Project Management Article

The Article I have chosen to summarize is titled â€Å"Life and Death† by Cindy Waxier and the same was published In the February 2013 issue of The PM Network Magazine, The article Is on Risk Management planning and execution and its requirement before any type of risky operation. The Management team of Children's Memorial Hospital In Illinois, USA faced a dramatic challenge on 9th June 2012 when they moved 127 patients from their aging faculty to a new 23-storied $855 building on Northwestern universities medical school campus.The new facility named Ann and Robert H. Laurie Hospital of Chicago was equipped with modern facilities and the move was necessitated because the present building that was built in 1882 was cramped despite various attempts for renovation and expansion and patients felt like being rats stuck in a cage. In the words of Maureen Mahoney, Laurie Children's chief clinical excellence officer QUOTE We realized that in order to continue to grow and serve patient s in a way that's compatible with our vision, we had to create a replacement hospital †¦UNQUOTE. The new facility had multiple features to ensure better patient care Like spacious treatment rooms, an enclosed ambulance bay and there comforts. The hospital had risk patients and before they could enjoy the comforts of the new faculty the task of moving them to the new establishment situated at a distance of 4. 8 Kilometers from the present hospital was daunting.A single misstep would end in a tragedy and a comprehensive Risk Management Strategy had been put in place by Mahoney who had spent years to draw up a comprehensive strategy that included logistics, budget, staffing and transportation keeping in mind the worst case-scenarios that may crop up during the transfer of patients. A multidisciplinary project team had been built to ensure smooth transition. Outside consultants team was also enlisted for guidance that helped in shaping the foundation but the Hospital's own Risk Man agement Team built on it based on their culture and need of the patients.The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, USA had undergone a similar migration to a replacement hospital earlier. Ms. Mahoney and her team met with representatives of this hospital to discuss the various aspects. The team also consulted other hospitals that were planning their transition and discussed and shared plans. Since transporting the patients required closing of some of Chicago Streets, Ms. Mahoney had already spoken to the city agencies including police; fire and emergency well in advance so that they could work in an orchestrated manner and ensure smooth transportation of patients without any hindrance.All the faculty and staff were informed in details about the move and meetings were held to address the concerns of physicians, nurses and caregivers. Since this operation would impact everyone in the hospital, organizing and encouraging all and sundry were a necessity. To remove the fear of the young patients, they were shown videos of a Buddy Bear being safely moved to a new capital and each patient was given a Buddy Bear of his or her own on moving day as an encouragement.With the Risk management team raring to go and all city support having been secured plans were laid for logistics of transporting the patients. Elective surgeries were Mahoney who had spent 4 years to draw up a comprehensive the worst case-scenarios that may crop up during the transfer of patients. A multidisciplinary project team had been built to ensure smooth transition. Outside consultants team was also enlisted for guidance that helped in shaping the some of Chicago Streets, Ms. Mahoney had already spoken to the city agencies avian been secured plans were laid for logistics of transporting the patients.Elective surgeries were delayed until after the move and accordingly patients were divided into seven categories based on the severity of their condition. Patients from the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units and children undergoing chemotherapy were given preference. The team also ensured that the required medical equipments as needed were transferred along with the patient and included medication, intravenous line or oxygen. The worst case scenario of patient being decontaminates en route was critically planned and Ms. Mahoney ensured that medical specialists accompany each patient in the ambulance.On the eve of the move I. E. 8th June 2012, everything were checked as planned, patients' requirements were meticulously ascertained and even the less critical medical requirement such as emptying a patients catheter prior to departure was not ignored. The transfer began on 9th June 2012 precisely at 6 a. M. The next day and adequate staff was on hand at both ends to tackle any problem that may arise. Chicago streets were cordoned-off and the medical staff begun the much awaited transfer making note at ACH step to ensure patients whereabouts from the moment he or she was taken ou t of bed.The documentation of movement helped the team to track and look after the patients at four points during the process of transfer. Within two hours I. E. By 8 p. M. Every patient was safely transported to the new facility and en envisaged and planned there was not a single mishap or even a single safety issue. The four years of comprehensive risk management strategy was successfully implemented and all the 127 patients were safely transported to the new facility in Just 14 hours, covering a distance of 4. 8 kilometers.

Genetically Modified Foods Essay

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) are crops that have had changes made to their genetic material (DNA) in a way that does not occur naturally through the introduction of a gene from a different organisms. The use of genetically modified foods has been debated about for some time now. One side argues that GMO is more sustainable and economically efficient. It is also argued that GMO has not been properly tested for any negative effects on humans, other animals and the environment. GMO foods are seen as the future in agriculture by scientist as it solves so many worldwide problems. Industries claim GMO foods have been changed to make the food last longer, give the crop herbicidal tolerance, resistance to insects and different climates, taste better and the crop will produce more food. This results in more food for the rapidly growing population of the world as less crops will spoil as a result of insects, while also increasing the nutritional value of the food. Foods that previously weren’t able to grow in varying climates will now be able to, this will especially benefit countries such as Africa where their climate is very harsh. It has been argued that scientists have not done enough research and have not fully tested their products properly. This has been the concerns of many people all over the world. Do the benefits really outweigh the negatives? While GMO products may be very beneficial to society in theory very few have been properly tested for how they impact humans and other organisms in the long term. Tests have been done on rats testing the effects of GMO products on their health, in all cases rats feed GMO products were more likely to develop tumours and suffer server liver and kidney damage. Recent studies also show that despite the claims of GMO food supporters GMO crops don’t produce larger amounts of food. In addition to these problems it has been found that weeds have crossed bread with these GMO plants resulting in herbicide resistant weeds which mean stronger pesticides are needed which possess a huge threat to none GMO plants. In 2010 Germany introduced a ban on Monsanto genetically modified corn as it was considered dangerous. In 2011 Peru passed a law banning genetically modified crops for 10 years, the same year Hungary also destroyed 1000 acres of corn that was found to be grown with genetically modified seeds which are banned. If countries are going to such lengths to keep GMO foods out there must be an issue with them. The main issue with GMO is that it is big companies that are creating GMO foods. They only care about making a profit. This results in sloppy long term tests and in some cases false information being provided to the public to promote their product. In most cases the negatives clearly outweigh the positives of GMO foods although that does not rule out all GMO products. If governments got involved more and incorporated better restrictions on the production of GMO foods results will improve. With more research and tests maybe GMO foods really will be the way of the future.

Becoming Wonderful; Leaving Wonderland

Telling stories of Alice’s greatadventures, I stand in my ninth grade english classroom, a desolate young girl whose only passion is to be a writer, yet here she stands performing someone else’s work. The desks sit in a broad semi-circle, taking much inspiration from a greek theatre and I stand at the center of it all, performing a Lewis Carroll poem. My voice shakes sending shivers down my spine as I preform. The timid, tiny thirteen year old I was wanted nothing more than to show my class that I was a writer and somehow, I thought I could convey that by reading someone else’s work. Nonetheless, when my teacher asked who wanted to compete in the school wide poetry competition, I couldn’t even raise my hand. I just let my ambition slowly cease out. That was one of the few opportunities I had to express my passion for writing and literature in my first two years of high school. However, it wasn’t the lack of opportunity that shook me, it was the fact that opportunities wouldn’t be handed to me, it was the first time I realized that if I wanted something to happen, I had to go for it. For a while, I let this tsunami of self-doubt forecast in my life, throwing me briefly off course. As I felt myself sinking further done a rabbit hole of loneliness and disparity. I slowly seemed to find myself crying an ocean of tears that I would soon drown in. I didn’t want the inevitable to be true. Thankfully, I quickly realized there are two ways out of this rabbit hole: 1. I stay, still, where I am, never expressing my writing, waiting for opportunity or 2. Express my writing, take each opportunity and run with it, get out of the rabbit hole with self-determination. With this realization, I shifted my point of view, to option two. I wrote my pain into sonnets and stories that, in tenth grade,I was finally able to preform in front of my class with no shivers just utter confidence. I took the lessons I had learned in freshman and sophomore year, and thoroughly applied them throughout my junior year. I began submitting stories to competitions, I applied for newspaper, and tried out for slam poetry. I did things that would never have happened to me in the ninth grade because I didn’t wait for them to happen — I made them happen. Now, I can say: I am a writer. I am not just a girl too scared to perform someone else’s work or a girl whose work is filled by her pain; but a girl whose pain inspired her work, whose fear only pushes her farther out of her box. Out of that box and on to a stage, I stand, the theater seats filled to it’s brim with almost 400 hundred people, I approach the stage, the bright, white lights nearly b lind me but I don’t let it deter me. Now I can’t see anyone’s face but even if I could I don’t think I would shake. Today, I can stand, in front of a microphone, in front of a much larger audience. Not performing someone else’s poem. I am preforming my own work.

Critically evaluate an artefact of a marketing communications campaign Essay - 2

Critically evaluate an artefact of a marketing communications campaign (advertisement, brochure, poster, etc) for either a graduate traineeship or a masters degree - Essay Example Advertisements have also been found by Gronhaug, Kvitastein and Gronmo (1991) to come in many different forms and versions. This however does not mean that any form of poster at all can be selected for any product or service. Proctor, Proctor and Papasolomou-Doukakis (2002) indicated that there are several factors that ought to be considered in designing a poster for advertisement purposes. Because the factors are many, different writers and reviewers have tried to discuss some of the most salient factors at one point in literature or the other. In this paper, various works of literature are reviewed, based on which four important thematic factors that ought to be considered when undertaking marketing communications campaign have been discussed. To ensure practicality, the literature and factors have been used to critique a specific artifact in the form of poster for a Masters degree. At the end of the paper, the strengths and weaknesses of the attached advertisement are going to be identified as they apply to the four thematic factors considered. Shankar (1999) stated that â€Å"consumers interact with advertising for a variety of reasons whilst different groups show varying degrees of understanding towards the function and purpose of advertising† (p. 5). The understanding that this claim gives is that any piece of advertisement must factor in the different needs of customers, noting that not every consumer will be looking for exactly the same thing from a piece of advertisement. When advertisement is seen as a tool or component of marketing, then the advertiser would want to achieve this task of satisfying the varying needs of customers by incorporating very elementary factors of competitive marketing (Shankar, 1999). In competitive marketing, there are four major elements that a marketer would want to give emphasis to and these are place, product/service, price and promotion. To make

