History of McDonald’s Free Essays

McDonald’s with about 30.000 restaurants in 121 countries; was founded in 1948 at San Bernardino, USA. Its business goals are satisfied employees, more satisfied guests and a better economy. We will write a custom essay sample on History of McDonald’s or any similar topic only for you Order Now They consider employees as their main asset and accordingly, have undertaken human resource programs and practices called the â€Å"People Promise†.   Their success was due to quality, quick service, cleanliness and value for money. In 1997, McDonald’s divided its HR into three groups: the Service Center, HR Business Partners and the HR Design Center. The HR Design Center employs HR experts who develop, test and implement systems applicable to employees’ tools, which are at the forefront of research and which are designed to improve overall business results. The Measurement and Organizational Effectiveness group deals with employee commitment surveys in order to standardize relevant data, to study practices and approaches that affect turnover, productivity, customer satisfaction, sales and profitability. I-O psychologists have played a critical role in Leadership Assessment and Development, which deals with the executive succession planning process, senior management feedback and coaching and other senior leadership development programs. Implementing competency-based people systems, McDonald’s has realized intellectual capital by helping each person deliver business results. This is the People Promise initiative, which identifies metrics that relate to the success of this key strategy. In addition to conducting job analyses and test validation studies, I – O psychologists also construct and assess methodologies appropriate for capturing critical factors that measure overall business success. â€Å"I-O psychologists at McDonald’s are now, in a position to enact a key role in defining the landscape, identifying the key signposts and measuring how far an organization has gone to reach its overall goals† (Matt Barney, July 2001). McDonald’s attaches great importance to imparting knowledge about the benefits of a balanced diet and active lifestyle not only to its customers but also to its employees. Recently, Peter Beresford, CEO of the UK wing of McDonald’s, endeavor has been to improve communications. He has initiated a number of pioneering measures like ‘Ask Peter’, a direct e-mail, ‘Town Halls’, a monthly live online event where board members answer questions from staff, and the MDUK staff magazine. The employees have welcomed these changes whole heartedly (HR Challenges. 6th September 2005). Sources HR challenges †¦ I’m lovin’ it., 6th September 2005. Retrieved 19th April 2006, form http://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2005/09/06/31465/HR+challenges+I’m+lovin’+it.htm Matt Barney, Macro, Meso, Micro: McDonald’s, Retrieved April 17, 2006 from http://siop.org/tip/backissues/tipjul01/17barney.htm    How to cite History of McDonald’s, Essay examples

Interpersonal Relationships - Teams - and Team Building

Question: Describe about the Interpersonal Relationships, Teams, and Team Building? Answer: Introduction Event management is a fruitful platform for promoting any social cause (Rogers and Davidson 2015). The event arrangements are promoting the social causes like contributing money for earth quake or flood victims. The study is associated with an arrangement of the event by UNICEF, which promotes the social cause of collecting money for the victims of earthquake in Nepal. UNICEF has been providing the fair chance to each child to grow in life (UNICEF 2016). It is to be noted that only $55 can provide the emergency water kits to almost 5 families in Nepal (Maintenance.unicef.org.uk 2016). The funds will be raised through several activities undertaken in this event management. The structured time schedule will be provided in this study. The involvement of the required resources will be incorporated accordingly. The structured process of undertaking an event will be discussed through presenting a documentary elaboration. Time Scale Days Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3 Activity 4 Activity 5 Activity 6 Saturday Speech delivery by a renowned anchor Dance Performance by the school students who are associated with UNICEF Delivery of speech regarding the social cause by the celebrity Lighting candles and praying for the victims who lost their lives in Nepal Earthquake Providing feasible snacks for the audiences Ending with the contribution for victims. (Clothes, money, medicines, etc.) Sunday Host appearance and delivery speech. Introduction of the day activity Act will be performed by the school students. The act will represent the social cause and express the condition of the earthquake victims General quiz competition for the audiences The charity head of UNICEF will deliver the speech related to the cause Providing the batches and certificates for the donators of this social cause Collecting funds for the victims Table 1: Time Scheduling for the Event (Source: Created by Author) Documentation of the event plan The event will be organised in the weekends, as most of the people are available to attend it. Moreover, this can be taken into account as the refreshment programme, which can be attended after spending a hectic weekdays schedule. The programme will start in the evening at 5:30 pm and will end at 9:30 pm. The first event will be organised on Saturday. The event will be starting with the speech delivery