Milk and Cassava Cake Essay

Test for doneness – please see Cook’s Tip below. 5 Let the Cassava Cake cool down for 30 minutes or longer before slicing and serving. BENG’S TIPS * The cassava cake cooks faster if you portion the mix into 2 or 3 smaller pans than baking them all in one pan. The center of the cake gets cooked last so to test for doneness – the top should be golden brown, then insert a toothpick in the center and if comes out clean, it’s done. * Substitution : for a creamier, tastier cake, use Half and Half, light cream or evaporated milk instead of whole milk. Also, you can use 6 egg yolks instead of 3 whole eggs. It is made from grated cassava which Filipinos call kamoteng kahoy or balanghoy. Desserts made from cassava are very popular because cassava is easily grown anywhere in the country. This is another kakanin (Filipino native sweet delicacies) that is so perfect for special occasions and even for regular snack or dessert. It is so easy to make —just mix all the ingredients and put it in the oven! The only hard part is waiting for it to bake! 🙂 Cassava cake is so popular that there are a lot of different versions available. In a large bowl, mix all cake ingredients thoroughly. 4. Transfer to a lightly greased baking dish or pan. Bake for 1 hour. 5. Pour the condensed milk and egg mixture on top of the cassava cake. Bake for 20 minutes more or until desired brown color is achieved. (I usually bake it for 25-30 minutes because my husband loves it with a little burnt sides. ) 6. Remove from oven and allow to cool down completely. (In the Philippines, it is usually topped with grated cheese, but my daughters don’t like it that way so I omitted that part. ) 7. Slice and serve for dessert or even for snack.

Apple essay

Churner (2014) writes an interesting article portraying Apple's return to the bond market in 2014. In April 2014 Apple completed its second blockbuster bond sale in a year. Apple sold $ban of debt of varying maturities at interest rates that were mostly less than a percentage point above comparable U. S. Treasury debt (Churner, 2014). This sale goes a long way in highlighting the faith in the prospects of Apple. The offering was extremely tempting for investors whom flocked to place more than $ban in orders (Churner, 2014).The bonds sold Tuesday offered interest rates relative to Treasures that were similar to last year's sale. For example, a 10-year bond from Apple on Tuesday was priced to yield 0. 77 percentage point more than comparable Treasures. Last year, Apple priced 10-year bonds to yield 0. 75 percentage point more (Churner, 2014). In all, Apple sold fixed-rate bonds maturing in three, five, seven, 10 and 30 years, and were priced to yield 1. 068%, 2. 108%, 2. 889%, 3. 460% and 4. 483%, respectively (Churner, 2014).Deutsche Bank GAG and Goldman Sacks Group Inc. Deed the sale. The head of ‘investment grade credit at Invoices, Chuck Burger describes how â€Å"Apple's bonds are an attractive alternative to Treasury bonds. † He goes on to suggest that the reason they are so popular is due to their past strong performance, and the fact that everyone knows of Apple and has become very trustworthy of the brand name. Invoices spent $million on the new Apple bonds. The value of Apple's bonds is determined through their supply and demand like any other economic good or service.Demand for Apple's bonds has been high for a few seasons, and therefore the value of the bonds is also high. They are highly sought after because they are rated as AAA+, the second highest rating (Churner, 2014)- this is turn reflects a corporate-debt market that is putting in a strong performance this year. Bond prices are often inversely correlated to expectations about the future economy, and thus the stock market. In 2013 bond investments (demand) declined amid investor expectations that the U. S. Economy would pick up steam. However, this has turned around in 2014 as expectations have deteriorated.Apple does have a lathe cash pile ($1 ban) but there are a range of investors that fear selling bonds to reward shareholders can ding the value of a company's outstanding debt. In order for the value of Apple's bonds to remain strong it must ensure that it keeps its products as industry leaders; as soon as this is not the case the demand to invest in Apple bonds will shrink and the price will fall. Worktables (2013) attempts to explain why a company like Apple with such high cash levels would want to issue bonds; fundamentally issued by companies to raise cash.This essentially comes down to a irk in the tax regime: â€Å"According to analyst estimates, Apple has $Bonn of cash- but only $ban on hand in the U. S. , and thus not enough to fully fund the shar e buy- back program† (Worktables, 2013). Therefore although Apple has a vast amount of cash, it needs the ability to access more in order to make up for the less accessible cash they have stored abroad. References Churner, M. , (2014). Apple Returns to Bond Market.

Ancient greek architecture

The foundation of the temple was measured over 350 by 180 feet [about 110 by 55 meters] in size; probably one of the largest temples built in the ancient times. Temple of Artemisia was built around 323 BC in Usually, Turkey. The city was once called Ephesus. The whole temple was built as a dedication to the Greek Goddess Artemisia. When discussing about Greek Architecture, the most distinctive element is the classical orders. Columns in Ancient Greek period were used externally and internally.Nowadays, Orders are still used in shared public places such as churches, universities, court buildings, museums, etc. Other elements such as: buildings on platform, peripheral columns, pediment, are equally important in Greek Style. First Church of Christ, Scientist Pasadena is located at 80 Oakland Street, Pasadena CA 91101. It is considered as one of the Historic church buildings in Pasadena. The construction of the building started in the year of 1907 and finished in 1909. The fascinating bu ilding was designed by architects Marathons and Van Pelt.When First Church of Christ had Just finished with the construction, it was the largest and greatest building in Pasadena. The Building was equipped with fireproof materials ND made earthquake resistant. The 100-year-old building is very significant as it is part of the Pasadena Playhouse Historic district, a non-profit organization designed to preserve Pasadena historical and also buildings with advanced architecture. The First Church of Christ Scientist is also similar to Temple of Artemisia in many ways. Firstly, the Ionic colonnades that characterize a typical Greek Architecture.Six Ionic columns border the entrance door of First Church of Christ. The two scrolls on the capital of the columns really signify Ionic Columns of Temple of Artemisia. Moreover the First Church of Christ scientist imitates the look of pediment (triangular-shaped roof) of Temple of Artemisia. The two pediments are peaked cap pediments, in which the pediment forms a perfect triangular shaped and does not have broken tip. Additionally, The pediment of Temple of Artemisia is highly decorated with sculptures, whereas the pediment of The First Church of Christ Scientist is plain.The First Church of Christ Scientist is freestanding, with columns only on the front side. The building itself stands on top of a high platform and has only one staircase eating to the entrance. This is different from Temple of Artemisia, which has stairs on every side, and has ionic columns running all around the building. Dentals are not very detailed in the untreatable of First Church of Christ Scientist; unlike the untreatable of Temple of Artemisia with its complex and detailed decorations.The pediment of Temple of Artemisia is decorated with a sculpture, which pictures great military in Ephesus. In terms of function, both Temple of Artemisia and the First Church of Christ Scientist hold the same purpose, which is sacred place to worship and pray. Tem ple of Artemisia was dedicated for the Greek Goddess Artemisia and is a place where people do rituals and pray to Goddess Artemisia. While First Church of Christ Scientist functions as a Christian Church, specifically for the practice of Christian Science; where people gather together every Sunday to pray to Jesus Christ.Additionally, if we're talking about the materials used for the construction process, The two buildings use different materials and apply different construction method. Temple of Artemisia was fully made out of marble, a strong, very precious stone that is high in maintenance but less durable. At that time of construction, Marble was probably the most efficient and advanced material for the construction of the temple. Concrete was not invented by then. Workers had to drag white marble stones and carve it into sculptures manually. It took almost 12 decades to build the temple.While everything was done manually at the time Temple of Artemisia was constructed, the Firs t Church of Christ Scientist was built in a more advance way. Concrete, the strongest and most durable material was already invented and spread across America. The First Church of Christ Scientist was built in concrete and painted in white. These days, with the help of technology such as: laser cut, laser paint, bulldozer, etc, the construction can be done faster. The construction process was done in two years time. The Journey from Temple of Artemisia to the First Church of Christ Scientist takes almost 20 centuries.The First Church of Christ Scientist has the combination and mixture of other styles as well. Dome structure lies at the back of the main building, consisting some elements of Roman architecture as it imitates the Pantheon of Rome. The next building would be Ambassador auditorium, a small auditorium built by the Worldwide Church of God to be used as one of its branch. It is located at 131 S SST John Eve, Pasadena (CA 91105). The building is famous for its magnificent an d unique design and is often called by its nickname † The Carnegie Hall of the West†.Ambassador auditorium does not only function for center of worship but also functions as a concert hall for various kind of public performances. From soloist to small ensemble, even symphony concerts have taken place in Ambassador auditorium. The capacity of the hall is approximately for 1262 people. The simple, yet sophisticated design of the building is the work of an architectural rim in Los Angels, with the supervisions of Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Maidenhead. They chose the building to be minimalist style as it is efficient and cost friendly.The construction process was carried out by the William Simpson Construction Company of Los Angels. It took 12 years to design the concept and 2 years to finish the construction. The interior designer is Robert Smith. The Ambassador Auditorium was officially opened on April 7, 1974. When observing the design of Ambassador Auditorium, there are a few elements of the building that are taken from Ancient Greek Architecture. The most distinctive element is peripheral columns running around the rectangular-shaped building.Each column of Ambassador Auditorium is 72 foot in height, with 8 flutes on each shaft. Six identical columns lies on the front and backside, and nine columns lies on left and right sides. This is similar to the arrangement of colonnades in Temple of Artemisia. The temple has two series of eight Ionic colonnades each for the front and back of the building, while the sides were supported by two rows of seventeen (Ionic) columns each. Both buildings are surrounded by colonnades, regardless of the sensing. Despite the similarities, there are also so many elements that differentiate them.Firstly, materials used for the construction of Ambassador Auditorium are different than Temple of Artemisia because most part of Ambassador Auditorium is covered in glass. Glass was chosen to let more lights to enter the building , because light is very essential for Christian church. In Christianity, Light is often associated with God and holiness. Ambassador Auditorium was initially built for worship purpose, therefore the building is covered mainly by glass. Whereas for Temple of Artemisia, white marble s the main material for the construction.The whole temple was entirely marble except for its tile covered wooden roof. There was barely any glass in the building, because glass were not so popular in the past, probably because they were not very strong. Due to development of technology, glass is now made thicker and heavier; therefore stronger. The columns of Ambassador auditorium is certainly different from Ancient Greek columns, but they are equally unique and beautiful. The shape and the design of the column are not exactly the same as those of Temple of Artemisia, as they are not auricular and do not have decorations on the capital.The exterior columns of Ambassador Auditorium are very slender, with no decoration on its capital and have less flutes on the shafts. The building combines many geometrical shapes such as square, rectangle, triangle, and lines; to emphasize the minimalist style. The exterior design of the building is indeed undeniably beautiful with all the simple elements around it. There is a beautiful little water fountain in front of one of the entrance, adding the aesthetic element to the building. Furthermore, the walkway leading to the entrance is made UT of green granite, that is said to be cut and polished in Overeager, Italy.Ambassador Auditorium is truly a world-class facility despite its simplicity. If you think the exterior is astounding, the interior of Ambassador auditorium is equally enchanting and sophisticated. The inside of the building is decorated with classical style, making it more elegant. The auditorium's main door is covered in bronze. The main hall of the building is decorated with 1390 piece bronze and a huge crystal chandelier in its lobby. Staircase railing is made out of rare African DOD, called Shaded; ornamented underneath with gold leaves.Moreover, the ground is covered with a wool-made purple carpet- indeed an ideal match for the crystal hanging overhead. The Huge crystal chandelier, the beautifully carved ceilings, and the fully polished stair railings altogether create an alluring atmosphere in the building. In conclusion, The First Church of Christ Scientist is more similar to the Temple of Artemisia because it consists of more Ancient Greek elements and decorations such as: free-standing, pediment, Ionic columns, sculptures on pediment, etc. Even though

