Managing a culturally diverse workforce

Jobs Friends and Their Contributions to the Message of Job

Jobs Friends and Their Contributions to the Message of Job Introduction The Book of Job has been one of the most controversial parts of Bible. Many preachers find it difficult to talk about Job’s message with their congregation as the book touches upon some of the most serious and difficult issues concerning the faith.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Jobs Friends and Their Contributions to the Message of Job specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some regard The Book of Job as a literary masterpiece where wisdom of the nation was revealed.1 Admittedly, the book is seen as one of the brightest examples of the â€Å"book of wisdom†.2 The book contains the eternal questions of people concerning suffering. The story of Job is a didactic illustration of God’s almightiness. However, it is possible to note that the story itself is an axiom to be taken for granted whereas the dialogues of Job’s friends can be and should be considered in detail. The dialogues ma nifest people’s eternal hesitations and quest for the reason. Notably, speeches of Job’s friends can be regarded as an example of the discourse that has not finished yet. The discourse is confined to questions raised (which are revealed in speeches of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) and answers provided (these answers can be found in Elihu’s speech). The Two Views First, it is necessary to note that Job as well as his friends remains unaware of the reason of Job’s sufferings. They never knew why Job had to suffer.3 This is a very important point as it perfectly reveals the concept of faith. People cannot be sure in anything concerning faith. They have not found the reason yet. Likewise, Job’s friends and Job do not know why Job has to suffer. Noteworthy, they try to find a particular reason.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Job’ s friends and even Job himself â€Å"all shared a basic traditional sense of divine justice without which the whole moral nature of the universe would be upended†.4 However, there is no particular answer to their major question at the end of the book. Even though Elihu and Job are praised for their rightfulness, it is not explicitly stated that they were right in their views on the universal justice. God does not reveal the reason of Job’s suffering to Job and his friends. The book simply depicts a particular example, i.e. Job’s sufferings which can hardly be justified. The book also contains a dominating view on suffering, i.e. suffering can only be certain punishment for misdeeds.5 The book also contains another view on the matter. It is suggested that people should not think about reasons and causes and just to accept anything the universe has to offer. Importantly, God supports one of these views as revealed in the book. However, The Book of Job does not con tain a precise answer but just reveals people’s views on suffering and universal justice. One (Dominating) Opinion Eliphaz As has been mentioned above, Job’s friends have a very specific and important role in the book as they represent two opposing views on faith. First, the role of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar should be considered. The three friends are sure that the basic law is based on moral principles which are persistent in the society, i.e. any wrongdoing should be punished and righteous deeds should be rewarded.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Jobs Friends and Their Contributions to the Message of Job specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the three friends deem that Job sinned since he is punished.6 Eliphaz exclaims, â€Å"Who ever perished being innocent? / Or where the upright destroyed†7. Eliphaz believes that people cannot be sinless as everyone sins. Bildad The three friends ar e sure there must be some hidden sins. Thus, Bildad notes that Job’s children died because they were sinful, and their death is their punishment. Bildad also rebukes Job for being too verbose, â€Å"How long until you make an end of words? / Be sensible and then we can speak†8. Bildad claims that his verbosity can be nothing but evidence of Job’s guilt.9 Therefore, the three friends try to convince Job to confess and tell about his hidden sin. Noteworthy, the three friends cannot understand what sin Job committed as his life does seem rightful. Zophar It is important to note that the three friends appear from the start of the book. Their speeches make up a considerable part of the book. Thus, Eliphaz and Bildad speak three times and Zophar speaks twice.10 The role the three friends play in the book is a certain reflection of the dominating view on the nature of suffering. Most people still think that suffering is certain punishment for some sins. Most people (ju st like the three friends) think that there is supreme justice. It is also noteworthy that Zophar wishes that God â€Å"would open [God’s] lips to† Job to tell him â€Å"the secrets of wisdom†.11 The three friends strive to know the major secret.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They want to have a specific explanation and justification of suffering. Again, this is a reflection of people’s quest for the reason. Elihu’s Opinion As far as the fourth friend of Job is concerned, he appears at the end of the book. Elihu is not introduced with other friends at the beginning of the book. He stands out, just like his opinion does. Elihu supports the viewpoint of Job’s friends as for the universal justice. He stresses that God is always just in every of his deeds.12 However, Elihu’s idea of suffering differs greatly from Job’s friends’ opinions. Elihu claims that suffering is not only a form of punishment, but it can be preventive in nature. Thus, Elihu states that Job’s suffering is certain kind of precautions to keep him from sins. Elihu notes that the suffering helps people to remain rightful.13 Elihu claims that God â€Å"opens their [people’s] ears, / and terrifies them with warnings, / to spare their sou ls from the Pit†.14 Therefore, the man notes that people cannot understand the secrets of God’s wisdom even if God explicitly reveals the secrets. According to Elihu, people should accept anything God prepares for them. People should never even consider their destiny or fate. They should live their lives and accept everything: joy and suffering. Notably, Elihu reveals another opinion which has never been popular among people. It is necessary to take a closer look at Elihu as a character. He is the youngest. This can be a symbol of the ‘age’ of the idea. Apparently, the idea was quite new when the book was being written. At that, Elihu appears at the end of the book and he only speaks once.15 This can be a symbol of unpopularity of the idea. Admittedly, there have always been a few people who share such an opinion. A few people have been ready to accept everything the life has to suggest without any questions or complaints. Noteworthy, Elihu is a humble spea ker as he listens to Job and Job’s friends without interrupting, â€Å"I am young in years, / and you are aged; / therefore I was timid and afraid / to declare my opinion to you†.16 Elihu’s opinion is not very popular and it is presented in a very humble way. At the same time, this opinion is presented as the right one as God praises Elihu for being so rightful. Conclusion It is possible to note that Job’s friends play a significant role in the book as Job is only an example to consider while the friends analyze the example. This analysis is a reflection of major opinions on suffering and God’s justice. Thus, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar represent the dominating viewpoint on the matter. These men claim that suffering is certain punishment for people’s sins. They also strive to understand the secrets of God’s wisdom. Admittedly, all people want to understand the reason for everything happens to them. At the same time, Elihu also thinks that there is universal justice. However, Elihu’s concept of justice is somewhat different as he thinks that suffering should not be necessarily a form of punishment as it can be certain prevention. Elihu also claims that people should not try to understand why something is happening as people are not capable of understanding God’s wisdom. This viewpoint does exist, but it is not widespread. Therefore, Job’s friends’ discussion is a reflection of the views that have existed in the Christian world. The discussion of Job’s friends is what provides theological background to consider Job’s sufferings as a particular example of God’s justice and wisdom. Bibliography Dell, Katharine Julia. The Book of Job as Sceptical Literature. New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter, 1991. Hartley, John E. The Book of Job. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988. La Sor, William Sanford, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, Leslie C. Alle n. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996. Parsons, Gregory W. â€Å"Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Job.† Bibliotheca Sacra 151 (1994): 393-413. Parsons, Gregory W. â€Å"The Structure and Purpose of the Book of Job.† Bibliotheca Sacra 138, no. 550 (1981): 139-157. Phillips, Elaine A. â€Å"Speaking Truthfully: Job’s Friends and Job.† Bulletin for Biblical Research 18, no.1 (2008): 31-43. Rhodes, Arnold B. W. Eugene March. The Mighty Acts of God. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. Waters, Larry J. â€Å"The Authenticity of the Elihu Speeches in Job.† Bibliotheca Sacra 156 (1999): 28-41. Waters, Larry J. â€Å"Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job.† Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997): 436-451. Wharton, James A. Job. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999. Footnotes Gregory W. Pars ons, The Structure and Purpose of the Book of Job, Bibliotheca Sacra 138 no. 550(1981): 139. Katharine Julia Dell, The Book of Job as Sceptical Literature. (New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter, 1991), 58. Arnold B. Rhodes and W. Eugene March, The Mighty Acts of God. (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000), 204. Elaine A. Phillips, Speaking Truthfully: Job’s Friends and Job, Bulletin for Biblical Research 18 no. 1(2008): 31. Ibid., 31. Gregory W. Parsons, Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Job, Bibliotheca Sacra 151 (1994): 403. Cited in Larry J. Waters, Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job, Bibliotheca Sacra 154 (1997): 442-443. Cited in John E. Hartley, The Book of Job. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988), 273. Ibid. Elaine A. Phillips, Speaking Truthfully: Job’s Friends and Job, Bulletin for Biblical Research 18 no. 1(2008): 34. Cited in James A. Wharton, Job. (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999), 179. William Sanford La Sor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, Leslie C. Allen, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996), 481. William Sanford La Sor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, Leslie C. Allen, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996), 481. Cited in James A. Wharton, Job. (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999), 143. Larry J. Waters, The Authenticity of the Elihu Speeches in Job, Bibliotheca Sacra 156 (1999): 39-39. Cited in James A. Wharton, Job. (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999), 141.

Effective Leaders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Effective Leaders - Essay Example To lead, you require some qualities such as strength of mind, the eagerness to determine, defy the class quo, proceed for what you accepted as true, hazard, negative responses, rise up against power, and modify. To make my opinion more clear and effective I would describe the difference between Managerial work and leadership. Managerial work is a division of leadership abilities. It is often heard that people try to divide them that they are leaders, but not managers. But the people who use to say this are usually incorrect while it appears to attracting the supporters which formulates it hard to judge them as victorious leaders. A leader is somebody who does things perfectly and who knows where to go. Where as managerial work is how to do things perfectly and how they really get there. A student of a college or school who makes a group of friends together to go to picnic, so he is acting not just as a leader, but as well as a manager. Someone who wants to be a leader, but does not want to do with managerial work is a self-indulgent. Leadership and managerial work always collaborate in order give an efficient result. Straightforwardly, managerial work is the procedure of describing and calculating the success. A leader is the one who places the idea, describes victory, and verifies the capacity of success will be extra efficient than the similar leader who wishes to place the idea but declines to accept any effort in the managerial area. Therefore, effective leader is a person who controls and makes an impact on people. Every person owns leadership potential. Effective Leadership is not restricted to group decision-making or high flier. Effective Leadership can, and frequently does, 'appear from inside. Every person of your Land concern group is a helper. Helpers are not essential to do something. They are stimulated to accomplish things. Motivation can appear firstly from the wish to improve the surroundings or make better farm production, however it requires be continuously revitalization, and communicating. That is where effective leadership enters. To be an effective leader one should have make up hisher mind and set tasks, it will assist to decide what the followers desire to get. It might be up to the Leader to begin this procedure, but it is much simple to guide a group when a leader suggests where the group wishes to move. To make the leadership more effective leaders have to observe their group members. The most excellent technique to do this is by starting discussions and after that paying attention to the group. By listening, Leader will observe regarding their benefit and find out ways so that they can be more concerned in the group. They should converse evidently and normally. Explain their group aims and ethics, and keep distributing their ideas with their workers. Effective Leaders always engage workers in arranging goals. They give many advices on how can they move toward the tasks. Leaders have to give their workers few responsibilities and authority and guide them. Effective Leaders have to be liable on their selves. Establish a consultative board or managerial team to support them to make better planned decisions and the team could give them opinion on their own work. Effective leaders should be honest with their work and expand faith to their workers. That will help leaders to be dependable and make the company stronger. To be an effective

The Essential Activity of Christian Ministry Essay

The Essential Activity of Christian Ministry - Essay Example It has been ascertained that there exists certain similarities as well as difference between the above mentioned aspects of education, discipleship and spiritual formation (Bridges 2006). Correspondingly, this paper intends to critically discuss the various essential activities performed by the Christian ministry and will come up with illustrating the most vital activity among the aforesaid three dimensions. Education, Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Education, discipleship and spiritual formation are considered among the essential activities performed by the Christian ministry. Education, in this context, means producing discipleship among the people who worship Jesus Christ. One of the primary aims of the Christian education is to develop discipleship among people. Furthermore, discipleship in Christianity is regarded as the relationship between the Lord with His disciples. Contextually, it can be firmly related as a relationship between the teacher and student or as a relatio nship between the master and learner. A true disciple is argued to be one who abides by all the teachings of Jesus and spread the acquired knowledge to other people. On the other hand, spiritual formation is an attempt directed towards deepening faith in Lord and furtherance of spiritual enhancement amid the community (Glandion, 2012). It is also regarded as the means through which life can be led with spirituality and prosperity. All these aspects are considered to be among the important or essential activates performed by the Christian ministry as its essential activities (Hinkel, 2012). Comparing and Contrasting the Essential Activities of Christian Ministry All the above mentioned aspects are similar to each owing to the reason that all of them work towards stimulating the augmentation of human faith in God. It has been observed in this regard that education, as an activity of Christian ministry not only signifies Christian learning but also used to develop discipleship among th e people who worship Jesus. In this context, spiritual formation of people includes some of the traditional methods of discipleship like fasting, Bible reading and prayer among others. Correspondingly, the activity of Christian education follows a predetermined format while the activity of spiritual formation changes with the quest of people to find Lord and His guidance. It has been observed that Christian education is considered to be head knowledge while spiritual formation is considered as knowledge gained straight from heart. Simultaneously, there also persists a considerable difference between discipleship with Christian education as well as spiritual formation. In the realm of Christianity, discipleship is admitted to be quite challenging as compared to spiritual formation and education activities. In contrast to Christian education and spiritual formation, discipleship is regarded as a continuous process wherein a follower of Jesus is firmly involved in introducing other peo ple to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Unlike education and spiritual formation, discipleship requires commitment to the greatest extent so that the teaching of God can be duly followed and conveyed to other people in the most convincing manner. The above discussed aspect also depicts that these concepts of education, spiritual format

