Enhancing the Competitive Strategy Bank Muscat SAOG Assignment

Enhancing the Competitive Strategy Bank Muscat SAOG - Assignment Example This service should come hand in hand with liaising with other companies such as the utility companies to ensure that their bills can be paid through the bank for the customers in the bank. This will consequently increase the number of customers and also increase the revenues collected since the customers will be transacting at a fee. The bank is looking at going global in order to have the muscle and the ability to fight off any economic downturns that may face the country in the long-run. The markets in the country are volatile meaning that the bank is located in an economy that may change making it unstable. Backing the bank’s capital base and ensuring that the country cannot be worst hit by the economic or political downturns in the country can only be changed by increasing the number of branches outside the country (Bank Muscat, 2014). The bank therefore needs to assess the markets and spot the growing markets in order to establish branches in countries that have the best returns. The branches can be located in the neighboring countries such as Pakistan and India that are not too far away and in the process control the banking sector in the region through increasing their branches in the region further (Jeffreys, 2012). Targeting premier customer in the developed and developing countries such as Malay sia, China and Brazil where there is available markets for the service is also critical. The Bank should ensure that it does not back its assets in only a single area but back the assets through a stream of countries from all over the world and as a result gain the required capital base from abroad that cannot be affected by the Oman economy (Claessens and Van, 2007). The country may also consider merging with banks in the different countries that they wish to invest and ensure that the banks have a good reputation in order to ensure that the citizens of the countries believe in the bank. This is

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 12

Sociology - Essay Example ution, or a new release of iProduct, sociology looks at things through sociological imagination or sociological consciousness in an attempt to decode how these events or social forces influence the society. Berger offers sociological consciousness as one of the best descriptions of sociological imagination (author, p. 4). He explains that the sociological consciousness engages us in the meanings and patterns to make sense of what is really going on in our society. Sociology has three broad perspectives: functionalist, conflict and symbolic interaction. Each of these perspectives looks at different aspects when it comes to understanding the society. Each of them focuses on certain social dynamics. While the functionalist and conflict perspective view things in a broader angle, the symbolic interaction view things in a more intimate level. The functionalist perspective views society as a system of interrelated and interdependent parts (author, p.30). It likens the society to our body, wherein one part is interrelated and interdependent with another part. One part of the body cannot be separated from another, or else the entire body will cease functioning properly. The society is made of such that allow it to function properly. Examples of these are its members, the school, culture, the government, and other institutions. Although the conflict perspective does not reject the functionalist perspective that the society is a system of interrelated parts, it focuses more on the separation of these parts, or organizations that make up the society. The symbolic interaction perspective, on the other hand, aims to understand the interrelationships of these parts, and how each one is be ing interpreted differently by each system, or organization. With these focuses alone, we can see that the three perspectives are focused on the different aspects of the society, therefore interpreting each social issue or event in a unique ways. Based on how the three perspectives view the

Economy of the Netherlands

Economy of the Netherlands Introduction The Netherlands is the main country of the Kingdom of Netherlands. It comprises of 3 main large and important cities, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam is the country’s capital. The economy of Netherlands is market based and ranks 16th of 177 countries and was also ranked the 4th happiest country in the world. The Dutch economy is afree-market economy. They have the world’s 16th best economy due to its early industrialization, specialized exports and agricultural growth. They focus mainly on exporting ideas, technology and maintaining good relations with other countries. The Dutch from a long time are known as traders and almost 2/3rd of the economy is based on foreign trade. Along with the United States, the country has been an important part of international free trade. The have a total market share of 3.9%, ranking it 6th in the international exportation of goods. They have a history of trade, as they (1600-1700) carried spices and other raw materials from India and other Asian countries to Europe and manufactured products back. They were the ones to open trade (seaborne) with China and Japan. The design of their having large cargo holds and small crew was the reason of their success. This reduced the cost of transportation of good. The tradition continues even today as the nation remains dependent on trade. The Dutch today are the distribution center of Europe. Rotterdam having the Port of Rotterdam (one of the largest single ports) handles annually 400 million tons of cargo has the most advanced facilities in the world. The 4th largest port in Western Europe i.e. The Port of Amsterdam and holds 7.4% of the market shares. It plays a vital role in the economy of both city and the country, contributing 45 million Euros in 2007, also adding 5.2 billion Euros to the city’s value. The shipping industry hugely impacts the economy. In 2007, D utch exports were 318 billion Euros comparing to imports of 285 billion Euros. The country is the second largest (after US) exporter of food in the world. Over 1/2 of the shipping industry comprises of re-exportation which equals to 140 billion Euros (2007). The reason why this small country is capable of carrying transportation on such large basis and shipping is due to its exploration of new ides of transportation. World War II and After The German armies in May 1940 overran The Netherlands and the bombing destroyed the center of the city of