Financial check up report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial check up report - Essay Example This shows how well I can manage my expenses in order to meet my income. My total expenses are lower than my income. This means that I am able to save part of my income. Lessons from this statement is that one should manage his expenses in such a way that it allows him to have savings for every income. The financial ratios show ones ability to repay any debts that he may incur. My basic liquidity ratio is 4.5666, which is higher than the recommended 3.0. This means that my liquid assets are able to repay any of the debts that I may have. This shows that one should always be in a financial situation that is able to support him in cases of debts. This is to say, the liquid assets of a person should always be able to settle debts without posing threats to the financial situation of a person. My revolving savings shows that my spending for my fixed budget was financed from my savings. However, the amount set aside for my fixed budget was not fully spent since there was arrears amounted to my savings. This teaches me that one should always set aside a given amount to cover for regular expenses such as insurance. The annual saving for retirement needs should always meet the budget expectations. My retirement saving plan, according to the statement, meets my budget expectations. In the statement, the amount needed for saving expenses is much higher than the amount needed to realize the retirement goal. This means that, my saving plan will meet my retirement goal. Lessons learned from this is that one should always be prepared to realize his goals. The total expenses in life are much higher than the total income replacement. This is where life insurance becomes essential. Getting into an insurance plan, according to the statement, means that I would be able to take care of my expenses in life at a lower value. The insurance needed is much lower than my total expenses, thus, my expenses will be

The Doctrine of Privity of Contract and the Impact of the Contracts Essay

The Doctrine of Privity of Contract and the Impact of the Contracts Act 1999 - Essay Example 121, 1991) the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 which essentially modified the doctrine of privity of contract and confers upon third parties a limited right of action relative to a contract which confers upon the third party a benefit. Ultimately a third party may enforce a term or condition of a contract if the contract â€Å"expressly† makes provision for the right of the third party to enforce a term of the contract.5 Secondly, a third party may enforce a contractual term if the term â€Å"purports to confer a benefit† on that third party.6 It is assumed that once parties to a contract confer on a third party a benefit under a contract, the contracting parties intend that the third party may enforce the term creating the relevant benefit.7 In Nisshin Shipping Co. Ltd. v Cleaves & Co. Ltd. it was held that the assumption that parties to a contract intend that a third party with a benefit under the contract can enforce the term creating the benefit can onl y be rebutted by substantial evidence to the contrary.8 In other words there must be proof that the contracting parties did not intend that the third party have enforceable rights under the contract. Otherwise the third party must be identified either expressly or by description in the body of the contract in order to get around the doctrine of privity of contract.9 Essay question – restraint of trade – employees and sale of business. Restraint of trade clauses in contracts of employment are intended by employers to safeguard against competition from former employees.10 Similarly, upon the sale of a business, a contract for the sale of the business may contain a covenant in which the vendor covenants not to engage in a business area for a prescribed period in order to safeguard against the deterioration of goodwill purchased by the purchaser.11 When a business is sold or transferred to another party, an existing restraint of trade agreement impacting an employee surviv es the transfer of the business.12 Like employment covenants for the restraint of trade13a covenant for the restraint of trade under an agreement for the sale of a business will be generally upheld when the restraint of trade covenant is reasonable.14 It was held in Dairy Crest Ltd. v Pigott that an employer may only enforce an agreement in restraint of trade for preventing unfair competition as opposed to competition altogether.15 Ultimately, the restraint of trade clause in a contract of employment or in the sale of transfer of a business must be reasonable in that it must be for the purpose of protecting a legitimate interest. For instance it would not be unreasonable for an employer or a purchaser to want to protect trade secrets or confidential information relevant to trade.16 In Danaway, Day & Co. Ltd. v De Braconier D’

Analyze the behavior style of the participants in both group and Term Paper

Analyze the behavior style of the participants in both group and individual situations.(CBS reality show Survivor) - Term Paper Example It is the most commonly used test for personality worldwide. It classifies individuals according to four dichotomies i.e. extroverts vs. introverts, sensing vs. intuitive, thinking vs. feeling and judging vs. perceiving (McShane & Von Glinow, 2015). Shirin can be described as an extrovert because she is very social. In an interview, she admits that she prefers making relationships based on friendship (Holmes, 2015). Shirin is also a sensitive person. Her background career as a product manager shows that she prefers having practical solutions rather than relying on intuition. Her character in the reality show also echoes the same about her. She can also be classified as a thinking rather than feeling person. People who fit into the feeling character are usually guided by their emotions rather than logic and reason. Being emotional is a character that she evidently thinks is not suitable for anyone with a role in the show (Holmes, 2015). However, she can be classified as a perceiving person. Perceiving people are spontaneous and easily adapt to change. Her personality as seen in the show as well as her character outside the show portrays her as a person who is flexible enough to make changes when necessary. The model proposes that human personality can be classified broadly into five dimensions. A lot of research has also showed that the model is effective in predicting the performance of an individual in the workplace (Barrick & Mount, 1991). The five factors are openness, emotional stability, extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Under each factor is a list of related behavior and qualities that can describe the person. In the case of Shirin Oskool, we can conclude that personality fits in the extroversion category. Extroverts are usually outgoing people and mostly derive their energy from external sources (Laney, 2002). Also, they tend to be enthusiastic, energy-oriented, and possess high group visibility and like to talk.

Gestational Diabetes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gestational Diabetes - Research Paper Example Fetal and neonatal problems that are linked with GD mainly include amplified risk for miscarriage, stillbirth and macrosomia. A regular check and a good meal plan together with physical activity can help pregnant women with GD to have healthy babies. GESTATIONAL DIABETES INTRODUCTION Gestational Diabetes (GD) as the name suggests refers to the diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It is a serious problem that can be detrimental for both mother and child if not checked regularly. The high blood sugar during pregnancy is mainly linked to the hormonal changes that inhibit the production of insulin. Statistics suggest that about 4 % of all pregnant women have GD. According to the statistical data, in every 100 pregnancy in US, 3 to 8 women get GD that is type-2 diabetes. It is anticipated that about 135,000 cases of GD take place in the US annually (Diabetesinformationhub.com, 2011). Though it is a common problem it is important to keep a check on the blood glucose level because an incr eased glucose level can result in deformities in the baby. In general the fetal and neonatal problems that are linked with GD mainly include amplified risk for miscarriage, stillbirth and macrosomia (Big baby). A regular check and a good meal plan together with physical activity and proper medication can help pregnant women with GD to have healthy babies. ... The main hormones that are responsible in development of placenta during pregnancy are involved in blocking the activity of insulin in the body. In other words the insulin become resistant and does not function normally during pregnancy. Additionally, studies point out that during pregnancy the need of insulin production is about 3 times when compared to normal period. For instance, a mother may require up to three times more insulin for the conversion of glucose to the energy. The need for energy is very high during pregnancy. When body is unable to use insulin due to insulin resistance GD develops. If the high blood glucose level is not kept under check it may lead to hyperglycemia which is dangerous for both mother and child. GD does not usually start until halfway of the pregnancy. It is a common practice to during pregnancy between the 24th and 28th week to receive an oral glucose tolerance test to screen for GD. Women who have risk factors for gestational diabetes may have this test earlier in the pregnancy. Further, the symptoms of GD include blurred vision, fatigue, increased thirst, increased urination, infections in the bladder, vagina and skin, nausea and vomiting and also weight loss in spite of increased appetite (NCBI, 2010). The high risk for GD include the age factor, family history, GD in earlier pregnancies, high urine sugar, high blood pressure, increased amniotic fluid, earlier cases of miscarriages and stillbirths, and also overweight or obese before pregnancy. Chances of GD are high in case the woman is older than 25 years when pregnant. Additionally if the blood relations such as father, mother or siblings of the woman have a history of diabetes, then the chances

