and rehabilitation department of a. | http://lyjetuyapo.cf/c1a0b1a2a.html |
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