International Institute for Strategic Research and Training
(think-tank on national and international matters)

Strategic info for government and business leaders on crucial national issues

Presidential politics top the US national agenda as the two contenders start campaigning vigorously against each other. The economy remains the preoccupation despite signs of improvement; the economy is not growing fast enough to create the significant number of jobs required. Other issues are drawing attention e.g. support of the gay community. The economic and financial situation in the EU remain crucial factors  since the US economy and that of the EU are closely intertwined. The Greek economic 'drama'  is unfolding.

It is important to keep in mind the priorities for 2011 and 2010 as these are still relevant. Priorities for 2011: go to http://people-press.org/report/696/  Revisiting priorities for 2010: go to http://people-press.org/report/584/policy-priorities-2010 (Pew Research Center)

Update on the job situation http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The following analysis by Prof. Wind remains of utmost relevance since it maintains its pertinence:

The Employment Situation and its Implications for the Economy

Serge L. Wind, Ph.D.

 The October 2009 unemployment rate on a seasonally-adjusted basis was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on November 4.  The jobless rate was 10.2%, the highest unemployment rate in 26 years, as depicted in Chart 1.  While the peak of the recession seems to have passed, and economists in a half year may declare the recession is over now, employment always lags other indicators, like growth in real gross domestic product (GDP). The unemployment rates are 15.7% for African-Americans, 9.5% among white Americans, and 13.1% for Hispanics.  The jobless situation has been particularly harsh for young workers, with unemployment rates of 19.1% for workers 16 to 24 years old, and 30% for young African-Americans.

Educational attainment is inversely related to unemployment rates.  The jobless rate for people without a high school diploma is currently 15.5%; those with bachelor’s degrees or higher are experiencing a 4.7% unemployment rate. (continuation)

Prof. Wind welcomes your thoughts, suggestions and questions; kindly email him at swind2@nyc.rr.com

 

Revisiting the job creation process: food for thought or agenda for action

Note: The ADP National Employment Report is available at  http://www.adpemploymentreport.com

Specifics of job creation process

Strategic action on key issues facing the US

 How to jumpstart the economy and create jobs: (visiting conventional doctrines, updating them and going beyond to face new circumstances) by Frank Owarish, Ph.D. For detailed article go to Google knol 

 

 

 Job opportunities: There are jobs in several parts of the US, in government entities and in private sector organizations/companies; there are interesting jobs overseas.   This is a listing with related web sites;  IISRT will keep on adding to this listing and updating job information; good luck.

 Government jobs

 Peace Corps jobs

 UNDP jobs

 UNV

 UN jobs1

 UN jobs2

 UN system jobs

ITU

 USAID

 ICRC

 UNHCR

 UNESCO

 UNESCO Statistics

www.morganstanley.com/careers

https://careers.jpmorganchase.com

 

 ShopRite

 Wal Mart

 MetLife

New York Life: www.newyorklife.com

 

International Red Cross: www.ifrc.org

www.redcross.org

 

 

 Teaching English overseas: do a Google search with key words teaching English overseas, then browse for specific jobs

 Catholic Charities: do a Google search with key words Catholic Charities, then browse for jobs

 

US News and World Report has done a very useful compilation on best careers 2010: www.usnews.com/bestcareers

 

 

 

 

 Ed Tech and Economic Growth

 Briefing in economics: Strategy for the US to retain/regain its economic lead

 Forward looking approach: The US should improve its relationships (public and private) with the Central and Latin American as well as Caribbean countries for mutual benefits; the US should lift the embargo against Cuba and start a new dialogue; ideological debates are meaningless in today's world. The US is having the biggest government intervention in economic history. Does that make the US communist or socialist? Of course not. New situations call for new approaches. In fact all economies in the world today are the so-called mixed economies (public and private).

 

 

 

Strategic information for leaders dealing with key international issues

Keeping track of world news

International news via the UN: www.un.org/news  and   www.un.org/webcast

More sources of international news: www.voanews.com/english

On the importance of not eroding international law

 

Israeli-Palestinian question: it should be recalled that Marthi Ahtisaari, former USG at the UN and head of state and Nobel prize winner stated that this question could be resolved by diplomatic means: 

 the Middle East

 United Nations and the Middle East 

 "I believe a massive and united international effort is required to help Palestinians achieve statehood and Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security. I am more determined than ever to see this achieved" Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at press conference in Gaza - 20 January 2009

 United Nations Peacekeeping:  Challenges Obtaining Needed Resources Could Limit Further Large Deployments and Should Be Addressed in U.S. Reports to Congress.  GAO-09-142, December 18, 2008.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-142
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09142high.pdf
 

 

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Strategic thinking; strategic action for result: methodological considerations

The IISRT concept is about making a difference in the lives of people, turning setbacks into opportunities, maximizing opportunities, ingeniously and generously. Here are key methodological guidance:

 Critical thinking is both an art and a science and has developed significantly in recent years; leaders , managers and scholars stand to benefit from the use of available tools (The Foundation for Critical Thinking) and they could also share their experience and help develop these tools further.

 Lateral thinking:  Another approach has also been highly used as a tool to find creative solutions to all kinds of problems, find more

 Lessons Learned (a strategic methodology involves learning from experience; from mistakes so as not to repeat them and enhancing/improving good practices)

  Sources of Inspiration (equal to sources of wisdom; often a citation can trigger thought and action)

Persistence: often complex tasks require persistence i.e. sustained effort; persistence may mean trying not just one way but several ways in order to get the needed results. A related concept is perseverance i.e. to keep on trying and not giving up. Worthwhile ventures always need persistence and perseverance.    