Rotterdam. Queen Wilhelmina (1840-1948) and the Dutch government exiled (UK). The Dutch government (which exiled) declared war on Japan after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. In 1942 The Dutch East Indies fell. The government (after World War II) returned and then began the process of rebuilding. The Dutch under the European Recovery Program received more than $100,000,000 in aid. The Netherlands joined with Belgium and Luxembourg to form Benelux (customs union that went into effect in 1948) becoming charter member of the UN. In 1949, Dutch joined North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and in 1958 became a member of the European Union. A military conflict over West New Guinea, came up with Indonesia when independence was granted in 1949.The Netherlands reclaimed it in 1962. The postwar rebuilding phase was followed by an economic boom, highly developed social-welfare system was established under socialist governments. Dutch exports and imports grew about 7.5% annually in the last four decades, while in the last two decades re-exports experienced a boom. Trade policy, reducing in import taxes and other trade barriers and the creating a European internal market, significantly impacts on the growth of trade. The major reason in an increase in trade is income developments. Without any liberalization of trade policy since 1970 the ratio of trade (excluding re-exports) to GDP would have been about 8% points lower. The trade policy has contributed 6% 8% to the growth of national income in Netherlands since the 1970s. Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) experienced a massive but erratic growth, mostly in the last two decades. Dutch trade has increased by about 7.5 % a year on average between 1971 and 2005. Exports grew slightly faster than imports. Trade and FDI grew thus much faster than GDP. Dutch firms are becoming more and more internationalized. The goods exports of the Dutch firms doubled from 88% in 1969 to 175% in 2007. The re-exports of goods rose even more, i.e. from 16% 1969 to 154% in 2007. Services exports remained stable as a share in value added. This observation does not alter the fact that services exports has increased over time as did the value added of services. Services became much more important in the economy over that period. The composition of GDP changes in favor of services. Because services sectors are less open to trade than manufacturing sectors total exports increased less than good exports alone. Exports for goods and services and re-exports increased gradually from 51% of the value added of all Dutch firms in 1969 to 93% in 2007. The increase in trade is mainly caused by increased trade with existing trading partners. FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) has grown particularly fast, at a much higher rate than trade transactions since the 1980s. FDI flows have increased by about 25% per year on average and trade flows by about 10%. International capital control restrictions and strict national capital market regulation prevented the international unification of capital markets. After the abolishment of these controls FDI started to rise, first slowly but after 1985 it has accelerated with several peaks. The peaks in Dutch inward and outward flows in 2001 was due to a large extent by investments of banks and holding companies. The country supports investments and innovation by setting aside â‚ ¬ 500 million for a Research and Development Allowance for businesses. For innovative projects more capital is made available via the Innovation Fund for SMBs. The Ministry has created a business web portal to improve services for the business sector. Tourism and recreation are vital to the Dutch economy. A record number of almost 12 million tourists visited this country in 2012, spending a total of â‚ ¬5 billion. As in previous years, the majority were from Germany. The tourism industry has an annual turnover of â‚ ¬37 billion. It also accounts for 400,000 jobs – 4.5% of the national total. The government wants to boost tourism by attracting more visitors from abroad. The manufacturing industry (second largest sector of the economy), comprises 17% of the total economy. Oil and natural gas deposits forms 3% of this sector.The manufacturing sector is mainly developing and designing of high-tech products to be produced at a less cost for exportation. The twelfth largest portion is the public sector. Efforts have been made by the government of tax breaks and privatization. The Agriculture Sector accounts for two percent of the economy and is important because the industry provides over 600,000 jobs, and accounts for 1/5th of Dutch exports. As of 1 January 2012 antibiotic use in agriculture is to be cut by 20%. The local authorities, citizens, companies and civil society will conclude green deals. Sustainable energy production will increase with the help of an incentive scheme for SMBs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation will release more than â‚ ¬ 288 million in government cuts from the merger of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The first savings of â‚ ¬ 49.1 million will be released in 2012. Statistics: Trade: % of Dutch companies are exporters. 33% of income generated from abroad. 44% of employees work for exporting companies. 87% of RD expenditure is provided by exporting industries. Foreign Investments: 1% of companies in Netherlands have foreign ownerships. 15% of Dutch people work for foreign owned companies. 25% of GDP comes from foreign owned companies. 33% of RD expenditure is provided foreign investors. Rankings of Netherlands: 5th largest global exporter. 7th largest global importer. 7th largest global investor. 8th largest receiver of foreign investments. 16th largest global economy. Exports per Sector: 41% re-exports from imports. 34% from industries. 6% from trade and transport. 4% industry and energy. 4% financial services. 3% business services. 