Medical Aspects Of Disaster Management Health And Social Care Essay

Medical Aspects Of Disaster Management Health And Social Care Essay On December 26, 2004, a violent earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale struck off the western coast of northern Sumatra. It initiated several tsunamis (tidal waves) that took more than 200,000 lives. It was the deadliest natural disaster in the past quarter of a century. But as horrible as it was, it was but a ripple compared to some quakes in recorded history. In 1556, an earthquake in China took the lives of 830,000 people. In India, an earthquake in 1737 killed 300,000. Almost thirty years ago (1976), a massive quake in China left 655,000 dead. The Sumatra quake, which scientists have measured with modern instruments, was so powerful that it is believed to have moved some islands about 50 feet. In addition, seismologists think that it wobbled the earth on its axis, accelerating the rotation speed, thus shortening the length of our day by fractions of a second which is remarkable in view of the planets precision movements. The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of TÃ…Â hoku (TÃ…Â hoku-chihÃ…Â  TaiheiyÃ…Â  Oki Jishin), often referred to in Japan as Higashi nihon daishin-sai was one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900.The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40.5 metres. The earthquake moved Honshu (the main island of Japan) 2.4 m east and shifted the Earth on its axis by estimates of between 10 cm and 25 cm. This earthquake claimed 15,878 lives, left 6,126 injured, and 2,713 people missing . The earthquake and tsunami also caused extensive and severe structural damage in north-eastern Japan . Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, In the 65 years after the end of World War II, this is the toughest and the most difficult crisis for Japan. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water. The tsunami caused nuclear accidents, p rimarily the level 7 meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant complex, and the associated evacuation zones affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. The World Banks estimated economic cost was US$235 billion, making it the most costly natural disaster in world history. Besides these, there have been the super cyclone in Orissa, earthquakes in Latur and Gujarat all of which have caused massive loss of life, distress, discomfort, disease and disability. Inspite of all this, we still await the so called Diego Maradonnas Hand of God to bail us out of each natural crisis causing incident. DISASTER STATISTICS In the past fifty years more than 10000 natural disasters have been reported, more than five billion people have been affected, more than twelve million persons have been killed and the economic costs have been greater than US dollars four trillion. In India during the period 1990 to 2006 more than 23000 lives have been lost in six major earthquakes(Uttarkasi, 1991;Latur,1993;Jabalpur,1997; Chamoli,1999;Bhuj,2001;JK ,2005.) Enormous damage has been caused to property and public infrastructure. The twin super-cyclones that hit Orissa in Oct 1999 affected 24 Districts, 219 blocks and 18790 villages resulting in loss of 8495human lives, 450,000 lives of cattle and damaging two million homes and 23000 schools. The Bhuj earthquake was a terrible human tragedy in which13,805 lives were lost that included 1031 school children and around 167,000 persons suffered multiple injuries This was in the wake of two consecutive years of drought. Disaster defined At the cost of repetition in the text it is important for us to understand and comprehend the term disaster. Disaster is a term very often figuratively used in day to day parlance. For instance, if, as professionals, you are making a presentation on some of your work which you highly value and the response of the audience is not exactly as per your expectations despite your utilizing all available resources, you would generally refer to such a presentation as being a disaster. Thus disaster is an unexpected event in which there is a sudden and massive disproportion between the hostile elements of any kind and the survival resources that are available to counterbalance these in the shortest period of time. There is no generally accepted definition of disasters. A study by Debacker found greater than 100 definitions of disaster. The variations occurred with professional role. The commonalities in all definitions are that disaster is a sudden and an extraordinary event wherein the deman d for health care resources is greater than those that can be supplied, where outside help and resources are needed and which causes disruption of infrastructure, loss of life, material damage and distress. In short disaster is an event where the response needed is greater than the response available. One of the more professional definitions of disaster (Humberside County Council UK) would read as under:- Disaster is a major incident arising with little or no warning causing or threatening death or serious injury to or rendering homeless, such numbers of persons in excess of those which can be dealt with by the public services operating under normal procedures and which calls for the special mobilization and organization of these services. Natural Disasters As we are deliberating on natural disasters, it may be worthwhile bringing out the fact that the Indian subcontinent is amongst the worlds most disaster prone areas with approximately 60 % of land mass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to high intensity, 8% of land vulnerable to cyclones, 12% of land mass is vulnerable to floods and 68% of cultivable area is prone to drought. The hilly areas are constantly at risk from landslides and avalanches and flash floods. With its vast territory, large population and unique geoclimatic conditions, the Indian subcontinent is exposed to natural calamities and catastrophies. While the vulnerability varies from region to region, a large part of the country is exposed to natural hazards which often turn into disasters causing significant disruption of socio-economic life of communities and to loss of life and property. For the ease of understanding Natural disasters could be classified as depicted in the Figure. Classification of Natural Disasters (a) Natural phenomenon beneath the earths surface  Ã‚ ¬Earthquakes including Tsunamis  Ã‚ ¬Volcanic Eruptions (b) Natural phenomenon at the earths surface  Ã‚ ¬Landslides  Ã‚ ¬Avalanche (c) Meteorological/hydrological phenomenon  Ã‚ ¬Cyclones  Ã‚ ¬Typhoons  Ã‚ ¬Hurricanes  Ã‚ ¬Tornados  Ã‚ ¬Hailstorms  Ã‚ ¬Sandstorms  Ã‚ ¬Floods  Ã‚ ¬Sea-surge  Ã‚ ¬Droughts Characteristics of Disasters Before we proceed any further let us briefly enumerate the characteristic features of a disaster since these will help us subsequently in formulating an appropriate disaster management strategy. The overwhelming characteristic features of a natural or any other type of disaster are:- (a) Suddenness of Occurrence. (b) Vastness of Damage. (c) Loss of Life and Property. (d) Disruption of Communication. (e) Panic and Anxiety. First Day First Person Ground Zero Report From Military Hospital Bhuj GS Sandhu Masses of humanity, crushed and mutilated limbs dangling, heads split open, shattered bones, and people coming in endless streams, tugging at the doctors sleeves to leave the patients they were attending to come and see their near and dear ones, crying, sobbing, screaming. This is the lasting impression of 26th January 2001 which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.