of a renowned anchor who will present a speech regarding the social cause of donating funds for the victims in Nepal. This particular activity will be followed by the cultural dance performance of the school students who are associated with UNICEF. After the dance performance, one of the celebrities will share some words for this social cause. There will be a programme for half an hour and the audience will light up the candles and pray for the people who lost their lives in the earthquake. The audience will get some snacks break arranged by UNICEF. Finally, the day will end with the c ontribution of the audience for the earthquake victims. The audience can contribute anything like clothes, medicines, money, etc. The event on Sunday will again start with the speech delivery of the host and the person will make people aware of the activities that are going to be performed on that day. The school students associated with the social cause arranged by UNICEF will perform a social act, which will signify the condition of the victims in Nepal Earthquake. After this social act, a general quiz competition will be arranged for the audience. Even the prize will be provided to the people who will answer correctly. This activity will be followed by the speech delivery programme of the charity head of UNICEF. The organisers will then provide several batches and certificates to the contributors for this social cause. The ceremony will end up by collecting the minimal contributions for the victims. The funds will be collected through the events will then be provided for the welfare of the children in Nepal. In fact, a quality amount extracted from the entry fees of the auditorium will be provided as the fun ds. Resources for the Event The event would be organised in the community auditorium. The decoration of the stage is needed to be ensured. The assembly of the people would be required. Therefore, it is important to distribute the leaflets and posters for making people aware of the event. The event includes the appearance of the celebrity guests, hosts, and musical instruments for their performance. The investments of the appropriate monetary resources are also much necessary. Prizes are needed to be associated for the people who will answer the quiz questions. Candles for the praying sessions, costumes for the performers, batches and certificates for the donators are needed to be arranged. Arrangements of the feasible snacks are also needed to be associated. The school students will be presenting their performances regarding the cause. The volunteers will arrange the people who will be visiting the event on the weekends. Regular Reviews and Evaluations Saturday Activity Activities (Saturday) Methods Resources Opening speech by the Anchor The anchor would describe the purpose of the event. The people will be aware of the social cause behind the organised events. Anchor, Microphone Dance Performance by Kids The school students will present a dance performance with the cultural songs. School students, costumes, music system, musical instruments, jewelleries. Speech delivery by the Celebrity One of the celebrities will provide the speeches related to the social cause. The person can present various performances as per audiences demands. Mike, required instruments Lighting candles for the people who lost their lives in the disaster The audience will pray and light the candles in the memories of the earthquake victims who lost their lives. Candles Snacks break The organiser will provide some snacks to the audiences during the break time Snacks Contributions of the money, clothes, etc. The audience will contribute several commodities for the victims in Nepal. Clothes, medicines, and other commodities. Table 2: Saturday Activities (Source: Created by Author) Sunday Activity Activities (Sunday) Methods Resources Host appearance Opening speech by the host. The host will make the audience aware of the activities that are going to be performed on that same day Microphone. Performance of an act by the school students The act will be providing the social message to the audience about the condition of the victims in Nepal earthquake Costumes, decorations Quiz Competition General quiz will be asked to the audiences. The quiz will be based on the general knowledge Prize for the audiences who will answer correctly Speech delivery of the charity head The charity head of UNICEF will deliver a speech regarding the social cause Microphone Table 3: Sunday Activities (Source: Created by Author) Setting up the Project Project Set up Completion Time Allocate responsibilities Arrangements of the auditorium Monday- Tuesday Organiser of the event Decorations for the auditorium Wednesday- Friday Event Decorators Collecting the essentials (Different Resources) Wednesday - Friday Event executives Rehearsals of the performance Thursday and Friday School Authority Providing the resources Wednesday- Friday Authority of UNICEF Monitoring the entire arrangements Wednesday- Saturday Morning Event Manager Table 4: Project Set Up (Source: Created by Author) Demonstrating leadership, Time management, and prioritizing skills While organising an event for promoting a social cause, it is important to monitor the arrangements by using the proper skills. The event manager is the main responsible person who will monitor the entire activities and arrangements by using the proper skills (Raj, Walters and Rashid 2013). In such cases, the use of the situational leadership style can be relevant. The situational leadership