3% agriculture, forest and fisheries. According to Statistics Netherlands the economy decreased by 0.2% in this year’s second quarter, while the first quarter showed double this figure. Both consumer spending and business investments decreased in this year’s second quarter. During the same period exports grew by 0.4%. The number of jobs decreased by 147,000. Future Prospects: Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth: More wind turbines A thousand new wind turbines are to be built. By 2020, 14% of all energy will be generated from renewable sources, rising to 16% by 2023. Resources for home insulation The government is investing â‚ ¬400 million in insulating rented homes. As well as reducing heating costs and emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2, this measure will generate new jobs. More jobs Taken together, the investments in energy from renewable sources and energy conservation will create 15,000 jobs. An energy label for every home All privately owned and rented homes that have not already been assigned one, will be allocated energy label starting in 2015, indicating the home’s energy efficiency and raising awareness of energy consumption. Tighter agreements on emissions trading Tighter European agreements are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The government wants the EU to take steps to improve the CO2 emissions trading system, to reduce emissions by at least 80% by 2050. National Energy Saving Fund Homeowners can take out low-interest loans to fund energy-saving measures, financed by the National Energy Saving Fund, which has a budget of â‚ ¬600 million. Tax breaks for local clean energy initiatives Local initiatives in which people club together to generate electricity from sustainable resources will be rewarded withlower energy tax ratesfor those involved. This may for example include residents who club together to invest in a large solar panel system, placed on the roof of a school or warehouse. Relations with India Since 1947, Indo-Dutch relations have been excellent, marked by strong economic and commercial ties, based on foundation of shared democratic ideals, pluralism, multiculturalism and rule of law. Indo-Dutch relations have been multi-faceted and encompass close cooperation in various areas including political, economy, academics and culture. Since the early 1980s, the Dutch Government has identified India as an important economic partner. The relations underwent further intensification after India’s economic liberalization in the 1990s with growing recognition of India as an attractive trade and investment partner. For many decades, India was a major recipient of Dutch development aid. Today contacts between the two countries focus mainly on economic, technical and scientific cooperation. Economic relations India has developed into a rapidly expanding economy, focused on technological development and technical and scientific cooperation. The Netherlands is a major investor in India, through Dutch companies involved in sectors like technology, energy, logistics, financial services and transport. Central government seeks out opportunities for Dutch companies and tries to attract Indian investment to the Netherlands. There are particularly lucrative opportunities for Dutch companies in the following sectors of India’s economy: agri food, logistics (ports, shipping and inland waterways), technology (the automotive and defence industries), infrastructure and water management, energy, health, chemicals and creative industry. Dutch interest in India as a trading partner has increased sharply, and although trade remains limited, it is growing rapidly. Exports from the Netherlands to India include machinery, optical equipment, cast iron and steel. The main Dutch imports from India are mineral fuels, including oil. The enormous trade and investment potential of the Indian market offers plenty of scope for expanding Dutch exports to and investments in India. Help can be provided by the Dutch Trade Board (DTB), a public-private partnership that works to strengthen the position of Dutch companies abroad. The Netherlands has an extensive trade promotion network comprised of the embassy in New Delhi, the consulate-general in Mumbai and two Netherlands Business Support Offices in Chennai and Ahmedabad. Dutch entrepreneurs can contact them for information about market opportunities and for assistance with government contacts. Trade missions and networking meetings are also organized. The Dutch embassy in New Delhi promotes the interests of entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector. There are also technical and scientifically attached in both Delhi and Mumbai, who focus on matters such as establishing contacts between Dutch and Indian universities. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) also has an office which provides advice, information and practical support to entrepreneurs wishing to do business in India. In recent months the Ministry of Economic Affairs, together with several Indian states, the Netherlands Agro, Food and Technology Centre (NAFTC) and Greenport Holland International (GHI) have worked on proposals for the establishment of Dutch-Indo Centers of Excellence. India’s central Government has now agreed to the establishment of 10 Dutch–Indo Centers of Excellence across India and has given the green light for the steps necessary for further development. The Centers of Excellence will provide training and give businesses the opportunity to demonstrate their production methods and techniques. Dutch businesses will contribute to increasing food production in India through improved production methods, logistics and food safety measures. The ten Centers of Excellence will concentrate on the horticulture, dairy cattle, potato, meat and pork chains and will provide opportunities for collaboration between Dutch and Indian businesses. Trade and investment cooperation a key component of India-Netherlands relationship has shown satisfactory growth over the years. Two-way trade has continued to grow steadily, reaching Euro 5.287 billion in 2011. Netherlands remains among the top ten partners of India in terms of trade volume with positive balance of trade in favor of India. It is also one of the largest investor in terms of foreign direct investment into India with FDI inflows during period 2000 to 2011 amounting to US $ 5.62 billion (accounting for 4.3% of total inflows into India). Indian investments into Netherlands during period 1996 to 2010 amounted to $11.46 billion. The current ongoing Eurozone crisis has not seriously impacted trade and investment flows between India and Netherlands. India’s exports to and imports from Netherlands have significantly increased during past 3-4 years and the same is true for trade in services. Many Dutch multinationals and major companies like Phillips, Shell, Unilever (Hindustan Lever in India), KLM, the three big banks – ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank and others have a growing and successful presence in India. Dutch SMEs with niche technologies and world-class expertise are also actively looking at the Indian market. Similarly, several Indian companies including major IT companies have established their presence in Netherlands. There have been