Tag: Data

WPS Helps Build International Alliances

Posted on by Spencer Bentley

What’s Past is Prologue…

How the Indo-Pacific Alliance reveals the importance of women’s participation

Strong alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific are becoming more important each day for both Japan and the United States. Taking a step back into history can reveal WPS elements that have contributed to the building of peaceful and sustained alliances and may be key to success today. For example, there are many lessons to learn from the successful building and sustainment of the U.S.-Japanese alliance after the Second World War.

After WWII, Japan and the U.S. built an alliance with one another that at the time seemed nearly impossible, but it is now one of the strongest on the international stage. One seemingly small but key piece of the puzzle that contributed to this success was the participation of women.

In the 1940 and 50s, Japan rebuilt its nation based on principles of democracy, international order, and human rights. The United States played a key role in the rebuilding process as Americans led the Allied Occupation of Japan from 1945-1952. During this time, it was General Douglas MacArthur, who as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, had the primary objectives of pacifying and democratizing Japan.

As part of his plan to achieve these goals, MacArthur immediately called for the enfranchisement of women’s rights and for women’s suffrage. During the occupation, Japanese women would be granted suffrage, elected to the Japanese Diet, and granted rights in the new Japanese constitution.

Why is this significant?

MacArthur was not a champion of women’s rights and did not arrive in Japan with “progressive” ideals about gender equality. Rather, he was a strategist, who understood that all of society must be part of this effort. Therefore, his focus on women’s rights indicated that he recognized that women’s participation went beyond being a “nice thing” to do. Rather, he saw it as an important and imperative part of rebuilding.

While all Women Peace and Security principles, as we understand them today through the United Nations Security Council and the U.S WPS Act of 2017, were not present in post-WWII Japan (and those present were in many ways incomplete), MacArthur seemed to understand what research tell us today. There is a direct link between a nation’s treatment and rights of women and girls and that country’s level of peacefulness on the international stage. Furthermore, nations with high level of sex inequality are more likely to be a fragile state, be corrupt, and unstable and violent.[i]

Lessons Learned

While the relationship between WPS and the U.S.-Japanese alliance needs deeper investigation, I propose that as we face a world in which alliances are becoming more important and essential, we must recognize that WPS principles may not simply be “nice ideas.” Rather, they are key pieces to ensuring peace and strong relationships.

In post-WWII, they were a part of the formula that American and Japanese leaders implemented in efforts to build a peaceful and sustainable relationship based on shared values. Today, if Japan and the U.S. wish to strengthen old and form new partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, then both nations may need to consider something that MacArthur in the 1950s knew: to build strong democracies and lasting alliances, all of society, including women, must be part of the process.

Grace Hoffman, Ph.D. is a CountryIntel employee and a Fellow at the American Council on Women Peace and Security. She is currently researching and writing a chapter exploring how Women Peace and Security played a role in the successful rebuilding of Japan post-WWII and the formation of the U.S.-Japanese Alliance. Her work will be published in a forthcoming edited volume.

[i] See Valerie Hudson, The First Political Order: How Sex Shapes Governance and National Security Worldwide (New York, 2020); https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1a02/327babfb20be0982b5154e40c0ca5695cb3b.pdf

 

The Secret to Success: Strategic Planning Through Management Consulting

Posted on by Spencer Bentley

The Importance of Strategic Planning and Management Consulting

Are you tired of your business falling behind the competition? Struggling to find the time to come up with a solid game plan? It might be time to consider the benefits of strategic planning and management consulting.

What is Strategic Planning?

Strategic planning is the process of defining a company’s direction and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this direction. It’s a crucial aspect of running a successful business, as it helps to ensure that all efforts are focused on achieving the same goals.

The Role of a Management Consultant

So, how can a management consultant help? These professionals bring a fresh perspective and outside expertise to the table. They can help identify areas of your business that may be hindering growth and provide solutions to improve efficiency and profitability. They can also assist with the implementation of the strategic plan and ensure that it stays on track.

Additional Benefits

But the benefits of strategic planning and management consulting don’t stop there. These services can also help with team building and leadership development, allowing for a more cohesive and motivated workforce.

Why Should You Invest?

