Development Committee Research Articles

SIDS, Legal Statehood, and Sea-level Rise: Written Evidence on the UK Small Island Developing States Strategy (International Development Committee, UK Parliament)

SIDS, Legal Statehood, and Sea-level Rise: Written Evidence on the UK Small Island Developing States Strategy (International Development Committee, UK Parliament)

Knowledge of surgeons and practical stances of healthcare institutions in the Ile-de-France region toward sustainable development: A cross-sectional study.

Climate change represents one of the gravest threats to health. Surgical activities mobilize a large number of resources which contribute to increased emission of CO2 and anesthetic gases in the environment. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of surgeons and the practical stances of healthcare establishments toward sustainable development. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, lasting 2 months. From 1 May 2021 to 30 June 2021, surgeons were asked via an online questionnaire to participate. A total of 131 out of the 457 contacted surgeons responded. A majority practiced in the private sector, 48.9% knew little about the rules of sustainable development in operating theaters, and 43.5% had an average level. The sustainable development charter was available in only 23% of establishments, while 19% had a sustainable development committee, and specific sustainable development actions were carried out in 27%. The level of knowledge of surgeons in Île-de-France on sustainable development was low. In general, surgical units were not complying with the rules of good practice on CO2 reduction. It is necessary to find strategies to reduce the impact of operating theaters on the environment.

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Mathagadi Village Development Committee of Palpa District

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is increasing burden of these diseases especially when it comes to a developing country like Nepal. The survey was done to determine the prevalence of Rheumatic heart disease and its burden.
 Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was done as a part of a demographic survey conducted among the residents of Mathagadi VDC of Palpa district. Cardiac auscultation and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. Abnormal findings on auscultation (murmurs, abnormal heart sounds) were further evaluated with the help of screening echocardiography by Cardiologist.
 Results: Out of total 2795 people screened, 37 individuals were found to have RHD, confirmed with a 2D echocardiographic findings. Mitral regurgitation was found to be the predominant lesion with 13 cases.
 Conclusion: The study revealed a large of proportion of cardiovascular diseases in Mathagadi VDC. It became clear that due to lack of proper health services, a large of number of cases may be either undiagnosed or under treated.

The work continues

Welcome to the final issue of the IASSIST Quarterly for the year 2022 – IQ volume 46(4), our eagerly-awaited special issue on Systemic Racism in Data Practices. This issue represents more than you might think: the culmination of more than two years of the intellectual hard work of writing, of course, but that in itself is not unusual for any journal issue. However. The global pandemic exploded just after the conception of this special issue and hit all of us hard, wreaking not only physical destruction of lives but also unleashing social upheaval, job insecurity, housing insecurity, and major mental health challenges. Social injustice erupted during the pandemic, shocking and enraging many of us with its violence and disregard for human dignity. I was privileged to witness the genesis of this issue, and I helped recruit our guest editors, Trevor Watkins and Jonathan Cain. I salute their perseverance, patience and courage, and that of the article authors, in bringing this content to fruition. Many involved in this issue faced multiple personal challenges, from the loss of family members to repeated moves, job changes, and more in the process of trying to get this work done. Some were unable to surmount the many obstacles and were forced to withdraw their proposals. So I do not think it is hyperbole to say this is the hardest issue we have ever produced. Trevor and Jonathan, thank you again for spearheading this important work. Some good things have come from the societal call for racial justice for IASSIST, including this issue of the IQ. IASSIST has initiated several new ventures to advocate for diversity and equity, both within our organization and among researchers generally: We restructured our membership fees to allow half price for people joining from lower income countries. IASSIST also sponsored diversity scholarships for members to attend the American Library Association conference and the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods in 2022. A new Anti-racism Resources Interest Group which focuses on compiling anti-racism resources has been working for more than two years and recently collaborated with the Professional Development Committee to present a webinar on varying national approaches to collecting (or not collecting) data about race and ethnicity (see this page for the webinar recording as well as the essays members have written). The group welcomes contributions of essays for additional countries and suggestions of other webinar topics. Looking ahead, the 2023 conference theme is Diversity in Research: Social Justice from Data, sure to result in some fascinating presentations (and future IQ papers!). And here at the IQ, we’re already contemplating a second special issue in this area around the role of social justice in data services. We invite volunteers who would like to serve as guest editors to contact us. And so the work continues. The IQ editorial team is happy to welcome a new volunteer, Phillip Ndhlovu, as our Managing Editor with this issue. Phillip is the Deputy Librarian at the Gwanda State University Library in Filabusi, Zimbabwe. We thank him profusely—his role is key to producing every issue and his participation enables Ofira and me to focus on learning the editor’s role. We welcome suggestions for new features or columns, and encourage you to reach out if you are interested in becoming involved. From all of us on the IQ editorial team, we wish you a much better year in 2023. And meanwhile, enjoy the hard work herein of your colleagues. Read on for Trevor and Jonathan’s guest editors’ notes describing the enclosed articles. For the IQ Editorial Team, Michele Hayslett – December 2022 Karsten Boye Rasmussen Ofira Schwartz-Soicher