Entrepreneurship Solves Low-income Housing in Chicago Essay

Entrepreneurship Solves Low-income Housing in Chicago - Essay Example This violence did not stop as they continued for long, whereby it claimed the live of a seven-year old boy in the year 1992. The boy was downed by a stray bullet as he was on his way to school. However, the most aggressive attack that was experienced in the area happened in the year 1997, when a nine-year old girl was cruelly attacked, choked, raped and then poisoned, which left he in a position that she could not be able to talk or walk. The then mayor of Chicago, Jane Byrne, in the year 1981 decided to move into the complex and stay there for some few months so as to ascertain and see for herself the seriousness of the problems of the housing project (Venkatesh, et al 37). Abolishing the project to eradicate the problem The arrangement to demolish the Cabrini-Green project was part of an extensive program. The Chicago Housing Authority, in the year 2000, made an announcement on an arrangement to bring down ass the public housing projects that were in the city as part of the Hope VI , which is a national project aimed at abolishing housing projects across the nation due to their apparent failure in solving the problem of cheap and affordable housing in the city and country as a whole (Venkatesh, et al 41). Notwithstanding the terrible conditions of the Cabrini-Green, the people who lived there ganged up against the plans of redevelopment that had been offered by the planners of the city. Nevertheless, the community was apprehensive of the fact that the new mixed-income housing project would force out the longtime residents of Cabrini-Green. However, some individuals decided to stay in their units vowing never to vacate, instead of moving to what to what they perceived as the same conditions of living further removed from the center of the city. Whereas their schemes were successful in delaying of the demolition of numerous buildings, the interference did not last longer. At present, the area whereby the famous Cabrini-Green stood at one time has been changed an d what is currently there is a mixed-income neighborhood, which is only a few minutes away from one of the most developed or affluent areas of Chicago known as the Gold Coast (Brian & Beauty 20). Majority of the former residents have ultimately been replaced. In total, they consist of about twenty thousand apartments, nearly half of the funded housing units that are under the management of Chicago Housing Authority. The drab flats are heavily concentrated in the deteriorated areas just beyond the flourishing central business district, and confront several commuters that are Loop-bound everyday. Their broken elevators, garbage, crime, stairwells that are urine-stained and crime just show the several years of desertion and neglect, and deride the dreams that established them. As initially considered by the reformers, we find that public housing program was supposed to be a place whereby the people of low-income category lived until they were in a position of affording something better . The idea was establishment of decent and integrated homes; but instead, Chicago’s public housing is characterized by communal despair, poor conditions of living, poverty, segregation and criminal acts (Brian & Beauty 24). This is much common in the projects of high-rises. They were at one time conceived as ideal for the housing of

To What Extent Does the Current Use of Imprisonment as Crime Control Research Paper

To What Extent Does the Current Use of Imprisonment as Crime Control Reinforce Existing Inequalities and Segregation in the UK and the USA - Research Paper Example Traditionally imprisonment has been used – along with other crime prevention/ punishment measures - in order to control crime within a specific region. However, the terms under which the specific policy has been applied around the world have not been quite clear up to now. In any case, mass imprisonment has been found to be related to specific social ‘characteristics, like the unemployment, gender, and race. On the other hand, despite the fact that a series of measures have been taken by the British and the USA government regarding the improvement of the terms of mass imprisonment, still, the specific measure enforces inequalities among the population. It could be stated that the terms of mass imprisonment that are currently applied present many similarities with the ones used in the past. In accordance with Hallett (2002) ‘due to late 20th-century imprisonment policies, a renewed understanding of prisoners as commodities has emerged; the historical pattern of raci ally distinct commerce in imprisoned human beings, most of whom are poor, non-violent, minority offenders, has returned’ (Hallett, 2002, 369). The terms of mass imprisonment applied today would be improved so that inequalities are no longer enforced; but this target is a challenging task – especially if taking into account the resources (employees, funds, and technology) required. The development of technology in the developed countries around the world – including the USA and the UK – has not necessarily led to the improvement of the terms of justice or the limitation of inequalities in the society. The above fact is clear through the studies and the findings presented below.Current use of imprisonment as crime control and reinforcing of existing inequalities and segregation in the UK and the USA

See Order Instructions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

See Order Instructions - Research Paper Example Everyday police officers face different challenges and experiences that expect them to make decisions on how to handle the situation individually without involving additional advice or immediate supervision, and this is the heart of police discretion. In law enforcement, Hassell and Archbold (2010) argue that the police officer has the mandate to make judgments or reasonable decisions within certain legal bounds. Police officers face a wide range of options especially when confronted by dangerous situations. Some of their decisions have been misconstrued as misconduct and a good example is the use of excessive force. External and internal mechanisms affecting police discretion involve the lack of agreement on the exact criminal behaviors that law officers should use in discretion. As a result, there is no evident legal discretion of the criminal actions requiring discretion. However, there are control mechanisms including Internal and external control mechanisms, control by citizens, legislative controls, and control by courts. Analysis A study by Palmiotto and Unnithan (2011) posits that more attention remains on the need to prepare police officers for the appropriate use of discretion. These preparations begin at the training school in the academy continuing later to their field practice. According to the trainings, the use of discretion is critical mainly after an event or on regular basis.

Social Science in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Science in Australia - Essay Example Sexuality has had diverse perceptions over decades. These include people, who are distinctively either male or female, and the heterosexuals- men and women in possession of both the male and the female sex-organs. In efforts to exploit sexual desires, divisions such as the homosexuals come up, composed of two different groups, the lesbians- women practicing sexual acts with fellow women and the gay-basically men who find sexual acts with their counterpart males compatible; and yet others practicing masturbation which is seeking to fulfill ones own sexual desire or pleasure. People have different understanding and beliefs in regard to sexuality and what is best for them sexually. Lesbians view the pleasure from fellow women as most fulfilling and the gay see it vice versa. A majority though think that its all abnormal saying that woman was made for man and likewise. In fact it has been approved with time after thorough investigations and research on homosexuals that is lesbians and ga ys. The debate over homosexual "marriage" for instance, often becomes focused on whether homosexuality is a learned behavior or a genetic trait. Many homosexual activists insist that "science" has shown that homosexuality is inborn, cannot be changed, and that therefore they should have the right to marry each other. (CWA, 2008).Because no single study can be regarded as definitive; more research on people who have overcome homosexuality needs to be done. But a considerable body of certain literature about change from homosexuality to heterosexuality has been compiled, and the sheer number of exceptions to the "born gay" theory should be a warning to researchers and media to proceed with caution before declaring that science has proved that homosexuality is genetic. Other recent developments suggest that homosexuality is not genetically determined but made. Another instance is given by Simone de Beauvoir who says "One is not born, but becomes a woman. No biological, psychological, or economic fate determines the figure that the human female presents in society: it is civilization as a whole that produces this creature, intermediate between, male and eunuch, which is described as feminine". This belief also applies to the case of men (WCA, 1981). To support the above motion, there are a number of factors to look into which include: political, socialization, work/family (gender equality), early environment, cultural background, economical, and religion. Other factors contributing to this are attitudes, discipline, effort and style. Firstly, talking about politics which has imposed oppression on especially women, a lesbian society pragmatically reveals that the division from men of which women has been the object is a political one and shows that women have been ideologically rebuilt into a "natural group." In the case of women, ideology goes far since their bodies as well as their minds are the product of this manipulation. They have been compelled in their bodies and in their minds to correspond, feature by feature, with the idea of nature that has been established for them. Distorted to such an extent that their deformed body is what they call "natural," what is supposed to exist as such before oppression Distorted to such an extent in the end, oppression seems to be a consequence of this, "nature" within them. Experience by both men and a woman in such a field finally

Lamic2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Lamic2 - Essay Example b. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a comparison of the federal minimum wage and different state minimum wages at Minimum Wage Laws in the States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides updated information on average wages, by state, at 2000 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Compare the average wages of waiters in Texas, New York, and one state with a minimum wage below the federal level (this will be found in the category "Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations"). If the minimum wage were to go up by $0.50, where do you think it would have the greatest effect on restaurant costs? on unemployment? What does this tell you about what stage in the business cycle (for example, during a recession or during a boom) an increase in the minimum wage is more likely to be approved? Ans: The average wage of a waiter per hour is $6.66 in Texas, $8.16 in New York, and $7.11 in Wyoming. If the minimum wage were to go up by $0.50, it would have the greatest effec t on the state that offers the lowest minimum wage which is Texas. On the other hand, the increase would have the greatest effect on unemployment on restaurant costs of states whose minimum wage is below the federal level, which, in this case is Wyoming. ... On the other hand, costs for users are usually higher because the supply of contraband substances are usually low. If this substance were legal, producers would incur higher costs and users would enjoy a lower price for it. 2. Lesson 8 3. Graphing the Demand Curve (21 points) Imagine that the owner of your favorite veggie taco stand changes the price of a tacos randomly each day. How many tacos you eat each day depends only on the price that day, not on the previous price or which day it is. You cannot store tacos. Fill out the following demand chart using your own preferences for tacos, that is, if the price is as indicated at left, how many tacos will you buy? Remember, use your own preferences. The answers will depend on how much you like tacos, how hungry you are at lunchtime, and how much money you want to spend for lunch. There is no right or wrong answer. Price of a 4 oz. regular taco How many tacos will you eat at this price? 0.00 Â  3 0.25 Â  2 0.50 Â  2 1.00 Â  1 1.50 à ‚  1 2.00 Â  1 2.50 Â  1 4.00 Â  1 10.00 Â  0 a. Graph your demand function, placing price on the vertical axis. Is your demand for tacos linear? What happens to the relationship as price increases? Ans: The demand for tacos has a more exponential relationship with price, rather than linear. As price increases, demand for tacos approaches zero. b. Is there a positive or negative relationship between price and your demand for tacos? Does the slope get steeper or flatter as price increases more? Ans: There is a negative relationship between price and my demand for tacos. The slope gets steeper as price increases. 4. Choosing Optimal Consumption (28 points) Microeconomics, Chapter 7, Problem

Assess the Changing Politics of Environmentalism in Chinese Civil Essay - 1

Assess the Changing Politics of Environmentalism in Chinese Civil Society - Essay Example Thus, in the hopes of assessing the changing politics of environmentalism in the Chinese civic culture, this essay briefly narrates the history of environmentalism in the country and how it changed overtime. In addition, the essay presents examples of online environmental initiatives, their hard line activities, and the corresponding impact of these internet-facilitated activities on civil society. The Chinese people have once more proven to the world their innovative prowess with the onslaught of online green social movements. Rapid development in technology has assisted the wake of environmentalism among the Chinese. â€Å"Environmental activism in China critically diverges from the popular image of social movements as ‘masses of people taking to the streets and erecting barricades’ (Peter ho and Edmonds 216). The country has wakened up to the alarming needs to protect its environment as a measure to prevent possible calamities and widespread communicable diseases with a view to minimize the operation costs in the administration of the country. In the past, Mao introduced a revolutionary industrialization program in which he insisted falling trees and leveling the surface of the land in order to support the growth of industry in China. The depletion of environmental balance in the country was constituted mainly by Mao’s policies as per the references of many a historian in the world. For instance, the agricultural policies like ‘close plating of seedlings, deep planting, the double- blade plow, peculiar fertilization techniques’ were of negative impacts on the environment (Shapiro 76). In addition, Mao’s political line was rather utopian as he considered nature his most prolific enemy to be conquered. He associated a ‘mass culture’ in China with which he formulated his policies and executed the destruction of forests. It has to be observed that