major acquisitions and mergers by Indian companies including that of Tata Corus (now Tata Steel), Apollo – Vredestein, acquisition of Theodoor Gilissen Bankiers by Hindujas and many Indian companies are exploring the possibilities for further tie-ups. The proposal for opening a branch of State Bank of India in Amsterdam is also under process. There is potential for further bilateral collaboration in areas like water management, infrastructure, logistics, ports, highways; inland water transportation; ICT; biotech; agriculture, agro-processing, floriculture, creative design industry. Main Indian expor ts to Netherlands are textiles garments; electric machinery equipment, agricultural products and processed foods including marine products; leather goods; cars and other vehicles, organic chemicals, rubber, plastics works thereof; mineral and metal products. Main products imported from Netherlands to India are machinery/equipment; medical/optical instruments, chemicals; plastics, metal products. Since the beginning of the year there have been several trade missions and business relations established between The Netherlands and India. A number of high-level official visits have taken place including visits by Dutch Minister of Infrastructure Environment as well as by Mayors of Rotterdam and Amsterdam and Vice Mayor of The Hague with delegations. Foreign Minister Prof. Dr. Uri Rosenthal made an official visit to India at the invitation of Honble External Affairs Minister Shri S.M. Krishna where opportunities for Dutch investments in logistics, water management and communications were discussed. The trade mission of 40 Dutch businesses to India led by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen, met with an enthusiastic response from Indian entrepreneurs and investors.During the mission a number of agreements were signed in both New Delhi and Mumbai, worth tens of millions of euros. The Dutch SME Schouten Food Products, which specializes in manufacturing protein-rich meat substitutes, for instance signed a â‚ ¬10 million contract with a local Indian partner. Talks were also held with Indian companies interested in investing in the Netherlands. These included United Phosphorus Ltd, which decided to earmark â‚ ¬15 million for the expansion of its factory in Rotterdam. Ms Ploumen expressed satisfaction at the mission’s outcome. ‘Trade with India generates jobs and income in the Netherlands,’ she said. In talks with the Indian authorities, the Minister urged that the trade and investment climate between the Netherlands and India be improved, along with market access. During the mission it was decided to establish a joint committee on investment and trade, so as to eliminate existing trade barriers between the two countries and strengthen economic ties. Ms Ploumen also spoke with Indian ministers, organizations and companies about corporate social responsibility. It was agreed that both countries would meet again soon to pursue this discussion, and invite companies like Tata and Unilever to join it. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation between their two countries in the fields of spatial planning and architecture, water and transport management, and sustainable building took place this year. The aim is to learn from one another and to open doors for the business community. There is potential for further bilateral collaboration in areas like water management, infrastructure, logistics, ports, highways, inland water transportation, ICT, biotech, agriculture, agro-processing, floriculture, creative design industry. Main Indian exports to Netherlands are textiles garments, electric machinery equipment, agricultural products and processed foods including marine products, leather goods, cars and other vehicles, organic chemicals rubber, plastics works thereof, mineral and metal products. Main products imported from Netherlands to India are machinery/equipment; medical/optical instruments; chemicals; plastics, metal products.

Ross Assessment of Activities in the Middle East :: Politics Political Regimes Essays Papers

Ross' Assessment of Activities in the Middle East Winds of change continue to sweep through lands traditionally ruled by cruel regimes, as the people of these nation-states set aside their fears and vote with their feet. Participation in nations such as Georgia, Ukraine, and Lebanon has increased, and the question lingers as to whether these changes will be merely a breeze, or have more far-reaching and lasting effects. As former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Dennis Ross, comments on the situations in the Middle East, he analyzes possible outcomes and makes policy suggestions on how to catalyze and encourage further movement away from corrupt authoritarian regimes. In his assessment of activities in the Middle East, Ross recognizes the doubtfulness of any kind of swift and complete transition away from the corruption that so often characterizes the governments of the region. The nuclear situation in Iran, and one of the proposals on how to deal with it, provide a small scale representation of the problems that result from cooperative dealings. Just as the carrots-and-sticks approach to the situation in Iran presents the problem of Iran?s compliance with the terms, so does the general climate of the Middle East. The way in which a nation chooses to present itself and its actions does not always reflect what is actually occurring; gestures and actions are not necessarily supported by genuine sentiment. Despite the fact that his calls for collective action by the United States, Europe, and Japan provide a hypothetically effective solution, the fear may arise that no action will be taken, regardless of the presence of an agreement. Though multilateralism seems to be a good way of handling these issues of corruption, transition, and hopefully, liberalization, it is by no means foolproof. As long as self-interest is prioritized above collective interest on the international agendas of nations like the United States, multilateralism cannot be a sure-fire solution. There exist no guarantees that the continued oppressiveness of various Middle Eastern regimes will prove the greatest threat to national and international security; therefore, there lies the possibility that other issues prove to be more urgent and take precedence. As a result, nations involved in this agreement may have more pressing concerns to address, and choose to withdraw or not participate fully if a response is needed . Ross acknowledges the capability of liberal activity in the region as a force with a possible spillover effect.