Social networks and other forgotten components of the WaSH enabling environment in Fiji

AbstractPacific Island countries have among the lowest access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation services in the world. Due to geography, climate, the high frequency, and severity of disasters, transportation difficulties and resource constraints, government and private sector support to rural populations are limited and likely to remain so. However, the unique demographic characteristics of the region see considerable support flowing to rural areas from village kin in urban centres and overseas, hinged on strong socio-cultural norms of reciprocity, self-help, and obligation. Focusing on Fiji, this paper examines how select social networks are being used to support improved rural water and sanitation outcomes. Results demonstrate that kinship-orientated urban–rural linkages, select customary norms, relations and practices, common interest associations (such as village development committees), and select social media groups, all constitute critical components of the WaSH enabling environment in Fiji. Given the unique character of the Pacific Islands region, leveraging existing social networks to support improved rural water and sanitation outcomes may constitute a fruitful community water management ‘plus’ strategy for both governments and non-government organisations seeking to strengthen rural water and sanitation service outcomes.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND ACADEMIA ADDRESSING LONG-TERM CARE WORKFORCE NEEDS

Abstract The rural areas of southwestern Indiana are challenged with insufficient healthcare workers in the long-term care industry. The University of Southern Indiana (USI) Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is collaborating with state agencies to address shortages in licensed administrators, activity professionals and social service designees. These roles, vital in the nursing facility, hold educational requirements through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). USI gerontology faculty addressed workforce challenges in five phases: 1) Evaluation of state educational requirement and comparison to current USI gerontology courses; 2) Development of new coursework to support state requirements; 3) Expansion of preceptor pool; 4) Proposal to state agencies; 5) USI curriculum modifications. Faculty evaluated the educational and training requirements for these roles and compared the requirements with current courses. Preceptors were needed for students’ field experiences; a preceptor pool was developed through funded training. The requirements and course alignment were included in the program proposal to the state agencies. Upon ISDH, IPLA and University New Program Development Committee approval, additional instructors were recruited. Results of this initiative include a: 1) Fully approved and launched Administrator-in-Training (AIT) residency embedded in curriculum at undergraduate and graduate level; 2) Fully approved Activity Professional Certificate Program; 3) Pool of 10 certified preceptors; and 4) Onset of the social service designee certificate program. This collaborative partnership developed between USI, ISDH and IPLA ensure state agency requirements are met academically for students entering the long-term care workforce.

An Axiology of Weak Areas: The Estimation of an Index of Abandonment for the Definition of a Cognitive Tool to Support the Enhancement of Inland Areas in Sicily

The marginalization of areas due to a progressive increase in social, material, economic, and infrastructural vulnerability is a phenomenon that afflicts many countries today, and it is growing rapidly. Agenda 2030, in highlighting the need to identify measures to counter this phenomenon, has promoted the development of a growing awareness of addressing this issue that cannot be postponed. With this in mind, in Italy, a map of inland areas was produced by the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (ICEPSD), a publication aimed at measuring the extent of the phenomenon and support the development of specific strategies that collectively define the National Strategy for Inland Areas (NSIA). In this study, starting from a critical analysis of the classification of areas in the National Strategy for Inner Areas, we propose a new cognitive tool of the phenomenon of abandonment developed from the perspective of an axiological approach of marginal areas. This tool is based on the mapping of an abandonment index Ia on QGIS with reference to the clusters of municipalities identified based on the quartiles of its values. This index was estimated as an aggregate weighted sum of the components identified because of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) used to analyze the indicators of different forms of territorial capital of weak areas.

