Strategic Tools for Business Research and Analysis

There are many tools and techniques available for business analysis, but the question is whether there is one tool or a set of tools that are most commonly used. What tools or techniques are taught to business managers or business development officers? The literature is reviewed for tools that are most widely taught and in use. The chapter examines the reasons they have been chosen and the comments on how effective they were found to be. The use of tools generally and the need to use more than one tool are discussed. Several authors suggest that the central role of a business analysis tool appears to be to provoke discussion amongst the business development officers. The discussion seems to be more important than the tool in preparation for developing strategic options. The theory of resource-based analysis is discussed with its role in analysing the company and its competition.

Training Needs of Horticulture Extension Personnel in Jammu Region of J&K State, India

Effective extension work depends upon competent and well-trained extension personnel. Horticulture extension personnel (Horticulture Development Officers and Horticulture Technicians) occupy the focal position in transfer of technologies to the orchardists in Jammu and Kashmir. Given this a study entitled “Training needs of horticulture extension personnel in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir” was undertaken. Data was collected from 200 horticulture extension personnel (30 horticulture development officers and 170 horticulture technicians) working at gross root level in all ten districts of Jammu region. Training need important score was categories in to three categories viz. least important, important, most important by using mean ± S.D technique. The finding reveals that horticulture development officer and horticulture technicians’ categories Pests /disease identification and their control measures as most important training areas in technical skills where time and methods of planting was placed as least important. Similarly in case of communication skills demonstration technique was rated highest important training need area and script writing as least important. Motivation technique and programme planning were also categories as most important training need areas of supervisory skills by horticulture development officers. Two factors viz. trainings attended and information utilization sources were significantly affecting the training needs of horticulture extension personnel.

Training Needs of Horticulture Extension Personnel in Jammu Region of J&K State, India

Effective extension work depends upon competent and well-trained extension personnel. Horticulture extension personnel (Horticulture Development Officers and Horticulture Technicians) occupy the focal position in transfer of technologies to the orchardists in Jammu and Kashmir. Given this a study entitled “Training needs of horticulture extension personnel in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir” was undertaken. Data was collected from 200 horticulture extension personnel (30 horticulture development officers and 170 horticulture technicians) working at gross root level in all ten districts of Jammu region. Training need important score was categories in to three categories viz. least important, important, most important by using mean ± S.D technique. The finding reveals that horticulture development officer and horticulture technicians’ categories Pests /disease identification and their control measures as most important training areas in technical skills where time and methods of planting was placed as least important. Similarly in case of communication skills demonstration technique was rated highest important training need area and script writing as least important. Motivation technique and programme planning were also categories as most important training need areas of supervisory skills by horticulture development officers. Two factors viz. trainings attended and information utilization sources were significantly affecting the training needs of horticulture extension personnel.

Persuade Administrators, Donors, and Legislators

Because they hold the purse strings, administrators, legislators, and donors rank among the most important audiences for research explanations. Reaching out to administrators requires understanding their concerns and activities. Cultivating donors and foundations requires understanding their information needs, which can be more individualistic, even eccentric, than those of government funding agencies. The key to success in working with them is to coordinate with development officers. Lobbying legislators effectively means understanding their needs for concise communications that convey how a piece of research impacts five areas: economy, security, environment, education, and freedom/values. Working with policy staff can be highly productive in advancing a legislative agenda.

Bureaucratic Leadership at Ground Level: A Case Study of Block Development Officers in West Bengal (India)

Max Weber coined the term ‘bureaucratic leadership’ to define leadership in government organisations based on a set of predetermined regulations, strict functions and fixed roles under a static hierarchy. Almost all government organisations adhere to these principles including the civil services, but, at the ground level of administration, a rational and workable form has been developed by the civil servants to suit their roles. The post of a Block Development Officer (BDO) in the civil services is assigned to play multiple roles to govern the block effectively. From being a leader who would motivate and facilitate a team of officials in development as well as general administration, a diplomat who would set the right chord with the political functionaries at various levels to settle upon a consensus in every issue, a crisis manager who would rush forward, with limited resources, to face any natural calamity or a serious law and order issue, a strict disciplinarian who would ensure transparency in fiscal matters, an entrepreneur who would motivate the people to become self-reliant with the help of government schemes, a BDO is indeed ‘the cutting edge of administration’. The entire administration depends upon a Block Development Officer to deliver the much needed “public service” to the residents of the Block at all times and under all circumstances. This article is intended to study the practical forms of ‘bureaucratic leadership’ performed by BDOs while discharging their duties efficiently both during crises and in normal circumstances.

Role of Local Government in Community Development Projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria: Implication for Adult Educators

This study examined the role of local government in community development in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 420 people participated in the study. The study sample of 420 persons comprised 220 community development officers selected from the study area and 200 adult educators randomly selected from Enugu State. The entire population of the study was used due to the size. A 21-item structured questionnaire developed by the researchers was used as the instrument for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The study revealed that the budget allocation sent by the government to the responsible departments in the local government is not always received as and when due for the effective implementation of community development projects. It was concluded that a higher monitoring authority should be set aside to monitor and supervise the existence of checks and balances between the regulations of the local government areas.

The effectiveness of sport within social intervention projects: a UK case study

In the UK, successive governments have prioritised the use of sport for developmental purposes, a range of broader community matters, and as a purposeful tool to help at-risk youth. However, given the accepted wisdom underpinning the continued investment in sports projects that reflect ideas centred on youth and community development, it is not unsurprising that a number of authors (for instance, Coalter, 2007; Griffiths and Armour, 2011) question the validity and true nature of using sport in this context. This is especially so when some research indicates that it may well be the schemes, people, or ancillary benefits within projects that are the primary factor in any appreciable change in pro-social behaviours, rather than sport per se (Sandford, Armour, and Duncombe, 2008). This study used interviews with eight experienced community sport development officers, coaches, and project organisers in the south of the UK. The findings revealed that sportandsocial intervention projects could develop participants’ self-esteem, resilience, and aspirations, and that sport was seen as a helpful tool to help facilitate this. However, the findings also emphasised that any meaningful changes in behaviour were also subject, and subordinate to, the importance of developing positive coach-participant relationships. The implications are discussed within the paper.