style is considered as the most flexible method of monitoring or guiding any situation to complete with the skilful attributes (Lorinkova et al. 2013). The event is arranged for collecting funds that can be donated for the victims in Nepal. The event is associated with different activities along with the auditorium decorations. The event manager has to keep the focus on the decorative purposes, arrangements of the dance shows and quiz, performance of the celebrities, and so on. Therefore, it is important to monitor the activities in the situational basis. The event manager can sometimes undertake the autocratic leadership style in case of commanding the volunteers (Jones 2014). Adopting the situational leadership style would be effective enough for the completion of the event (McCleskey 2014). The effects of the proper leadership help in managing the teams. Time Management is the most required field that is needed to be taken into consideration (Kerzner 2013). While organising an event, it is important to structure the time frame for each of the activities. The planning of the sequential events is needed to be performed within the particular time scale. Accordingly, the plan includes the booking of the auditorium, arranging the resources, rehearsals for the performances, listing the quiz questions, and other commodities. The planning and booking the auditorium will be completed in the first two days of the week. The decorations will be taking at least three days before the main programme. Within three days, the payments should be done and the process is needed to be monitored. Maintenance of such time scale will thus be effective enough for the successful completion of the event. Supporting and monitoring the project The effective monitoring and managing skills of the event manager is significant enough for the completion of the event (Kaplan and Atkinson 2015). Even the performance of the school students are needed to be monitored by the school authority. The effective expressing and presenting skills would create the clear picture of the sufferings that can make the people willing to contribute the funds for the victims. Corrective Action It is to be noted that the completion of the proper event, managing the time frame is necessary (Nygate 2013). Moreover, the allocated resources are needed to be monitored accordingly. Hence, in considering the fruitful outcome, it is important to keep the focus on the proper evaluation of the process. In such cases, the event manager has to take the responsibility to monitor and guide the executives to undertake the proper process. The process with the proper time frame is needed to be listed in a recorded file (Cooren 2013). Firstly, the manager needs to identify the resources that are needed to be allocated for organising the event. The list of the report will thus be presented to the authority of UNICEF. The members who will be sponsoring will also provide their details accordingly. This particular recorded file will be monitored in daily basis. For example, while booking the auditorium, the manager will pay the auditorium authority few amounts as advance. This activity is needed to be checked in the list to keep them memorised. After the completion of the event, the rest of the amount will be paid. Similarly, each of the activities is needed to be checked, rehearsed, and monitored. The volunteers will also be provided with the proper guidance to manage the audiences. Keeping each of the records is the best solution or corrective action for the successful event. Selection of the Team Event organising is associated with a number of activities. Building diversified team to monitor these activities is significant enough for the expected success (Kolbe et al. 2014). The main activities incorporated in this particular event need monitored by the skilled representatives. One team will be made of two people and they will look after the decorative purposes. These people will present the report to the manager of the event. Similarly, two people will be monitoring the performance activities. Three people will build a team and they will report the manager about the monetary resources required for the event purposes. The association of the volunteer will be managing the crowd and distribute foods and prizes included in the event activities. Team building skills and diffusing anger During the arrangements of an event, the executives have to deal with different people. Some of the people are aggressive, while some present the effective team management skills (Grunig 2013). Hence, it is important to concentrate on the proper leadership skills that can be used for diffusing the anger. Due to the extreme work pressure, some of the employees even get frustrated and the leaders need to acquire the skill to maintain these executives or employees as per the situations (Akhilesh 2014). The leaders thus need to concentrate on several aspects, which are as follow. Empathize the opinions of the employees is necessary. The leaders need to listen and understand the perceptions of the employees. While judging the perception, the leader needs to think from the point of view of that particular employee (Lewis 2013). Understanding such situation is thus effective in diffusing their anger and calm people down during the frustrating situations. Offering support to the employees during their needs is also much helpful for avoiding the temperament of the employees. Backing up that particular employee is also one of the significant methods. Another most