1984 Expository Essay Essay

The Book 1984 was written by George Orwell shortly after W.W.II. The book really shows us what would happen if the government gets too powerful. The world of 1984 is so organize that it has many high technologies to keep people on line or more importantly is to control. However, our world is much more different, we have our own individualism, freedom, and power. First of all, our world is much more different than the world of 1984, because we have our own individualism. In the world of 1984 is much more different than that. You have no individualism, everything you do is been monitor by the telescreen, which is everywhere in the world of 1984. It picks up every movement and sound where it is placed. So when Winston, the main character in the story, writing the diary, he have to hide from the telescreen, because in the world of 1984 writing a diary is a crime. On the other hand, our world is much more different. We can do almost whatever we want, like written diary or go to sleep, without scare to get caught or being monitor. Moreover, our world is much more different than the world of 1984, because we have our own freedom. This world you can have freedom of almost anything. You can speak or learn whatever language you want, practice your religion, and write whatever you want. But in the world of 1984, the country had developed its own language called Newspeak. See more: Recruitment and selection process essay It was unique in the sense that, while other languages helped increase communication, it was formed to decrease it. The language lost words pretty regularly to reduce the amount of brain activity, making communication more limited. When you can worship anything or anyone you want, exercise in your own time or you don’t have to, and love anyone you want. But, in the world of 1984, everything is much more different. You cannot love or worship anything you want; all you need is Big Brother, who is the leader of the Party and also the one that control you.

Community Based Participatory Planning As Renovation Policy Environmental Sciences Essay

City of Tehran is enduring from huge dilapidated countries which involve both societal every bit good as physical diminution. This job has been reflected in urban development policies that have been established by authorities governments every bit good as the metropolis counsellors and private stakeholders. To face with this job, Tehran municipality has established a chief redevelopment organisation. During the last decennaries assorted policies has been adapted and implemented by this organisation. The paper would reexamine and analyse these policies and the result of their executions. The policies vary from strictly physical redevelopment of the dilapidated countries which does non requires the engagement of the local occupant in the planning and design procedure and have relied wholly on cardinal determination devising and support. On the manus, participatory planning procedure was promoted and new attacks have been adopted to profit from the bing societal capital and to construct upon the strengths of the occupants and their societal webs to suggest programs and to implement them. Khazaneh is located in southern Tehran, and is the focal point of an existent redevelopment undertaking reported in this paper. Here a participatory planning attack is adapted and new local councils are established to seek occupants ‘ penetrations into the local program and to inform them of the thoughts of contrivers. This has provided a bipartisan planning system, which is embracing both the ends of the cardinal planning system every bit good as the purposes of the local community. Keywords-Tehran, Dilapidated vicinities, Renovation, Participation.IntroductionCities are unrecorded entities that are dynamic and active and are invariably restituting themselves cell by cell. Cities grow bit by bit, during which vicinities are shaped. As dynamic entities, their physical quality and societal position alteration over clip. This dynamic being normally self-repairs itself in both physical and societal sense. However sometimes this natural procedure of determining and reshaping is interrupted or malfunctioned. At such times/places, the natural growing procedures are non equal to keep the quality of life and environment. This malfunction may be due to absolute poorness as in slum status, or due to comparative poorness and inequality which itself causes a barbarous circle. In this state of affairs normally deprived countries take form and as a consequence, dilapidated vicinities go a world of metropoliss. To interrupt this barbarous circle it is required to step in and mend the malfunction of these metropoliss, to be able to make the ego fix and eliminate the bedraggled vicinities. Normally any intercessions to cover with rundown countries of metropoliss in order to heighten quality of life are conducted from top-down, as it is normally conducted by governments with small engagement of occupants. Any intercession without citizen engagement has societal, economical, cultural and political effects that should be considered. One the most of import negative responses is opposition of citizen to any betterment of the vicinity as they do non swear governments.techniques of redevelopmentsIn order to restitute dilapidated vicinities assorted methods can be adopted. Habibi and Maghsoudi ( 2005 ) acknowledge four types of intercessions in the deprived vicinities. Preservation and healthful method: that enhances environmental qualities Preservation and adorning method: that enhance and continue the picturesque and architectural quality of the metropolis, such as continuing ocular corridors and old edifices and making a feasible construction for the vicinities Rebuilding of metropoliss: as it happens after any catastrophes. Man made or natural catastrophes. This method of redevelopment is aimed to retrace national pride. Renovation of bedraggled vicinities can done with any of this methodsDilapidated vicinity in metropolis of TehranTehran, the capital and largest metropolis of Iran is located in southern inclines of Alborz Mountains and is stretched over 40 kilometers to the south towards desert. Teheran is merely 200 old ages old, and merely during the past half century had a rapid population growing and physical enlargement. The metropolis had a really fast growing during both the 2nd Pahlavi rein and particularly the past one-fourth century after the Islamic Revolution. Rundown vicinities are the sad world of metropolis of Tehran. Dilapidated or rundown vicinities are the most of import job of metropolis of Tehran, as: The country of the bedraggled