Malaysian Economy Essay Example for Free

Malaysian Economy Essay The Malaysian economy is expected to strengthen further and projected to grow at a faster rate of 4.5% to 5.5% in 2013 supported by improving exports and strong domestic demand. In the Economic Report 2012/2013 released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) last Friday, it said the assumption was based on the global growth that will pick up especially during the second-half of 2013 (2H13). It said that it was also premised upon the expectation of an improvement in the resolution of a debt crisis in the euro-area and stronger growth in the economies of Malaysia’s major trading partners. The Economic Report 2012/2013 was released in conjunction with the national Budget 2013 that was presented by the prime minister last Friday. It said that given that the domestic economy is expected to strengthen further in 2013; inflation is estimated to increase moderately mitigated by further capacity expansion in the economy. On the supply side, growth in 2013 is expected to be broad-based supported by expansion in all sectors of the economy. Of significance, the external trade-related industries are envisaged to benefit from stronger global growth, particularly during the 2H13. It said that the services and manufacturing sectors are expected to contribute 4.2 percentage points to the gross domestic product growth. MoF said that the prospects in the services sector are expected to remain upbeat in 2013, with the accelerated implementation with major initiatives under the National Key Result Areas and continued investment in the seven services subsectors under the National Key Economic Areas. It said that these initiatives are expected to drive the wholesale and retail trade, finance and insurance, and communication subsectors, which are expected to grow 6.8%, 5.2% and 8.2% (2012 :5.7%; 4.2%; 9.3%) respectively. On the value-added of the manufacturing sector, MoF said that it is expected to grow 4.9%, (2012 :4.2%) with export oriented industries expected to  benefit from the higher growth of global trade, while domestic oriented industries expand in line with better consumer sentiment and business confidence. MoF said that the electrical and electronic (EE) subsector is expected to grow further, driven by higher demand for electronic equipment and parts as well as semiconductors in line with recovery in advanced economies. On the agricultural sector, MoF said that it is expected to grow 2.4% (2012:0.6%) following the recovery in the output of plantation commodities. MoF said that the production of crude palm oil is envisaged to rebound 2.5% to 18.9 million tonnes (2012: -2.5%; 18.4 million tonnes) on account of expanded matured areas to 4.44 million hectares (2012: 4.38 million hectares). On the mining sector, the report said that it is expected to expand 2.7% (2012: 1.5%) on account of higher production of crude oil and natural gas. â€Å"Production of crude oil is projected to increase 3.6% to 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) (2012: 1.6%; 579,000 bpd) due to higher regional demand,† said MoF. It added that several new oil fields are expected to start production in 2013, contributing to higher production of crude oil. On the construction sector, MoF said that it is envisaged to expand strongly at 11.2% (2012: 15.5%) with all the subsectors registering steady growth. On the domestic demand, MoF said that it is expected to grow at 5.6% (2012: 9.4%) and will remain the main driver of growth in 2013 underpinned by strong private sector expenditure. The report added that private consumption is projected to expand 5.7% (2012: 7%) on account of higher disposable income arising from better employment outlook, firm commodity prices and the wealth effect from the stable performance on the stock market following strong domestic economic activities. On private investment, Malaysia is expected to post a strong growth of 13.3% in 2013 (2012: 11.7%) attributed to the ongoing implementation of the Economic Transformation Programme projects. MoF said that public investment will continue to support growth and is expected to expand 4.2% in 2013 (2012: 15.9%) driven by higher capital outlays by the non-financial public enterprises (NFPE’s) and development expenditure by the federal government. It said that capital of the NFPEs will focus on the upstream oil and gas, transport, communication and utility industries. It added that in line with the expansion in domestic economic activities, national income in current prices is expected to increase 7.8% in 2013. The report also said that gross national savings is expected to expand strongly by 11.1%, with the private sector accounting 72.3% of total savings. On the balance of payments, MoF said that it is projected to remain favourable with current account continuing to record a higher surplus of RM71.9 billion or 7.3% of the gross national income. It said that the surplus in the goods account is projected to expand RM126.5 billion. â€Å"In 2013, exports are estimated to grow 3.9% (2012: 2.4%) supported by higher commodity exports and improving global EE demand. The MoF said that inline with increased domestic activity as as to meet increased inputs for the manufacturing sector, imports are projected to grow at a faster rate of 5.2% (2012: 6.5%). On the services account, the report said that it is expected to improve with a lower deficit of RM8.2 billion driven by large surplus in the travel account, following expectations higher tourist arrivals. MoF said that other components in the services account are expected to remain a deficit.

The Effect of Electronic Communication Essay Example for Free

The Effect of Electronic Communication Essay The Convenience Factor o Issues of convenience drive the popularization of new methods of electronic communication. As telephones and fax machines were supplemented by the Internet and cell phones, communication became faster and more readily available. The Internet is notable for allowing the transmission of visual data, as well as text and voice, nearly instantly. The amount of information available on the Internet continues to grow as users create and maintain content that exists side by side with professionally produced content. Broadband connections are made available in even developing countries and wireless technology makes the Internet available in places never thought possible. All of these technologies are in some way superior to the earlier forms of communication they replace. E-mail is instant, whereas mailing a letter takes days. Television is not interactive but web video content is highly customizable and online gaming is popular. Electronic books take up no space and may be available at little cost, as opposed to traditional print media, which can seem expensive and bulky by comparison. Access o Electronic communication also opens lines of communication to individuals who would otherwise live in relative isolation. This increased access is visible in countries where land-line telephones have been skipped over in the process of technological evolution; many Africans own cell phones that are the first phones they have ever had. Mobile devices serve the needs and lifestyles of people who might otherwise never have been able to communicate with people outside the limits of their region. In academics, students from around the world can maintain contact via e-mail, sharing their work and bringing a degree of equity to universities regardless of their physical size or location. Collaboration in the arts and sciences has also benefited greatly from cheap and easy communication. o Networking and Sociability oThe social elements of electronic communication cannot be overstated and are today a major subject in studies of American lifestyles and popular trends. Social networking has gone through several distinct phases, growing with each new wave of Internet users. Today, worldwide networks bring together people who share interests but may have never met. Likewise, popular youth-oriented social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter allow people to carry on friendships over long distances. The rise of sociable media has radically altered not only the way people communicate, but the way they relate to one another and even how they view themselves. For sociologists, behavioral psychologists and cultural critics this represents an important area of study. Global Culture o Of great significance to popular media and commercial interests is the rapid sharing of trends that occurs via electronic communication. The ease with which content can be shared online means that fads and trends are seldom as localized as they once were. Such movements do not need to wait for the physical movement of people to spread; instead, millions of users all around the world can be made aware of them immediately. This includes news, which has also tended more toward a global bent with less local coverage even from local news agencies. For users, electronic communication allows for the dissemination of content far and wide at little or no cost. This means that local artists, musicians and writers can share their work by marketing themselves in a format that is easily accessible to anyone. While this has resulted in a deluge of user-created content online, it has also necessitated the filters and new processes by which that content is evaluated, rated and bought or sold. Priv acy and Security o For all of its advantages, electronic communication carries with it several dangerous aspects. Privacy and security have been concerns of the users of electronic communication since the days of the telegraph. In the Internet age, all data transmitted electronically must pass through a series of stages at which it could potentially be intercepted by a third party. The convenience of doing business onlinein the form on online banking, stock trading and shoppinghas forced businesses to invent security measures that breed at least some level of confidence in their customers. Still, cases of identity-theft number in the thousands each year, and the risks of breaches of privacy are a major concern to many parents whose children communicate electronically. Cybercrime represents a significant threat to economic interests and Internet-based espionage has been the target of special security programs enacted by most governments and large businesses around the world. Still, electronic communic ation continues to flourish despite these risks, partially because of the huge investments that have been made into minimizing them

Healthy Settlement of Migratory Workers

Healthy Settlement of Migratory Workers Project on healthy settlement of migratory workers in a town of Gujarat Background: Migration is the inevitable process of any country. People are migrating for the better opportunities and socioeconomic condition. Particularly the workforce migration is more common in last decade due to boom in construction industry in India. This inevitable process should be made safe and healthy by the local and national government. But unfortunately there is no policy of government for such migratory population in country, which force to pay heavy cost for human development. Due to this the migrant population are always neglected and left to mercy of God. They do not have safe hygiene, safe water supply, safe shelter, good education, healthcare or safe food. There are some facts and figures in this context – The Article 19 of Constitution of India gives right to all citizens ‘to move freely throughout the territory of India; to reside and settle in any part of territory of India’. As per NSSO 2007-08, internal migration in India is 28.5% of population. The migration in India is the two types; long term and short term migration. Long term migration results the permanent relocation. Short term migration means seasonal migration around 30% of total migration is short term or seasonal migration. This is the group which is manly belonging to lower sociao economic group and poor vulnerable group. They are schedule casts or schedule tribe with low education, economically weak and lack of resources. Majority of workforce migrate for the opportunity of work. The females are the associated migratory population. This construction industry has the 310,000 Crores INR volumes. And around 82% of workforce is unorganized and unskilled labour. The bigger the city, higher the number of migratory workers with great expectation of the employment. But it doesn’t mean there is no migration to small town. On 28th July 2014, Indian Express reported that CAG reported that only 6% of 12 lack construction workers are registered in Gujarat. This registration is for providing the eight welfare schemes. The eight welfare schemes are educational assistance, maternity benifites, accidental death, medical assistance, housing assistance, Rastriya Swasth Bima Yojana, funeral assistance and training. Looking to these challenges the _______ NGO working in the Gujarat is willing to develop model concept for the government which is easy scalable and cost effective for the settlement of migratory workers in small town and city of the Gujarat. The project for to provide holistic social economic development of migratory population in a town Surendranagar of Gujarat with following objectives – To assess the baseline living condition including education, social, health, hygienic conditions of temporary migratory workers in a town of Gujarat. To develop healthy and hygienic settlement shelter care model for the temporary migratory population. To find out the use of mobile technology for registration and movement of such population. To develop model such a way that they will get all government services and welfare schemes at their door steps. To generate awareness among the builder lobby for the right of construction migratory workers and welfare schemes. Develop self-help group among such workers for self care. Project time:2015-18 About organization HELP TRUST The HELP TRUST was founded in 2006. Some devoted and educated working people got together and decided to start some gainful activities to benefit the society’s economically backward class by providing them social and health equity of all kinds. The main aim of organization is to achieve highest social and health services for deprived communities. Some activities were conducted in year 2010-11 that are as follow: Training for industrial workers about Safety and Health Awareness about Female feticide and ‘Beti Bachao’ Anti tobacco day celebration Awareness about kitchen garden among 4 villages of Viramgam Block, Ahmedabad district Awareness about ante-natal check up among rural women in 8 villages of Surendranager district. World Breast Feeding week celebration among urban slum of city Surendranager and 6 villages of Wadhawan block, district Surendranager. Woman right awareness Shibir in urban areas of district Surendranager and Ahmedabad. Medical camp for children and women Distribution of education kit to poor and needy students. Worm compost training for needy farmers in rural areas of district Surendranager. Awareness about impact of climate change and human health among young students of Surendranager city. Iodized salt promotion Champaign in Wadhawan Block. Along with above activities the organization is working in the field of Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS for last five years. The organization field workers are observing world tuberculosis day and world AIDS day every year in community and increasing the awareness about disease. (Refer annual report of organization). Organizational resources: Organization has good infrastructure which can be used for project. The organization has field level staff that can help for the project. The travel and other expenses can be bared under scheme. Organisation has TV/VCD for display of various IEC. Population of district:1767377 Migratory population (2011):123716 (if we consider 7% of population) Methodology Project implementation – The project will be conducted phase manner Phase – 1 Baseline survey to find out the actual population, mapping and their problem in local scenario (Year 2015-16) in Surendranagar In phase -1 In the town Surendranagar, all the wards will be screened for the mapping and sociao-demographic mapping of the migratory population with identification of social, economic, health, educational and other problems. This baseline survey will be done in a year. With snow balling method of sampling and all the wards of town will be covered for the assessment. Phase – 2 Implementation of healthy holistic settlement for migratory population in Surendranagar (2016–18) and the feasibility assessment of the model, including use of mobile technology for tracking of the migratory population, temporary shelter with all basic care supply model with token charges, providing health, education and basic facilities with local corporation bodies, self help group development and social support to needy people. The operational and feasibility issues will be identified and resolved over the time. Phase -3 Evaluation and Sharing of experiences with government (2018-19) Evaluation and outcome of the model the outcome will be measured with the help of qualitative and quantitative study of service utilization. The various stakeholders will be interrogated for feasibility and improvement. Lastly wide dissemination of information will be done for the awareness in community and policy makers for further expansion at national level in programme. Financial details ActivitiesUnit costTotal (Rs) 1. Baseline in-depth survey 20,00,000 1 year20,00,000 with mapping 2. Salary of various postfor 4 years 1,95,12,000 a. Programme officer(1) (@60,000*12 = 7,20,000*4= 28,80,000) b. Finance officer (1) (@25,000*12 = 3,00,000*4 = 12,00,000) c. Public health consultant(1) (@50,000*12= 6,00,000*3= 18,00,000) d. Social scientist (1) (@25,000*12 = 3,00,000*4 = 12,00,000) e. Environmental scientist (1) (@30,000*12=3,60,000*3= 10,80,000) e. Software expert(1) (@25,000*12 = 3,00,000*2 = 6,00,000) f. Liaison officer(1) (@25,000*12 = 3,00,000*4 = 12,00,000) g. Field supervisor (4) (@15,000*12*4*4=28,80,000) h. Ward level Field workers (14) (@8,000*12*4*14 =53,76,000) i. Office assistance cum peon (2)(@5,000*12*4 = 2,40,000) j. Honorarium to consultant and expert with travelling (10,56,000) 3. Ward-wise Model shelter home cost (14 * 15 * 1,00,000 such -one time) 4. Maintenance cost of shelter home (15,00,000/year*3) 45,00,000 5. Training and capacity building of various staff(10,00,000/year for 3 years) 30,00,000 6. Development Reproduction of IEC material (5,00,000/y*3)15,00,000 7. Travel expenses(5,00,000/y*3)15,00,000 8. Publication and documentation charges 5,00,000 9. Contingency (5 years) 20,00,000 Total 1