effective suggestion to diffuse the anger is invoking higher principles. While reacting in a situation, the leader needs to concentrate on the perspectives and reasons (Schoemaker, Krupp and Howland 2013). It helps the person to understand and act wisely during their works. In organising the event, the executives and the team members may face several situations when the anger diffusions are necessary. Hence, the maintenance of such procedures is essential to build an efficient team. Importance of co-ordination and communication Maintaining the coordination through the establishment of the proper communication process is necessary to build the team effort. The establishments of the transparent communication help in knowing the requirements of the members to add efficiency in the allocated activities (Hsu et al. 2012). While organising an event, it is necessary to concentrate on the coordination among the employees or the executives. The manager can also keep the concentration on the different activities that can lead towards the successful completion of the event project. The communication process is even essential for eliminating the conflicts and bringing the expected outcomes. Planning the actions and Resources Actions Resources 1. Booking the Auditorium Advanced payment, event schedules 2. Monitoring the decorative purposes Decorating posters, leaflets for the promotion, arranging the prizes for the quiz competitions, arranging the musical instruments, microphones, stage curtains, etc. 3. Keeping the record of the resources Computer and lists of the activities 4. Monitoring the team members Meetings with the leaders Table 5: Planning the action and Resources (Source: Created by Author) Internal and External Communication Internal Communication External Communication 1. Communicating with the team members about the event activities 1. Arranging the team meeting with the event manager for providing the information of the required resources 2. Managing the conflicts 2. Communicating about the performance schedules 3. Understanding the perceptions of the team members 3. E-mailing the manager regarding the payment structure for the required resources. Table 6: Internal and External Communication (Source: Created by Author) Use of the Information Technology The information technologies are much helpful in these days for promoting any social cause (Wang et al. 2012). The event will be organised to collect funds for the earthquake victims in Nepal. The event will be making people aware of the current condition and importance of collecting the funds for the people. The promotions of such social cause are needed to be undertaken through hoardings and posters. One of the most relevant ways to promote the event is social media (Sun et al. 2014). The emergence of social media has become the most powerful strategy to be undertaken to promote any events related to the social cause (Enjolras, Steen-Johnsen and Wolleaek 2013). With the help of the information technology, UNICEF can create an event on social media to make people aware of the event. The official websites of UNICEF can also be helpful in providing the information about the event. On the other hand, the entire event process includes the structured records. Using computers or laptops to keep each of the information regarding the process is necessary. The event manager can go through those records to monitor the entire process more specifically. In fact, the posters and leaflets are needed to be designed as per the event purposes. With the help of the information technology, the posters and the leaflets will be designed. Managing several sound effects during the acts is also maintained by the information technologies. Producing regular and on-time Information The information gathered for the event is needed to be associated in a structured way. This list of the information will be presented to the event manager. Each of the information is needed to be presented within a scheduled time. Since, the event has been organised for the weekends. Therefore, it is important to keep the record on daily basis. For example, the first day activity will be ensuring the selection of the venue. The event manager will be provided the report of different places in the first half of the day. In the next day, the payment and required resources will be discussed. Building the team also needs the proper time management and the activities will be allocated to them. The completion of these activities will be ensured within the structured time frame. Three days before the event will be engaged with the decorations and stage rehearsals. Other executives would be collecting the commodities for the audiences. Within the time frame, the negotiations with the sponsors and other authorities would be recorded. Monitoring each of the activities in a sequential manner would thus lead towards successful completion of the event. Conclusion The event will be organised by UNICEF to raise the funds for the victims of Nepal earthquake. Majority of the population in Nepal are children and they have been victimised due to devastated disaster. Hence, the collected funds from this event will be contributed to provide water, first aid kits, medicines, and foods to the victimised people. The structured and sequential arrangements of the events are ensuring the effective platform for collecting funds. Different activities associated in this event will be providing the message of such social cause. The involvement of the dance performances, quiz performances, speech