Bangladesh and Myanmar failings prolong Rohingya woes

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
External Support ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Remote Island

Significance Dhaka has in recent months relocated some Rohingya refugees to newly built facilities on a remote island, Bhasan Char. The Bangladeshi authorities want refugees to return to Myanmar, as do most refugees themselves, but a formal repatriation process is nowhere in sight. Impacts Certain ASEAN members may face a fresh influx of Rohingya refugees that they are unwilling to accept. Myanmar’s anti-junta National Unity Government will talk up its relatively progressive Rohingya policy in a bid to gain external support. In the light of the coup, external players will be more concerned about stability in Myanmar than Rohingya repatriation.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Unsettled Libyan politics may fuel violence in Tripoli

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Commander ◽  
The Government

Significance The violence is indicative of growing friction between local Tripolitanian militias under the influence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and forces now loyal to the Government of National Unity (GNU), which in 2019 rallied from across western Libya to defend the capital from eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar’s siege. Impacts This is a last-ditch act by the UAE’s only remaining military assets in western Libya, and could provoke conflict with Turkish proxies. Violence involving Turkish-backed forces would refocus European attention on Ankara’s role in Libya and reignite pressure for a withdrawal. Renewed violence would end a recent economic revival in Tripoli, created by a period of peace and many reconstruction contracts.

Italy’s elections threaten the cohesion of the right

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Framework ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Dominant Party ◽  
Strong Position ◽  
Business Confidence ◽  
Election Results ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Right

Significance The results have destabilised relations within the alliance involving the League, Brothers of Italy (FdI) and Forza Italia (FI), and increased speculation that FI may ally with moderate parties instead. The election results reflect the popularity of Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government of national unity. Impacts The stability of Draghi’s government may boost Italy’s chances of influencing reforms to the EU’s fiscal policy framework. The election result reflects the wider recovery in business confidence already evidenced in Italy. Based on polling trends, Giorgia Meloni’s FdI is in a strong position to be the leading populist party after the next election. Meloni’s rise could increase tensions between FdI and the League, as the latter is accustomed to being the dominant party in the polls.

scholarly journals Lean-excellence business management for manufacturing SMEs focusing on KRI

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Salih Mohammad ◽  
Chike F. Oduoza
Keyword(s):  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
External Support ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Quality

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective framework for implementing Lean strategies in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Design/methodology/approach Based on the integration of LM tools and techniques with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) criteria a systematic Lean implementation framework for manufacturing SMEs has been proposed. The core values, drivers and tools of the proposed framework were further developed based on case studies in three SMEs in the KRI. Findings Proposed framework is able to provide a simple pathway for SMEs to systematically implement Lean techniques in seven functional areas in order to create Lean culture in the organisation. Business performance measurement in terms of profitability, customer satisfaction, employee’s satisfaction, competitiveness growth and ergonomic improvement is presented in favour of evaluating Lean outcomes appropriately. It also presents the experience of small firms in implementing Lean programmes to show that Lean is valid in SMEs. Research limitations/implications The framework concentrates only on the internal issues of the organisation, while external variables such as national culture and external support are excluded. Practical implications The framework assists improvements in SMEs that either initially attempt to start Lean journey or those that are at more advanced levels towards excellent-Lean manufacturing. The framework can also be used as a self-assessment model to determine the degree of Lean readiness. Originality/value To the best knowledge of the author, it is the first framework that integrates Lean techniques with MBNQA criteria to support Lean implementation in SMEs. It is also the first study regarding Lean-excellence in the KRI.

scholarly journals Critical success factors in ERP upgrade projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 656-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Barth ◽  
Stefan Koch
Keyword(s):  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
External Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Huge Impact

PurposeIn the last years the penetration of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems within small, medium and large organizations increased steadily. Organizations are forced to adapt their systems and perform ERP upgrades in order to react to rapidly changing business environments, technological enhancements and rising pressure of competition. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the critical success factors for such projects.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a literature review and qualitative interviews with CEOs, CIOs, ERP consultants and project managers who recently carried out ERP upgrade projects in their respective organizations.FindingsThis paper identifies 14 critical success factors for ERP upgrade projects. Amongst others, effective project management, external support, the composition of the ERP team and the usage of a multiple system landscape play a key role for the success of the ERP upgrade. Furthermore, a comparison to the critical success factors for ERP implementation projects was conducted, and even though there are many similarities between these types of projects, several differences emerged.Originality/valueERP upgrade projects have a huge impact on organizations, but their success and antecedents for it are currently under-researched.