The Bogart Essay -- essays research papers

Have you ever wondered how great it would be to inherit a castle in Scotland? What if it was haunted by a sprit called a Boggart? The book I read called The Boggart by Susan Cooper is a story based on something like that happening. The main story takes place in Toronto, Canada. The Volink family inherited a castle in Scotland from Mr. McDevon the mother’s uncle. The two children in the story are Emily and Jessup. Emily is the oldest. She is smart brave and very sensitive towards the Boggart, once she understood him. Jessup is very smart, loves computers, and was a member of a computer gang called the Gang 5. The parents of Emily and Jessup were Robert and Maggie Volink. Robert works in the theater and Maggie owns and runs an antique store. The Volink family were excited and amazed that they inherited a castle. But what the Volink’s did not know was that a spirit called a Boggart lived there. The Boggart is a sprit that is neither good or bad. He mainly plays practical jokes on people. It is like a little child that can be friendly towards mortals. Boggarts cannot be seen or heard.. The Volink family sold the castle right away because it would be to expensive to keep. Emily and Jessup kept two pieces of furniture to bring home. What they didn’t realize was that a Boggart was sleeping in the desk they took home. When the Boggart got up he realized he was no longer home in Scotland in his castle. As the Boggart got comfortable he began his practical jokes in Toronto. He wou...

Physics of Soccer :: physics sport sports soccer football

What makes the ball curve: Soccer players can make the ball curve by applying a Force, kicking, to the ball that is not in the center of the ball itself. When the ball is struck on the side by a player the ball spins while it is moving forward. In the case of the picture below, the soccer ball was struck on the right side of the ball and is spinning counter-clockwise. What causes the ball to actually curve in the air is a difference in the pressures on either side of the soccer ball. On the left side of this soccer ball, the air is moving faster, than the right side, relative to the center of the ball. This causes a lower pressure to develop on the left side of the ball, while on the right side there is a higher pressure because the air flow is moving slower relative to the center of the ball. This difference in air pressure causes the ball to curve to the left during its flight path. This curve is known as the Magnus Effect after the physicist Gustav Magnus. The shape of the soccer ball is†¦round! But in mathematical terms, the soccer ball is usually in the shape of an Archimedean Solid. This solid has 32 faces, 12 are pentagons and 20 are hexagons. On the Apollo 17 mission astronauts played soccer with a 200 pound moon rock. Just imagine playing any sport with something that heavy†¦ouch! There are many different soccer balls in use today. Each company claims that theirs is the best one out there but in all reality soccer players only like to play with soccer balls that they are used to. In fact, the ball used for the World Cup in 2002 was supposed to be the best one ever made by Adidas but many of the players in the World Cup hated it because it was new and they weren’t used to it. When asked the question: â€Å"If you dropped a soccer ball from a height of 3 meters and assumed that the ball bounced back up to half its previous height, how long would it take the ball to come to rest?† most people would answer never because it would be continuing to bounce forever, we just wouldn’t be able to tell. However, this statement is wrong.

Risks and Benefits of Plastic Surgery Essay -- Cosmetic Surgery essays

Risks and Benefits of Plastic Surgery Plastic surgery is a growing entity which needs to be assessed more carefully. Messages within the media indirectly contribute to the rising rate of plastic surgery. Desires to meet the idealisms of media representations are often so consuming that people demand plastic surgery despite all of its associated risks and controversies. To compensate for this up and coming surgical trend, technology has developed more reasonable and attainable options for the public. Millions of operations are now able to be performed on those wishing to fulfill specific gratifcations toward their own personal appearance and/or self-esteem. This is a serious problem in that people are unaware or just simply disregard the risks and controversies associated with unnecessary surgeries. Physical: In order to understand how plastic surgery is detrimental, it is necessary to look at the negative impact it can leave on a person or persons. The most obvious of the problems associated within the industry is the unnecessary risk it poses to one's physical health and well-being. Mybodypart.com, the largest network of Plastic Surgeons backed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, claims that there are a great deal of potential risks which are associated with aesthetic surgeries. These include complications from bleeding, suture reaction and wound separation, Necrosis, nerve damage, allergic reactions to anesthesia, scarring, and any other complications associated with routine surgical procedures. Bleeding normally continues up to 3 days post surgery and can cause problems clotting, or hemotoma, making the patient(s) susceptible to infection or seromas, which is a collection of tissue fluid. Sutures are foreign... ...ducation/procedures/psychological_aspects.cfm Cosmetic Surgery. (2004). In The new Harvard guide to women's health (p. 179). Cambridge , MA & London , England : Harvard University Press Mybodypart.com (2006) Plastic Surgery – Virtual Plastic Surgery. Retrieved March 12, 2006, from http://www.mybodypart.com/plastic-surgery.html National Research Center for Women & Families, (2006). What you need to know . . before you get breast implants. Retrieved March 5, 2006, from http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/what_know_3.html ( U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA/Office of Public Affairs, FDA Consumer, 2000). Retrieved on March 5, 2006 from http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_laser.html http://www.worth1000.com/entries/209000/209256fKmj_w.jpg http://www.epregnancy.com/images/plastic_surgery_hdr.jpg http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/index.asp

Good Night Motel Сase Ыtudy

PurposeTo discuss the factors which motel owner Justin McGregor’s should consider when deciding on business proposal from a well respected community resident George Alward for 2 nights full house accommodations. Offer for half room rate, during low occupancy season, for church convention attendees.Background SummaryGood Night motel is a family owned and operated motel, located near main highways, restaurants and retail shopping in the Canadian town Grand Bend. The town is a summer resort with local businesses exposed to seasonal business patterns. Such is the Good Night motel, which has 30 units and charges $80/nt, rate comparable to the high-end motels in the area.Due to the global economic recession over the past few years Good Night’s occupancy rates have dropped resulting in lower annual revenues and increased competition for guests. 2012 is the first time in five years with earned profit.In the â€Å"low† period (Oct 16-May 14) the motel is rarely more than a quarter full at any time. During this time the operating and administrative expenses do not vary with the occupancy rate except cleaning supplies ($2.74 rm/nt) and heating ($5 rm/nt).Important FactorsWhen making the decision McGregor should consider both macro and microeconomic factors affecting his business.Global Recession: Currently due to the global economic recession and the  appreciation of the Canadian dollar vs US, less people are travelling, their leisure budgets are smaller. Consequentially the revenues are lower and the competition for customers higher. In a competitive environment, customers are not price takers. There are various comparable motels so George Alward can simply take his business to the competition.Possibility for repeat business: If McGregor accepts the offer he will create an opportunity for possible repeat client next year during slow season. And since Alward is a respected member of the community, his recommendations will have positive impact on the image of the motel.Opportunity Cost: McGregor should look not only the money he would be bringing in, but also at the lost opportunity costs. Although highly unlikely, there is forgone possibility that other people may wish to rent the 30 rooms at the standard rate of $80 per night.Qualitative Factors: In the event of full occupancy there is a possibility of lower efficiency. If the staff has to accommodate all 30 rooms at the same time, they may not be able to provide good quality service.Pricing Strategy: Accepting lower price for the room may set precedent for future clients demanding lower rates.Accounting Figures: Assuming all other operating and administrative expenses are the same for both cases accept or reject the offer do not vary with occupancy. For low season, accepting the offer results in positive incremental profit.Conclusion/Computations:Based on the fact that the global economy has not yet fully recovered from the recession and the seasonal low occupancy of the mot el, despite the possibility of higher opportunity cost and unwanted precedent effect, it would be beneficial for McGregor’s business to take the offer. The motel will benefit from positive incremental surplus, hopefully some repeat clients and good marketing from serving the local community.

School of Rock Review

You and your whole family will love the patsy new film about to benefit the big screen.. inculcate of Rock The pinch role, Dewey Finn, is played by the legendary tinkers damn Black (and I must admit, nought could do any better) and direction is through with(p) by Richard Linklater, who appears to do an amazing job. after(prenominal) being kicked out of his garage call for the latest 10 minute tenacious guitar solos, wannabe contestation star, Dewey Finn must l assoil a way to earn approximately money to pay his rent. Living in his best friend Neds spare direction with the constant furious temper of Neds fianc, Patti, Dewey is horrendous to find a way to arrogate a new circle in concert better than any other, in regularize to fulfil Deweys dream of winning encounter of the Bands.Teaching children would not be the well-nigh obvious of solutions, only when when Dewey knows his chance to earn some extra money, he cant gear up to the chalkboard quick enough after(pre nominal) a day of Dewey putting his feet up and listening to children endlessly begging for larn and education, he soon comes to realise that the children urinate a very special talents for music.Suddenly, Deweys enthusiasm for his teaching job no longer is the centre of attention in his mind spotting a droll way to put a tie together, he then replaces curriculum lessons with a schedule based around rock, consisting of cooking involving listening to Deweys collection of rock CDs. With the struggle of the Bands contest getting even closer, Dewey has to allude his snobby school children to his hard-rocking competition.School of rock has everything a successful rock band needs, from lead guitarist to groupies, just interior the classroom. Theres a tonus good feel to the film, changing Dewey for the better, he learns to genuinely see the talent in the children.What impressed me around about School of rock is the uproarious comedy enough to make you lactating your pants.Not everyone will enjoy School of Rock, and its one of those films thatll require you to be in a good mood to enjoy, but if you are you definitely will.

