The tragic events resulting from the recent Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 serve to
again highlight the fragile nature of many of the world’s communities. In each of
these locations the key tasks of treating the sick and injured, ensuring clean water
was available, or made available, providing food, accommodation and so on was
critically important as a first step on the way to rebuilding these communities.

What further serves to highlight the magnitude of challenges facing the world as a
whole, is the fact that many other activities along the development continuum
continue to be in operation, or needed. In many cases these are needed in the same
countries affected by this tragedy.

Adam Gilchrist of the Australian cricket team, during the telecast of the Tsunami
relief match, commented with interest that within a very short period following the
disaster, hundreds of millions of dollars became available to support the needs of
the affected communities. Yet he commented further that 15,000 people each day
die unnecessarily in Africa from disease. His point was not to devalue the Tsunami
relief contribution, but rather to highlight the need for ongoing commitment from
those who are more fortunate in assisting those most in need.

So much more is needed.

As was seen in the early stages of the relief effort, the citizens of the world are
incredibly generous and compassionate and recognise that we all can do something
- the sum of all parts can make a difference.

While each of us has different personal circumstances, which define the type of
support or involvement we can offer, there are plenty of options. These options can
be as simple as a donation or sponsoring involvement, to volunteering
internationally or domestically, or making long-term career decisions to be involved
in development.

The Australian Government has shown a great lead through activities such as the
Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD)
(www.ausaid.gov.au/youtham). The program places young Australians on short- to
medium-term assignments through which they have the opportunity to employ their
skills, as well as develop a greater understanding of the development needs of our
neighbours.

Similarly, organisations such as Australian Volunteers International
(www.australianvolunteer.com) support the recruitment, placement, preparation and
management of volunteers for the purpose of working towards the sustainable
development of communities. (It should be noted here that the Australian
government, through AusAID, is a major fund source for these programs).

Of course, volunteering for either short- or long-term assignments is not possible
for everyone, which is fine. The astounding statistics relating to the level of
donation for the Tsunami relief effort suggests that clearly there are many of us who
have done other things, in whatever way we could, to offer support. Similarly, many
of us sponsor children through organisations such as Plan (www.plan.org.au) and
World Vision (www.worldvision.com.au).

All of this helps.

What about the link between the commercial aspects of the development industry
and the benefits it is meant to deliver?

So often in conversations I hear statements such as “consultants are getting paid
too much”, “firms are making too much profit” and so on.

Are these statements fair?

First of all I would think it a unique situation in any industry if there were not a
difference in earnings between certain individuals and different organisations. So at
some point in all industries, “they are making too much” is going to be heard. Just
because it is said does not mean it is valid.

Secondly, there are a lot of high quality organisations (and Australia has many) that
continue to provide quality solutions to contribute to sustainable development.
While we would all certainly hope that the need for development activities would
disappear, this is not likely in the near future. So for organisations to continue to
provide quality inputs, they also need to be sustainable.

Clearly, what is important is not that an organisation makes a margin on activities to
ensure their own sustainability. What is important is value of the involvement, and
that value relates to outcomes and impact, not input.

Granted, an interesting debate question could be “at what point does margin go
beyond organisational sustainability such that a reduction in margin could still
ensure sustainability for the implementing organisation while putting more into the
activity/project/community”? But let’s not forget that many of these organisations,
and many individuals I have been fortunate enough to get to know, contribute far
beyond the technical involvement they are contracted to provide.

In a commercial environment, how can more be done?

Certainly in my experience of working with individuals and organisations, the
commitment to do more is alive and well. The critical aspect that must be the focus
of implementing activities, is how to create maximum value, improved outcomes
and long-term, positive impact from involvement.

Some approaches that have the potential to create improved outcomes that are
worth considering include:

• Encouraging ongoing professional development within your organisation [or as
an individual]. There are a number of quality programs at some Australian
universities specifically targeting development. This professional learning can be
equally valuable for field practitioners as well as for business development
personnel.

• Encouraging greater involvement from the education community. Australia is
blessed with an incredible pool of talent, and this is especially true in the higher
education and vocational education and training sectors. However, the nature of
many project activities, both in terms of timing and location, at times keep some
ideal candidates from participating – this is a shame for all concerned.

• Providing opportunities for teams in the field to keep up to date with new and
relevant information. While as professionals we each should accept the
responsibility to maintain currency, providing new (including case-study)
information to field teams is important. A number of Australia’s quality managing
contractors publish excellent newsletters.

• Incorporating new blood into project teams. This is often challenging, as the
assessment criteria presented in many tendering activities almost appear to
preclude newer professionals from being nominated. Presenting balanced teams
remains important, both for the benefit of the activity itself, and for building a
broader base of qualified and experienced personnel for future activities.