Quality Art and Design Education among Physically Challenged Ordinary Level Learners at a Special Education Secondary School in Zimbabwe

The twenty-first century Art and Design education for learners with disabilities has to swivel from just being a psychomotor remedy to assessable and skills oriented subject in special schools. This change is in sync with many educationists who view quality Art and Design education as a platform for helping learners to fully develop, including those with disabilities. Through quality Art and Design education, learners with disabilities are not only uplifted educationally but also socially, psychologically, intellectually and physically. Hence, this study assessed the provision of quality Art and Design education among physically challenged Ordinary Level learners in a Bulawayo Central District school in Zimbabwe. Interpretivist paradigm, qualitative approach and case study design were adopted. Thematically analysed data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. Purposively chosen sample comprised sixteen physically challenged Ordinary Level Art and Design learners, two Art and Design teachers, two school administrators, one subject inspector, one physio-occupational therapist and three School Development Committee members. Findings reveal that active learning methodologies, low teacher-learner ratio, assessment practices and adaptable environment enhanced quality Art and Design education to physically challenged learners at the school understudy. However, inadequacy of assistive devices, human and instructional resources, and lack of support from other stakeholders compromised the quality of Art and Design education among physically challenged Ordinary Level learners at the school. The study concluded that though the selected school encountered some constraints in providing quality Art and Design education to physically challenged learners there were noticeable good practices adopted.

The Role of the Ward Health System in COVID-19 Pandemic Response in Nigeria: A Case Study of Edo State

Background: Preventive measures remain the hallmark of effective containment of epidemics such as the recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These measures are best applied using existing framework for healthcare delivery and epidemic response such as the ward health system (WHS). The structure of the WHS is interrelated to that of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system for effective surveillance and outbreak response in the community. This paper examines the established pattern in disease prevention and the role of the WHS system in COVID-19 pandemic response in Edo State, Nigeria.
 Discussion: Disease prevention seeks to avert the occurrence of disease, arrest its progress, and reduce its consequences once it is established. The various taskforce and committees that were formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Edo State were not integrated with existing local government Epidemic Preparedness and Response committees and the Rapid Response Teams. They also had no links with the already established ward development and village development committees in the communities.
 Conclusion: There is an existing framework for disease prevention and control based on the WHS in Edo State, however, this system was not integrated into the COVID-19 pandemic response activities. Incorporating and strengthening partnerships with the existing WHS framework would be key for effective pandemic response in the future.

Moderating Role of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivations in the Relationship between Community Leadership and Social Capital in Rural Malaysia

(1) Background: Social capital linking, bridging, and bonding have become fascinating options for sustainable development in rural Malaysia. (2) Objective: The aims of this research were (i) to evaluate how leadership styles affect the social capital in rural Malaysia, and (ii) to examine the moderating role of motivation in enhancing these relationships. (3) Methods: The researchers utilized a quantitative approach to analyze data collected through a self-administered survey involving 190 members of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) in Malaysia. The concept of “leadership quality” was measured based on transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership, while “motivations” cover its extrinsic and intrinsic components. The data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. (4) Results: The findings reveal that transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership types are essential to increase social capital in rural Malaysia. It may therefore be suggested that community leadership and its effective styles should be nurtured within the rural community to address more complex problems regarding social capital development. On top of that, extrinsic and intrinsic motivations also appeared to be significant moderating factors in determining social capital development in rural Malaysia. (5) Conclusions: Based on the results, community leaders with different leadership styles may offer better social benefits to the rural community by using various incentives to engage rural residents in facilitating social activities. (6) Policy recommendations: This study suggests further implications for academics and policy makers focused on social capital for sustainable rural development in Malaysia.