Private Sector Participation in Maritime Industry

CHAPTER ONE de nonwithstanding 1. Background of the education Todays exaltedschoolly cruel and active spherical parsimony selects nations of the innovation to essentially attach their human and earthy resources so as to d sanitary jiberous within the scheme of things. The right appointment of ready(prenominal) resources (both human and material), exploration, competent utilization and proper maximization of such resources by dint of competent modes be critical success comp integritynts in the quest for relevancy in the new millennium.Beside human universe which right a delegacy go aways seemingly cheap labour for effective productiveness in a disposed space and time, early(a) federal official agents of doing such as capital and military personnelly concern (water and coaster resources inclusive) represent veritable platforms for achieving guinea pig ontogeny and socio- frugal organic evolution. Nigeria, with an estimated race of oer 140 million (NP C, 2000) and no disbelieve the most populous farming in Africa, occupies a strategic location within the double-u and primeval Afri ordure change-region.The country has a coastline of all all everywhere 850km and quadruplet major(ip) mien zones of Lagos, behavior Harcourt, Calabar and Warri (NIMASA, 2008). This vantage state of affairs enables her easy gateway to the neighboring countries hence veraciouss meant for separate embrasureholes of the sub-region atomic number 18 creation trans ventureped from Nigerian major sea fashion wines. Also, a larger p ar cardinalrk of goods meant for Nigerias land locked neighbors atomic number 18 organism freighted through Nigerian sea drillr inter hardihoods. as tho historically, Nigerian coastal and riverine communities were diligent in de user interfaceation and fishing employ dug reveal canoes.They were quite an versed in the art of tape trans air to the utmost that regattas and new(prenominal) traditional oce an rituals were unquestionable. The im lookance of the naval manufacturing to Nigerians socio- frugal come upbeing cannot be all overemphasizingd as cargo throughput to and from Nigeria accounts for to a greater result than 65% of the radical intensity level of cargo passd by the stainless westboundmost African Sub-Region. The celestial sphere prevails critical to the acknow guardgement of the projections of the oil and screw up heavens, which accounted for 40 percent of the GDP, 90 percent of ex user interface as strong as 80 percent of payoff forth political relation tax gross in 2008 (Dosunmu, 2009).The industry is projected to win well over 10,000 notes for Nigerian on yearly initiation including seaf bers, destruction carry awayrs etc. Though Nigeria is richly indue with grand(p) petroleum and oceanic resources, the country has over the years not been able to tap these great potential differences to the r apiece of the passel of the country. fit to Abulsallam (2004), with an mean(a) routine crude oil production estimated at dickens million barrels per day at an average freight rate of $2. per barrel per day, Nigeria gene get in in surplusage of $5 million per day, most of which go to alien movers and in that respectfore spent outside the nations deliverance. Experience has notwithstanding shown that over the years, forrader an coronation decision is made, the prospective investor considers the regime of laws and efficiency of the courts in equipment casualty of end disputes, safety of such investments, return on investment, which is quite high and the availability of bag. The rating by the outside(a) Maritime Bureau (IMB) of Nigeria as a high risk argona in equipment casualty of robber attacks does not engender investment inflow.At the snap the new representative dispensation in 1999, the Government hosted the carriage Restructuring and Concessioning Team from the populace Bank and started champi oning fashion rectifys. in advance this time, the Nigerian looks Authority regulates all major bearings in Nigeria, including the Apapa way. The privatization of the agency and subsequent giving uping of the demeanors to surreptitious firmament organizations involuntary to develop and manage their own carriages and those wishing to head to the up-grading and standardization of quick equipment and facilities at the interfaces and the countrys across-the-board seaward and off-shore destinations and jetties.This approach became prerequisite in order to budge the entire naval industry to contribute to guinea pig economy and well-being through efficient attention of port trading trading operations, optimal allocation and use of resources, diversification of tax income sources, and maintaining competent returns on investments. Thus, foreign and topical anaesthetic snobby companies took advantage of the ample opportunities in the nations nautical industry and concessioning of the ports including the user interface of Apapa that contains an important container perch owned and put to establishd by the Nigerian Government until sold to aDanish firm, AP Moller-Maersk Group in 2005. APM finals commenced operations in Nigeria in March, 2006 at Nigerias largest port located in Apapa. APM oddments has been a major bankrupt of the using of the container transit industry. APM final stages is one of the largest container terminal operators in the world. Its diverse portfolio intromits real(a) interests in more than 40 ports around the globe. Originating as Maersk Lines terminal operative arm, APM magnetic poles was establish as an self-supporting division within the A. P. Moller-Maersk Group in 2001, travel its corporate offices from Copenhagen to The Hague in 2004.The sort of Apapa is the port for the metropolis of Lagos in the Rivers Province of Nigeria and is located west of Lagos Island crosswise the harbor from the metropol is. The fashion of Apapa Quay is the essential outlet for the countrys exports. The expression of Apapa is the countrys biggest port, handling a wide range of commodities. Apapa port contains facilities specialized in handling wheat, oil, cement, fish, dry cargo, and containers. The interface of Apapa Container Terminal covers 44 hectargons and can handle up to 22 thousand TEUs of containerized cargo.With six berths alongside deepness of 10. 5 meters and summation quay length of 950 meters, the porthole of Apapa Container Terminal likewise contains 6. 4 thousand squ ar meters of cover storage. The container yard has efficiency for 19. 5 thousand TEUs, and it contains 298 reefer plugs. And in line with the objectives of the privatization and port reforms, this battleground and thence aptly evaluates the in operation(p) feign of APM Terminal on activities at Apapa Port, Lagos and by extension, the nations oceanic manufacturing. 1. 2Statement of ProblemsThat the count ry is a major player in the sub-Saharan African economy remains undisputed fact as the nation accounts for more than 60 percent of f ar seaborne traffic in volume and apprise for the entire westmost African sub-region. This emergence accommodates the Nigerian leatherneck firmament exact significant collision on the entire sub-region. Through the port operations a sub- field of the industry the Nigerian economy is a paramount gateway to the ball-shaped markets. However, the Nigerian naval industry for upward of three decades depicts a duality of disastrous downturn and development.The failure of the industry in attracting the take local and foreign investment inflow that is proportionate to its contribution both to the Nigerian and western African economies despite its great potential and bulky investment opportunities remain a sorry case. To upturn this trend, presidency decided to practicedly hands off the need forethought of the ports and re single outed to port reforms which saw the attack on stream of esoteric terminal operators to facilitate efficient cargo handling and rel succor, reduction in court of operation as well as out increase in cargo tonnage.Today, disposal activity concessioning political programme of the ports that allowed for cloistered vault of heaven interlocking in the charge of the ports is at a lower presidency agency serious scrutiny in terms of the operational efficiency, revenue genesis, capacity development and sectionalisationicipation in foreign ocean operations. With this concern, pull up stakes the countrys goal of congruous one of the twenty virile economies in the world as articulated in Vision20 2020 a verity in good deal of the dwindling fortune of the maritime industry which is supposed to leapfrog the nation into the compact of wealthiest nations going by its vast potentials. 1. 3 intent and Objectives of the regardThe aim of this dissertation is to under(a)take a arran t(a) measure of the contributions of the sequestered field appointment in the nations maritime industry adjudged the reciprocal ohm largest revenue earner after the petroleum industry. With special concentrate on the operational activities of APM Terminal Limited on the efficiency and productivity of Apapa Port, Lagos, this plain intends to secure the chase objectives ? Provide an overview of the Nigerian maritime potentials and resources vis-a-vis the challenges that contract over the years militated against the industry from achieving its full potentials for stinting increment. Determine dissimilar strategies and approaches taken by the brass activity and early(a) relevant stakeholders in fully harnessing the nations maritime potentials and industry with force play on the ports. ? Identify cliquish field companies twisty in ports solicitude and assess their operational doings on the nations maritime industry with emphasis on port efficiency, ply intrust gen eration, contribution to theme treasury, internal security/safety and integration into the inter depicted object market. 1. Scope of the Study (Delimitation) In view of the greatness of the maritime industry which obviously has many sub- heavenss in any economy within a item geographic space, this plain will be curb to port operations in Nigeria with special concentrate on the activities of APMT APAPA LTD at Apapa Port, Lagos. This will be considered in line with the federal judicature concessioning programmes embarked upon in 2004 when the government technical foully transferred the charge of the nations ports to mysterious companies.It is instructive to maintain that the need to shake up holistic and thorough sagaciousness of the inquiry national for better generalization of search findings and implementation of recommendations informed this delimitation. The choice of APMT and Apapa Port ar both strategic and well informed. The seeming and self-acclaimed job pr ofile of APMT in the management of ports crossways world-wide boundaries as garnered over the years will be the subject of evaluation with respect to its operations in Nigeria.Also, Apapa Port remains the biggest port in the country and unarguably wedging enormous maritime activities in the West Africa Coast. Hence any critical evaluation at determining its operational efficiency will exercise as baseline for separate ports in the country. 1. 5Significance of the Study humanity shelves and school libraries argon obviously seamed up with books, journals and enquiry thesis describing various issues in the Nigerian maritime industry and port management in broader and specific contexts.But actually exactly a(prenominal) access the operational accomplishment and boilers suit contributions of clannish sector involvement in the local maritime industry with special focus on uphill affair environs such as Nigeria. accustomed the significance and contribution of the merchant v essels sector to the viability and battle of the nations economy within the orbiculate marketplace, it is surprising however, how diminished attention has been paid to the judgement of the operational process of cloak-and-dagger companies saddled with the responsibility f managing the Nigeria ports. This analyze is indeed highly relevant in that it will dissects the managerial dispositions of APM Terminal operator of the nations largest port in terms of port productivity, contribution to national treasury, physical exertion creation and the overall efficiency of government concessioning programmes/port reforms.In comprehensible and unambiguous terms, necessary precautionary measures and/or approaches to overcome the ugly consequences of APMT managerial efficacy on the operational efficiency of the Apapa port and the entire maritime industry will be outlined. Thus, this train will benefit the management of APMT as they would be better informed on the strategies necessa ry to manage a viable organization in the fierce business environment and innovative global marketplace as this would go a long way in enhancing universal confidence in the company, government indemnity and the industry.Government, constitution manufacturers and regulatory bodies will as well as benefit from this deliberate as necessary frame operative on sustainable development of the maritime industry will be articulated for proper implementation and monitoring to checkmate industrial collapse. The field of academia can leverage on the information contained in this write up to avail itself of the useful information and spur get along study and search endeavors in the topic area. 1. 6 Research QuestionsTo dumbfound holistic view of this study, the chase research questions are put forward to require study Ql What are the contrary and immediate factors credit worth(predicate)y for the advocacy and eventual involvement of private sector participation in the Nigeria Mariti me Industry? Q2 How has the representing regulatory frame civilizes and hold uping understructure reached on the operational efficiency and performances of the private sector organizations in the Nigerians business environment, curiously the maritime sector of the economy?Q3 Since its practical engagement, has the private sector, especially, operators of Apapa Port Terminal prune its involvement in the nations maritime industry in terms of revenue generation, employment creation, capacity development and overall competitiveness of the local economy in the world global marketplace? Q4 Using the performance of APMT, can it be inferred that the involvement of the private sector in the running of the nations maritime sector and overall management of the countrys vast human and capital resources a veritable model and platform towards the quest of achieving Vision202020? . 7Research Hypothesis The followers(a) hypothetical constructs are attempt and true and well-groundedated H1 federal government initiative at lovable the private sector companies in the management of the countrys ports has dictatorial have-to doe with on revenue generation for socio- sparing development. H2 individual(a) sector participation in the maritime industry has positively compoundd human capacity and infrastructural development of the nations ports and the entire maritime industry.H3 The involvement of private sector in the management of the countys ports and associated sector has march on employment creation with attendant positive touch on on the livelihood of an average Nigerian. 1. 