vicinity in Tehran is 3268 hectare which is 15 % of the metropolis country About of half of the lodging units of the metropolis are located in this vicinities Approximately 40 % of Tehran ‘s population is populating in these vicinities. They are among the poorest people of the metropolis. Physical, functional, substructure, transit services, environmental factors, societal and economical status are really hapless in these countries. Unhealthy life conditions and risky locations Most of these countries are located in the southern portion of the metropolis Table I compares the services degrees of these countries with norm of these indexs in the metropolis degree. As can be considered lodging countries is twice as it is the remainder of the metropolis which a mark of instability. Table I Comparing per centum and per capita of land utilizations in bedraggled vicinity and metropolis of Tehran Land usage Dilapidated Vicinities Average in City of Tehran Proposed criterion for Tehran Percentage Per capita Percentage Per capita Residential 29.04 18.76 23.54 22.77 20.93 Green countries 3.63 1.39 8.46 8.18 9.12 Urban services 5.35 2.05 6.03 5.84 10.9 Retails and offices 5.30 2.03 3.47 3.36 1.94 Transportation system and storage 1.79 .69 4.49 4.34 5.19 Roadss 27.32 10.45 18.73 18.11 24.81 Some of the physical indexs of decrepitude of vicinities as defined by ministry of lodging and urban planning in 1999 are ; A- Poor quality of the constructions of the edifices that can non defy even low magnitude temblor forces, B- unequal permeableness of vicinities specially unequal auto entree to such countries. C- Small grain in the morphology of these countries ( less than 200 square metres ) . In add-on to the above standards of acknowledging dilapidated vicinities harmonizing to different definitions the common standards for acknowledgment of these types of vicinities are: Lack of societal, economic every bit good as physical quality Lack of proper entree, substructure and services in the vicinities Vulnerability of constructions to natural catastrophes due to old and unstable constructions Inability to restitute edifices due to poorness and deficiency of capital for investing Out migration of occupants and societal instability due to replacement of new occupants with weaker economical base Legal jobs due to inheritance Torahs and endowment ordinances Some of the jobs that rose in Tehran due to the dilapidated countries are: Economic and societal inequality as a consequence of polarisation in the metropolis ( Abbaszadegan, Rezazadeh 2006 ) . Domination of physical orientated urban planning that does non concern with societal and economical conditions Lack of handiness due to narrow and unequal roads which causes hapless permeableness of vicinities Low value of belongingss in the disadvantaged countries of the metropolis, therefore the redevelopment of the private land and belongingss is non economically plausible Lack of adequate and appropriate services Low building quality which causes edifices to rundown quicklyPrecedence TO RENOVATION OF TEHRANHowever urban redevelopment was an issue in Tehran, after entry and blessing of Tehran ‘s maestro program in 1969, the issue gained a new impulse. This program proposed 2000 hectares of the lowest quality residential vicinities to be renovated within a 25 old ages period, in which 600,000 people would be replaced from their topographic points of abode. Tehran ‘s Renovation Corporation was established in 1972 and in 1977, the South Tehran Renovation and Reconstruction Corporation was established where extended dilapidated countries of the metropolis were located. In 1995 a new mission statement for the redevelopment corporation was developed harmonizing on which this corporation could advance development in these countries through funding. This funding is through Bankss and other fiscal institutes and could besides be through portions every bit good as credits. Since 2004 authorization programs for bedraggled countries were proposed ; this was conducted in three stages. After execution of each stage the programs were evaluated and the range of the work was revised. This alterations and alterations were chiefly off from the up-bottom type attack towards a stronger citizen participatory attack. Renovation Corporation of Tehran assigned the undermentioned ends for redevelopment of bedraggled vicinities: Safety: increasing safety of edifice in facing Earth temblors. Equity: to do equal chance for development of the metropolis and non to hold polarized metropolis by regenerating dilapidated vicinities and eradicate poorness, heightening quality of life in the disadvantaged countries and doing equal chances for all citizens of the metropolis. Revival: heightening sense of citizenship and sense of belonging to districts and giving significance to topographic points through utilizing individuality component and maximising engagement of occupants in redevelopment procedure in the disadvantaged countries Capacity edifice: utilizing chances that have been offered for the redevelopment of bedraggled vicinities in order to increase the capacity of the metropolis in conformity with its national, regional and international functions.THE CONTEMPORARY RENOVATION PROCESSThe Reconstruction of Tehran shows a transition from the autocratic Reconstruction towards participatory Reconstruction. One of the major Reconstruction undertakings of Tehran is related to Navaab vicinity. This old and dilapidated vicinity was located in southern parts of Tehran, which is now dissected with a north-south main road into two parts. The Reconstruction of the next vicinity has been conducted without seeking any engagement from the people. These intercessions were chiefly technocratic, autocratic and top-bottom. The occupants of these three vicinities were chiefly hapless and vulnerable and in all instances they were displaced. Merely in the last two instances, the Moft Abad and Khoob Bakht neighborhoods the supplanting was into the nearest possible topographic point to their old vicinity. Jabbari and Hasanzadeh ( 2008 ) have shown that these vicinities which are revitalized through a top-down and autocratic attack have confronted many jobs. These jobs are summarized in table II. TABLE II THE EXPERIENCE OF RENOVATION IN THREE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS IN TEHRAN Standards Salsabil Moft Abad Khoob Bakht Intervension attack Technocratic, autocratic and top-down Technocratic, autocratic and top-down Technocratic, autocratic and top-down Socio-economic group Poor and vulnerable Poor and vulnerable Poor and vulnerable Placelessness much Not known Not known supplanting Compulsory ( completed ) Compulsory in next countries Voluntary in outlying countries ( In advancement ) Compulsory in next and outlying countries ( In advancement )Engagement IN URBAN RENOVATIONContrasting to the autocratic attack is the participatory attack which is a bottom-up attack and seeks citizen engagement. Participatory planning is an urban planning paradigm which emphasizes affecting the full community in the strategic and direction procedures of urban planning or community-level planning procedures. In urban redevelopment procedure, engagement is a new attack which could be applied in both planning and design procedure. Cowan ( 2005 ) believes that engagement is a procedure in which involved the populace with the alterations in the metropolis, therefore its application would supply a key to development in all facets of urban life. Harmonizing to Oxford dictionary engagement is people ‘s mental and emotional engagement in societal activities and encourages them to assist each other in order to accomplish group ends. Here the three chief issues of importance in engagement are involvement, helping and undertaking duty. Sherry Arnstein ( 1971 ) introduced this construct as a contrasting and alternate to autocratic attack of planning. Smith ( 1973 ) argued that citizen engagement is an indispensable component in doing the planning procedure a acquisition system. This leads to a strengthening of the definition and function of communities in the urban system, and to an unexpected demand of contrivers who would follow a participatory planning procedure. Shirvani ( 1985 ) identifies two types of attacks in the overall strategy ; these are facilitator attack and political militant attack. Harmonizing to Shirvani ( 1985 ) , facilitator attack uses participatory methods for both job definition and coevals of design solution. Sanoff ( 2000 ) defines facilitation as ‘a agencies of conveying people together to find what they wish to make and assisting them find ways to work together in make up one's minding how to make it ‘ . Sherry Arnstein ( 1971 ) equates citizen engagement with citizen authorization which explains it through the participatory ladder. It starts from the lowest degrees of engagement which are use and therapy to middle scope of engagement which includes ratting, confer withing and conciliation, and eventually at the highest degree of engagement are partnership, deputing power and eventually citizen control. As is seen in lower degrees of the engagement ladder, the act is merely formal and there are non any true power handed into the citizens. However at the in-between scope there are non much to lose, so informing and confer withing are practiced. However the highest degrees involve passing in power to citizens. In Tehran, there was an enthusiasm toward application of participatory planning in redevelopment procedure. However, this attack has non been really successful at first, since in this procedure supplying fiscal resources and societal support were hard. During the first two old ages of its beginning merely 400 residential units were renovated and occupants were non take parting in the procedure as was expected, which disappointed Members of Tehran City Council. However, for a successful participatory planning attack, the procedure must be turned into a procedure of increasing enthusiasm and passion for redevelopment. This includes: Increasing degree of services Enhancing the quality of life Bettering the societal position Promoting sense of topographic point fond regard Following this alteration of attitude and attack, go forthing the autocratic Reconstruction and using participatory attack, the Renovation Corporation of Tehran, had to alter the range of the work in three stages. Table III compares these three stages. There are considerable alterations in favour of increasing citizenship power. One of these alterations which were proposed in the 3rd stage was constitution of Local Renovation Offices. Table III PHASES OF RENOVATION SCOPE OF WORK AND APPROACH Phases and undertakings Scope of work Approachs and Actions Phase I 2006-2007 Imam Ali Classifying societal groups Appraisal of safety and security issues Survey of societal issues through questionnaire Designation of stakeholder groups Maximum intercession Provision of 4 secret plan agglomeration programs without societal study Procurement of land and devastation of edifices to make unfastened infinites Stress on appropriate physical design Phase II 2007-2008 Saboonpaz-khaneh Analyzing population denseness and socio-economic diverseness Interview with stakeholders and helpers Sing development and effectual treating societal institutes for execution procedure Establishing Local Office was discussed, but non realized Presence in mosques to inform people and do usage of their thoughts Investigating societal capital Regular intercession Participating in public meetings and listening to occupants Discontinuing informing people and public engagement procedure Reducing figure of agglomerative packages, normally restricting to two packages Continuing the bing local construction and forestalling high degrees of intercession Leaving redevelopment of residential packages to occupants Proposing stimulating undertakings Phase III 2008-2010 Khazaneh Differentiation between demographic and societal surveies Sing the quality of occupant ‘s leisure clip Investigating occupants ‘ demands Investigating positive and negative societal features Stressing the function of civil establishments and vicinity councils Measuring societal capital and its function in redevelopment Acknowledging of formal and informal webs of power in vicinity Establishing Local Renovation Office for audience 1- constitution of the office 2- advancing engagement of stakeholder groups 3- developing the local redevelopment commission 4- participatory planning Minimizing intercession Supplying necessary public services Supplying appropriate residential types Developing incorporate programs with advisers in next countries Developing proposal in 3 types of upper limit, lower limit and regular intercession Stress on redevelopment promoting undertakings Establishing the vicinity Renovation Office for informing, showing and polishing program based on occupants ‘ demands Stressing structural support Supplying awards for agglomeration of packages Increasing FAR for larger agglomerative packages Developing specific guidelines for the countryLocal redevelopment officeIn 2008 Renovation Corporation of Tehran decided to establish local redevelopment offices in bedraggled vicinities. The chief committee of these offices was to ease the occupants ‘ engagement in the redevelopment