- Extract of authors interview in Indian Express dated 8th February 2001. 1. Though the Kutch district of Gujarat is located in Seismic zone V, there was a general lack of awareness of the seismic risk and its implications among all sections of the society. The earthquake struck without warning at 0846 hrs on 26 Jan 2001. The epicenter was located 30 km north-east of Bhuj and measured 6.9 on the Richter scale. The impact was sudden and devastating. The local community was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster and its resources rendered non-functional. 2. Military Hospital Bhuj is a small peripheral hospital, providing medical cover in the basic specialties. In the aftermath of the earthquake, this hospital acted as the first and sole responder, despite having suffered severe structural damage and its personnel and their families also being victims of the natural calamity. The principal task was to ensure operational readiness of the hospital for mass casualty management. A number of concurrent activities were initiated. Multiple reception, triage and resuscitation stations were set up. Indoor patients were moved out because of recurring aftershocks. Salvage of equipment and stores from collapsed buildings was commenced. An improvised surgical zone with makeshift operation tables was set up on hard standing. Pre and post operative areas were marked adjacent to this zone. Patient holding and evacuation areas were demarcated. Doctors from the town came to help in looking after the sea of injured humanity pouring into this sole medica l facility functioning in the disaster zone. The local army formation provided generator sets, water tankers, tents and personnel for crowd control. 3. A simple standardized patient management protocol adapted to the locally available resources and skills was devised. The aim of this protocol was to standardize treatment, save lives, prevent major secondary complications and prepare casualties to withstand evacuation to hospitals outside the disaster zone. Graded assessment was carried out, to cope with the sudden massive influx of casualties. Paramedical personnel did the initial assessment by grading the casualties into major and minor injuries. All patients with major injuries were resuscitated with IV fluids and exhibited antibiotics and parenteral Diclofenac analgesia. The physician and medical officers carried out airway management. The gynaecologist, who was also the administrative leader of the team, triaged the patients into those whose injuries could be handled locally and those who would require definitive management at specialized facilities. The final decision as to the salvage of limbs was performed by the surgeons at the operating table itself. 4. An idea of the difficult circumstances in which this emergency humanitarian action was executed can be gauged by the following situation in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake a) Collapse of the civil command and control structure in face of the magnitude of the disaster b) Structural damage to Military Hospital Bhuj c) Suboptimal / Inadequate surgical conditions d) Lack of communications e) Lack of water and electricity supply 5. Despite these constraints approximately 3000 casualties were handled at MH Bhuj before the first relief teams arrived around 2300 hrs on 26 Jan 2001. The problems encountered in handling casualties in these large numbers related to a) Crowd control b) Documentation c) Shortages of essential supplies d) Biomedical waste disposal e) Monitoring of the seriously injured f) Disposal of dead bodies g) Evacuation to specialized facilities 6. No country or community can be fully prepared to deal with sudden impact disasters. During the first few hours or even days, the affected community is isolated and must cope up the best it can. In a disaster situation the functions of the armed forces closely parallel those of the emergency services. The armed forces are trained to develop quick response capabilities. Their management and administrative systems function in a self contained, self sufficient and coordinated manner. The armed forces medical services have contingency plans and training to cater to mass casualty management. These capabilities allowed a small peripheral hospital to act as a sole responder to a disaster of overwhelming magnitude. The author was commanding the military hospital at Bhuj, Gujarat on 26th January 2001 Medical Role and Organization As we can see the management of natural disasters involves a host of disciplines working together to combat the ills and adverse effects of the disaster incident .This text will, however, be restricted to the medical role and organization during disaster incidences. This, however, in no way, is meant to malign the importance of other public services and agencies which are equally essential and play a vital role in the management of natural disasters. In fact these agencies contribute immensely towards successful and effective implementation of any disaster management strategy and are complementary to the efforts of the medical organization. The medical role will depend upon :- (a) Nature of the Disaster (b) Medical organisation set up for combating the natural disaster (c) The degree of involvement of the elements of the medical organisation in the Disaster incidence ie whether a hospital providing relief and rescue assistance is involved or not involved in the disaster situation The primary element of any health care delivery system that comes into operation during a natural disaster is the hospital. The role of a hospital will vary, depending upon the prevailing scenario :- (a) The hospital itself is not involved in the disaster. (b) The hospital is directly involved in the disaster. (c) The hospital is indirectly involved in the disaster. (d) The disaster affects the hospital only. In case the hospital is not itself involved in the disaster situation it can be geared up fully to meet the demands of such an eventuality. In case the hospital is directly affected by the disaster situation it will then be affected in the same manner as the general population and will then have to reorganize itself to provide medical aid not only to the community but also its own inmates and staff. In situations where the hospital is indirectly affected by disruption in some of its facilities and services like water and electricity supply, communication facility it will have to appropriately modify its own plan of action. These aspects have to be built into the disaster plan of the hospital. Aims and Objectives of Medical Role and Organisation During Natural Disasters The aim of any medical organisation during a natural disaster is to provide prompt and effective medical care to the largest number of people needing that care in order to bring about early recovery and reduce the death and disability associated with the disaster incident. A paradigm shift is needed from traditional approach to a casualty under normal circumstances. The approach has to shift from the traditional ALL FOR ONE to ONE FOR ALL. The primary objectives of the medical organisation during natural disasters are :- (a) To prepare the staff and institutional resources for optimal performance in an emergency situation of certain magnitude. (b) To make the community and other counter disaster agencies aware of the capabilities, execution and benefits of the medical disaster plans. (c) To establish security, traffic control and public information arrangements. The medical role during a disaster incident includes (a) Sending Mobile Medical Teams / Quick Reaction Medical Teams / First aid teams to the site of the disaster. (b) Providing First Aid and Basic Life Support at the site of the incidence (Pre hospital stabilization) (c) Sorting out the afflicted victims into priorities for evacuation (Triage) (d) Safe and Speedy transportation from the site of incidence to the location of providing definitive care. (e) Providing Advance Life Support and definitive care at the hospitals (f) Provisioning of Rehabilitation Services to the affected individuals (g) Care of the dead and moribund individuals. (h) Prevention of Epidemics and other related health hazards (Environmental health management). (j) Epidemiological and Health-surveillance efforts (k) Setting up Communication Centres for providing relevant information to the public, community and other agencies. To carry out the above roles to perfection at the