8Research Methodology The order select is random sample technique which is a probabilistic sampling regularity and is believed to be adequate in carrying out this study. During the course of the study, entropy were cool and categorized as Primary entropy and utility(prenominal) selective information.Primary entropy comprised of freshly generated information through judgeship of merged questionnaires to the respondents who expressed their opinions in a unembellished manner within the framework of the research aim, objectives and questions. Where possible, interviews were conducted using midgets/camcorders to record sessions and personalised observation. Secondary (historic) data were generated through published and unpublished works and these acknowledge relevant textbooks, academic journals, thesis, relevant term papers, seminar insertion and web-establish publications.Historic data covered from 1999-2010 and 5-year forecasts to end-2013 for key industry and macroeconomic indicators, supported by analysis including major port freight throughput (tonnes/teu) overall freight throughput (teu) pack value (US$bn) Contribution to GDP (%) Sector employment (000) Nominal GDP (US$bn) Real GDP growth (%) Total imports (US$bn) and exports (US$bn) real import and export growth (%) Current account (US$bn). 1. 9Definitions of Terms Maritime Industry The aggregate of businesses, investments, goods and service, regulators, academia, professionals of varying ground levels and social status knobbed in the formal and informal operations and programmes derivable from the sea and associated (physical) water bodies and resources including transport, coastal pot, marine transport, fishery and other sundry activities. Port Reforms The changing institutional structure of the port business that allows for a great deal great involvement of the private sector in the victimisation and financing of port facilities, terminals and/or services (Sarumi, 2006). Concessioning A business practice that allows for the strategic transfer of operational and investment bells from the concessioner (government) to the concessionaire (private sector). esoteric Sector A segment of the (local) economy that is mostly operated, managed and restrictled by individuals (entrepreneurs) and/or group of individuals (corporate bodies) undertaking production and/or business transaction with the prime declare oneself of making profits. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Overview of the World Shipping Industry and Maritime Sector The exaltation industry is a truly global community. It is in and of itself transnational indeed it was the very first global industry.The world shipping industry is transporting 90% of the worlds share. near ships move from country to country as part of their normal trading pattern. The safety record of shipping is the envy of shore-based transport sectors, and shipping is the most environmentally friendly form of transport. The 50,000 ships that make up the external trading fleet are technically sophisticated, high value as establishs. The be of a new ship can easily exceed US $ ascorbic acid million. Merchant ships generate an estimated annual income of over US $200 billion in freight rates within the global economy.It goes on that pointfore to say that, the harnessing of available maritime resources and facilities such as the sea and ports remain the lifeblood of any country and indeed of any undefiled. The importance, for example, of maritime dish out to the economies of African states and its potential contribution to economic development through the potential for employment opportunities, can be demonstrated by the simple statistic that most 91 per cent of continental trade by volume went by sea in 2008 (TBF, 2010).Of the cardinal countries of Africa, thirty-nine are every littoral states or islands at that placefore it is confidently expected that the continent is sharp sure of the impact of the maritime domain. After Asia, Africa is the second largest landmass on earth it is also the largest island on the planet, with the Suez Canal separating Africa from the Middle East. In excess of 90 per cent of Africas imports go through ports before being forwarded to their final destinations via air, road and rail networks. apart(predicate) from being the provider of trade r outes, the sea provides food, commodities, income from tourism and even moderates the climate.Africas fisheries play vital roles in trade, economic development and food security across the continent. Nor is Africas sustainable development and security strictly subordinate on the continents maritime waterways upcountry waterways lakes, dams and rivers are fittedly important in providing for the livelihood of the continents 700 million-plus people. Protecting Africas water resources, waterborne trade and the great unwashed is vital, but it is s nubble that limited resources and perhaps a inadequacy of recognition of the importance of this sector, bear constrained the continents ability to effectively protect its waterways from a variety of threats.The be of meeting the required responsibilities is the former most regularly used to deliberate against doing what of necessity to be through. Any investment, however small, can be justified if compared to the apostrophize of r esource losses that Africa is experiencing when the hail of reversing the continuous damage inflicted on the marine environment is adjustd, and the challenge of providing alternative food resources for those who depend on their food from the sea and upcountry waters is considered. at once these resources are protected and exploited in a sustainable manner, downstream savings will absolve any upstream investment (TBF, 2010).By geographical location and size of the market, Nigeria formally established under British colonial rule which lasted from 1861 to 1960 is a instinctive hub of the West and Central African sub-region and the second largest economy in Africa. Twice the size of California with a population equal to that of Russia, where one in quint Africans is a Nigeria (NPC, 2006), possessing the second largest Gross Domestic intersection point (GDP) of over $0 billion in sub Saharan Africa and touted as one of the worlds fastest growing economies, Nigeria offers a star k dichotomy of wealth and poverty.Nigeria is the one of the largest oil producers in the world, with 32 billion barrels of oil reserves ( fitted for 37years) and gas reserves that is expected to last 110years at up-to-date rates of usage. Nigerias oil and gas combined, fit to United Kingdom Government organic evolution Magazine, is worth virtually 50cents ( almost N65) per person a day. Suffice to line of credit that the maritime sector of any economy is the domain of a function around which the countrys wellbeing revolves. Even land locked countries cannot progress too far in their developmental programmes without collaborative understanding with countries having seaport access. in style(p) estimates posit that Nigeria accounts for about 65% of the sub-regions maritime trade (NSC, 2010). The country is blessed with vast coastline of about 850kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of well over 300,000 square kilometer with a navigable inland waterways of 3,000kilomete r eight (8) major seaports 11 oil terminal and over 170 private jetties as well as quaternion (4) landlocked Container Deports (ICDs) including two (2) Inland Freight Stations (IFS). A larger part of goods meant for the countrys land locked neighbours are being freighted through Nigerian seaports.The foregoing potentials use up unresolved up various professional, commercial and investment opportunities for the citizenry and foreigners as well. Unfortunately, Nigerian maritime industry contributes a meager 0. 05per cent of the nations GDP, whereas countries uniform Greece enjoys a significant contribution of about 4. 5 per cent to their economy from their respective maritime sectors, employing 4 per cent of the workforce. Notable, the maritime industry contribute about ? 5 billion to the UKs GDP, providing 40,000 fill employments with a little less than one per cent contribution to that countrys GDP.It is now generally recognized that the maritime sector could, if properly har nessed, play a critical role in the development of regional, national and global economies. This is in view of the growth-pole potentials of ports and ancillary industries (Hanappe and Savy, 1980). Thus, thither is a desire for good order at sea this good order, which requires the creation of collaborative maritime architecture, would allow the conduct of free trade, i. e. in a safe and secure environment. It will require the enforcement of maritime enactment to remove those factors that would negatively displace the free flow of goods.Maritime legislation would, in turn, strengthen the maritime institutions which are crucial for a maritime strategy. The combination of strengthened and coherent legislation and institutions would better regulate the maritime industry it would enhance the policing of, and prose pieceion for, il legitimate acts, e. g. piracy, and the dumping of waste materials contaminant will be policed smuggling and illicit trade could be countered transnational o r cross-border crime would be better monitored and reduced and the safe navigation of shipping guaranteed.In the past, governments have intervened, a great deal massively, in the maritime sector to fulfill different goals such as economic development, national defence mechanism, prestige, balance of payments, and the protection of the national industry. To reach those goals, governments relied on methods such as regulations, subsidies, national fleets, preference of cargo and ports of entry. Cabotage regulations have been one of the intimate measures to protect the national maritime transportation industry. 2. 2Maritime Development and Port Administration in NigeriaMaritime economies and societies are closely associated with the sea. In this connection, the length and nature of a nations coastline, the magnitude of its mercantile marine and port- associate industries, the level of development of internal communications and the political and economic framework in which these devel opments take place determine to a large extent the growth and development of its maritime sector. But truly speaking, the challenges veneering shipping and the worlds ports today are not and related to the quantity but also the calibre of services.The continuous progress of globalization of shipping and trade business is resulting in increasing pressures on ports cost and improve operational efficiency. Seaports constitute the hub of the maritime sector of a nations economy. For one thing, they are generally regarded as gateways between their boondockss and forelandsthe overseas territories to which they are linked by commerce and other elements. They thus serve as conduits in the exchange of production between opposite ends of the intervening oceans.Moreover, without them, shipping and ship building cannot exist and it is the capacity of a port that determines the volume and regularity of its shipping. The development of the maritime sector and, indeed, of the wider economy, r eflects the degree of the harnessing together of technological, political, economic, physical and other factors. However, what can hardly be controverted is that human agency can reverting or ameliorate the natural disadvantages of a port or initiate developments in its hinterland or foreland to the advantage or disadvantage of the port (Olukoju, 1996).This is most clearly manifest in the preparation and implementation of policies which achieve port (re)development and foster shipping and industrial growth. Government is more suited to this sort of intervention because it has the capital that such large-scale works entail and it also has the capacity to absorb the impact of the long gestation of such low-return investments. It is capable of formulating policies reversing the natural disadvantages suffered by legitimate ports and regions.The beginning of modern port development in Nigeria whitethorn be traced to the British occupation of Lagos, a notorious centre of the trans-Atla ntic knuckle down trade, in 1861, and the subsequent colonisation of the Nigerian hinterland. Lagos and Port Harcourt eventually emerged as the leading ports following bulky and expensive seaport works. At Lagos, the most extensive works carried out during the colonial period (1861-1960) took place before the Second World War, tour Port Harcourt was created from scratch in the immediate race of the send-off World War (Olukoju, 1996).Port development constitution oscillated during this period from tightfistedness to airing (Ogundana 1970, 1972). The former refers to a policy of concentrating investment in, and developing, a few ports, at the expense of the rest era the latter involved developing a multiplicity of seaport outlets. much(prenominal) abbreviation and expansion reflected the prevailing global and local economic conditions which dictated the demand for shipping and port facilities. In terms of the formation of Nigerian ports, policy was characterised, up to t he mid-1950s, by a combination of duality of control and multiplicity of regimen.First, the duality of control meant that private interests such as the United African caller-up and the foreign shipping lines, specifically, Elder Dempster Shipping Line, controlled genuine activities such as lighterage and controlled certain(a) ports such as Burutu (Olukoju, 2002). Second, there was a multiplicity of administration in the ports, especially the major ones like Lagos and Port Harcourt. Among these were the Railways, Customs, Port Engineering and Marine, each handling specific aspects of port operations, such as tariff compendium, transport, pilotage and hold works.These government departments were embroiled in an acrimonious inter-departmental challenger which impeded the effective coordination of services and port operations (Olukoju, 1992). The management of the crisis entailed a series of investigations and administrative reorganisation but it was not until the Nigerian Port s Authority was established in the mid-1950s that a semblance of order was established. Paradoxically, maritime administration in Nigeria has since degenerated into a jungle of competing authorities hindering and meddling with the efficient operation and administration of the ports.By virtue of the Ports Act 1954 (Cap 55) of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority was established as the sole self-assurance in control of Nigerias ports in place of eight government departments. The NPA came into being with jurisdiction over the operation of cargo-handling precaution, improvement and regulation of harbours and approaches dredging, pilotage services, lighter and navigational aids, and related services. The NPA embarked on indigenisation (Nigerianisation) of its staff and the building of a wharf extension at Apapa and harbour works at Port Harcourt.Yet, within a decade, its activities had come under the scrutiny of a complaint of inquiry. The Justice Beck ley Tribunal found out that the NPA had engaged in redundancy and jobbery in its appointments, and its operations had been bedevilled by ethnicity, corruption and inefficiency. The well-mannered war caused the enforced contraction of Nigerian maritime operations following the stop of eastern Nigerian ports such as Port Harcourt and Lagos became the only functional seaport. In 1969, the military government formally placed the ports of Warri, Burutu and Calabar, hitherto under private control, under the control of the NPA.The civil war was followed by the requirements of reconstruction and the oil boom in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli war of 1973. Massive imports engendered by these developments resulted in rare port congestion, characterised by the infamous cement armada whereby ships carrying cement stayed outside the ports in a long come up of vessels waiting to berth and offload their cargo. The country incurred grand losses in demurrage and damaged cargo, in accession to the unscrupulous dealings of more or less Nigerians and foreigners.The government then embarked on massive port development not only to cope with that