deliveries by the charity head and celebrities, and lighting the candles will be associated in this event. Maintenance of the team, managing the external and internal communication, leadership skills, and keeping the records will be fruitful for the successive completion of the event. References Akhilesh, K.B., 2014. Interpersonal Relationships, Teams, and Team Building. InRD Management(pp. 141-167). Springer India. Cooren, F., 2013.Interacting and organizing: Analyses of a management meeting. Routledge. Enjolras, B., Steen-Johnsen, K. and Wollebaek, D., 2013. Social media and mobilization to offline demonstrations: Transcending participatory divides?.New Media Society,15(6), pp.890-908. Grunig, J.E., 2013.Excellence in public relations and communication management. Routledge. Hsu, J.S.C., Shih, S.P., Chiang, J.C. and Liu, J.Y.C., 2012. The impact of transactive memory systems on IS development teams' coordination, communication, and performance.International Journal of Project Management,30(3), pp.329-340. Jones, M., 2014.Sustainable event management: A practical guide. Routledge. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Kerzner, H.R., 2013.Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Kolbe, M., Grote, G., Waller, M.J., Wacker, J., Grande, B., Burtscher, M.J. and Spahn, D.R., 2014. Monitoring and talking to the room: Autochthonous coordination patterns in team interaction and performance.Journal of Applied Psychology,99(6), p.1254. Lewis, S., 2013. Verbal intervention.Management Of The Violent Patient In The Treatment Setting, p.41. Lorinkova, N.M., Pearsall, M.J. and Sims, H.P., 2013. Examining the differential longitudinal performance of directive versus empowering leadership in teams.Academy of Management Journal,56(2), pp.573-596. Maintenance.unicef.org.uk, 2016. Donate to Nepal Earthquake Appeal | Unicef UK. [online] Available at: https://maintenance.unicef.org.uk/nepal-earthquake-donate.html [Accessed 1 Mar. 2016]. McCleskey, J.A., 2014. Situational, transformational, and transactional leadership and leadership development.Journal of Business Studies Quarterly,5(4), p.117. Nygate, Y.A., 2013. Event correlation using rule and object based techniques.Integrated Network Management IV, pp.278-289. Raj, R., Walters, P. and Rashid, T., 2013.Events management: Principles and practice. Sage. Rogers, T. and Davidson, R., 2015.Marketing destinations and venues for conferences, conventions and business events(Vol. 14). Routledge. Schoemaker, P.J., Krupp, S. and Howland, S., 2013. Strategic leadership: The essential skills.Harvard business review,91(1), pp.131-134. Sun, Y., Yan, H., Lu, C., Bie, R. and Zhou, Z., 2014. Constructing the web of events from raw data in the web of things.Mobile Information Systems,10(1), pp.105-125. UNICEF, 2016. Who we are. [online] Available at: https://www.unicef.org/about/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2016]. Wang, Q., Woo, H.L., Quek, C.L., Yang, Y. and Liu, M., 2012. Using the Facebook group as a learning management system: An exploratory study.British Journal of Educational Technology,43(3), pp.428-438.

From Fashion Producer to Fashion Retailer

The Prince, MachiavelliS Economy Of Violence Essays - Philosophy

The Prince, MachiavelliS Economy Of Violence Essays - Philosophy The Prince, MachiavelliS Economy Of Violence The Prince, Machiavellis Economy of Violence Machiavelli was an Italian historian, statesman, and political philosopher, whose amoral, but influential writings on power building have turned his name into a synonym for cunning and duplicity. I personally feel he is a genius. Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He eventually became a man who lived his life for politics and patriotism. Right now, however, he is associated with corrupt, totalitarian government. The reason for this is a small pamphlet he wrote called The Prince to gain influence with the ruling Medici family in Florence. The political genius of Niccolo Machiavelli was overshadowed by the reputation that was unfairly given to him because of a misunderstanding of his views on politics. Machiavelli's life was very interesting. He lived a nondescript childhood in Florence, and his main political experience in his youth was watching Savanarola from afar. Soon after Savanarola was executed, Machiavelli entered the Florentine government as a secretary. His position quickly rose, however, and was soon engaging in diplomatic missions. He met many of the important politicians of the day, such as the Pope and the King of France, but none had more impact on him than a prince of the Papal States, Cesare Borgia. Borgia was a cunning, cruel man, very much like the one portrayed in The Prince. Machiavelli did not truly like Borgia's policies, but he thought that with a ruler like Borgia the Florentines could unite Italy, which was Machiavelli's goal throughout his life. Unfortunately for Machiavelli, he was dismissed from office when the Medici came to rule Florence and the Republic was overthrown. The lack of a job forced him to switch to writing about politics instead of being active. His diplomatic missions were his last official government positions. When Machiavelli lost his office, he desperately wanted to return to politics. He tried to gain the favor of the Medici by writing an essay of what he thought were the Medici's goals and dedicating it to them. And so The Prince was written for that purpose. Unfortunately, the Medici didn't agree with what the book said, so he was out of a job. But when the public