The Story of an Hour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Story of an Hour - Essay Example icted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.†(213) I consider this as an important irony on which the entire superstructure of the story is built. Mrs. Mallard’s authentic reaction to the news of death is one of relief, though she begins to weep immediately as soon as she is told about it by her sister Josephine. This is the irony of her real state of mind and the state of mind which she wants the people around her to believe. Privately, she accepts the news of death as a matter of fact incident but immediately craves internally to live a long life. Thus the irony of the situation is, she considers Mr. Mallard as a constraint or a hurdle to her wellbeing and to live a fully contented life, according to her plan of actions. I see an element of irony in her ‘heart trouble’ that has double meaning. It is connected to her mental ailment. Her private world always craves for experien cing the joy of independence. With the breaking of the news of the death of her husband, latent joy engulfs her that she positively imagines that she has reached threshold of freedom. She feels liberated. It will be even correct to describe that she feels that she is born again. The excellence of Kate Chopin is evident in the manner in which she has succeeded in creating an ironic situation. Mrs. Mallard can’t be condemned for her private joy; rather her reaction is to be pitied, when Mr. Mallard walks back to her life again, hale and hearty. I see this ironic situation takes the full circle in the life of Mrs. Mallard. The greatest irony is, her death as a broken hearted woman, not because Mr. Mallard is alive, but her newfound dream of freedom is snatched away from her. Symbolism is the second literary element that has been used with telling effect in the story. The the story is full of symbols. Mrs. Mallard, on receiving the news of the death of her husband, moves to another room to experience the

British Political History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

British Political History - Essay Example Political scholars exhibiting interest in this aspect have highlighted that the success of the conservative party was attributable to numerous factors that favoured the party in the 20th century. This paper will offer a critical analysis of the factors that contributed to the success of the party in the 20th century. A historical review of the party reveals that during the inter-war period, the conservative party proved to be the largest in the House of Commons. This was specifically in the period between 1918 and 1945. The party had the capacity to register majority votes as evidenced by the elections in 1921-1931 in which it emerged the second but garnered a majority vote of 8.65 million. During the 20th century, the party registered five victories and only two defeats. Interestingly, the victories were defined by massive majority votes. For example, there was a time when the party had 200 MPs margin compared to the second largest party. The success of the conservative party in the 20th century has been attributed to the proper foundation of Disraeli and Salisbury in the previous century. This historical review of the party serves to outline the party’s evident success in the 20th century. Numerous factors were critical contributors in ensuring that the party rose to its success (Pitchf ord 2011, p. 56). One of the factors that contributed to the success of the conservative party was its appealing foundation defined by impressive values as well as image. The founders of the conservative party associated it with conservative’s values which served to attract the support of many people. This led to the party’s massive social support which would later prove to be highly deep rooted and cohesive enough to bind the people. Notably, the values of any political party are key determinants of its success because supporters consider the values and the projected image before they can commit to the party.

Research About Students with Parents Working Abroad Essay Example for Free

Research About Students with Parents Working Abroad Essay Tool. A person or a thing used to accomplish another’s purposes, to convey, somebody who is manipulated to carry out tasks. It also refers to the process of how the data of this study is gathered collected. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Spirituality. The quality or condition of being spiritual. It also refers to the subject of the study which is one of the many roles that a nurse has, it is relentlessly provided to the appropriate respondents. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Hospital. An institution where people receive medical, surgical, or psychiatric treatment and nursing care. It also refers to the location of the study conducted. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Experience. Knowledge or skill gained through being involved in or exposed to something over a period of time. It is used as the extent of the respondent’s awareness. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Practice. To work in a profession, especially law or medicine. Refers to the respondent’s profession which is adopted in the study. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Patient. Somebody who receives medical treatment. It is the respondents in the SACH which is given spirituality care by the nurse respondents. It also refers to one of the subjects of the study. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Demographic Data. The characteristics of a human population or part of it, especially its size, growth, density, distribution, and statistics regarding birth, marriage, disease, and death. In this study it refers to the number of respondents in SACH that is to be used in the study. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation.) Level of Awareness. Relating to or having knowledge of something from having observed it or been told about it. In this study, it represents the total number of correctness of the respondents to the answers in the provided questionnaires on their level of awareness about spiritual care in both nurses patients in SACH.

Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families

Multi Agency Benefits For Children And Families †¦ there appears to be a dearth of evidence to support the notion that multi-agency working in practice brings about actual benefits for children and families The local authority and government agencies have been working together for a long time and not entirely new practice. Jones and Leverett quote However, the drive towards integrated working which includes the entire childrens workforce (that is, every individual who works, on an employed or voluntary basis, with children and their families across sectors such as health, education, early years and childcare, play work, social care, police, youth support and leisure services) under the interagency umbrella is a more recent and ambitious innovation (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 123) Multi-agency working can be analysed using three primary policy contexts. First, the context of influence, where policy discourses are constructed and key policy concepts for example, partnership or multi-agency working are established. Second, the context of policy text production, or the documents that represent policy (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 125). These are usually expressed in language which claims to be reasonable and for the general public good (Bowe et al., 1992). They include texts such as the SEN Code of Practice (DfES, 2001) or the new Working Together to Safeguard Children guidelines (HM Government, 2010). Such texts are then responded to within the context of practice, or what actually happens on the ground for example, schools, childcare or health settings as a result of a particular policy. (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 125) Jones (2000) added a sixth context, the context of hidden values. This means positive effect outcomes on policy; such as, legislation that promotes interagency cooperation in childrens services. They aim to protect childrens welfare and improve wellbeing. However, Jones suggests that there may be a range of hidden meanings and outcomes. At a central level, policy can be cleverly constructed to disguise a particular set of intentions, values and beliefs. Intentionally or otherwise, policy may be a wolf in sheeps clothing (Jones, 2000) There is also evidence that practitioners construct their own meanings related to policy, whether these are intended or not. Commenting on the tendency of policy makers to centrally design forms, e-templates and assessment tools. (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126) Both, Garrett (2006) and Axford et al. (2006) note how these are sometimes resisted by practitioners because they are perceived as exerting central control over hitherto fairly autonomous areas and suspected of being a cost-cutting device (Axford et al., 2006, p. 172). Consequently, policy could actually sustain or create circumstances that maintain or exacerbate problems. Rather than being a solution to the perceived problem, the interaction between policy and practice may cause a new set of problems. (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126) The key point is that policy is at three levels local, front line and central. At central level the ideas are made concrete and then articulated nationally and locally. At the time the policy enters the workforce such as schools, practitioners perceptions can consequently be affected. The question is: to what extent is the vision enshrined in central policy on multi-agency working likely to change as it travels on its journey from central government to individual practitioner? (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126) Governments have a tendency to construct their vision for policy as a statement of aims or intended outcomes. Sometimes the vision is embedded within a wider framework; for example, governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Jones and Leverett, 2008 pg 126) In England, childrens wellbeing was defined as the five mutually reinforcing outcomes originally presented in the Every Child Matters Green Paper (DfES, 2003, p. 6): SHEEP is an acronym that stands for: S Stay safe H Healthy E Enjoy and achieve E Economic wellbeing P Positive contribution The next steps is to translate these visions into learning which can be implemented into practice by people working in such sectors. The five outcomes were integrated into the development of the common core skills and knowledge for the childrens workforce (DfES, 2005) consisting of: Effective communication and engagement with children, young people and families Child and young person development Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child Supporting transitions Multi-agency working Sharing information. (DfES, 2005) Despite variations, the UK government agreed that all children will benefit from closer working between practitioners and agencies. The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a key part of delivering frontline services that are integrated and focused around the needs of children and young people. The CAF will promote more effective, earlier identification of additional needs, particularly in universal services. It is intended to provide a simple process for a holistic assessment of a childs needs and strengths, taking account of the role of parents, carers and environmental factors on their development (ECM, 2008). The CAF form is designed to record and, where appropriate, share with others, assessments, plans and recommendations for support. Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 places a statutory duty on key people and bodies to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. (HM Government, 2004) The ECM states all agencies are required to have: Senior management commitment to the importance of safeguarding and promoting childrens welfare A clear statement of the agencys responsibilities towards children, available for al staff Safe recruitment procedures in place Effective inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children Effective information sharing (ECM, 2008) The rationale for the CAF is to help practitioners develop a shared understanding of children, which avoids families repeating themselves to all other agencies. The CAF helps to develop a common understandings of what needs to be done and how. Do not reassess when the information is already there (Parents in consultation about assessment, in Scottish Executive, 2005b, p. 23) The argument is simple and on the surface persuasive, the impetus based on helping individual children. But the relationship between assessment procedures, their purpose and their outcomes is rarely straightforward (Jones, 2004). Assessment is a lifelong process with social consequences and may be influenced by contextual factors and professional value positions. It is literally a point at which certain children are judged to be different (Tomlinson, 1982, p. 82). Some parents and childrens views of their services have highlighted their wanting a coordinated service that is delivered through a single point of contact, a key worker, named person or link worker (Sloper, 2004, p. 572). Within the CAF, a similar role was produced, the lead professional (LP) who takes responsibility for coordinating the action identified as a result of the CAF process and will support the child and their family as necessary. One of the daunting aspects of the CAF is the number of professionals that practitioners will engage with, such as health, education, social services and voluntary agencies. It can be also quite daunting in finding out who the support services are and their contact details. However, with the CAF process it can be away of overcoming tension previously encountered around multi agency working and sharing information. Just as children and their families have a contribution to make to shape the services they receive through the various forms of partnership discussed in previous chapters, so they can contribute to the development of practice and practitioners. This can happen at many levels through evaluation, feedback, consultation and research, as well as direct involvement in training. Practitioners and the organisations they work for need to recognise that children and their families have specific knowledge that cannot be learnt from anywhere else. (Rixon, 2008) Children are party to the subculture of childhood which gives them a unique insider perspective that is critical to our understanding of childrens worlds. (Kellett, 2005, p. 4) Like many who regularly consult children and young people, we find that their views are always serious, concise, thoughtful and highly relevant and cut through the pre-existing agendas and diplomatic avoidances that beset many consultations with professional adults. We find that even very young children are more than able to analyse and give clear views on many issues within their experience. (Morgan, 2005, pp. 181-182) How is the success of more integrated ways of working to be judged? One element of evaluation might be to consider to what extent integrated teams or new initiatives or structures have overcome obstacles and enabled more positive ways of working. (Stone and Rixon, 2008) As we have discussed, government policy and the literature on childrens services all emphasise the importance of agencies working together and the value of partnership structures, yet: Despite such exhortations, there appears to be a dearth of evidence to support the notion that multi-agency working in practice brings about actual benefits for children and families. (Townsley et al., 2004, p. 6) However, Michelle Warren quotes According to Consultancy 4Children (Policy into practice, 4Children, 2009) consistent evidence indicates that parents and children are best served if the support on offer is joined up and well coordinated. It would be appropriate to recognise that although services may be provided in one setting, there is still a risk of services not being joined up, because of different agencies (and competing interests/perspectives) involved. (Warren, 2010) However, Howell states Previously we actually made it incredibly difficult by making children and parents and carers make their own way through the services all being assessed quite separately and getting very mixed messages. So multi-agency working is essential where a child needs it. We mustnt get confused and think multi-agency working has got to be the only way of working. In some cases its actually the school that will make the difference and thats the agency where the vast majority of children will achieve the best outcomes. (Howell, 2008) However, Townsley highlights the actual benefits for families and children. Howell states There are tensions between agencies, some of them driven by the different starting point that different agencies have. So the nature of the targets that agencies are measured by are actually quite different. The health targets that health services are measured by are significantly different from the kind of targets that schools work to and particularly are quite distant from the outcomes of Every Child Matters. (Howell, 2008) As with any Multi agency working, it is crucial to assess whether any new projects or initiatives have been set targets against criteria that can be measured. This is particularly a reflection for evidence based interventions which have been associated with issues, such as value for money. In relation to this, many have targets which have been set and inevitably raise questions whether it is the correct one to be assigned with a particular target. Practitioners recognise that targets can enable clarity and equity, and focus attention on important areas of practice (Banks, 2004). However, Townsley et al. (2004) states review a number of studies that reveal little evidence of improved outcomes of multi-agency working across a range of services and settings. Their review also makes clear that the task of evaluation itself is a complex one. Inherent problems include: difficulties in generalising from individual case studies; diverse views of different stakeholders as to what counts as success; the length of time needed to evaluate change; and causality and attribution. (Glendinning, 2002, cited in Townsley, 2004, p. 6) Consequently, Howell states Childrens participation and engagement is fundamental to the redesign of services particularly with a multi-agency perspective. Its part of the learning about what makes a difference the whole issue around personalisation puts the client, the person receiving the services, as the co-designer of their solutions. (Howell, 2008) To conclude, A formative approach to evaluation that encourages dialogue and ongoing improvements to both policy and practice would appear to offer a positive way forward. However, this is not without its challenges and there are still issues to be addressed, not least training and clarification of roles and responsibilities. It is up to individual practitioners to promote an inclusive approach to professional difference and to develop a range of different models enabling collaboration, respect, reciprocity, realism and risk-taking. (Leverett and Jones, 2008)