A Qualitative Narrative of the Lived Experiences of Informal Settlements Dwellers within Port Harcourt Municipality during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The formation of informal settlements is increasing rapidly, especially in some developing economies such as the Port Harcourt Municipality in Nigeria. These settlements are vulnerable to several urban challenges from natural and anthropogenic disasters, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The landscape of Port Harcourt Municipality is inundated with the proliferation of informal urban settlements especially around its southern fringes, which has engendered these settlements to become vulnerable to the vagaries of any occurring disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study attempts to unfold residents' lived experiences in these informal settlements to get the narratives of their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of forty-one (41) informal settlements were identified, out of which three (3) of those settlements (Okrika, Nembe and Ibadan) were selected purposively due to ease of accessibility, safety and spread around the municipality. The study adopted the qualitative approach by applying semi-structured interviews with key informants in these selected informal settlements. A total of nine (9) key informants were selected, with three (3) comprising the head of the community development committee (CDC), Youth and Women representatives from each settlement were interviewed. In addition, photographs of these selected informal settlements were taken to depict the characteristics of those settlements. Content analysis was used to analyse the outcome of the interviews. Some key findings include poor orientation of residents regarding disease spread, no effective urban renewal scheme to improve residents' quality of life, no proper planning of those settlements and residents were not included in the planning of those settlements. This study recommends proper enlightenment of residents regarding the management of disease spread. The provision of sustainable measures that will build resilience and adaptive capacities for the dwellers and continuous urban renewal schemes to ensure the provision of basic social infrastructure that would improve the residents' quality of life. However, the study concludes that the identification and characterisation of informal settlements will provide a better understanding and knowledge of the settlements as a resource to improve the social and economic conditions of the dwellers, distribution of infrastructural facilities and services, and wealth, thereby enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of the residents and the general urban affairs as this will equally present opportunities for proper urban planning and management.

Enablers and barriers to the acceptability of mHealth for maternal healthcare in rural Edo, Nigeria.

Acceptability has become a key consideration in designing, implementing and evaluating digital health interventions. Current evidence points to acceptability as a crucial factor in sustaining mobile health programs for maternal health across sub-Saharan Africa particularly in Nigeria where the burden of maternal mortality is high. This paper describes the enablers and barriers to the acceptance of Text4Life, a mobile phone-based health intervention that extends maternal healthcare services to rural areas of Edo State Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional qualitative study of women who used Text4Life, their spouses who were all men and Ward Development Committee chairpersons who oversaw the implementation of Text4Life. This study was set in Etsako East and Esan Central Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. Between September 2021 and January 2022, eight focus groups were conducted with 64 participants: 39 women and 25 men. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with Ward Development Committee chairpersons. Data collection was conducted in English and Pidgin English. Discussions and interviews were digitally recorded and translated to English from Pidgin English where necessary. Data analysis followed a mainly deductive approach to thematic analysis, however, emergent information from the data was also considered and reported. The results show that participants' positive attitudes towards the intervention, the involvement of the community, participants' understanding of the intervention, and perceived effectiveness of the Text4Life program were enablers to women's acceptance of Text4Life and enablers to Ward Development Committee chairpersons' assistance with the program. On the other hand, limited resources and a clash with the community's value system presented barriers to the acceptability of the Text4Life program. Our findings demonstrate the importance of alleviating the burdens associated with participating in mobile health interventions while noting that the risk of obstructing the gains from mobile health interventions is high if plans for sustaining it are not incorporated early enough in the design phase.

การพัฒนาหลักสูตรรายวิชากิจกรรมเสริมหลักสูตรสำหรับสามเณร นักเรียน นักศึกษา วิทยาลัยเสริมทักษะพระภิกษุ สามเณร