saw the book, they were outraged. The people wondered how cruel a man could be to think evil thoughts like the ones in The Prince, and this would come back to haunt him when he was alive and dead. However, if the people wanted to know what Machiavelli really stood for, they should have read his Discourses on Livy, which explain his full political philosophy. But not enough people had and have, and so the legacy of The Prince continues to define Machiavelli to the general public. A few years later the Medici were kicked out of Florence. The republic was re-established, and Machiavelli ran to retake the office he had left so many years ago. But the reputation that The Prince had established made people think his philosophy was like the Medici, so he was not elected. And here the sharp downhill of his life began. His health began to fail him, and he died months later, in 1527. Machiavelli had been unfairly attacked all of his life because of a bad reputation. But it only got worse after he died. He was continually blasted for his support of corrupt ruling. In fact, Machiavellian now means corrupt government. Only recently has his true personality come to light. The world must change it's vision of the cold, uncaring Machiavelli to the correct view of a patriot and a political genius. Throughout his career Machiavelli sought to establish a state capable of resisting foreign attack. His writings are concerned with the principles on which such a state is founded, and with the means by which they can be implemented and maintained. In, The Prince he describes the method by which a prince can acquire and maintain political power. This study, which has often been regarded as a defense of the despotism and tyranny of such rulers as Cesare Borgia, is based on Machiavelli's belief that a ruler is not bound by traditional ethical norms. In his view, a prince should be concerned only with power

Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Theory - Essay Example Correspondingly, theory is science is a logical and mathematical explanation, a framework describing the relations between phenomena, a set of universally true laws and principles, a testable, self-consistent model of reality, derived from the systematic observation of natural phenomena and conditions and capable of predicting future events and development of things. Ta scientific theory can always be verified by further investigations, be it an experiment or an empirical observation. The word theory comes from Greek theoria, which means ‘speculation, contemplation.’ It also can be traced back to the word theion, meaning divine thing, so that theory means contemplation on the divine organization of the nature. A scientific theory is formulated through scientific method. A scientist makes some hypothesis on the basis of observations, predicting possible outcomes. Then predictions are tested experimentally. New observations can confirm the hypothesis or refute it. Depending on whether the hypothesis is confirmed or refuted, it can be adjusted or redefined. In case the old theory is not confirmed within a new context, a new theory can be proposed (p.8). Often numerous hypotheses are bound within one theory. Theories deal with broader sets of universals than hypotheses. There may be several theories about the same part of reality, all of them revealing some truth. However, one theory may be superior to other competitive theories. Then it becomes a framework within which theoretical facts and observations are explained and predicted (Dodig – Crnkovic 2001, p.8). According to Karl Popper (1963) a scientific theory has the following characteristics: 1) It can be easily verified and confirmed. 2) Confirmations are sound if the prediction is risky and there have been expected an event able to refute the theory. 3) A scientific theory always forbids some things to happen. 4) A scientific theory is always refutable by some fact of event.

Imperial China's Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Imperial China's Development - Essay Example This study stresses that  the History of the Chinese people’s development does not just involve the rise and fall of dynasties, but is also greatly endowed by the presence of religion which played a primary role in the society. Religion played a key role in influencing their perception of the world, and of the people around them. These religions came into existence through their founders, who subscribed to a certain set of beliefs. The three most dominant religions in China include the Confucius wisdom, Budhism and the Taoist perception. Confucius, also known as Qong Kiu was the most influential of the Chinese history. His main idea was to create a moral upright behavior. His concern was for every government to build a just society. He believed in the respect for hierarchy, in which everyone should act according to his place in the hierarchy.  This paper highlights that the Taoism religion also influenced and still influences the Chinese religions. This perception is influ enced by the belief that there is a source of and force behind everything that exists.   The three attributes; patience, humility and compassion are emphasized on. This religion greatly influenced the nature of interactions between people in China, and has been widely embraced by the Chinese.  The Buddhism religion is closely linked to Confucius wisdom. They complement each other, and one cannot exist without the other. Buddhism embraces the role of the natural environment in bringing harmony in people.