 "Early in his career (Sir Francis Bacon) claimed 'all knowledge as his province' and afterwards dedicated himself to a wholesale revaluation and re-structuring of traditional learning. To take the place of the established tradition (a miscellany of Scholasticism, humanism, and natural magic), he proposed an entirely new system based on empirical and inductive principles and the active development of new arts and inventions, a system whose ultimate goal would be the production of practical knowledge for 'the use and benefit of men' and the relief of the human condition." http://www.iep.utm.edu/b/bacon.htm

  

 The key to making an idea stick: NEA Higher Education, Vol. 26, No. 2 Dec 2008, page 7, Under Best Practices: "in 'Made to Stick' (2007) Chip and Dan Heath demonstrate that the key to making an idea stick - i.e. understood, remembered and having a lasting impact - is to keep it simple by 'finding the core of the idea'".

  Knowledge is crucial to human progress; here is a foundation that is making a big difference in society through its knowledge center

Art/Science of getting a large number of tasks done and/or to doing a large number of tasks:  (1) manage time judiciously (2) multitask (3) delegate as possible (4) bring in needed help (5) work in team (6) leverage computer systems e.g. use calendaring, use project management software (7) avoid procrastination (8) enjoy the action (9) feel good at being constructive

 Priority setting (a necessary part of any complex venture)

 The strategic approach: strategic planning leading to strategic action and result

 

Promoting socio-economic development in the world: 1)THE FUNDAMENTALS

 

 

  Strategic Development (socio-economic development)

 Entrepreneurship (business development)

 Leadership (political, business, non-profit)

eLeader: conference and resources

eLeadership for the 21st Century

owarish (technology: Organizing Web Advancement Research Including System Hosting)  

CES 2012

 

           Mobile World Congress

  ONAP (OWARISH NATURE APPRECIATION PROJECT)

Special tribute to Clarel Owarish Radicella who has been working hard to promote understanding of suffering and to take needed action to alleviate it in various contexts. Now she is gone ... too soon. This is a tremendous loss. The following clips should provide us inspiration to do more for ourselves and others:1)  Constructive dynamism  2) Cure for AVM, NeuroSurgery News, Winter 2011, Vol. 12, No. 1, p.3  3) Organ donation: making it possible for somebody to live, giving sight to another person (she hoped it would be Bocelli): tribute in AM-new york, July 22-24.2011, page 20  4) On her way to heaven: credit youtube, pinapiucc

   

The Builders:

a) promoting technological innovation

b) providing higher education and supporting worthy cases/causes

c) building a university and contributing to setting the foundation to a prosperous economy

d) building an electoral system

e) building the fabrics of international society: courses in international relations including international law and diplomacy

f) promoting free trade

Tribute to the 'unsung' builders (note: many of these builders may have been recognized elsewhere; the tribute is also personal and based upon my unofficial recollection: Frank Owarish)

I was fortunate to be part of a team led by Joe Kariuki and consisting of Laurencine, Leconte, Ben Bachir, Bendib, el Hadi etc., at times joined by Jim Bukhala, Abel Nyamu. For workshops on training/education policies in francophone African countries, we were at times joined by Miriam Koivukari (a national of Finland who devoted her career to helping out in the field, where unfortunately she contracted disease from which she died early in her life; she deserves an additional special tribute). We made significant contributions geared to the improvement of managerial capacities (aimed at both the public and private sectors) in most African countries through advisory services, training and research, publications as well as institution building; there were conferences as well; these were often supported by leading professors from France, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and the US. The project was fully supported by the African countries, several international organizations including the UN, UNDP and UNESCO and several bilateral partners including France, the UK and the US. The project was evaluated on a regular basis and showed that significant contributions were made.

 

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Promoting socio-economic development in the world: 2) CENTERS OF e-LEARNING

In addition IISRT fosters e-learning in critical subject areas aimed at helping to build the fabrics of society and fostering international understanding and cooperation.

The Centers of e-Learning includes:

 Center for the Study of Management and Oversight

 Center for the Study of E-Governance and Policy Studies

 Center for Scientific Research and Technological Advancement

 Center for Diplomatic Studies including the International Diplomatic News

 Center for Cultural Awareness, Religious Sensitivity and Social Development

 

Promoting socio-economic development in the world: 3) INTERNATIONAL SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE

 

 Learn from the United Nations University UNU

 There is no doubt that education is the key to progress in all human endeavors. The convergence of computer and communication technologies have opened many horizons, one of the most significant of which is e-learning. Educational institutions are reaching out to make learning as easy and convenient as possible in a world-wide setting unimaginable a few years back. How many of us would think it is possible to attend courses at MIT? A few. Now MIT is reaching out to us leaders, managers, scholars anywhere we are in the world. Free Online Course Materials | MIT OpenCourseWare News and information on the project to make the course materials used in the teaching of virtually all of MIT's courses available on the Web, free of charge ...
ocw.mit.edu/

 Educational planning

 Promoting democracy in the world through education

 DW-Akademie

 

PHILANTROPY

IISRT will foster sharing and giving


Disclaimer: IISRT serves a constructive educational goal. It does not accept any legal responsibility for ideas it advocates or ideas emanating from the links. This site was developed by the Organization for Web Advancement and Research and Information System Hosting, copyright © 2008 by OWARISH, Inc.