time of a disaster event it is mandatory that all concerned in the medical organization must be aware of their roles and responsibilities. Thus arises the necessity of having a well designed and integrated Disaster Plan. Failure to Plan is Planning to Fail when the event actually happens. Planning provides the opportunity to network and engage all participants prior to the event. It provides the opportunity to resolve issues outside of the heat of the battle. Experience tells us that thinking about and planning for disasters is not as painful as having to explain why we didnt. Principles of Natural Disaster Plan of a Medical Organisation The basic principles which form the template of a Natural Disaster Plan are :- (a) Simplicity It should be simple and operationally functional (b) Flexibility It should be executable for various forms and dimensions of different disasters (c) Clarity It should lay down a clear definition of authority and responsibilities and not use too many technical jargons (d) Concise It should be suitable for the type of hospital and not be so voluminous that nobody will read it (e) Adaptability Although the plan is intended to provide standardized procedures, it should have an inherent scope for adaptability to different situations that can emerge during disasters (f) Extension of normal hospital working It should be made in such a way that the plan merges with the normal functioning of the hospital (g) Practiced Regularly to make it work and to recognize and reduce and eliminate the shortcomings. (h) Permanent and periodically updated based upon the experiences gained from rehearsals and disaster situations faced (j) A part of a Regional Disaster Plan. The key issues involved in any disaster plan are Preplanning, Communications, Co-ordination, Training and Regular practice. Without these elements no amount of technical skills and modern technology can mitigate the sufferings of disaster victims. Pre-requisites for Disaster Planning There are certain pre -requisites that require to be deliberated before planning for and managing disaster events. These are briefly described as under :- (a) Hazard / Vulnerability Analysis: This is based on past experiences and the vulnerability status of the localities that are within the ambit of the administrative and clinical jurisdiction of the health care facility. For example if an area is prone to earthquakes it is important that the hospital building is earthquake proof and the Disaster Plan of the hospital is able to cater to the rescue and relief of the victims of the earthquake. It is also important to remember that Earthquakes, Accidents dont come with prior notice but Floods, Cyclones do. Pre disaster preparedness in later case can prove to be very useful. (b) The Role, Responsibilities and Work relationships amongst all the staff of the health care institution must be clarified. (c) Hospital Capability Analysis: It is also essential to be familiar with the hospital treatment capacity should mass casualties suddenly arrive without adequate prior notice. Generally as a thumb rule the Hospital Treatment Capacity is 3% of total Hospital Beds whereas the Hospital Surgical Capacity in an eight hourly shift can roughly be calculated as under:- No. of operating rooms x 7 x 0.25 (d) Hospital Community cooperation in Disaster Planning: This is also an essential precondition and the outside support must be kept on alert and must be signalled to move at appropriate time to be in position in affected area immediately before the arrival of the casualties. Who Should Make the Hospital Disaster Plan? This is the next obvious question as to who should be responsible for making a hospital disaster plan. More often than not it is felt that this is the responsibility of the Hospital Administrators only. Well, the hospital administrators do play a major role in framing, coordinating, rehearsing and implementing the disaster plan but no single individual can effectively make the disaster plan of any health care set up since making the plan is a multidisciplinary affair and all disciplines should be involved in framing a plan for the implementation and success of which they are ultimately responsible. Herein lies the importance of constituting the Hospital Disaster Management Committee (HDMC). The Suggested Membership of this committee is as under :- (a) Director/Executive Head of the Hospital. (b) Departmental Heads. (c) Nursing Supdt./CNO/SNO (d) Hospital Administrator (e) O I/C Casualty Services. (f) Maintenance and Engineering Staff. (g) Staff Representative. (h) Representatives from other support services and utility services as required. Functions of HDMC It has been commonly said that sitting on a committee is like sitting on a WC. One makes a lot of noise and ultimately drops the entire matter. Well, the function of HDMC goes much beyond this saying. For this committee to function effectively, its role and responsibilities and terms of reference must be clearly laid down. Broadly the role of HDMC is :- (a) To develop the Hospital Disaster Plan. (b) To develop Departmental Plans in support of the Hospital Plan. (c) To plan Allocation of Resources. (d) To allocate duties to Hospital Staff. (e) To establish standards for emergency care. (f) To conduct and supervise Training Programme. (g) To supervise Drill to Test the Hospital Plan. (h) To review and revise the Disaster Plan at regular intervals. Components of Hospital Disaster Plan The various components of a well thought out disaster plan are enumerated below. These components will vary from one health care institution to other depending upon the capability and capacity as well as the hazard and vulnerability analysis. Notwithstanding this, the components should focus on the following aspects (a) Efficient system of Alert and Staff assignments. (b) Unified Medical Command. (c) Mobilisation of Resources (i) Medical Nursing, Administrative Staff. (ii) Medical Stores Supply and Equipment. (iii) Conversion of useable space into clearly defined areas for Reception, Triage observations and immediate care. (d) Procedure for prompt movement of patients within the hospital. (e) Procedures for discharge/referral/transfer of patients including transportation. (f) Prior establishment of Public Information Centre. (g) Security arrangements for inpatients, casualties, property of patients and the hospital etc. (h) Evaluation of Hospital Autonomy in terms of water, electricity, food and medical supplies including gases. (j) OT utilization planning. (k) Planning for X-ray, Lab and Blood Bank. The HDMC is required to prepare a disaster manual which should be crisp, easily understood by all and should contain the details of the mode of execution of the Disaster Plan. The hospital disaster manual is a written statement of the disaster plan which is required to be activated during any type of disaster and is divided into five sections which though not sacrosanct and can be modified according to the needs and requirements but they form the template on which the hospital disaster plan can be prepared and executed. A prototype of the template is given below Section I :- Introduction (a) Disaster Alert Code. (b) General Principles of conduct. (c) Brief synopsis of total plan. Section-II :- Distribution of Responsibilities (a) Requirement and responsibilities of individuals and departments. (b) Action cards. Section-III :- Chronological Action Plan (a) Initial Alert. (b) Activate hospital Disaster Plan. (i) Notify key personnel. (ii) Activate key Depts. (iii) Give details of Resource Mobilisation. (iv) Pre-arranged wards/areas for casualties. (c) Formation of a command nucleus (i) Preferably near the casualty reception. (ii) Define roles of hospital controller. (iii) Senior Nursing Officer, Hospital Admin (iv) Clinical Principles of Management of Casualties. (v) Reception. (vi) Triage (vii) Admission of Patients. (viii) Utilization of supportive services. (ix) Principles of treatment of casualties.  Ã‚ ¬Basic Life Support  Ã‚ ¬Advance Life Support  Ã‚ ¬Definitive Treatment (d) Specific problems of Disaster Management. (i) Clinical Problems.  Ã‚ ¬Less, serious patients report first.  Ã‚ ¬Contaminated casualties. (ii) Administrative Problems.  Ã‚ ¬Documentation.  Ã‚ ¬Police Documentation Team.  Ã‚ ¬Communication.  Ã‚ ¬Friends and Relatives.  Ã‚ ¬Crowd control  ® Convergence   Ã‚  effect.  Ã‚ ¬Voluntary workers.  Ã‚ ¬Patients Property.  Ã‚ ¬Press and Media.  