The objectives of this research were to develop extracurricular courses and to assess the development of extracurricular courses for novices, students, and college students of College of Skills Enhancement for Monks and Novices, which is a qualitative research. The samples used in the research were a group of 14 persons involved in the development of extracurricular courses for novices at College of Skills Enhancement for Monks and Novices selected by purposive sampling. The research instruments were semi-structured interviews and curriculum feasibility assessments. Data were analyzed based on their content, mean, and standard deviation. The research results found that the development of extracurricular courses for novices at College of Skills Enhancement for Monks and Novices was developed from the curriculum development committee comprised of experts in many fields including course objectives, competencies, and course descriptions with the emphasis on activities in enhancing morality and ethics and other activities organized at an educational institution or establishment in all courses to provide learners with four vocational qualification standards: moral, ethical, desirable traits, such as knowledge and skills, and ability to adapt and responsibility. The extracurricular activities are structured to be at least 200 hours throughout each course with class scheduled for 2 hours/week and the feasibility assessment of extracurricular courses for novices, students, and college students of College of Skills Enhancement for Monks and Novices was found to be at a very good level overall and for each aspect.

GEOLOGICAL, GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF LENGGONG GEOPARK DEVELOPMENT

The Lenggong Valley is uniquely significant in national and international geological heritage and was declared a UNESCO Archaeological Heritage Site in 2012. The Lenggong Valley was formed 550 million years ago. It is one of the oldest in Peninsular Malaysia, equivalent to the rock formations in Langkawi and Jerai. The geological evolution in the Lenggong Valley also produced biodiversity and the history of early human prehistoric to the present time. Due to this privilege, the Lenggong Geopark nomination development effort started in 2020 by forming the Geopark Promotion and Development Committee. Lenggong Geopark covers an area of 2,068 km2 (enclosed by the boundaries of the Lenggong Parliament). A total of 27 geosites have been identified, depicting four important geological and historical tectonic evolutions and special geomorphic features in the Lenggong Valley. Eight biosites are still preserved, involving granite mountain, limestone, and lowland ecosystems covered by different forest types. It is the limestone hills that contain a large number of rare and endemic flora species. In addition, eight geoarchaeological sites were also identified that depicts the interaction between early humans and the geological landscape. The unique and preserved traditions of life, art and culture have added value to the geopark. Therefore, active efforts continue to be carried out in the development of geosites and programs with the local community to foster a high sense of pride and belonging to a place, in addition to an understanding of the preservation and conservation of natural and cultural heritage in Lenggong Geopark. Various activities based on tourism activities are also planned to stimulate the economy and introduce Lenggong as the second national geopark area in the State of Perak.

Continuing the Conversation

Grounded in past conversations sponsored by the Atla Professional Development Committee and research focusing on how theological library staff, deans, and directors coped with the pandemic, the facilitators guided participants in sharing their experiences of the past two years. Conversation with both virtual and in-person conference attendees emphasized sharing successes and changes in planning, policy, services, and culture, and ended with a discussion about what attendees are currently working on and what they are hopeful for. At the end of the session, virtual and in-person attendees listened to a brief recap of each setting’s discussions and were invited to consider contributing to an upcoming edited volume to be published by Atla Open Press focusing on the impact of the pandemic on theological libraries.

Transforming departmental culture: Empowering a department through appreciative inquiry

This article outlines an appreciative inquiry (AI) into a departmental professional development process and describes the resulting implementation of an appreciative peer evaluation meeting as one part of the new professional development process. Using AI, a departmental faculty development committee sought to re-envision the professional development process. Also, the authors discuss how using AI can result in positive impacts for culture change and how the model for peer evaluation can promote both individual and collective development of faculty.

Just Research: Advancing Antiracist and Antioppressive Social Work Research.

The Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) created its Research Capacity and Development Committee in 2017 to build research capacity across the careers of social work scholars. The committee has initiated multiple conferences and webinar sessions that have increasingly focused on antiracist and antioppressive (ARAO) research, including "Mentorship for Antiracist and Inclusive Research" and "Strategies for Supporting Antiracist Pedagogy & Scholarship: Reimagining Institutional Systems & Structures." This commentary integrates themes from these sessions and other discussions among committee members about strategies to advance ARAO research. Although SSWR board members reviewed and approved this submission, it is not an official statement of SSWR or its board of directors.