EGovernment: History, Causes and Trends

EGovernment: History, Causes and Trends BENCHMARKING EGOVERNMENT SERVICES Abstract: Governments around the world have embraced the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This represents a relatively new branch of study within the IT field. EGovernment Services are provided through many different means of access and to a variance of audiences, citizens, businesses or even other governmental entities. After clarifying the definitions and differences among similar terms (i.e. eGovernance and Digital Government, eDemocracy) this paper examines how eGovernment is measured by analyzing the dominating methodologies that are used. Furthermore, following specifically the eGovernment benchmarking methodology that is used by the European Commission, a greater focus in the evolution of eGovernment in Greece has been made. The finding through this assessment was far from satisfactory. Particularly, comparing the 20 Basic eGovernment Services offered in Greece, from 2007 to 2009, no development in terms of improvement, has taken place. Finally, the measures tha t governments need to undertake are discussed. Introduction In the past years, assisted by the invasion of Information Technology in everyday lives, governments all over the world have begun widely using information technologies for increasing the effectiveness and quality of the services they provide. These initiatives have become known as â€Å"electronic government† or eGovernment services. In most cases, when words gain that attractive â€Å"e-â€Å" in front of them, the popular belief is that they have become â€Å"electronic†, whatever that means, even though in some cases it does not make much sense. This confusion is much more obvious when the original word itself has conceptual and abstract meanings. Words like Government and Governance. Section I presents the most popular definitions, choosing the one that describe each term the best, and clarifies boundaries between the most common terms. Furthermore, the different ways that eGovernment can be classified, depending on the delivery model or the audience, is outlined. Although the definitions of eGovernment may vary widely, there an obvious shared theme emerges; eGovernment involves using information technology, and especially the Internet, to improve the delivery of government services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies. It acts as enabler for citizens to interact and receive services from governments twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Monitoring eGovernment development and evaluating its effectiveness is a complex and challenging task, as the phenomenon is new and dynamic. In Section II, the basics of Benchmarking are presented and its structural elements are analyzed. Focusing on specific examples of methodology used, a set of four dominant practices that represent the longest running efforts for measuring eGovernment is chosen to be explored further. Using the reports publish by each one of them, on a periodical basis, their inner workings are analyzed and the various developments, changes and evolutions in the methods employed by each one are mentioned. Section III focuses at benchmarking of eGovernment Services in Europe. In order to recognize how eGovernment has evolved and matured within the European Union, the relevant European directives, initiatives and frameworks for the development of eGovernment Services in the region since 1999 are examined. Following that, the methodology used for benchmarking eGovernment the European Union is examined in detail. All measuring elements, including some that were used for the first time in the most recently published report are evaluated. Having established what eGovernment is, what Benchmarking is and how its methodologies function, Section IV uses the data from the latest European eGovernment Benchmarking Report, which was published in November 2009, to assess how the Greek eGovernment landscape evolved since the previous report in 2007. The results are disappointing. When comparing the 20 Basic eGovernment Services offered in Greece, there was no improvement, what so ever, from 2007 to 2009. Following that, Greek performance in the two new indices introduced in the latest report (EProcurement and User Experience) is reported and compared to the respective EU27+ average. Finally, in Section V, a general overview is provided along with the conclusions about the (lack of) progress in eGovernment in Greece. Scope and aims The scope of this project is to analyze how the meaning of eGovernment has evolved in the past few years and then review the current trends in benchmarking the penetration sophistication of eGovernment services in Europe and the rest of the world. Furthermore, this project reports and analyses the level of eGovernment services offered in Greece. The basic aims of this project are: Define the eGovernment ecosystem, typology and taxonomy. Analyse the dominant methodologies of benchmarking eGovernment services Gather and process existing results about eGovernment in Greece, regarding service penetration and sophistication, along with other relevant metrics. Resources This project relies heavily on research. In particular, a lot of research on what the different and sometimes contradicting terms that define eGovernment as well as the rest of the relevant terms in academic papers throughout the previous decade was made. Following that, further research about the current and past trends in benchmarking in general and eGovernment benchmarking in particular are is conducted. From there on, having established what eGovernment is and what the provided services should be, along with how they are measured, more research was conducted in order to reveal what the actual current level of provided eGovernment services is. To accomplish this, reports from many different parties are used. These include reports published both by well knows analyst firms or government bodies in various levels as well as reports issued at a global level such as the United Nations to local reports issued by the authorities of each country such as the IT Observatory in Greece. Typology Convention Throughout the bibliography, or any other sort of resource for that matter, â€Å"electronic† terms do not have a consistent representation. So, just like electronic mail can be found abbreviated in quite a few forms, â€Å"electronic† Government is abbreviated to eGovernment, e-Government, E-Government etc. To avoid this inconsistency, through this project the term eGovernment will be used (changed to EGovernment only in the beginning of sentences). This convention will apply to â€Å"electronic† terms that will be used such as eGovernance. I. EGovernment, eGovernance and Digital Governance EGovernment is one more of the recent years â€Å"buzzwords†. It is usually either paired with the word â€Å"services† at the end or other words like eGovernance and Digital Government. Like every other (relatively) new and cool â€Å"buzzword† they are used widely by a broad spectrum of individuals who represent mostly two different backgrounds. Information technology and politics. The first because it is a technological issue, the later because they have come to realize, even though a little late, that they represent an excellent vehicle for them to provide a better experience to anyone who interacts with the Government. But, what do these terms mean? Do they collide or conflict each other? How about covering or including one another? A. EGovernment Definitions There is not one, unique and commonly accepted definition for eGovernment. It is quite difficult to decide over a specific one but after the research made, the following definition from the World Bank (ÃŽ  ÃŽâ€˜ÃŽ ¡ÃŽâ€˜ÃŽ  ÃŽÅ¸ÃŽÅ"ÃŽ  ÃŽâ€") describes it best: â€Å"Government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions ((AOEMA), 2004). Although other definitions have been provided, this definition is preferred. The reason is that it is the most concise and the easiest to be understood since apart describing in simple words how eGovernment is utilized, it goes on to offer a very brief, yet to the point, reference to its main advantages. EGovernment definitions various other sources as follows:  · United Nations definition ((AOEMA), 2004): â€Å"E-government is defined as utilizing the Internet and the world-wide-web for delivering government information and services to citizens.† * Global Business Dialogue on Electronic Commerce GBDe definition ((AOEMA), 2004): â€Å"Electronic government (hereafter e-Government) refers to a situation in which administrative, legislative and judicial agencies (including both central and local governments) digitize their internal and external operations and utilize networked systems efficiently to realize better quality in the provision of public services.† * Gartner Groups definition: â€Å"the continuous optimization of service delivery, constituency participation, and governance by transforming internal and external relationships through technology, the Internet and new media.† * Definition of the Working Group on eGovernment in the Developing World: E-government is the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote more efficient and effective government, facilitate more accessible government services, allow greater public access to information, and make government more accountable to citizens. E-government might involve delivering services via the Internet, telephone, community centers (self-service or facilitated by others), wireless devices or other communications systems.† EGovernment is in the first stages of development. Most governments have already taken or are taking initiatives offering government services online. However, for the true potential of eGovernment to be realized, government needs to restructure and transform its long entrenched business processes. EGovernment is not simply the process of moving existing government functions to an electronic platform. Rather, it calls for rethinking the way government functions are carried out today to improve some processes, to introduce new ones and to replace those that require it. The range of services that may be provided by e-government spans from simple information sites to fully interactive experiences where users and government engage in a dialog mediated by information technology. Internal information systems of Government agencies, information kiosks, automated telephone information services, SMS services and other systems all comprise e-Government services. All these are applications of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to improve the services of the Government towards its primary clients: the citizens. In the last few years, there has been much talk of mobile government or m-government. MGovernment refers to the use of wireless technologies like cellular/mobile phones, laptops and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) for offering and delivering government services. MGovernment is not a substitute for e-government, rather it complements it. 1. Benefits of eGovernment E-Government initiatives contribute to citizen empowerment by making information about government processes and decisions easily available, and allowing information-sharing among people and organizations, and between citizens and the civil service (Accenture and the Markle Foundation, 2001). Well-informed citizens are better able to hold their governments accountable. Governments are then compelled to improve the quality of services, expand accessibility of these services, and increase responsiveness to their constituents. Many Government services rely on information passed among different offices within a department or across departments. The large amount of information and paperwork required results in an environment where for red tape rips, the workforce is inefficient and bureaucratic, and the delivery of services is ineffective. With the usage of ICT, the government bureaucracy and citizens are both winners in the battle against the paper trail. eGovernment allows government kno wledge and data exchange to be accessed more easily (whether public or secure) by the appropriate offices or individuals. By this, it reduces redundancies of information flows, and resulting in overall increased productivity. Another result of the integration of operations of government agencies is the improvement of transparency in government. EGovernment minimizes redundant information flows, helps to eliminate duplications of functions, and improves the adherence of public servants to proper government procedures, thereby reducing opportunities for corruption. This, provided it is accompanied by well-informed and active citizens, will assist in limiting the relationship between bureaucracy and corruption and will help lead to a higher sense of accountability among officials. B. EGovernment Taxonomy EGovernment can be classified according to different criteria. It can be classified according to its level, its audience and last but certainly not least, according to the delivery mechanism used. 1. Reach EGovernment can be categorized in the following five distinct levels depending on how broad it is. The levels are: * International * National * Regional * State/Provisional * Local These levels are illustrated below (see 1 adapted from Heeks, 2006) 2. Audience The question of where eGovernment originates is pretty much self-explanatory. Nevertheless, the same does not apply when wondering about who is in the receiving end. The answer that first comes to mind is, the citizens. But isnt so. Apart from citizens, there are other entities that are benefited by eGovernment services. According to Backus, â€Å"the three main target groups that can be distinguished in eGovernment concepts are government, citizens and businesses/interest groups. The external strategic objectives focus on citizens and businesses and interest groups, the internal objectives focus on government itself† (Backus, 2001). a) Government to Citizens (G2C) Government to Citizen activities are those in which the government provides, on-line, one-stop access to information and services to citizens. G2C applications allow citizens to ask questions of government agencies and receive answers, such us: * File income taxes * Pay taxes * Arrange driving tests or renew drivers licenses * Pay traffic tickets * Make appointments for vehicle emission inspections and * Change their address In addition, a government could: * Distribute information on the web * Provide downloadable forms online * Conduct training (e.g., in some US States, the classes for the drivers tests are offered online) * Assist citizens in finding employment * Provide touristic and recreational information * Provide health advice about safety issues (e.g. warnings for epidemics like the recent H1N1 virus) * Allow transfer of benefits like food coupons * File natural disaster relief compensation electronically through the use of smart cards; and the list goes on. b) Government to Business (G2B) Government to Business activities refers to those where the government deals with businesses such as suppliers using the Internet and other ICTs. It is a bidirectional interaction and transaction: Government to Business (G2B) and Business to Government (B2G). B2G is about businesses selling products and services to government. The most important G2B areas are eProcurement (which essentially is actually a reverse auction) and the auction of government surpluses. c) Government to Government (G2G) Lastly, Government to Government refers to those activities that take place between different government organizations/agencies/entities. Many of these activities aim to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of overall government operations. One such example is the Intelink, an intranet that carries classified information shared by different U.S. intelligence agencies. 