Ã‚ ¬Disposal of Dead. Section IV :- Check List Of Personnel And Items. (a) Designation of overall medical authority. (b) Establishment of communication network. (c) Notification rosters. (d) Triage centre with Triage Officer. (e) Personnel Assignments. (f) Designation of medical teams areas of operations. (g) Routes of disposal. (h) Criteria for patient categorization. (i) Rapid documentation cards (j) Security arrangements. (k) Plans for logistics and supplies. (l) Records. (m)Evacuation system. (n) Information booth / Help desk Section V :- Repeated Rehearsals. (a) To train (b) To test performance (c) To correct weaknesses and deviations. A brief explanation of the aforementioned template is given in the subsequent paragraphs for the ease of understanding Introduction The introduction should include disaster alert code, general principles of conduct and brief synopsis of total plan. When the alert is given all personnel must report to duty and takeover their assigned jobs. A sample synopsis is placed at the end of this chapter. Distribution of Responsibilities (a) Authority and Command Nucleus : A small disaster management committee consisting of (i) Executive Head of the hospital (ii) District Health Officer/Civil Surgeon (iii) Professor of Medicine/Surgery/Officer In Charge Accident and Emergency Services (iv) Matron (b) Action Cards : The duties of each individual and dept are clearly indicated on a Action Card. These cards describe in details the responsibilities and the actions to be taken by each and every member of hospital staff starting from hospital administration to stretcher bearers and ward boys. Action card can be carried at all times and/or kept at command centre. If the designated individual proceeds on leave / out of station, then it should be the responsibility of the stand in individual to be aware of his role as per the action card. Chronological Action Plan For efficient and effective implementation during a disaster episode the action plan must be listed in chronological order. The salient features of the Action Plan are briefly explained below (a) Initial Alert : (i) Source of Alert (aa) Accident and Emergency department itself (ab) Through telephones or (ac) Through authorities like police etc. (ii) Action to be undertaken. On receipt of information, the concerned person must gather information regarding the place, time and type of disaster incident , the estimated number and type of casualties and the source of communication. He should also have a callback number if possible to remain in constant contact with the reporting personnel. This would help in determining the time available to prepare (response time) for the emergency and the necessary reorganization of hospital services to cope up with the same. (b) Activate Hospital Action Plan : The designated hospital staff activates the disaster plan. All the departments and people involved get into readiness to attend to casualties and depending upon the nature and number of casualties, crisis expansion of hospital beds is undertaken, utilizing additional space, by discharge of minor /cold cases and transfer of cases to other hospitals/ health care centres. (c) Formulation of Command Nucleus : The command nucleus should be formed immediately and located either in or close to the Accident and Emergency department. (d) Management of Casualties : This deals with (i) Admission of patients (ii) Triage and (iii) Organization of clinical services. (iv) Further treatment (v) Collection of information for management and for relatives and media (e) Hospital Management ; Once a disaster call is made and the hospital control unit established, the mobilization of the hospital services may proceed at the speed required with the minimum loss of time. Usually a number of designated areas will need to be created. (i) Reception An initial reception area acts as the first point of triage in the hospital and distributes patients to appropriate treatment zones. In addition, the initial reception will involve the documentation for casualties. The most experienced surgeons available should be responsible for triage. If staffing permits, assign specific members to care of each patient needing urgent attention. Ambulatory patients and those needing less urgent care should go to a separate area to await treatment at a convenient time. (ii) Resuscitation A large well lit open space is needed for effective resuscitation. Patients are prepared for surgery if required or sent to the wards as soon as their condition stabilizes. A senior anaesthetist is the best choice to supervise resuscitation and to prepare, with surgical advice, the theatre schedules. (iii) Operation Theatres Strict sorting is necessary to avoid blocking theatre space with patients with trivial injuries and who happen to arrive first. They may be treated in a separate theatre (Minor O.T) or at convenient times when other major problems are dealt with. Treatment in wards or Intensive Care units will need to be organized to follow initial care in accident department and the theatres. (iv) Radiology Proper radiology assessment is needed for the correct management of many casualties. Strict triage for radiology should be practiced by staff to avoid bottleneck in radiology department and over use and failure of X-ray machines or shortage of X-ray films. Portable X-ray machines will be preferred in orthopedic O.T. and image intensifiers sh

North Korea Essay Essay

Imagine how life would be like if you lived in North Korea. A country so isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. Even after many decades from the war, North Korea and America have never truly been friends. North Korea holds America responsible for dividing their country into North and South. However there are many similarities and differences between America and North Korea. America is very different from North Korea. While we have a Constitution with a Bill of Rights, amendments and basic freedoms, they must follow whatever their leader says with no exceptions. Even though North Korea has a constitution and amendments, the leader still controls all of the country. American citizens are able to vote for their countries leader unlike North Korea, in which where the son of the leader takes his father’s place with ruling the country. So, only one man rules North Korea and all decisions are made by him. Distinct from North Korea, where people don’t have the due process of law, Americans have the right to try to prove that they are not guilty. North Koreans are brought up to love their leader and aren’t allowed to believe in anything else. For them, their leader is the greatest and he is always right. On the other hand, Americans are allowed to believe in whatever religion they choose is right for them. American citizens are all granted equal protection unlike North Korea where only high-ranking officials are provided with those same basic protections. Also, there is no Internet, and cell phones are banned from the country, which block the people from communicating with the rest of the world. Most Americans are provided with basic needs, but in North Korea, a lot of people (child or adult) go blind because they don’t have those basic needs. Lastly, because hospitals and medical care in North Korea is so bad, many people don’t get the treatment that they desperately need. Thankfully, in the U.S., we have good Medicare and trained doctors who are able to cure people every day. American rights also have many similarities to those of North Korean citizen. Both countries have very strong militaries. We similarly strive to become independent countries. The people in America and North Korea have responsibilities, duties, and limited rights. For example like paying taxes and respecting the leader/president. Even though the strictness of these  three elements may change in each country, people in both countries still have to do these things. Although America is a democratic country and North Korea is a theocracy, they both have a strong government system. North Korea is ruled by Kim Jon Sun, our government has three branches and a president. Citizens of America are required to have a passport to travel to other countries, which is a lot like how North Korean’s are needed to have documentation in order to go to different places in their country. There are certainly more differences than similarities between America and North Korea. Living in North Korea would most definitely not be easy. So many things are available to us in the U.S. that wouldn’t be available to us in North Korea. American citizens have fair rights and can believe in whatever they want. We are able to travel to other countries and live according to our rules. Over looking all of the pros and cons of both countries, America would undeniably be an easier and more unrestricted country to live in.

