Bin Zayed Group in joint venture with international consultancy firm Harrington
InstituteHarrington Institute Middle East LLC to provide customised solutions
to regional clientsMarch 17, 2003
The Dubai-based Bin Zayed Group of Companies, a leading conglomerate with
diverse business interests in the local and international markets has announced
the setting up of Harrington Institute Middle East, LLC. This joint venture
between the Harrington Institute (USA) and the Bin Zayed Group will provide
customized world-class consultancy services to companies in the GCC region.
The emerging developments in the region, both in the field of technology
and infrastructure have necessitated the need for consultancy services
that provide comprehensive solutions that enhance organizational performance.
Through its partnership with the Bin Zayed Group, the Harrington Institute,
an international group of highly specialised professionals that provide
customized consultancy services related to management and technology solutions
for organisations located throughout the world, has ambitious plans to
service the needs of the demanding Middle East marketplace, projected to
be worth US$ 1.8 billion.
"In view of the current growth of varied businesses in the region, the
Bin Zayed Group through its partnership with the Harrington Institute,
is well placed to offer consultancy services by focusing on several key
sectors, and establishing a range of new services lines. There is a big
demand for pragmatic and 'value adding' change management consulting, in
a business world that is increasingly dominated by technology," said His
Excellency Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Bin Saqer Al Nehayan, Chairman of the
Bin Zayed Group.Dr. H. James Harrington, the CEO of the Harrington Institute is recognized
as one of the world leaders in applying knowledge-based performance improvement
methodologies to business processes. He has authored 20 books on performance
improvement and is the official quality advisor to the Chinese Government.The consultancy services by Harrington Institute Middle East LLC will include
IT, education, and organizational solutions that improve the overall performance
and the clients' value. The services offered by this international consulting
firm include: Business Process Improvement; Capacity Building; E-business
Technology; Knowledge Management; Organisational Change Management and
Total Improvement Management. Three divisions at the newly established
firm will provide these services. They are the Management Solutions Division,
Technology Solutions Division and the Harrington Academy.The Management Solutions division of the Harrington Institute Middle East,
has highly-experienced, seasoned managers and consultants who can effectively
translate theoretical concepts into practical applications that result
in best-value solutions to an organization's most complex problems.The Technology Solutions Division helps assess, design, debug, evaluate
and implement information technology solutions such as Business-to-Business
(B2B); Business to Commerce (B2C); Environmental Management and Simulation
Modelling.The Harrington Academy is the training and education division of the Harrington
Institute Middle East, providing both conventional and online training.
E-learning and distance learning are an important part of its offerings."Our mission is to provide global consulting and technology services to
both the private and public sectors using state-of-the-art, proven methodologies
designed to increase organizational performance. Our highest priority is
to ensure that our clients achieve their performance improvement goals,"
said Abdul Rahman Awl, Managing Director, Harrington Institute Middle East.
- 17 March 2003
WHO Coordinates International effort to identify and treat stars
WHO has today stepped up several activities aimed at strengthening the
international response to the recent emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS). SARS is an infectious disease of unknown etiology
characterized by atypical pneumonia (see WHO press release of 15 March and
additional information at www.who.int.)
The disease is spread from person to person but only through close
contact with a case. To date, almost all reported cases have occurred in
health workers involved in the direct care of reported cases or in close
contacts, such as family members. There is no evidence to date that the
disease spreads though casual contact.
The WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is coordinating an
international multicenter effort to identify the causative agent. The
project unites 11 laboratories in 10 countries. Participating laboratories
have the most experience to date in diagnosis of cases, or are known for
their high-level facilities and expertise. The collaborative effort will
also improve diagnostic precision and move work forward on the development
of a diagnostic test. WHO is also working with health authorities to
identify an effective treatment for SARS.
WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response teams in Hanoi and Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, China, where the most new cases are
presently concentrated, are assisting health authorities in outbreak
management and in the collection of epidemiological and clinical data that
can improve understanding of SARS.
Through its regional office in Manila, Philippines, WHO is establishing
logistics bases and supply chains to ensure rapid provision of protective
equipment and medicines needed for outbreak response.
Chinese authorities have now issued a summary report on an outbreak of
what may be the same or a related disease that began in Guangdong province
in southern China in November and peaked in mid-February. The Chinese
report, which includes data on the diagnosis and management of more than
300 cases, is presently undergoing analysis and is expected to further
contribute to understanding about the syndrome and possible links among
the various outbreaks. The Chinese report, which covers the largest number
of cases to date, may also boost international efforts to establish
effective treatment guidelines, should a relationship between the
outbreaks be established.
The Ministry of Health of China has requested support from an
international team. A WHO team is now being assembled.
Health authorities around the world are now alert to the risk of SARS.
Tracking of the course of the epidemic shows that surveillance systems are
sensitive, communication channels are open, and reporting is rapid.
Information on cases compiled over the past three weeks is expected to
shed new light on the behaviour of this disease.
The speed of international travel creates a risk of rapid spread to
additional areas. Because the clinical course and epidemiological
behaviour of this disease are poorly understood, WHO is calling upon
national health authorities to maintain close vigilance for suspected
cases. There is no current justification for any restriction in travel or
trade.