• Looking for quality local solutions. While a project opportunity may be let by
an international organisation, incorporating local individuals, institutions and/or
organisations into project teams has the potential to create superior solutions. This
approach offers the advantage of providing some economic value, as well as
creating a strong platform for sustainability. And let’s not forget that many local
organisations are quality project managers in their own right, so being a junior
partner to them remains a very worthwhile consideration.

Needless to say, there is still much to be done; however, none of us can control the
occurrence of such tragedies as the recent Tsunami. We can, however, continue our
individual and collective commitment to contribute and participate at whatever level
we are able. And we can ensure our approach to development activities seeks to
demonstrate value and focus on outcomes and impact along the path to sustainable
community development.

http://www.meldunn.com.au

Mel Dunn is Managing Director of Global Business and Development Solutions, which works with individuals and organisations that are committed to business success and the success of others. We work globally and locally and focus on providing sustainable solutions for our clients.

We offer a range of services including:

• Proposal and tender development

• Technical assistance

• Research and strategy development

• Quality review of submissions

• Market entry support

• Partner identification

• On-ground representation [http://www.globizdev.com] a> [http://www.globizdev.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mel_Dunn

Australia is blessed with an incredible pool of talent and experience, across a broad
range of industries, and it is this expertise that could provide significant and
sustainable benefits into the communities where a development initiative is
targeted.

The challenge for many firms and individuals wishing to participate in development
activities is in understanding the intricacies of the process to secure involvement.
Activities through agencies such as the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are usually
let through a public, competitive tendering process. Adding to this challenge is the
fact that in almost all cases, the process is different for each agency.

Myth – that the development industry is different.

Well of course it is, as are all industries – different clients, different products,
different channels to market, different cultures, different environments, different
risks etc.

What makes it the same is the need to ensure client needs are met, if not exceeded,
and that products and services are as desired/needed, not imposed.

So how do you get involved? Is it luck? It is skill? Is it people, products or services?

All and more I am sure.

A key step often required is the need to demonstrate experience, understanding,
value, sustainability of strategies etc to those assessing a tender.

Reality Check – Successful tenders must be compliant to the requirements of the
request, must be price competitive, and need to find the balance between the
technical requirements of the response and the selling nature of the process.

One of the most important aspects of development initiatives is their ability to
produce sustainable outcomes into the communities within which the activities take
place. Consequently, learning from past activities assists to shape the style of
future initiatives. For firms or individuals seeking participation, understanding how
such learning could modify development approaches is a critical step in determining
the type and level of involvement to target.

Fact – learning from past activities continues to shape future interventions.

The Development Market Today

The following points are some key observations about the directions [approaches]
being taken in the provision of development assistance. These directions have the
potential to impact on any strategy organisations and individuals might adopt to
enter, maintain, or increase their involvement:

• Funds are being diverted from government aid agencies to other government
departments for sector-specific programs

• There is a continuing trend to devolve more decision making to the offshore
post of the donor country, away from the ‘central’ headquarters

• An increase in donor co-ordination and collaboration where, for example, the
USA [through USAID] and Australia [through AusAID] might align program
approaches to avoid duplication and other associated impediments, into a sector-
wide approach

• A trend seeing more assistance being aligned to foreign policy where, for
example, security and regional stability could influence aid disbursement

• Bilateral donors are opening their markets, allowing for individuals and
organisations to compete for once closed opportunities

• There is an increasing trend for a move to larger activities, such as sector-wide
approaches, as opposed to specific project interventions

• Scale and global reach is likely to be an important criteria in winning and
managing major programs

• Relationships and networks in country with donor representatives, recipient
governments, local organisations and development professionals are becoming
increasingly important.

Opportunity/Approach/Success Factors

Opportunities for involvement exist across a whole spectrum of activities, from
short-term review/assessment activities in Australia, to short-term offshore
assignments for individuals or teams, to long-term offshore assignments for
individuals or teams, to overall project management which might include technical
inputs as well as sub-contracting of activities.

Organisations such as The Development Executive Group (http://
http://www.developmentex.com) are a valuable resource for individuals and firms to
identify opportunities, individuals and potential partners. This Group provides a
range of free information and support services to individuals and companies,
including project information updates, a weekly development newsletter and
employment opportunities in the development sector.

An immediate key success factor is the consideration of which level of involvement
for a particular opportunity is likely to deliver the best result with the minimum of
risk – for the organisation, the client, the stakeholders and the recipients of
support.