Management of Marketing Channels Assignment

Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent Faculty of Business Marketing Management of Marketing Channels Assignment Name: Gafurov Nodirbek Batch#: B0900377 Table of Contents Executive Summary3 Introduction4 The Role of Supply Chain Management5 Flextronics Logistics Management7 Reverse Logistics9 Flextronics in Channel Management10 References:12 Executive Summary This assignment demonstrates the most key business areas of the given, Flextronics International Ltd.It analyzes the core businesses of the company as logistics and supply chain that is subjective for the development and business achievement of the company. All findings of the company examples are gained during whole study from a range of reliable sources; such as websites, textbooks, audio materials, and other consistent newspapers. Introduction The core purpose of this statement is to draw and to discuss the role of supply chain management is playing today and how the company has capitalized it and use of Fl extronics’s technology to place its self in logistics management.Also it includes a justification of Flextronics use of reverse logistics and its relation to marketing channel and last of all personal view of Flextronics’s role in Channel Management. The report will be organized as follows: Section 1: The role of Supply Chain Management Section 2: Flextronics’ Logistic Management Section 3: Reverse Logistics Section 4: Flextronics in Channel Management The Role of Supply Chain Management Business today is in a large-scale environment.This environment forces corporations, regardless of position or key market base, to judge the rest of the world in their competitive tactic analysis. Organization cannot separate them from or skip outside factors such as economic trends, competitive situations or technology innovation in other countries, if some of their competitors are rivals or are located in those countries. Companies are going truly worldwide with Supply-chain M anagement (SCM). A company can build up a product in the United States, produce in India and sell in Europe.Companies have changed the ways in which they handle their actions and logistics activities. Changes in trade, the increase and innovation of transport infrastructures and the increase of competition have elevated the importance of flow management to levels. Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) of the economies and organizations has fuelled the competitiveness among company. A number of issues have lead to the growing globalization of the world economy and as a result the competitive environment faced by the company has changed radically since the last decade.The drivers of globalization include: decreasing tariffs, improved transportation, communications and information technology, global manufacturing of products and availability of services across markets. These changes have enabled the global competitors to make the products and services available to custo mers worldwide, and the results have been a proliferation of choices for consumers and a need for the companies to offer greater products and service quality at lower costs in order to remain competitive.Changes in technology and globalization of products and services have also resulted in increasingly dynamic markets and greater uncertainty in customer demand. SCM tools and techniques are mechanisms that can allow the companies to respond to these environmental changes. Hence the reason as to why supply chain management has become popular during the past decade is the phenomenon of globalization. Increased competition has made business look for core competencies for enhanced performance.If a particular organization in some country has the core competence for a certain product/component/service, it will get the business for that product/service. This is called global outsourcing. A supply chain is defined as a set of three or more companies directly linked by one or more of the upst ream and downstream flows of the products, services, finances and information from a source to a customer. It consists of all the stages involved, directly or indirectly, in fulfilling a customer’s demand. It not only includes the manufacturer and suppliers, but also transporters, warehouses, retailers and customers themselves.Within an organization, the supply chain includes all the functions involved in fulfilling a customer demand. These functions include, but are not limited to, new product development, marketing, operations, distribution, and finance and customer service. Flextronics International Ltd. (Flextronics), incorporated in May 1990, is a international supplier of straightly integrated complex design and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The corporation designs, builds, ships and services for electronics products for its consumers throughout a network of services in 30 countries among four continents.Its set of clients consist of Alcatel-Lucent, Applied Materials, Cisco Systems, Dell, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, Johnson and Johnson, Lenovo, Microsoft, Research in Motion and Xerox. The services the Company presents across all the marketplaces it serves consist of design and engineering services, original design manufacturing (ODM) services; components design and manufacturing, systems assembly and manufacturing, printed circuit board and flexible circuit fabrication, logistics and after sales services. In April 2012, it obtained Stellar Microelectronics. In June 2012, Tessera Technologies, Inc. s wholly owned subsidiary, Digital Optics Corporation (DOC), purchased certain assets of Vista Point Technologies from the Company. As of March 31, 2011, the Company’s whole manufacturing capability was about 25. 1 million square feet. Flextronics works directly with leading manufacturing and distribution companies and facilitates them address their business challenges. From our practic e working with key corporations in consumer products, high tech and industrial manufacturing, there are six key trends leading to significant impact and change to supply chain design and performance: Trend 1 – Demand planningTrend 2 – Globalization Trend 3 – Increased competition and price pressures Trend 4 – Outsourcing Trend 5 – Shortened and more complex product life cycles Trend 6 – Closer integration and collaboration with suppliers Moreover, our company must face corporate challenges that impact Supply Chain Management such as reengineering globalization and outsourcing. Why is it so important for the company to get products to their customers quickly? Faster product availability is a key to increasing sales, says R. Michael Donovan of Natick (Mass. 2002), a management consultant specializing in manufacturing and information systems. There's a substantial profit advantage for the extra time that you are in the market and your competito r is not,† he says. â€Å"If you can be there first, you are likely to get more orders and more market share. † The ability to deliver a product faster also can make or break a sale. â€Å"If two products appear to be equal and one is immediately available and the other will be available in a week, which would you choose? † Clearly, â€Å"Supply Chain Management has an important role to play in moving goods more quickly to their destination. † Flextronics Logistics ManagementInitially, the supply chain management was referred to the functions of logistics, transportation, purchasing and supplies. Though, the growth of the supply chain management has moved to focus on integration, visibility, cycle time reduction and streamlined channels. The new integration has a variety of activities that include: * Integrated Purchasing Strategy * Supplier Integration * Supply Base Management * Supply Chain Management Logistics activities continue living since the early 1900s. These tricks were first associated with the military as a branch of war that pertains to the movement and the supply for armies.Military forces all the time used to make use of logistics models to make sure the availability of the compulsory material at the right place and on right time. Logistics is being used by the military even today. After 1950, supply chain management got a boost with the production and manufacturing sector getting highest attention. The inventory became the responsibility of the marketing, accounting and production areas. Order processing was part of accounting and sales. Supply chain management became one of the most powerful engines of business transformation. It is the one area where operational efficiency can be gained.It reduces organizations costs and enhances customer service. The