procedure. The Scopess of work of these offices are: Facilitation: to acknowledge stakeholders and doing regular meeting with occupants Publicizing and publicity: to heighten economic and societal position Commiting: to advance forming societal every bit good as economical groups that advocate redevelopment and rehabilitation of the deprived vicinities. Members of these offices are from local territory boroughs, local counsellors, local clergy, members of local stakeholders such as adult females ‘s leaders, local retail representatives. One of these offices has been established in Khazaneh vicinity that is one of the bedraggled vicinities in southern Tehran. Writer of this article was involved in activities of this office during 2008-2010. One of the challenges that this office was faced with was happening common land to discourse jobs, as different stakeholders preferred to raise their ain issues. Therefore it was critical to hold their assurance that all the issues will be dealt with harmonizing to the precedences of the vicinity as it was put frontward by the local council.DecisionThe redevelopment experience in metropolis of Tehran shows that in any urban intercession in order to restitute the bedraggled vicinities, it is critical to hold clear schemes that maximize citizen engagement and continue the spirit of topographic point. Sing the above scheme the undermentioned recommendations are advised: In the planning scheme human cost and benefit should be considered as the chief indexs of redevelopment policy Residents should actively take part in be aftering their hereafter, as they should be good informed and portion of planning procedure Residents ‘ function in all the programs should be crystalline The governments and local counsellors should move transparent so that occupant can swear their activities and programs All kinds of engagement techniques and proper methods of communicating should be employed in order to understand the local jobs and issue and reassigning thoughts and programs in order to acquire equal responses Any kind of gentrification is non recommended If replacing of occupants is necessary, it should be clearly explained, as of how it affects different groups and stakeholders. Different planning and design options should be presented in order to supply assorted picks for occupants Assorted local capacity and invention should be recognized Non-governmental organisations should be mobilized for the redevelopment of deprived countries and they should take part in different phases of planning and design procedure Encouraging policies should be considered in order to carry occupants to restitute their summation houses and edifices

Free Essays on Computer Security

Computer Crime: Prevention and Innovation Since the introduction of computers to our society, and in the early 80’s the Internet, the world has never been the same. Suddenly our physical world got smaller and the electronic world set its foundations for an endless electronic reality. As we approach the year 2000, the turn of the millenium, humanity has already well established itself into the â€Å"Information Age.† So much in fact that as a nation we find our selves out of a service economy and into an information based economy. In a matter of only a few years almost all systems are run buy computers in some way, shape, or form. We depend on them for everything. Even the smallest malfunction or glitch in a system could now cause unfathomable amounts of trouble in everything from riding the bus, having access to your money, to getting your prescription at the pharmacists. Furthermore, Icove (1998) suggested that with the price of home computers that work faster and store more memory going down every yea r due to competition in the market, it is estimated that by the year 2011 most every American home will have a PC with instant access to the Internet. With an increase in users everyday and new businesses taking advantage of perks of an alternate electronic world, this information dimension will only get bigger, more elaborate, provide more services, and we will find society as a whole more and more dependent on it. However, even in an artificial environment such as the cyberspace, it appears mankind cannot escape from its somewhat overwhelming natural attraction to wrongful behavior or criminal tendencies. In turn this alternative dimension has been infected with the same criminal behavior that plagues our physical reality. The information age has opened the doors to anti social, smart, and opportunistic people to find new and innovative ways to commit old crimes. These people are called hackers. Schamalleger (1999), s... Free Essays on Computer Security Free Essays on Computer Security Computer Crime: Prevention and Innovation Since the introduction of computers to our society, and in the early 80’s the Internet, the world has never been the same. Suddenly our physical world got smaller and the electronic world set its foundations for an endless electronic reality. As we approach the year 2000, the turn of the millenium, humanity has already well established itself into the â€Å"Information Age.† So much in fact that as a nation we find our selves out of a service economy and into an information based economy. In a matter of only a few years almost all systems are run buy computers in some way, shape, or form. We depend on them for everything. Even the smallest malfunction or glitch in a system could now cause unfathomable amounts of trouble in everything from riding the bus, having access to your money, to getting your prescription at the pharmacists. Furthermore, Icove (1998) suggested that with the price of home computers that work faster and store more memory going down every yea r due to competition in the market, it is estimated that by the year 2011 most every American home will have a PC with instant access to the Internet. With an increase in users everyday and new businesses taking advantage of perks of an alternate electronic world, this information dimension will only get bigger, more elaborate, provide more services, and we will find society as a whole more and more dependent on it. However, even in an artificial environment such as the cyberspace, it appears mankind cannot escape from its somewhat overwhelming natural attraction to wrongful behavior or criminal tendencies. In turn this alternative dimension has been infected with the same criminal behavior that plagues our physical reality. The information age has opened the doors to anti social, smart, and opportunistic people to find new and innovative ways to commit old crimes. These people are called hackers. Schamalleger (1999), s...