Impact of Foreign Aid on Nigeria Development

Impact of Foreign Aid on Nigeria Development CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 5.1 Summary This study examined the extent to which Foreign aid; particularly the debt relief initiative has contributed to human development in Nigeria. It particularly sought to examine the relationship between Foreign aid and development considering the underlying political-economic conditions and the effectiveness of aid on human development. This work also sought to analyze how the World Bank’s Debt Relief initiative has enabled human development in form of better living standards and access to essential facilities in Nigeria. Finally, this research sought to evaluate the political-economic conditions particularly underlying the effectiveness of the World Bank’s Debt Relief initiative to Nigeria. Chapter one introduced the study introducing a general background to the study; the statement of problem; the research questions; objectives of the study; research proposition; significance of the study; scope and limitations of the study. Chapter two focused on the review of scholarly literature on the subject matter. The chapter illustrated the historical background to Foreign aid in the International system and its contributions to development in general. The chapter also included a theoretical framework examining the theory used for study review as well as the current trends regarding the subject. Chapter three in the other hand was devoted to the historical perspective of foreign aid in Nigeria. Chapter four attempts a critical discourse of the subject matter of debt relief and human development. The chapter reviewed and evaluated the debates on the effectiveness of the Debt Relief Initiative to Nigeria. It particularly sought to examine the impact and effect of the debt relief initiative on Human development in Nigeria. It started off examining the debt relief initiative, followed by the debates on its effectiveness and management in recipient states and concluded with a critical analysis of the effectiveness of the debt relief initiative on human development in Nigeria so as to determine if foreign aid in form of debt relief has contributed to human development in Nigeria. This chapter being the fifth summarizes the research and all findings carried out. It also includes recommendations and suggestions for further studies. 5.2 Recommendations One of the significant conclusions of the aid-effectiveness literature has been that aid is more effective when the recipient country’s policy and institutional environment satisfies some minimal criteria, and that aid should thus be allocated selectively on the basis of the quality (established policies and initiatives) of prospective recipients’ economic and social policies (World Bank, 1998). To buttress this assertion, Thomas (2001) points out that some Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) had no policy responses to poverty, HIV/Aids or corruption until they were required to do so as conditions for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative. He concluded by suggesting that unless debt relief is effectively conditioned on the proper use of funds and the pursuit of structural reforms, it is unlikely to help the poor. This has been the Aid efficiency-conditionality debate –surrounding the subject matter. It is rather quite unfortunate that the afore mentioned assertion or debate was somewhat verified in Nigeria with the establishment of the Debt Management Office and the Virtual Poverty Fund – initiatives that were as a result of a desperate need for a debt relief. What is more reliving though is that the DMO is actually still in place and very much efficient in managing the Nation’s external and internal debt, and have shown certain level of accountability and transparency. This is seen with the up-to-the-minute information available on the Debt Management Office (DMO) website for Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the office and all that has been done to get a debt relief and all that there is to managing further debt both on the state level and the federal level. This research further recommends that revenues from oil be utilized appropriately to make resources available to finance investment that would in turn lead to growth. No doubt, there is the individual approach to office administration and policy initiation. But because the nature of Public administration allows for continuity even after the presiding officer or chair steps down, it is therefore appropriate to recommend that the established Debt Management Office and the Virtual Trust Fund (VPF) that was internationally commendable suggest that the Nigerian Government is competent enough to initiate functional approaches to challenges in the state and manage such initiatives effectively. It would be worthwhile therefore, to have our leaders put that same zeal and drive to initiating solutions to several other challenges facing the state and run it efficiently as the DMO was viciously run to get debt relief. Apart from debt relief being a form of aid; in Nigeria, the aid fund goes directly to the ministries, department or agency (MDA) that uses the fund. This is contrary to what happened in other Sub Sahara African Countries such as Kenya and Ghana in which foreign aid is treated as part of the budget. The Senate in Nigeria has warned against the disbursement of foreign aid coming into the country without National