So why wait? Investing in strategic planning and management consulting can be the key to taking your business to the next level. Don’t let your competition get ahead – take control of your future today. By investing in these services, you can ensure that your business is running as efficiently and effectively as possible, positioning yourself for long-term success.

Who to consider

CountyIntel has a proven track record of helping clients dial-in processes, maximize efficiency, and scale profitability.

Let’s talk.

The Russo-Ukrainian War: How Energy Insecurity Fuels the Global Gender Imbalance

Posted on by Lillian Dickman

by Dr. Grace Hoffman

 

Since the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022, countries have felt ripple effects caused by their dependence on Russian oil. Europe has been particularly impacted by their dependence on Russian energy, and is consequently, rethinking its reliance on certain energy sources. The significance of the energy sector and the need for alternative sources has become increasingly apparent for Europe’s economy. However, the overreliance on Russian oil may also affect gender inequality and non-European countries’ peace and security for years to come.

Women, Peace, and Security

In 2000, the United Nations adopted Security Resolution 1325, which established the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) international agenda. In 2017, the WPS Act codified the agenda into U.S. law. WPS recognizes the disproportionate effect of conflict and violence on women and girls as well as the important role women play in peace and security. Research shows a direct connection between the treatment and empowerment of women and girls at the household level and a country’s stability and likelihood to enter conflict. In fact, high sex inequality makes a nation twice as likely to be a fragile state, 3.5 times more likely to have an autocratic and corrupt government, 1.5 times more likely to be unstable and violent, and 1.3 times more likely to experience terrorism.[1] Simply put, the treatment and role of women and girls in society directly correlates with a country’s long-term peace and security.

Inseparable Connections

Today, the treatment of women and girls at the household level may be directly impacted by increasing gas prices and food shortages caused by the reliance on Russian energy. In African countries such as Somalia, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gas prices have greatly increased, as have food prices where communities rely on trucks to deliver food. Maureen Miruka, the CARE Kenya Country Director, noted that Kenyan women will be greatly affected, noting that “Whenever incomes in homes are negatively impacted, we have always noted an increase in gender-based violence against women.”.[2]

What Might the Future Hold?

WPS acknowledges that violence against women impacts the long-term stability of the communities and countries. It destabilizes communities and limits women’s ability to meaningfully participate in society. What will this mean for countries where violence against women increases as gas prices and food shortages increase?

Overdependence on energy from Russia is a sharp reminder of the need for innovation in the energy sector and for alternative and diverse energy sources, and the need for this may reach far beyond Europe’s economic concerns. While continents and countries recognize direct immediate effects, the possible long-term and indirect effects of energy insecurity on women and girls and therefore peace and security cannot be overlooked.

[1] https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1a02/327babfb20be0982b5154e40c0ca5695cb3b.pdf
[2] https://www.care-international.org/news/ukraine-conflict-soaring-food-and-fuel-prices-threaten-wellbeing-millions-east-central-and

 

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WHAT DOES A DATA DICTIONARY AND A REFUGEE CAMP HAVE IN COMMON?

Posted on by Lillian Dickman

By Leezan Omerbell

 

In my last life as a foreign affair professional, I worked as a field volunteer for Un Ponte Per, a non-governmental organization under the United Nations, at the Domiz Refugee Camp in the Kurdish Province of Dohuk, Iraq. As a volunteer, I used my language skills to collect data to help manage and allocate resources. A few days after arriving, I was in one of the trailers looking over my notes when a man entered the trailer. The man was about my age and wanted to know if his grandmother could come inside and sit on one of the empty chairs while waiting to be processed. Without hesitation, I agreed. A few minutes later a young woman entered with him and sat on one of the chairs. When I questioned him about the whereabouts of his grandmother, he simply pointed to the young woman.

As it turned out, the woman was not his grandmother, but his wife. You see, I had failed to take into consideration that even though I spoke the regional languages, there can be variances in vocabulary depending on location and dialect. Although the man thought he was communicating effectively, and I thought I was receiving the information correctly, there was still a disconnect.  To me the word he had used meant someone old, such as a grandmother. But in his dialect, it meant “wife.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines communication as “a process by which information is exchanged.” This process is the foundation of all relationships, personal and professional. But what we often forget, is that machines too need to communicate and exchange information with one another as an integral part of modern life and business. Broken down to their simplest level, machines such as database systems communicate with one another continuously and need to so do to remain relevant.