Remarkable lives: Lígia Cardoso Baldé in conversation with Jerome Carson

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
Lígia Cardoso Baldé ◽  
Jerome Carson
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Single Parent ◽  
External Support ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Journey ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Lígia Cardoso Baldé. Design/methodology/approach Lígia gives a biographical description of her life and is then interviewed by Jerome. Findings Lígia talks about the stress of being a young single parent with a disabled son. She talks about how she built up her resilience over several years. Research limitations/implications The story Lígia tells is one of battling against all the odds. Her account shows how she had to manage without much external support, even from family. Practical implications Research has long demonstrated an association between life events and stress. Lígia tells us about the various stressors that confronted her at different stages of her life journey. Social implications All of us can make a difference in peoples’ lives if we make the effort. Lígia talks about two doctors who knew the medical implications of her son’s condition, but who also recognised her emotional needs and addressed those as well. Originality/value Lígia’s story is inspiring at so many levels. She has successfully adjusted to a different culture, to a different language and has had to establish a new social support network. Now she is not just surviving, but slowly thriving.

Hollande's turnaround may not help France's Socialists

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Executive Power ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Quantitative Easing ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Oil Market ◽  
Economic Developments ◽  
New Phase

Subject President Francois Hollande's turnaround. Significance In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris, the presidency of Francois Hollande seems to have entered a new phase that many see as an opportunity to turn around what has been a very disappointing mandate so far. The national unity embodied by the historic gathering of January 11, where close to 4 million people took to the streets across France, has indeed partly translated into a 'January 11 spirit', reaffirming republican values of 'liberty, equality, fraternity'. This political momentum that the executive power has exploited skilfully is being sustained by an unexpected mix of positive economic developments in Europe, including the ECB's announcement that it will begin sovereign quantitative easing (QE) and the European Commission's more upbeat growth forecasts -- and in the oil market. Impacts The relative improvement of the economic prospects for France is unrelated to Hollande's actions. The structural political crisis remains as acute as ever, with the FN at a record standing in the polls. Economic issues are bound to become predominant again very quickly, once the phase of 'republican introspection' subsides.

Intensified Kurdish attacks will not shake Tehran

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
External Support ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Border Areas

Significance Clashes between Iranian Kurds and the IRGC increased this year following the loss of territory by Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, a new Turkish military assault in Iraqi border areas where many groups were based and the emergence of wider protests in Iran. Washington’s rejection of the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear deal in May has also opened up new opportunities for Iranian Kurdish parties to seek US backing. Impacts Sanctions combined with long-term economic and ecological crises will result in more national-level protests. Kurdish groups will increase military attacks, but this will not fundamentally change the security situation. Lack of unity among Iranian Kurdish groups will hinder their effectiveness, including in winning external support.

Israeli coalition prospects may hinge on Likud loyalty

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Religious Right ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Way

Significance Blue and White received the most seats in the September 17 election -- the second in less than six months -- which ended without a clear victory for either the religious-right bloc or the centre-left bloc. The results turn Avigdor Lieberman, head of the small Yisrael Beiteinu party, into the decisive player in the formation of the next government. Lieberman has said he wants a ‘national unity’ coalition of the two big parties, but major obstacles stand in the way. Impacts The stalemate is likely to lead to prolonged coalition talks. If Netanyahu is indicted on corruption charges following a hearing next month, it may provide impetus for Likud to oust him. The prime minister’s plan to secure parliamentary immunity from impending indictments will not be realised. Netanyahu’s image within the party will also be damaged if Gantz is offered first opportunity to lead coalition talks. If Netanyahu remains Likud leader, he may push for a third election if he cannot get his way.

Term of Serbia’s new government will be brief

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Socialist Party ◽  
Short Term ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Almost All

Significance Brnabic’s government, sworn in a month earlier, is being dubbed a government of national unity. It includes almost all parties in the parliament elected in the June elections, which most of Serbia’s opposition boycotted. The main loser was the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), in turn signalling a loss of Russian influence. Impacts The new government’s main tasks will be dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and its short-term economic consequences. With early elections less than 18 months away, no bold moves or serious reforms should be expected in the interim. Politically, the main challenge for Vucic and the SNS will be to reach a deal to secure opposition participation in the next election.

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