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Burgess Manuscript
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Hundreds of Issues
From the book 'Hundreds of Issues that Impact Relief and Development'
Section VVV
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Issue
Validating data
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Basic observation
Data are much more valuable when they are known to be correct.
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Prevailing response
In the relief and development sector, when data are questioned, the response is usually a consulting exercise that adds another layer of data and analysis and consequently complication that confuses.
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A better response
Measurements should be many and should be practical and easy to validate or verify. There are many techniques for ensuring that datasets are complete and accurate, and these methods should be applied as widely as possible.
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Issue
Value analysis
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Basic observation
Value analysis is a powerful systemic way of understanding relief and development activities.
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Prevailing response
The idea of value analysis is that value should be carefully included into analysis so that it is value derived from costs that is the primary determinant of relief and development sector performance. Value analysis can be applied in all activities involving socio-economic results and using any combination of resources.
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A better response
Value analysis should be applied throughout the relief and development sector and used as a key part of the management information used for decision making. Value analysis gives valuable data that may be used to provide lessons learned as well as comparative performance information.
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Issue
Value adding
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Basic observation
Value adding is the result when the value created exceeds the costs incurred.
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Prevailing response
There is powerful value adding in the global private corporate sector. This has been continuous for the past 60 years in the rich countries, but not at all in most of the poor countries. Almost nothing done in the relief and development sector results in meaningful value adding, though a typical World Bank appraisal report might create the impression that value adding is planned.
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A better response
Value adding needs to be the dominant socio-economic intervention in poor countries, with the value adding remaining in the communities and the countries that are the host environment. This can be done with good metrics and management information that is used by decision makers.
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Issue
Value chain
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Basic observation
Value chain analysis is a systemic way of understanding where value adding and value destruction are taking place in the supply chain.
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Prevailing response
Because value chain analysis is rarely done, poor countries have been engaged in a lot of socio-economic activity that has resulted in value destruction and other stakeholders in the local and international elites stakeholder groups have profited mightily.
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A better response
Value chain analysis should be done for all relief and development sector interventions as well as for trade activities and foreign direct investment. The results of value chain analysis should be made public to show how it is that resource rich communities are becoming poorer and poorer frequently while others are getting very rich.
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Issue
Value destruction
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Basic observation
Value destruction is when the durable value realized is less than the cost of the activity.
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Prevailing response
Value destruction is very common in the relief and development sector, and especially in many government activities. Most decision makers would not knowingly engage in value destruction, but without management information and without any active methodology for doing value analysis, the relief and development sector uses almost all of its resources in a value destruction mode.
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A better response
If value analysis is a normal part of the planning process in the relief and development sector, and the basic metrics are incorporated into management information and a management system, it will be possible for the RDS to become more and more involved with value adding than value destruction.
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Issue
Violence
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Basic observation
It is a failure of ethics. Guns, and the militarization of society needs reversing. Wealth creation from violence and destruction should be deemed unacceptable. Need to level the playing field. Use information.
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Prevailing response
Arms trade a huge benefit for the “north” yet a massive value destruction for “south” people. Arms trade is a big secret with terrible outcomes for the “south”
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A better response
Ethics of peace needs to be made dominant. No rewards for violence. Wealth creation from violence and destruction should be deemed unacceptable. Use information to inform the public.
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Issue
Vocational training
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Basic observation
Vocational training has a particular importance in developing countries.
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Prevailing response
Vocational training is given some support, but compared to the need, there is not enough vocational training. Unfortunately, in some places vocational training is considered less than desirable, and as a result it is not getting the support that is needed.
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A better response
Vocational training should be not only available for all, but required as well. Education without the ability to actually do work that is needed is a dangerous waste, and rather more prevalent than it should be. Vocational training needs to be available not only for youth, but also for older people who are needed for the work that has to be done.
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From 'HUNDREDS OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT'
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Open the Lulu webpage
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