But how do we prevent miscommunication between these machines? If humans can have such misunderstandings, like the one that took place between that young man and myself, then machines can most certainly experience miscommunication too. As a solution, data dictionaries for database systems were created to enable clear and correct exchanges of information. For your own systems, before accurate exchanges can take place, you should do your due diligence, and do some database dictionary “house cleaning.”

  1. Update your data dictionary: Update your data dictionary to reflect your database as it changes. Databases change…a lot. Columns and fields become irrelevant; some are taken out while new ones are added. So, before you begin exchanging data with another database, make sure your own data dictionary is up to date.
  2. Make your data dictionary readable: This isn’t corporate law where you must write policy in a language no one can read. The point of your data dictionary is so that others can clearly understand what your database is about. If others can’t read it or understand it, then you have failed to create a working data dictionary. Make your data dictionary simple and easily readable.
  3. Answer questions: This might sound like common sense, but if an individual who is working with your data dictionary has a question, answer it. And set up time to provide clarifications. Learn from these instances and update your dictionary accordingly to prevent similar questions in future.

Again, the whole purpose of your data dictionary is so your database can communicate with another system. This allows everyone involved, machines included, to get on the same page. If it fails to accomplish this, your data dictionary needs work. Small improvements to your data dictionary can yield huge benefits for your database.

 

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THE PAIN POINTS SHOULD GUIDE YOU, NOT THE SPARKLE OF A SHINY PENNY

Posted on by Lillian Dickman

by Jeff Fourman and Leezan Omerbell

 

Ideas are abundant. Ideas that evolve into prototypes are rare. Prototypes that become essential tools for clients are even more scarce. And if you want to talk unicorns, then build a product that becomes essential for your clients. Hopefully, your team can gain insight from CountryIntel’s lessons learned, which we compiled while applying a lean approach to creating viable products for our government client base.

Budget: When assessing the budget for product development, it is common practice to simply “go big” and request a large price tag. While this type of proposal might be accepted, the request for a large amount is often unappetizing. From experience, we discovered it is easier to pilot products with a smaller, more reasonable budget when building lean. Then you can focus on the key pain points that your prototype addresses. This approach keeps your team focused on a lean solution that can deploy rapidly with effective results and an undeniable proof of concept. With this approach, your client reaps the benefits sooner and with a greater return on investment. They will also be more likely to continue to invest in the solution with iterative enhancements to rapidly address the most problematic pain points.

Prototype: It is tempting to present a finished and highly polished product which you think is “just right” for your clients. But operating under such assumptions can present challenges. Initially developing too far down the technology roadmap for your solution is risky. You may not incorporate all the client’s feedback necessary to guide you down the right path, and you may end up wasting valuable time and funding on a solution that only partially meets the client’s needs, paints you into a corner, and creates problems of its own. If the client wants something that only partially meets their needs, they could simply buy a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solution and overpay for features they will never use or that require unwieldy workarounds to operationalize. Remember, the pain points should guide you, not the sparkle of a shiny penny.

Do not gamble with your budget and assume you know all your client’s wants and needs from the start of a development road map. Gamble long enough and you are certain to lose. Then you will have to backtrack, make costly adjustments, and potentially need to restart completely if you do find yourself surrounded by wet paint. Again, when building, keep the prototype lean and minimal at first, and keep open lines of communication with the client so honest feedback can be collected. And do not be afraid to ask, “What stinks about this prototype?”  They will tell you, and it could keep you from having to start over if there is a nagging nuisance which they are afraid to tell you about in early prototyping.

Maximize end-user feedback loop: The purpose of building a lean prototype is to provide the client and end-users the opportunity to assess the product and provide feedback and recommendations. Optimizing the end-user feedback loop enables you to make these changes and provide the client with a viable product that suits their specific needs. This also helps justify a budget to further enhance the prototype into a more robust operating product. Ultimately, this approach increases client confidence and trust that what they are paying for is exactly what they need.

 

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