3. Delivery Mechanism EGovernment services are provided not only via the Internet. Instead, many other means are often used. In fact, studies and reports indicate that these â€Å"other† means of eGovernment services provision show in some cases extremely high utilization. For example: * Telephony dominates channel usage in some situations: Accenture (2005) reports 63% of industrialized country respondents contacting government by telephone; compared to 31% using the Internet over a 12-month period. * In-person visits dominate in other situations: an Australian survey reports half of government contacts to be face-to-face compared to one-fifth undertaken via the Internet (AGIMO 2005). * Survey data also reflects an ongoing preference for telephone or in-person channels especially for transactional, problem-solving, urgent and complex interactions (AGIMO 2005, Horrigan 2005). a) Multichannel Examples Some Governments have embraced this reality and adopted a multichannel approach to the services they offer. In its Progress Reports, the European Comission includes some specific examples: * In Malta, citizens can access their personal social security records and payments via the internet, and may also opt to be notified about their social security payments via SMS rather than receiving printed payment advice by post. However, the most innovative initiative is the introduction of eGovernment Agents that act as intermediaries to those without access. (ePractice eGovernment Factsheets Malta, 2009) * In Austria, all websites that belong to the .gv.at domain are available free of charge or connection fees via wireless hotspots (WLAN), and via public kiosks, thanks to an excellent cooperation between the Austrian Government and two major telecommunication providers. Similar to Malta, Austria also has legislation in place allowing officials to act as intermediaries for citizens who do not have online access or a citizen (ePractice eGovernment Factsheets Austria, 2009) * In Spain, 060 is the magic code providing a single access point. Many services provided by different administrations can be accessed via the 060 network, whether they are office-, internet-, or phone-based. Citizens can access the networks 2800 points of presence in the street or their office on the web, by the phone (060) or SMS. The 060 phone number is intended to replace over 1000 phone numbers available for citizens to access information of the General Administration of the State. The network is available 24/7 and currently offers 1225 national, regional and local public services. It is worth noting that In August 2007, only 15 months after its creation, the citizen information phoneline 060 had already dealt with 700000 enquiries. (ePractice eGovernment Factsheets Spain, 2009) C. EGovernance Definitions Just like eGovernment, there is not a single common definition to describe eGovernance. However, the UNESCO defines it best: â€Å"E-governance is the public sectors use of information and communication technologies with the aim of improving information and service delivery, encouraging citizen participation in the decision-making process and making government more accountable, transparent and effective. E-governance involves new styles of leadership, new ways of debating and deciding policy and investment, new ways of accessing education, new ways of listening to citizens and new ways of organizing and delivering information and services. E-governance is generally considered as a wider concept than e-government, since it can bring about a change in the way citizens relate to governments and to each other. E-governance can bring forth new concepts of citizenship, both in terms of citizen needs and responsibilities. Its objective is to engage, enable and empower the citizen.† Other definitions include * â€Å"EGovernance, meaning ‘electronic governance is using information and communication technologies (ICTs) at various levels of the government and the public sector and beyond, for the purpose of enhancing governance.† (Bedi et all, 2001, Holmes , 2001 and Okot-Uma, 2000). * Whereas according to Backus (2001), eGovernance is defined as the, â€Å"application of electronic means in (1) the interaction between government and citizens and government and businesses, as well as (2) in internal government operations to simplify and improve democratic, government and business aspects of Governance.† D. Digital Government The term Digital Governance was introduced more than 7 years ago (McIver Elmargarmid, 2002). Notions such as eGovernment, eGovernance and any future technology of ICT (e.g. Web 2.0 applications), should fall under the Digital Governance umbrella (Schellong, 2009). This term has been preferred by other researchers as well, due to the excessive usage of adding letters like â€Å"e† (electronic), â€Å"m† (mobile), â€Å"u† (ubiquitous) or â€Å"2.0† to government-related terms. Schellong goes further to suggest a specific typology (2008) as illustrated below in 2: EGovernment contains the terms: * EAdministration Internal use of ICT * EServices. External use of ICT * EDemocracy. Use of ICT for direct public participation in government (decision making or voting) EGovernance is a completely different branch and deals with government, society and economy. E. Open Government In the last decade, there have been many efforts to promote eGovernment. A new initiative has emerged though, Open Government, or OpenGov as it is usually abbreviated. OpenGovernment efforts have begun not only in the US but also in other countries, like Greece. Although OpenGovernment and eGovernment have similar characteristics and share common goals, the greatest one being the promotion of transparency, they are not the same. Open Government can be argued to be an evolution of eGovernment (GUSTETIC, 2009), since the only reason that it exists as an initiative today is because of advances made by eGovernment along with various technological improvements and innovations. II. Benchmarking A. Definition Benchmarking is defined as the process of measuring the performance of an organization along with the practices it applies in key areas and subsequently comparing them to other organizations. It is widely accepted in the private sector and is being used as a practical tool in order to achieve positive results with unlimited potential. EGovernment benchmarking means undertaking a review of comparative performance of eGovernment between nations or agencies. These studies have two purposes: * Internal: Benefit the individual and/or organization undertaking the benchmarking study * External: Benefit achieved for users of the study. This project falls into the first category, as described in the Scope and Aims paragraph earlier in the document. B. Goals With new expectations about their performance, government entities are being encouraged to look at ways of implementing changes in their practices. Benchmarking provides them with one of their most useful options. In every industry, there are ways of doing things that are broadly recognized as standard practices for that industry. However, every industry has its leaders. These leaders are organizations that over perform when measured against those standards. They have achieved â€Å"best practices† as demonstrated by their results in quality, cost, customer satisfaction and responsiveness. Benchmarking aims to discover what the â€Å"best practices† are that lead to superior performance. In greater detail, the process of benchmarking e-Government : * Fosters accountability for eGovernment projects. * Helps meeting rising public expectations * Enables government officials to take more informed decisions and corrective actions * Validates the generated public value * Fosters projects interchange Moreover, benchmarking can be distinguished from other traditional forms of evaluation by its attempt to visualize â€Å"best practices† through normalizing comparison and by urging public entities to ask themselves what they can do to promote them. Benchmarking enables and motivates them to determine how well current practices compare to others practices, locate performance gaps, experience best practices in action, and prioritize areas for improvement or other opportunities. It is quite important to note that â€Å"Benchmarking is not the same as benchmarks. Benchmarks are performance measures and benchmarking is the action of conducting the evaluation.† (Yasin, 2002). C. Data Sources After establishing what benchmarking is, the most common data sources are evaluated.. 1. Calculated Indicators Quite a few benchmarking reports use composite indicators, for example, for the purposes of national rankings. Because it is not always clear how they are calculated or researched, composites have been criticized (UIS 2003) for their lack of transparency along for their subjectivity. Fortunately, a guide for good practice in use of composites has been developed (eGEP 2006a:45) and includes: * Developing a theoretical framework for the composite. * Identifying and developing relevant variables. * Standardizing variables to allow comparisons. * Weighting variables and groups of variables. * Conducting sensitivity tests on the robustness of aggregated variables. Other than the composite calculation of national rankings, there seems to be little use of calculated indicators in the benchmarking of e-government. The most commonly used indicators include: * Benefit/Cost Ratio. * Demand/Supply Match. * Comparative Service Development. * National Ranking Some examples along with the methods used for each indicator are illustrated in Table 1below (adapted from Heeks, 2006). Calculated Indicator Example Method Benefit/Cost Ratio Expected financial benefit (impact) / Financial cost (input) (NOIE 2003) Interview (internal self-assessment / internal administrative records) Demand/Supply Match Preference for online channel in particular services versus Online sophistication of that service (Graafland Essers Ettendgui 2003) Mass citizen survey Comparative Service Development Stage model level of citizen services versus business services (Capgemini 2005) Stage model level of different service cluster areas (Capgemini 2005) Third party Web assessment National Ranking Composite of features and stage model level for national websites (West 2005) Composite of ICT and human infrastructure with stage model level for national/other websites (UN 2005) Composite of stage model level, integration and personalization of national websites (Accenture 2005) Third party Web assessment Table 1 Calculated Indicators Used in eGovernment Benchmarking (Heeks, 2006). 2. Standard Public Sector Indicators Apart from calculated indicators, others (Flynn 2002) suggest using a standard indicator set for public sector performance. This set is displayed in Table 2 below (adapted from Flynn 2002). Indicator Explanation eGovernment Example Benchmark Economy The amount of inputs used Expenditure per capita on IT None Internal efficiency The ration of input intermediates Cost per website produced per year Minimization External efficiency The ratio of inputs: outputs (use) Cost per citizen user of government websites per year Minimization Internal effectiveness The fit between actual outputs (use) and organizational objectives or other set targets The extent to which underserved communities are users of e-government services Maximization External effectiveness The fit between actual impacts and organizational objectives or other set targets The extent to which citizens are gaining employment due to use of an eGovernment job search service Maximization Quality The quality of intermediates or, more typically outputs (use) The quality of eGovernent services as perceived by citizen users Maximization Equity The equitability of distribution of outputs and impacts The quality of time/money saved by eGovernment service use between rich and poor Maximization Table 2 Standard Indicators for eGovernment Performance (Flynn 2002) D. Methodologies Having described the methodologies used more commonly when benchmarking eGovernment services, the next step is to illustrate how the necessary data is gathered. There are a number of official methods (eGEP 2006b): * Focus groups * Internal administrative records * Internal self-assessment * Mass user surveys * Official statistics * Pop-up surveys * Third part web assessment * Web metrics and crawlers Each of these methods can be compared in four different and distinct factors (Heeks, 2006). Those are: * Cost: The time and financial cost of the method. * Value: The value of the method in producing data capable of assessing the downstream value of e-government. * Comparability: The ease with which data produced can be compared across nations or agencies. * Data Quality: The level of quality of the methods data. In particular, Heeks suggests using the CARTA (Complete, Accurate, Relevant, Timely, Appropriate) check list when assessing data quality (2006). There is also a set of methodologies that are not used as frequently as the ones mentioned earlier. These are: * Intermediary Surveys. * Intranet Assessment. * Public Domain Statistics. * Public Servant and Politician Surveys. 