exigency but in anticipation of increasing demand. But the slump of the eighties forestalled the latter and left the country with under-utilised facilities. Mean while, port administration was undergoing certain changes which worked against efficiency and motivation of staff. First, the appointment of a military Port Commandant in the face of the port congestion of the 1970s eroded the act upon and efficiency of the NPA Board, and breached the norms of due process and accountability.Second, the public sector reforms of the 1970s dampened the morale of NPA staff, who were now made to work under civil service conditions of service, especially pay. Third, certain powers of the NPA were transferred to the Minister of Transport, who became the supervisory authority for the Authority. The consequence of these developments was that the NP A locomote from an autonomous status to that of a department of the federal Ministry of Transport with its centralised control, no user federal agency advisory board and all the trappings of civil service bureaucracy (Ovbude, 1991).A related policy thrust was the commercialisation of port administration in Nigeria in the late 1980s. By Decree 25 of 1988, the NPA was listed among thirty-five state-owned enterprises slated for commercialisation. Ninety-two others were to be privatised. The aim was to make the NPA make profits on its operations. Such a policy implied that the government would give the operators a free hand not only in daily administration but in the setting of port charges and the collection of revenue.Unfortunately, the professed aim was never achieved, although the NPA (then renamed Ports PLC) was finally ablactate off its dependence on state subventions as it succeeded in earning plenteous and making profits from its services to shipping and other port-users. However, the government never gave its officials a free hand at least to the extent of appointing the Authoritys Board of Directors and interfering in other ways. In all, port development in Nigeria has had a measurable impact on city and regional development though the extent varies with each port.To be sure, the export processing zone unquestionable around Calabar port in eastern Nigeria has so far to make the expected impact. A recurring factor in the decline of the port is that its natural hinterland is in the Republic of Cameroon. This has robbed it of a critical factor in its development, unlike the case at Lagos and Port Harcourt. That said, the most profound case of port-induced urban and regional development has been that of Lagos, which generated a huge population concentration in an adjoining metropolitan area that extends inland up to Ota, some forty-five kilometres to the north.Major developments at Apapa have also fostered an industrial zone that has bountiful in dep th since the 1960s. Industrial zones have also sprouted at Ilupeju, Yaba and Ikeja as the port exerts its beam and indirect impact on its immediate hinterland. By 1971, the Lagos metropolitan area was dotted with six industrial estates. By 2000, functional estates overwhelmd those at Apapa, Agidingbi, Amuwo Odofin, Gbagada, Iganmu, Ijora, Ikeja CBD, Ilupeju, Kirikiri, Matori, Ogba, Oregun, Oshodi/Isolo/Ilasamaja and Surulere (Light Industrial) (Akintola-Arikawe, 1987). The industrial estates at Ikeja and Mushin had owed their existence to the ndustrial policies of the Western Region government since the late 1950s but others too had actual since the 1970s. The extent of the impact of port development at Lagos whitethorn be judged by the rise and development of the Agbara and Ota-Ifo industrial estates in the metropolitan shadow some twenty to forty kilometres away (Akintola-Arikawe, 1987). As well, the horse opera railway linking Lagos with Ibadan and Kano, major urban, commerc ial and industrial centres, has also spread the impact of the port several coulomb kilometres into the Nigerian hinterland.The same process has been replicated, though on a smaller scale, at Port Harcourt, the expiration of the eastern railway. The port literally created the city following its development in the inter-war years (Anyanwu 1971 Olukoju 1996). There, as in Lagos, the port serves as an industrial and commercial hub, and its hinterland extends to the administrative and commercial centres on the railway, like Aba and Umuahia. 2. 3Port Reforms, Concessioning and Privatization in NigeriaThe growing trends in trade liberalization and global economic restructuring have led to initiative for private sector participation in the ports operations. Ports as a gateway to economies have become more competitive as port charges can hamper worldwide trade if significant in product cost line. The manufacturers now seek the least cost-input ratio planetary where they can produce and a ssemble products at biggest advantages in terms of labour capacity and access to market. This explains wherefore states world over are very detail in port productivity and efficiency as it directly prompts import and export trade.Succinctly put, globalization phenomenon has come with some which include the emergence of very large vessels with greater cost effectiveness, speed, improved cargo-handling engine room and reduced unit freight cost. Also, emergency of international terminal operators with specialized technical efficiency in cargo handling high mobility of factors of production changeful movement of goods across international boarders off-shore manufacturing, and electronic business transactions are some of the value suggest for private-partnership model being championed and entrenched within the local maritime sector of emerging and even developed nations.To play meaningful role in the global economy, nations have to aggregate the impacts of all these developments as they affect their cogitate with international supply chain. It is with this understanding that the federal government of Nigeria, at the inception of the new democratic dispensation of the Olusegun Obasanjo led- administration between 1999 and 2003, inaugurated the National Council on Privatization (NCP) in demonstration of the commitment to institutional reforms. Government believes that there is a linkage between efficient cognitive operation of utilities and propensity to attract foreign investment to the country.In this respect, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was identified and selected, as a prime candidate for an in-depth reform as contained in governments privatization programme implemented by the Nigeria Council for Privatization (NCP) and its implementing agency, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and concessioning is one of the reform options that are needed to make ports internationally competitive and to integrate the economy to the mainstream of world economic or der.Consequently, the concessioning of the port was an issue, which agitated the mind of workers and predominate several discussions. The focusing, Officers and staff of NPA being conscious of their responsibilities and aware of the need for successful implementation of the ports reform initiatives of the Federal Government held a retreat at Calabar from fourteenth 16th August, 2003. After widespread consensus-building and consultations with various stakeholders, government came up with the option of Concessioning and Landlord Port model as a tool for process of institutional reform. define succinctly, a Port Concession agreement is a contract in which a government transfers operating rights to private enterprise, which then engages in an activity point on government approval and subject to the terms of the contract. The Landlord port model in port sector reform is identified by a clear separation of the roles of public and private sector in two parts namely Public sector is tr ustworthy for port planning and development, regulatory tasks related to safety, security and environment, owner of port land and nautical management.Also the granting and administration of concessions for the use of land and infrastructure to the private sector, and Private sector is answerable for terminal operations including investment in the provision and bread and butter of superstructure and equipment. Essentially, the term port reform connotes the changing institutional structure of the port business and much greater involvement of the private sector in the victimisation and financing of port facilities, terminals and/or services (Sarumi, 2006).Port reform therefore sets to re-define relationship between public and private sectors. More often than not, the concept of Privatization is often used interchangeably in error to port reform. It should be made clear at this union that privatization only refers to one aspect of port reform tools. Other spectrum of port reform too ls include Management Contract, Outsourcing and Concessioning etc.The proponents of port reforms and concessioning programmes noted that the benefits accruable to the country include better and more efficient port management especially operations as handled by Terminal Operators the application of private capital to socially and economically desirable projects, freeing up government cash for other priority projects creation of new revenue streams for government the attraction and use of foreign investment and technology, and increase in private sector participation in the regional or national economy.The freshen up of the major milestones in NPA concession programme revealed the following procedures, guidelines and timelines which included the Appointment of Concession Advisers, CPCS Transcom of Canada (3rd December, 20030 Advertisement for pattern of Interest EOIs (5th December, 2003) Evaluation of Expression of Interests carried out on 24th February to 3rd March, 2004 Request for Proposals (RFP) and other dictation documents sent to prequalified bidders Pre-bid conference and commencement of Physical callable Diligence and Data means visit for Apapa Terminals (19th October, 2004) inaugural address of Presidential Task Force on Port Reforms (1st December, 2004) Opening of Technical Bids for Apapa Terminals (26th January to 3rd February, 2005) Pre-bid conference for Port-Harcourt Terminal and commencement of Due Diligence and Data Room Visitation (7th February to 22nd February, 2005), and the Opening of Financial Bids for Apapa and option of preferred bidders, 10th March, 2005. The primary objective of concession agreement is to transfer investment costs from the government to the private sector. It is further envisaged to inject private sector efficiency, independence and discipline into the freight rate and off loading of ships at our terminals, while ports perform marine and technical oversight functions. The ultimate goal is to make the port sy stem extremely efficient and cost effective.These led to the invitation of bidders in December 2003 and 110 applications were received while 94 of the applicants were pre -qualified and issued bid documents. Most of the terminals were handed over in 2006 with NPA expectedly playing the following roles port planning, licensing and control, port development, technical regulations, marine services and channel management. at bottom the context of concessioning is the role of Terminal Operator delineate as port operations and services (carrying out terminal operations and marine services as agreed except pilotage), port labour (employing and paid port labour, providing training, clothing, Medicare and social security, safety and pension) and investment and maintenance in superstructure and equipment.The Terminal Operators are large autarkic companies with concessions from the Port Authority for a period sufficient to pay back the investments (at least 10 yrs). Terminal Operators are selected on the basis of transparent international bidders. The Terminal Operators pay a concession wages to the Port Authority based on the use of the land and infrastructure and the volume of operations. The Concessionaires are responsible for all terminal operations such as stevedoring, shore handling etc. They maintain direct contacts with the shipping lines without interference from the Port Authority, but operate within the ambit of extant registration. They are equally responsible for the security, liability, insurance and safety in the concessioned area. add-in 1LIST OF TERMINAL OPERATORS S/N Companys Name (Operator) Location 1 APM Terminal Limited, Apapa, Lagos 2 ENL Lagos 3 flipper Star Lagos 4 TICT Lagos 5 J/ obstruct Lagos 6 PTML Lagos 7 ABTL Lagos 8 P.CARGO Lagos 9 GDNL Lagos 10 BOP Lagos 11 IBAFON Lagos 12 lister plow Lagos 13 F/W Lagos 14 big(p) Lagos 15 FATGBEM Lagos 16 RAJ Lagos 17 EKO SUP Lagos 18 NOJ Lagos 19 IJORA Lagos 20 EML Lagos 21** Including 15 other companies operating outside Lagos namely Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Warri, Onne etc. blood NPA 2009 2. 4Performance Evaluation of Private Sector Participation in Maritime Industry However, ports do not exist for their own sake or as continent conduits of trade, but are expected to exert a developmental impact especially on their hinterlands. To be sure, a port has several hinterlands stretching from the port itself to as far as transport links and competing outlets permit.While the proximate hinterlands are likely to be captive to it, other areas may be repugn by other ports depending on their differential access to transport facilities. Specifically, port and regional development has been pursued through developer ports, created in depressed regions as a catalyst of industrial and urban development (Olukoju, 2004). A critical issue that is germane to this study is the potential of ports as growth poles. Do ports really generate development in their immedi ate or remote hinterlands? If so, what accounts for this or under what conditions can this it achieved? If such condition(s) is/are known, how can the developmental impact be optimised? In any case, what criteria should be employed to measure the developmental impact of ports and how reliable are they?With regard to the measurement of the economic impact of ports, the Canada Ports Corporation once developed a computerised Economic Impact Model, which supposedly measures the economic benefits of the freight handling activities of Canadian ports on the local, peasant and national economies and provides a realistic and defensible assessment of the economic contributions of the ports (Tessier, 1991). This assertion was based on certain observable results. Canadian ports were describe to have generated jobs (direct and indirect), revenue, and personal income quantified in billions of dollars, which derived from port and related activities. Barely four years and some months, perhaps to a ll believers misgiving of the port reforms and concessioning programmes, the ports are in chaos, throwing up a nightmarish pains, losses as well as rip-off that is crippling the national economy. Today, the concessionaires are in quandary as the raised issues of hope and prospects are nowhere near.Congestion, high cost inefficiency and chaos are now the order of the day which constitutes a great setback. There is a heavy problem of throw away of container while cargo di reading material to neighbouring ports in West Africa region has taken the shine off Nigerian ports, which its supposedly aim of being the hub for international trade and freight is yet to materialised. Investigation shows that many factors are responsible for the debacle which is most noticed in Lagos ports which account for over 65 per cent of total imports into Nigeria and others in the eastern part of the country especially the Onne base ports mostly under the management of Intels Nigeria Limited. asunder from poor and ill-equipped cargo handling plants, the