evolution led to an Internet-based application for Supply Chain Management. Within a firm’s supply chain management, logistics is the work required to move and geographically position inventory. As such, logistics is a subset of and occurs within the broader framework of a supply chain. Logistics is the process that creates value by timing and positioning inventory. Logistics is the combination of a firm’s order management, inventory, transportation, warehousing, materials handling, and packaging as integrated throughout a facility network.Integrated logistics serves to link and synchronize the overall supply chain as a continuous process and is essential for effective supply chain connectivity. While the purpose of logistical work has remained essentially the same over the decades, the way the work is performed continues to radically change. Flextronics Global Services is a supplier of aftermarket supply chain logistics services. Its set of services serve clients operating in the computing, customer digital, infrastructure, industrial, mobile and medical markets.It provides multiple logistics solutions, including supplier managed i nventory, inbound goods management, product postponement, build/configure to order, order performance and distribution, and supply chain network design. Too many of such companies will find themselves victims of the powerful new transactional systems they put in place. Unfortunately, many leading-edge information systems can capture reams of data but cannot easily translate it into actionable intelligence that can enhance real-world operations.As one logistics manager with a brand-new system said: â€Å"I've got three feet of reports with every detail imaginable, but it doesn't tell me how to run my business† This manager built an information technology system that integrates capabilities of three essential kinds. For the short term, the system enabled to handle day-to-day transactions and electronic commerce across the supply chain and thus helped align supply and demand by sharing information on orders and daily scheduling.From a mid-term perspective, the system facilitated planning and decision making, supporting the demand and shipment planning and master production scheduling needed to allocate resources efficiently. To add long-term value, the system enabled strategic analysis by providing tools, such as an integrated network model, that synthesize data for use in high-level â€Å"what-if† scenario planning to help managers evaluate plants, distribution centers, suppliers, and third-party service alternatives. Reverse LogisticsThe raise of efficiency and competitiveness of companies, as well as legal and environmental aspects, and the change in the consumption culture of consumers have stimulated the growth of reverse logistics. In many cases, the existence of a well managed reverse logistics system is essential in the decision of purchasing products or services. Clients prefer suppliers that can operate in a close relation with their teams, to improve products and processes, and that cooperate in the solving of problems which may come off. To those clients, the sale is just the beginning of a relationship. Reverse logistics is a rather wide area/function that involves all the operations related to the reuse of products and materials such as the logistics activities of collecting, dismantling and processing of products and/or materials and used pieces in order to assure a sustainable recuperation of those that do not harm the environment (Revlog, 2005). Reverse Logistics is a process whereby companies can become more environmentally efficient through recycling, reusing and reducing the amount of materials used. Viewed narrowly, it can be thought of as the reverse distribution of materials among channel members. A more holistic view of Reverse Logistics includes the reduction of materials in the forward system in such a way that fewer materials flow back, reuse of materials is possible and recycling is facilitated†. (Carter and Ellram, 1998, p. 85).The fact of reducing materials used in the processes is according to some authors (Rogers and Tibben-Lembke, 1998) considered as Green Logistics and not Reverse Logistics, although the same authors agree in that the bound line between both concepts is not always clear. On the other hand, Carter and Ellram seem to keep tight to the same channel in which the forward flow was generated, against the more broad view in which other companies outside the business chain could be favored from the returns flows.The Company offers a suite of integrated reverse logistics and repair solutions that are operated on globally consistent processes. With its suite of end-to-end solutions, the Company can manage its customers' reverse logistics requirements while also providing critical feedback of data to their supply chain constituents while delivering continuous improvement and efficiencies for both existing and new generation products. Its reverse logistics and repair solutions include returns management, exchange programs, complex repair, asset recovery, recycli ng and e-waste management.The Company provides repair expertise to multiple product lines, such as consumer and midrange products, printers, personal digital assistants (PDA), mobile phones, consumer medical devices, notebooks, PC's, set-top boxes, game consoles and infrastructure products. With its service parts logistics business, the Company manages all of the logistics and restocking processes essential to the operation of repair and refurbishment services. The integration of reverse logistics operations inside the logistics effort of the corporation should be the first step in the process of corporate-wide integration.In the case of Flextronics, create a center of attention senior management attention and support look like to be the hardest task concerning returns. Mapping out the reverse logistics program and identifying the various departments directly or indirectly concerned in returns handling can prove to be a valuable inventiveness. Clear tasks must be assigned to account ing, sales, finance, marketing, etc. regarding increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the reverse logistics program. Flextronics in Channel Management The role of Flextronics in Channel Management has been considered as an important competitiveness factor of other companies.This is especially important for the electronics industry given the high perish ability of its products and the complexity of its distribution channel. These factors combined make critical the relation between the members of the distribution channel. The world economy is becoming borderless and integrated, driven by global market forces, global technological forces, global cost forces and political and macro-economic forces. The integrated world economy and global competitive arena is changing the way in which companies traditionally operated.There is also geographical, functional and sectored integration, which gives a truly global playing field to the companies and results in channel management. Therefo re Channel Management is playing vital role in Global competitiveness. To conclude the practical implications, channel management’s tasks and behavior seem, on the surface, to be similar to traditional management. However, the difference in the form of a SCO as a starting point for the management is considerable. To acquire a proper SCO, the SCM literature suggests that a major change in the mindset must be achieved.To become best practice in SCM performance is therefore not easily achieved. However, SCM seems to be a promising strategy for many companies when considering the best practice companies’ profitability and growth, and this dissertation can hopefully give practitioners some advice about improved SCM performance. References: Barry, J. Girard, G. ;amp; Perras, C. (1993), Logistics planning shifts into reverse. Journal of European Business, Vol. 5, No 1, pp. 34–38. Business Dictionary (2012) Definition-What is logistics management? And its role in the bu siness Available at: http://www. usinessdictionary. com/definition/logistics-management. html#ixzz2Ar3FkYOr [Accessed on: 1st November, 2012] Flextronics (2010-2011) Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility Program Sustainability Report: Flextronics Supplier CSER Program Overview pp. 64-68 Hawks, Karen. VP Supply Chain Practice, Navesink. (2006) Reverse Logistics Magazine Available at: http://www. rlmagazine. com/edition01p12. php [Accessed on: 17th October, 2012] Melissen F. W. ;amp; A. J. de Ron (1999), Defining recovery practices – definitions and terminology, International Journal on Environmentally