Assemblys involvement. The lawmakers are now insisting that such funds must henceforth be captured in the nation’s budget process for the purpose of tracking its flow and disbursement into Nigeria’s critical sectors (The Will, 2011). The idea is that by-passing budget will result in timely release of the aid to the critical sectors of the economy. Also, by-passing budget would ensure that aid money is not diverted to non-aided projects in the country. It is possible that there is the fear of embezzlement and mismanagement. And so I would recommend that the ministr ies, department or agency (MDA) that receive and utilize aid fund continue to do so but with a report to the National Assembly on a detailed account of aid fund. To effectively assess the effectiveness of the VPF or any aid fund for that matter, it is important for recorded projects to include the names or complete detail of projects so as to allow for complete evaluation. One may question if poor policy performance is a cause or a consequence of external debt or debt over hang for that matter. The debt overhang theory and the more general concerns of debt distorting incentives of the borrowing countries to reform imply that poor policy performance could be an outcome caused by external debt, at least in some of the HIPC countries, especially in the short run, as governments have much less incentive to absorb reform costs if they primarily produce income for foreign creditors. This should not be the case for Nigeria with the surplus revenue from oil does. It does not allow for the conclusion that poor policy performance could be an outcome caused by external debt. Rather, gross mismanagement of public fund, looting and perpetuated greed has caused poor policy performance. The civil society could have suppressed mismanagement to some extent but that is not really the case because what is seen is a state where there is minimal horizontal accountability and almost an invisible vertical accountability. In fact, the Nigerian citizens are negligent of the existence of the state and tend to survive with or without its input. This should not be the case. For Nigerian leaders to be accountable, citizens must actively participate in the politics of the state and make demands without fear. As many other reviews have recommended, this research would also recommend that Nigeria should diversify her economy to have multiple income streams. It is true that no state can be self-sufficient but the manner in which aid is given to Nigeria is very appalling and not needed. Least to say the food imported to Nigeria on a daily basis. If any state cannot feed itself and grow itself and its capacity, such state is bound to be underdeveloped of which Nigeria is not fit to be termed underdeveloped due to her vast riches in natural resources, man power, intellectual and industrial capacity, market and population. This research would therefore recommend a shift from a â€Å"Rentier mentality† to a self-reliant economy and state. 5.3 Conclusion In other research, the overall impact of debt relief continues to be unclear. Whereas there is little in the way of complete analysis or country case studies to compare the Nigeria case with. Chauvin and Kraay (2005) however, argue that debt relief has had no perceptible impact on the composition or effectiveness of public spending. Some skeptics, including Easterly (2002) and Jain (2007) have argued that debt relief, or the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries process can make public policy worse. On the other hand, Arslanalp and Henry (2005) argue â€Å"both borrowers and lenders can benefit from debt relief when the borrower suffers from debt overhang†, whilst World Bank (2006) paints a broadly positive tone as to the policy course of post completion point countries of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Against this mixed picture, the Nigerian analysis as summarized in the preceding chapter, suggests a success story. More so, it is important to note that debt relief is only a drop in the ocean of reform that is needed in Nigeria. Besides, debt relief was labeled as ‘special money’ that had political support, high visibility, and accountability processes surrounding it especially so as to gain credit from international donors (at the initial stages). Every other money is wasted, mismanaged or syphoned, as it has been the norm within public administrations. And because debt fund alone cannot lead to development in a state (even if well accounted for), development challenges still persist coupled with lack of devoted leaders to change. Such attitude keeps a state in a continuous spin within the dependency circle. So yes, political conditions do have effects on the effectiveness of foreign aid and much more, on the development of a state. 5.4 Suggestion for Further Research The decay in social services such as the education sector was not only because of inadequate financial allocation but also as a result of corrupt practices. What this work couldn’t cover adequately was to find out how possible it is that relief funds were not diverted, yet, the NAPEP estimated impact on human development is not all that visible. This is because diversion in funds impedes development. Or could it be that the infinitesimal growth experienced from the debt relief fund was all that there was and funds were not diverted, mismanaged or wasted? In other words, why didn’t the debt relief plan aid NEPAP in eradicate poverty before 2010?