1. Automation With new eGovernment services being introduced by Governments every day, benchmarking is gradually becoming a more and more important mechanism for identifying best practices and keeping track of developments, but as the number of the offered services increase, data collection becomes more and more difficult. Apart from that, since eGovernment is being expanded to other eGovernment levels, as illustrated earlier in 1, it is only natural that the number of benchmarking studies is increasing fast. Thus, the traditional approach of fata collection has not only become a very challenging but also a very resource intensive task. In order to address this matter, there are projects (eGovMon) which attempt to automate the data collection (Research Council of Norway, 2009). In particular, the eGovMon project is co-funded by the Research Council of Norway and â€Å"is developing methodology and software for quality evaluation of web services, in particular eGovernment services, concerning four areas:†  · Accessibility  · Transparency  · Efficiency  · Impact Additionally eGovMon will provide a policy design tool Case study: SIGMUND FREUD Case study: SIGMUND FREUD Sigmund Freud  (1856-1939),  Austrian physician, neurologist, and founder of psychoanalysis, who created an entirely new approach to the understanding of human personality. Through his skill as a scientist, physician, and writer, Freud combined ideas prevalent at the time with his own observation and study to produce a major theory of psychology. Most importantly, he applied these ideas to medical practice in the treatment of mental illness. His newly created psychotherapy treatments and procedures, many of which in modified form are applied today, were based on his understanding of unconscious thought processes and their relationship to neurotic symptoms (see Neurosis). Regarded with skepticism at the time, Freuds ideas have waxed and waned in acceptance ever since. Nevertheless, he is regarded as one of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century. I. Freuds life Freud  was  born  into  a middle-class Jewish family in Freiberg, Moravia (now PÃ…â„ ¢Ãƒ ­bor, Czech Republic), on May 6, 1856. When he was three years old his family, fleeing from the anti-Semitic riots then raging in Freiberg, moved to the German city of Leipzig. Shortly thereafter, the family settled in Vienna, where Freud remained for most of his life. Although  Freuds  ambition from childhood had been a career in law, he became intrigued by the rapidly developing sciences of the day after reading the work of British scientist Charles Darwin. Freud decided to become a medical student shortly before he entered Vienna University in 1873. Inspired by the scientific investigations of the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Freud was driven by an intense desire to study natural science and to solve some of the challenging problems confronting contemporary scientists. In  his  third  year  at  the university Freud began research work on the central nervous system in the physiological laboratory under the direction of German physician Ernst Wilhelm von Brà ¼cke. Neurological research was so engrossing that Freud neglected the prescribed courses and as a result remained in medical school three years longer than was normally required to qualify as a physician. In 1881, after completing a year of compulsory military service, he received his medical degree. Unwilling to give up his experimental work, however, he remained at the university, working in the physiological laboratory. At Brà ¼ckes urging, he reluctantly abandoned theoretical research to gain practical experience. Freud  then  spent  three years at the General Hospital of Vienna, devoting himself successively to psychiatry, dermatology, and nervous diseases. In 1885, following his appointment as a lecturer in neuropathology at Vienna University, he left his post at the hospital. Later that year he worked in Paris with French neurologist Jean Charcot. On  his  return  to  Vienna in 1886 Freud began private practice in neurology. Also that year Freud married Martha Bernays, to whom he had become engaged four years earlier. The first of their children was born the following year. Their family would become complete with the birth of Anna in 1895, who herself would become an important psychoanalyst (see Anna Freud). In  1902  Freud  was  appointed professor of neuropathology at the University of Vienna, a post he held until 1938. In 1923 he developed cancer of the jaw. Although repeated operations and prosthetic appliances in his mouth made his life most uncomfortable, he continued working incessantly until his death. When the Germans occupied Austria in 1938, Freud was persuaded by friends to escape with his family to England. He died in London on September 23, 1939. II. Freuds work Freud  was  by  training a research scientist and a physician. His decision to devote himself to the neglected and poorly understood area of emotional disorders has to do with currents of the time as well as his own interests. Chief among these was the prevailing attitude toward scientific endeavor at the time. Scientists were looking for causes and for connections between previously unrelated phenomena. Although Jewish by birth and cultural tradition, Freud saw all religion as illusory and was non-practicing. Instead, he can be seen as a determinist, viewing the world and human experience as understandable in terms of cause and effect. A. Hypnosis and the influence of Charcot In  1885  Freud  was  awarded a government grant enabling him to spend 19 weeks in Paris as a student of French neurologist Jean Charcot. Charcot, who was the director of the clinic at the mental hospital, the Salpà ªtrià ¨re, was then treating nervous disorders by the use of hypnotic suggestion. Fascinated by the apparent success of these treatments, Freud met and studied with several of the leading figures in the field. Charcots  group  had  been tackling the problem of hysteria, a term derived from the Greek word for womb. Hysteria traditionally was seen as a condition of women and was characterized by unexplained fainting, paralysis, loss of sensation, tics, and tremors. In time, Charcot came to see that men could also be so troubled. Although the mechanism of hysteria was not understood, Charcot and his contemporaries showed that its symptoms could be cured by hypnosis. Freuds studies under Charcot influenced him greatly in channeling his interests to psychopathology (the study and treatment of disorders of the mind). In  his  practice  in  Vienna, Freud met many patients with nervous disorders for which there was no apparent physical cause. Their symptoms included paralyzed limbs, tics, tremors, loss of consciousness, memory impairment, and numbness that could not be explained. These unexplained cases were labeled as neurotic, meaning that they were similar to neurological conditions. In time they became known collectively as neuroses. Freuds  observation  of Charcots use of hypnosis in the treatment of similar disorders led him to conclude that there could be powerful mental processes operating that remain hidden from conscious understanding. He began to employ hypnosis in his own practice, publishing articles on the subject in 1892. Freud came to understand hysterical neurotic symptoms as the product of a conflict between opposing mental forces. Conscious forces representing will were balanced by unconscious opposing forces representing counterwill. He understood hypnosis to act on the side of will to subjugate the counterwill, thus obliterating the symptom. The idea of conflict proposed in the 1892 paper A Case of Successful Treatment by Hypnotism: With Some Remarks on the Origin of Hysterical Symptoms Through Counterwill' was to become a fundamental principle of psychoanalysis. B. The beginnings of psychoanalysts The  next  important  development in Freuds theory of psychology came out of work he conducted with his friend and colleague Josef Breuer, a Viennese physician who was involved in the treatment of a young woman who was distressed while caring for her dying father. The patient had developed a number of hysterical symptoms, which Breuer initially treated by hypnotic suggestion. Initial success gave way to disappointment when on her fathers death her symptoms returned with increased severity. Somewhat at a loss as to how to proceed, Breuer had continued to talk to his patient on a daily basis and in time she began to talk about various reminiscences from the past and about her daydreams. Remarkably, as her narrative revisited memories from the past, which were associated with the onset of a particular symptom, each symptom disappeared when accompanied by an emotional outburst. Breuer made use of this discovery to eliminate her symptoms one at a time. He called the treatment the ca thartic technique (from the Greek katharsis meaning purgation). The treatment was time consuming and required considerable effort to reach dimly recalled and otherwise inaccessible memories. Freud  and  Breuer  published the case and several others in 1895 under the title Studies on Hysteria. Their view was summed up in the statement Hysterics suffer mainly from reminiscences. They proposed that when faced with emotionally traumatic memories, hysterics subjugate them from conscious appreciation to prevent the unbearable emotional pain and suffering that they cause. Rather than being driven out of the mind, however, these memories are driven into an area of the mind that is unconscious and inaccessible. Here the memories may be redirected from the emotional system into the somatic (bodily) system and appear as apparently unexplained physical symptoms. The cases that constitute Studies on Hysteria outline the transition from treatment by hypnotic suggestion to the earliest descriptions of what is now known as psychoanalysis. Working  on  his  own  Freud hypothesized that hysterical symptoms were most likely to arise when repressed traumatic memories related to adverse childhood sexual experiences. This view generated tremendous controversy at the time because the existence of childhood sexuality was not widely accepted. In time Freud was forced to reconsider this aspect of his theory, instead relating the repressed memories to childhood fantasies of sexuality and their relationship to parental figures. 1. Dreams The  next  development  in Freuds theory stemmed from his observations on dreaming. He came to see that many of the characteristics of dreams were shared with the symptomatic memories recalled by his patients in the narrative of free association. In his therapeutic relationship with his patients, Freud had abandoned hypnotic suggestion in favor of encouraging the person to speak freely about whatever came into his or her mind. Unintentionally, the patient would bring order to these free associations, whose structure and content Freud used to try to understand underlying unconscious processes. In  dreams  Freud  noted  the same apparently unstructured experiences of thoughts and images coming into the mind that seemed to be representative of some underlying unconscious process. To explain these phenomena, he suggested the existence of an inner censor that effected a compromise between conflicting mental forces and in the process disguised their meaning from conscious appreciation. He defined resistance as the unconscious defense against awareness of repressed experiences in order to avoid the resulting anxiety. He traced the operation of unconscious processes, using the free associations of the patient to guide him in the interpretation of dreams and slips of speech. Slips of speech or parapraxes, now known as Freudian slips, Freud claimed, were revelations of unconscious wishes. His 1904 publication, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, discusses these ideas. Freud  came  to  understand the mind as a series of layers, with the most superficial layers in conscious appreciation and the deeper layers containing repressed memories and remaining unavailable to conscious thought. He termed this the topographical model and likened it to an iceberg, a small part of which is visible above the surface while the greater submerged part remains obscured from view. These ideas were published in 1900 in The Interpretation of Dreams. During  the  first  two  decades of the 1900s Freud concentrated on modifying and improving his theory of psychoanalysis. He defined a number of principles and described a model of personality development. 2. The unconscious Perhaps  Freuds  greatest contribution was to describe the unconscious and to postulate that it obeys the principle of psychic determinism, which holds that human thoughts, feelings, and impulses, rather than being random, are linked in a system of causally related phenomena, behind which lies some reason or meaning. Freud concluded that on this basis unconscious processes could be investigated and understood. Some experiences that are not immediately accessible to conscious appreciation can be brought into the conscious mind by the process of remembering. Freud referred to these experiences as the preconscious. Still-deeper thoughts cannot be remembered and are actively repressed in the unconscious. Unconscious  experiences, according to Freud, are not subject to the same logic characteristic of conscious experience. Unconscious ideas, images, thoughts, and feelings can be condensed or dramatized in the form of abstract concepts and imagery. Often the relationship between the original experience and the unconscious symbolic representation can seem obscure. 