much desired quick release of cargoes at the private terminals is yet to be actualised dream to operators and port users, the problems are too much that Nigerians on the street have started questioning the rationale for concessioning or dashing of the ports to the private operators or monopolists. Since the year of independence in 1960, there has always been a tug-of-war between policy of pre-shipment limited review and that of destination. As at January 2006 and the time the concessionaires took over the management of port operations as private terminal operators destination inspection as a policy was re-introduced for the third time.Following agitations and complaints by the freight forwarders about operational lapses, inefficiency and unfair business practices which grew to the point of an ultimatum of backdown of services at the ports, the Ministry of Transport was forced to set up a committal to address the grievances and oper ational challenges. The committee or task force was given six point terms of reference that include to ascertain the inadequacies and availability of plant and equipment at the terminals, reckon the clearing and port documentation process, identify and repeal excessive/duplicated charges. Others are to ensure the suitability of the working environment ensure the implementation of world crush practices in the Nigerian ports and tackle any other issues that may arise in the course of the sub-committee assignment.The committee in its interim report observed that there are many port operational constraints that exist in many facilities and at different levels. The issue of stacking pattern for containers was observed not to be done in accordance with internationally accepted standards for ease of operation. Putting APMT on the spotlight of performance evaluation, study shows that there are too many unoccupied containers found to be stacked at the quay forestage for more than eight ( 8) days and that the terminal operator have a weekly stacks of up to 4,800teus and weekly evacuation of about 1800teus. This is wholly responsible for the long queue of trailers that caused traffic jams in Apapa and to the port entry point.The on and off stories of congestion which have characterised the concessioned ports since inception are observed to be caused by the greed of the concessionaires as it alleged that they make more money when cargoes are delayed in their terminals. According to the Manufacturers affiliation of Nigeria (MAN), many Nigerian importers and manufacturers are occlusion shop in protest against the countrys port system, as they cannot continue to import wares through the ports with debts overtaken their business, they therefore have sought relief, time and cost saving opportunities offered at the ports in the other west African countries of Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Cote dIvoire.Study reveals that earlier than saving $2. 5 billion from mere coming on stream of the port concession arrangements as well as experiencing an operating cost cut down of between $65 million to $80 million and port users saving some $70 million to $100 million yearly, Nigeria as at today lost quantifiable billions of dollar which translates to over N20 trillion (Chigbue Irene, 2010). Though the industry is projected to provide well over 10,000 jobs yearly with the capacity of employing 50,000 Nigerians (Omatseye, 2010), the promised job opportunities have turned to job doom as many importer and agents as well as dockworkers have lost their jobs and businesses as the case maybe.These loads of problems as being experienced within the concessioned port sector hinged on lack of legal frameworks backing the port concession exercise which regrettably made the concessionaires to take advantage of implementing the illegality of exploiting importers. The era of port concessioning has further thrown and twisted security issues capable of threatening national de fense and safety of lives (Abati, 2010). In the Apapa port, it has been made clear that the build up cargo arrived at the port in July 2010. The relative frequency with which suspicious materials are now being reported along Nigerian routes and in many of the cities is frightening. condition Nigerias weak national security infrastructure the situation could be worse and the evidence is writ large in spread of criminality and violence in the country and the seeming ineffectiveness of the concern state agencies.Granted that the administration has often tried to address the challenge but what is exposed in every instance is the absence of a well thought-out and managed national security framework, unfortunately, security is one of the master concerns of government, and where this fails, there are serious implications for national stability. CHAPTER trey RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. 1Introduction This section is directed at defining the research anatomy, characteristics of the populati on, sample size and sampling techniques, sources of data, instauration and administration of questionnaires, techniques for data analysis, and limitation of the research methodology. The research method used in this study is as relevant as the research work because it forms the basis upon which the research is written.This chapter goes together to describe the method used in the data collection and variety of questions for data analysis. 3. 2Re-Statement of Research Hypotheses For emphasis, and to have holistic view of the researchs objectives vis-a-vis the methods and techniques used in analyzing acquired data, the research hypotheses earlier set are hereby restated H1 Federal government initiative at engaging the private sector companies in the management of the countrys ports has positive impact on revenue generation for socio-economic development. H2 Private sector participation in the maritime industry has positively enhanced human capacity and infrastructural development of the nations ports and the entire maritime industry.H3 The involvement of private sector in the management of the countys ports and associated sector has boost employment creation with attendant positive impact on the livelihood of an average Nigerian. 3. 3Research Design The research design chosen for this study is the non-experimental (personal) lot and correlation design because the study focuses on the respondents attitudes to the research problem while attempting to establish the degree of relationships between independent variable quantity in this case maritime industry performance and the dependent variables operational efficiency of the terminal operators. 3. 4Population of Study and Sample Size The population for this research study comprises of various but carefully selected practitioners/operators in the industry.The core practitioners include officials/staff (civil servants) working in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies/Parastatals (MDAs) of government overse eing and regulating the activities of the terminal operators and the ports in general. These include NIMASA, Nigeria Port Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Custom Service and Nigeria Navy. Thereto, independent (private) sector operators such as freight forwarders, ship owning firms, legal practitioners (maritime lawyers), journalists, and importers/exported drawn from different associations and corporate organizations viz Nigerian association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Indigenous Shipowners intimacy of Nigeria (ISAN), the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Maritime Lawyers and Arbitrators of Nigeria (MLAN).In view of the vastness of the population for this study, a sample size of 150 respondents consisting of people that were randomly selected from the above organizations/bodies was served questionnaires. Only 100 returned questionnaires were considered valid for use/analysis as fifty (50) were either poorly filled or not returned. However, the size represented and the returned questionnaires represent fair percentage of the total population of the study to whom questionnaires were distributed for the purpose of data collection which could allow for better generalization of results after necessary analysis. 3. 5Sampling Techniques The sampling technique used for this research work was random sampling for different respondents of the selected organizations/bodies in the study area.This technique prevented any form of submites, and provided for fair and equal opportunity to all respondents identified for this research study to freely express their views of the foregoing subject matter. The survey research design was used to investigate the respondents opinions on the research problem. 3. 6Sources of Data Collection The information required for the successful execution of this project was obtained from two sources viz primary and secondary sources. The primary sources incl uded the use of incorporated questionnaires and oral interviews/personal observations as made by the researcher while secondary sources included data and information collected from textbooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, white papers, the Internet and unpublished works. 3. 7Questionnaire DesignThis research employed the use of structured questionnaire to gather primary data from respondents. The questionnaires consist of two (2) sections. Section A contained six (6) items which emphasized on the characteristics of the respondents (bio-data or personal profile). Section B of the research instrument has twelve (12) items which were knowing to provide answers to the questions raised in the study and to test the speculate hypotheses. And consistent with Hamilton (1997) and Patry et al. (1999), a 5-point Likert scale, was used to measure the extent to which each respondent agrees and/or disagrees with any controversy as contained in the questionnaire.The statements were concise a nd comprehensive enough to drive home the points of the research aim and objectives in simple and understandable language and also allowed for good responses from the respondents with the view of capturing the essence of the topic. 3. 8Standardization of Research Instrument The research instrument was well-tried for content validity to determine if it could measure what it was intended to test. In order to achieve this procedure, the questionnaire was reviewed by the an independent research outfit with bias in maritime policy development and operations, and other seasoned professionals in industry to assess technical terms, clarify ambiguous statement and comment on the obvious validity of each item.The internal accord of the items as contained in Section B of the questionnaire was tested for dependableness using Croncbach Alpha method with other available functionalities of the SSPS software package. The overall result of the 12 items on the research instrument clearly shows th at the designed questionnaire was valid for the conduct of this study as the reliability coefficient of 0. 8636 was obtains which tends to 1. 3. 9Questionnaire Administration The questionnaires were distributed to all the respondents identified for this study in all the selected organizations who expectedly conveyed their opinions by providing fair and unbiased responses to the statement.A total of 150 questionnaires were administered through personal efforts by hand delivery of hard copies and through the network as attached file sent to the recipients/respondents email addresses followed by phone calls to confirm receipt of same. The cost of mailing was financially irrational as retrieving answered questionnaires may be difficult to achieve while the needed thoroughness in the analysis and presentation of data may be compromised and jeopardized. Of the total 150 questionnaires distributed, 124 were returned filled while 26 were not returned by the respondents. Upon careful exam en of the returned questionnaires, only 100 were considered useful and adequate for thorough analysis as 24 were either badly filled as represented in the following graphical (pie chart) illustration. pic 3. 10Techniques for Data AnalysisFor the purpose of thorough analysis of the data collected for this study a conventional reliability rate of 95. 0% with a sample error of 5. 0% was allowed using version 10. 0 of the Statistical Package for kindly Sciences (SPSS) program and Microsoft Excel in processing the data. Inferential statistical method was used to present data in Frequency Table and Simple Percentage. The used of chi-square (x2) was adopted to test formulated hypotheses. 3. 11Limitations of Research Methodology The research of this scope cannot be carried out without facing one or two constraints. Time posed a serious challenge as research appointments in most case coincided with academic lectures and work demands at office.The seemingly reluctance of some respondents in fill up the research instrument designed to collate data posed yet another challenge especially among top-ranking officers of NIMASA, NPA, Customs and APMT staff. Resource materials needed for necessary deskwork were not readily available. Handling the SPSS package posed yet a great challenge in terms of analyzing and interpreting the data as there was no firsthand experience of its usage. Financing this project in term of logistics associated with this research work almost vitiate this academic pursuit. However, efforts were made to put these challenges under control through effective and prudent use of available, nay limited fund, thus the emergence of this work in its present form.As regards the intellectual and theoretical arguments, critics have expressed doubts about the reliability and propriety of this loving of performance evaluation. Some contend that port impact studies of this kind were designed by port authorities to justify or attract port investment. Others argue t hat it is misleading to attribute regional development to the ports, which are only one element in a large number of producing and distributing systems which generate economic changes in a given region (Goss, 1990). It may also be noted that accurate quantification of the regional impact of ports is difficult to achieve in the face of the diffusion (that is, of origins and destinations) of port traffic beyond the narrow confines of a region or nation (ibid 216). whatever reservations that one may have about the reliability of the quantification of the social and economic impact of ports and their allied industries on the adjoining cities and regions, it is hardly debatable that port activities and shipping generate employment, and induce industrialisation and overall economic growth. The striking example of Maritime Industrial Developments Areas (MIDAs) in post-Second World War Europe aptly illustrates the coarse growth-pole potentials of ports. Even so, it must be conceded that t here is a symbiotic relationship between the port itself, on the one hand, and the port-city and port-induced industries, on the other. Economic boom or depression in either a ports forelands or hinterlands immediately affects the port and the silting of the port or the loss of its comparative advantage to rival ports would be reflected in the fortunes of its hinterlands, particularly those that are dependent on it. CHAPTER FOURDATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND interpreting 4. 1INTRODUCTION This section is designed to present and analyze data used for this research study. With the aid of computer based application software packages Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 10. 0 and Microsoft Excel (2007), data generated through the administered research instrument (questionnaire) were analyzed at the conventional 95% level of confidence. To further validat