Стратегическое планирование экономического развития Китая

Strategic planning is one of the most important functions of strategic management. The state uses different strategic planning tools when developing and implementing strategies. China boasts one of the most effective best practices in strategizing, which can be expanded to other countries. This review covers the main approaches to strategic planning in China. The methodology relied on the theory of strategy and methodology of strategizing developed by Vladimir L. Kvint, Dr.Sc.(Econ.), foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Chinese system of strategic planning takes into account the latest achievements of strategizing, including Dr. Kvint’s ideas. Its longterm, medium-term, and short-term development is compiled by the Academy of Sciences, research centers of the State Council, and the Committee for Development and Reform. Chinese regional development strategies are based on the modern global trends. However, the regions evaluate their own resources and development rates, as well as use estimates from various central and regional departments. The policy differs from region to region, depending on both objective factors, e.g., geography, and various subjective features. Large investments in R&D are a necessary part of innovation-driven strategy, but they not always ensure high innovation performance. In fact, Chinese R&D needs more attention to provide innovative development. The regional economic structure fails as a result of unbalanced regional development. Eastern China has better science and technology than the less developed Central, Western, and North-Eastern regions. However, the high population density and the close interregional collaboration compensate for the uneven development for the country, as well as provide a centralized management of economic growth and distributed research infrastructure. Conclusion. The experience of strategic planning in China can serve as a role model for other countries. The prolonged strategic interests, goals, and objectives increase the effectiveness and motivation. In addition, China is constantly developing the field of strategizing theory, methodology, and practice, thus increasing its scientific and innovative potential.

Protocol for national mental health guidelines for community sport in Australia

Organised sports are the most common settings for sports participation. Despite a range of documented benefits from participation, these positive outcomes are not always guaranteed. Emotional distress from pressure and...

Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation

In March 2021, the Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers issued a decision to form a committee called the “Higher Committee for Research, Development and Innovation,” a committee linked to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, chaired by the Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and concerned with the development of the research, development and innovation sector in the Kingdom. In order to talk about the dimensions of this wonderful step, let us first try to answer the following questions... Is there a difference between Creativity and Innovation...? How do they enable Entrepreneurship...? What are the factors of creativity in the individual.. Are they mental genetic factors.. or are they factors that an individual acquires through learning...? The methodology included surveys that have been conducted on more than 300 individuals, males and females, between the ages of 18 till 60. And the answer is.. “Creativity” is the creation of a new idea, while “Innovation” is the development of an already existing idea in a new, successful way. They are two sides of the same coin, as the “creative idea” needs to be developed and transformed into an “innovation” in order to achieve either strategic achievements at the level of countries and institutions to enhance organizational intelligence, or achievements at the level of individuals. For example, the beginning of smart phones was just a creative idea from IBM in 1994, but the actual successful innovation for the manufacture, development and marketing of these phones was through Apple later. Nor does creativity have to be hereditary. There are three basic factors for creativity: The first factor is “the presence of a challenge or an obstacle” that the individual faces and seeks thinking to find solutions to overcome, even if thinking requires a long time. The second factor is the “environment surrounding” of the individual, which includes science, training, experience gained, the ability to use techniques, as well as the ability to assess whether he idea is feasible or otherwise. To achieve this factor, the individual must be aware of own skills, strengths, hobbies, and aspects in which one can be creative, and the individual must also be self-confident and courageous enough to suggest those new ideas. The third factor is “Experience and the Ability to Accept Risk and Lack of Initial Success,” and then learn from mistakes and try again tirelessly. There are some tools and techniques that help the entrepreneurship/individual to reach creative and innovative ideas, such as: Mind Maps tool, through which the available information is drawn by writing a short word for each piece of information and arranging all other relevant information through clear lines, which helps in logical thinking and correct vision. There is also a tool called "Flow Charts", which are graphics that show the sequence of data and expected results according to an ordered scenario of events and workflow steps, giving clarity to the ideas, their sequence, and what is expected of them. There are also other great tools such as the Six Hats tool, a useful tool to be applied by a group of people for effective planning and detailed logical thinking, and the Snowball tool. And all of them are tools that greatly help in organizing and arranging mental thoughts, and making the right decisions. It is also easy to learn, apply and use all those tools and techniques to reach creative and innovative solutions. The detailed figures and results of the conducted surveys are available upon request, with charts showing the %s based on gender, age groups, and job categories.