3. Role of conflict The  central  theme  of  conflict had arisen early in Freuds work. Conflict arises in a persons conscious mind when one set of beliefs impacts adversely on another area of belief, causing emotional suffering felt as disappointment, anger, or frustration. Freud was interested in the unconscious aspect of mental conflict. He described the pleasure principle as another fundamental of psychoanalytic theory. This holds that human beings have a tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The principle is said to dominate in early life, bringing the developing individual into conflict with the external world. These conflicts are retained in the unconscious. Freuds  original  concept held that the conflicts of early life arose as a result of innate human drives or instincts. He conceptualized how development might occur in terms of the drives and their satisfaction according to the pleasure principle. Among the chief drives was the libidinal, or sexual, drive, which serves the human species by directing individuals to reproduce. Awareness of a need to keep rein on the free expression of drives gradually develops, and failure to rein in these drives (and fantasies about their expression) is felt as guilt. Life becomes an equilibrium between drives, conflicts, and reality.  Freud  believed  that  by understanding the crucial events and fantasy wishes of childhood, psychoanalysis could shed understanding on later adult character development with its attendant conflicts and neurotic symptoms. Later, he extended his model to include psychoses (serious mental disorders in which people have a distorted view of reality). Conflicts  repressed  into the unconscious are retained, according to Freud. From time to time they may overcome repression and reemerge into conscious appreciation, precipitating anxiety or panic. To counteract this, the individual unconsciously produces various defense mechanisms, which become part of that persons character. Examples of defense mechanisms include projection, where the individual ascribes to others his or her own unconscious desires (I hate you, for example, becomes You hate me), and reaction formation, where the individual adopts a pattern of behavior directly opposed to a strong unconscious drive.  In 1923 Freud reformulated his ideas in a structural model of the mind that postulated the existence of the id, the ego, and the superego. Freud  gave  the  name  id to unconscious drives. The id knows nothing of morality or reality. It seeks only to gratify the instinctual drives, and it operates solely according to the pleasure principle. Freud held that the biological drives of a young person are often frustrated by delays and restricted by the demands of parents and other older members of the family. As time passes, the demands of the community or society also become important obstacles to id gratification. In adapting to the environment, the child begins to acquire an ego, or set of conscious perceptions, memories, and thoughts that enable the person to deal effectively with reality. Thus, according to Freud, the ego obeys the reality principle. As the individual absorbs the teachings of family and society, he develops a superego, or conscience, that frequently conflicts with the drives of the id. In many cases the ego reduces the conflict by at least partially fulfilling the id impulses through socially ac ceptable behavior. Often, however, the conflict disappears on the conscious level as unfulfilled impulses are repressed into the unconscious mind. Freuds  therapy  consisted of listening to the patient relate a narrative of free associations over many sessions. By listening to the patients associations, Freudian slips, contents of dreams, and thoughts, he linked and interpreted these experiences to the patients conscious world. He came to understand the nature of transference, in which the patient develops feelings for the therapist that are in fact representative of previous feelings toward other important figures in the patients life. These thoughts and feelings Freud interpreted and linked to the patients current emotional state.   C. Major influences Freuds  early  psychological work shows the influence of the sciences of the day on his thinking. Ideas from physics, chemistry, and evolutionary theory occur regularly in his writing. At the time,  Charles Darwins writings, especially the theory of evolution, were challenging contemporary Judeo-Christian belief. Indeed it was Darwin who emphasized instincts for survival and reproduction, formulated in Freuds theory as basic drives.   Freuds  ideas  can  be  seen in the same context as Darwins. Freud, too, challenged philosophical and religious thinking by suggesting that human beings were rather less in control of their own thoughts and actions than previously believed. His contention that unconscious thoughts and actions had to arise from within the self rather than from God conflicted with the contemporary notion of soul. From Freuds time on, the disciplines of philosophy and psychology developed separately. Freud  was  particularly interested in the association school of psychology, which included Johann Friedrich Herbart and Wilhelm Max Wundt, the former of whom may have contributed to free association as a therapeutic technique. Psychodynamic theory-the model of conflicting forces influencing the subconscious-also has its origins in the physical concepts of opposing forces and vector analysis. Freuds theory that unresolved conflicts can be converted into physical symptoms reflects the principle of conservation of energy held by the first law of thermodynamics. Yet  Freuds  ideas  were new and radical, and it is easy to see why Freud came into conflict so readily with the society and establishment of his time. He relied on the support of friends such as Breuer. By 1906, however, a small number of pupils and followers had gathered around Freud, including Austrians William Stekel, Alfred Adler, and Otto Rank; American Abraham Brill; and Eugen Bleuler and Carl Jung from Switzerland. Other notable associates, who joined the circle in 1908, were Hungarian Sà ¡ndor Ferenczi and Briton Ernest Jones. Pakistan: Deep inside the World’s Most Frightening State Pakistan: Deep inside the World’s Most Frightening State BOOK REVIEW â€Å"PAKISTAN DEEP INSIDE THE WORLD’S MOST FRIGHTENING STATE† Author: Mary Anne Weaver Mary Anne Weaver, the writer of â€Å"Pakistan Deep inside the World’s Most Frightening State† has been a long time foreign correspondent for the New Yorker magazine. She is an expert in South Asian and Middle Eastern affairs and political and militant Islam. She has also written on the rise of militant Islam. She has reported from over thirty countries of the world, and currently resides in New York. She has won many writing awards including Citation, the Cornelious Ryan Award for the best non-fiction book on international affairs. Moreover, she has worked for The Sunday Times of London, London Times, Washington Post, and some other groups. She is Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism from Pennsylvania State University and Master of Arts in Arab Affairs from the American University in Cairo. The other important book that she has written is A Portrait of Egypt: A Journey Through the world of Militant Islam. She has written article on the consequences of S audi and American funding and Egyptian support of Islamic militants fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. She has also written â€Å"India’s Bandit Queen†. The author’s political and philosophical viewpoint is based on years of experience as a journalist and personal vignettes overseas. She is quite critical on the rise of Militant Islam and the dire need of Pakistan to the United States. General Summary: The book is basically about a country which is surrounded by such challenging and complex circumstances that we can find no parallel of. The country is one and only Pakistan. The author has given a classical account of the situation the country has passed through. A nuclear armed state sandwiched between Afghanistan and India, having militant influence inside has been elaborated by her as the most dangerous place on Earth. The country’s integration is an utmost requirement for the world peace. The book gives an account of the most important factors, i.e. Militancy, Nuclear Arsenal, Neighbors, Role in the War on Terror and the shifting policies in different Dictatorial tenures. Moreover, the role of United States and Saudi Arabia has been discussed and the Baloch Tribal Culture and Kashmir, that has been the main bone of contention between Pakistan and India has been utmost importance in the book. Author’s Thesis or Conclusion: The author during the journey of writing this book met many important figures of the time, such as General Pervez Musharraf, the then President and Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army, Benazir Bhutto, G.M.Syed, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, and some more. The author has given an account of the circumstances in which General Musharraf took over. There was an overall policy shift after he came into the chair, as his takeover was followed by the 9/11. According to her, there was a huge difference in Zia and Musharraf policies. She elaborates the role of Saudi Arabia and Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan in Afghanistan and explains how both contradict their interference. The event of 9/11 led Pakistan into circumstances that it had to become an ally of the United States in the War on Terror. The point of concern for her was that if they counter the Taliban, how they will manage the Jihadis then. Initially, Pakistan benefitted from the United States, as sanctions were removed and aid pac kages were received. She also highlights the role of nationalists like G.M.Syed. She tells that Osama bin Laden had popular support in Pakistan. People were ready to come out on streets for him. He received help from many tribal elders of Balochistan. The tribal elders of Balochistan were against the education and development in their province, as they see reduction in their influence. Further, she talks about the role of Mullahs in the society and most importantly the politics of Pakistan. Arabs are very close to Pakistan. They mostly come there for hunting purposes with the approval of the authorities. Then she talks about Benazir. She tells that at that time Benazir Bhutto seemed a serious threat to Musharraf, as intelligence agencies at that time had the view that she was the most popular leader of the country. She gives an account of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s death and Benazir and family’s condition at that time. She gives a comparison of Musharraf’s liberal an d Zia-ul-Haq’s conservative tenures. She also talks about the role of military in politics. The tussle between India and Pakistan has also been discussed. India blames Pakistan for any incident happening inside its territory and so does Pakistan. India claims that organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, etc. are being operated from Pakistan. The objective of United States was to carry out attacks and limit the members of Al-Qaeda, whereas she gives some indication of Pakistani reluctance also. Regarding Kashmir, the major bone of contention between Pakistan and India, she tells the views of both sides. Pakistan forces for a plebiscite as decided by the United Nations, whereas India has a stance that it is a bilateral issue after the Simla Agreement. There is a major deadlock between both the nations, and none of them can afford to lose Kashmir. For this reason, both sides remain on maximum military alert. She highlights a very important aspect that the organizations which were once formed and trained by the intelligence agencies of Pakistan, like Jaish-e-Muhammad, twice tried to assassinate General Musharraf. This is a point of high concern. Pakistan is hence elaborated as one of the most difficult and tough countries of the world. My Reaction to Author’s Views: I agree with the author’s views in most of the aspects she has given. She is absolutely correct about the difference in the approaches, i.e. liberal and fundamentalist of Musharraf and Zia ul Haq. She correctly tells about the support and sympathies Osama bin Laden had in the country. The Baloch tribal elders themselves do not want economic and educational empowerment in their province, in order to keep in order their influence. The aspect of Arabs which she has discussed is in my point of view correct and having a line in order with Arabs is a basic compulsion on Pakistan, for financial, economic and political reasons. The role of military in politics is a truth, and still politics is not free of their influence. Moreover, the most important aspect in my point of view is that of the organizations that were formed under the influence of our security agencies and now they are our own enemies. This has been clearly witnessed by the whole world. So, her view of Pakistan, one of t he most difficult states in the world is correct, as the complexity of problems that can be witnessed here, are not that common in the world. Summary and General Recommendations: The book is well written, and covers many of the problems and, complexities of the problems, that Pakistan is facing today. The author has herself met many bigwigs and then mentioned the experiences on the basis of those meetings and travels that she had in the country. The book includes index, map, but lacks pictures. As far as referring the book is concerned, yes, I will refer the book to others, for the reason that it contains a whole analysis along with the background of the problems that the country is surrounded by today. This book is a good read for the general reader.