Many of the larger activities, such as programs, facilities and sector-wide
approaches, often have sub-components that will be let out – meaning the overall
project managing firm could be ineligible to perform the services within a sub-
component. The key principles to securing sub-component involvement is often
identical to that required to secure the overall project, as there will be a call for
tender using the same or very similar process to that used by the funding agency.

Consequently, all levels of involvement in the development arena are likely at some
point to require interested organisations/individuals to participate in a competitive
tendering round. This is often the case regardless of the size of the resultant
budget.

Reality Check – Tendering efficiency and effectiveness remains critical.

Tendering skills alone, while critical, are not the sole success factor – in fact
tendering well in the absence of other key activities/initiatives may prove
insufficient. Key considerations for success, in addition to compiling a winning
tender include:

• Having the winning product – the team, the approach, the methodology, and
the response to the requirements of a tender

• Ensuring advance positioning – research, preparation, resources

• Maintaining adequate promotion – often the key here is relationships, and
certainly past achievements

• Being in the right place – knowing the clients and stakeholders and having an
international presence

• Offering the right price – must be competitive and offering value for money.

The tender response is often the most challenging aspect (apart from
implementation of course), addressed by ensuring appropriate preparation and
analysis is conducted in advance. The tendering timeframe usually falls within a 4 –
8 week period and generally responses would be required to address key criteria
including the team, approach and methodology, management, and price.

Reality Check – Preparation must commence prior to the public call for tender if a
realistic chance of success is to be expected.

These thoughts are by no means exhaustive, though they do cover some core
principles relevant to successful business development and tendering approaches.

http://

http://www.meldunn.com.au

Mel Dunn is Managing Director of Global Business and Development Solutions [http://www.globizdev.com] which works with individuals and organisations that are committed to business success and the success of others. We work globally and locally and focus on providing sustainable solutions for our clients.

We offer a range of services including:

• Proposal and tender development

• Technical assistance

• Research and strategy development

• Quality review of submissions

• Market entry support

• Partner identification

• On-ground representation

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mel_Dunn

In the development or manufacturing of a new commercial product a lot of effort is needed. It is necessary to put in a lot of new ideas and thought. Plenty of planning is needed in the development of a new product. This is same in the case of food product development or beverage development. A company’s success or failure always depends on the kind of products it introduces into the market. It is necessary to have a lot of innovative ideas.

In the case of food product development like any other product development it is necessary to take into consideration the present trends in the market and plan the products according to it.it is a continuous process. As the trends and requirements in the market change day by day it is necessary to make new products according to the changing needs. In the case of food the factor of market is really important like any other product. Another important stage after the development of a new idea is production. This stage is as important and challenging as developing the idea of a new product according to the needs of the market.

The present trend of the market is towards healthy foods. Most of the food product development companies now concentrate on the production of healthy food. There is thus an increasing competition in the production of processed food. These days fast foods are considered to be the greatest villain. Certain changes have been made in the development of fast food products in order to make it healthy.

The cheese that is used in food stuffs like burgers made use of salt or other sodium compounds in order to enhance taste traditionally. So the new research on this suggests the use of a cheese substitute which contains very less amount of sodium substitutes. This new technique in the field of development of food products has brought in a tremendous change.

A proper planning and the awareness about the niche products is essential even in the case of beverage development. To exist in the market new changes have to be made in beverage products as per the requirements of the people. As in the field of food products development companies a proper planning in the identification and construction of the product the stage of production is also important. It is not only the kind of beverage but the way of production and the type of bottle and carton in which it needs to be supplied is equally important. Beverage development experts help out a lot in this process.

All through the production whether it is in the case of food production or beverage production it is important to ensure that the product satisfies the expectations of the people and is unconquerable in its quality. New fields of education have been opened in the field of food product development and beverage development. This has become a promising career but involves a lot of aspects. Those who specialize in this field need to be aware of each and every stage of production.

Food product development is a new field of study that is becoming very popular. Click here to know more about beverage development

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhinav_S_Sidana

Professional software development and business application programming services can help in optimizing external and internal progressing requirements of a business. These service providers are professionally adept in helping clients to achieve their set goals in terms of business. Also to improve a firm their technical arrangements so that they outdo their respective opponents. Well developed business application can work as a strong foundation helping your business to endeavor carrying out business competently.

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A good service provider would create an application with a lot of care and clarity in mind that suits your business-type. Also, before tagging it as ready-for-use, will test it under an exhaustive testing process to ensure best quality. Very precisely, each and every element of the developed business software would be tested to check the functionality or the development of the respective application. Any good application development service would possibly exhibit the following characteristics:

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This is Hillery Thomson, a professional web designer in an application development company providing superior services like custom software development and web based application development using various application development tool.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hillery_Thomson