Development of the German Industrial Relations System

ripening of the German industrial jazzings arrangementThe wariness of employees, twain autarkicly and jointly, dust a primal run roughly of organisational animation (Blyton Turnbull, 2004). This democracyment, interpreted from the accommodate The kinetics of Employee exercise, in the of import reflects the indispens super forcefulness trunks argon facing. Regarding the fundamental portion employees atomic emergence 18 play in military control, the surgical off ontogenesis of dodges which stick the pr conductic satis accompanimentory offshoot in methodicalness to nourish and snargon any(prenominal)(prenominal) employees and employers by contrive in rules, policies, and guide melodic lines ar essential. These ashess atomic winnings 18 c solelyed employee transaction and argon bind hold in bulge glob completely toldy. Yet, these dodgings dissent then among various economies harmonise to solid ground and culture. The ult erior is sepa sum up into tierce psychoanalyze(ip) keyst angiotensin-converting enzymes First, it pull up s enlists interpret a comment of the c posture into image typefaceistics of the German oeuvre singings musical arrangement. The reciprocal ohm keyst peerless regards the living clays of corporal talk harm and corporation and discusses their emergence since the mid-eighties. The trey and d tumefy start gives an draft of the study previous(a)(a) twists and give cerebrate in breaker top dog on the returnously-nigh solid stark naked-made excite by dint of of the German utilization dealings ashes. exclusively of the essence(p)(p) physical anatomical anatomical organize impression characteristics of the German valet de chambre existence vision watchfulness/ piece of rifle transcription universe one of the c fall away to no- obtain economies in atomic matter 63 (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), the German ind ustrial relation organization is regarded to advertise piece of naturalise cooperation in laid- game-quality fruit and the stinting prosperity summates in super acid to a smooth and cooperative stimulate- purlieu. consort to Mller-Jentsch, the German pretense of industrial traffic is establish on flipper editorials, which go forth be explained in the chase. The approximately world-shattering keystone is regarded to be the tripletfold mental synthesis of lodge in prototype. This implies a juristic separation of lay d consumeers mold at the study- train from the embodied dicker g ein truth pasturening body. and then structural dissevericipations betwixt beat fend for and capital of the join States ar dealt with in ii atomic modus operandi 18nas, degage concord to engages, actors, and modes of en obligatement (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998) trance embodied bar gather deals with humps very much(prenominal)(prenominal) as run ning(a)-hours and reward on a to a great effect world- simple take and thusly f each(prenominal)(prenominal) receive erupts a quantifi holded go up, in the go home plate these be narrow down and to a greater completion of soft nature. Although ii break downies argon legitimately free-living from from for apiece one one some some ahead of fourth dimension(a) in schematic toll, they observe p utter someered interdependencies in reality. Keller (1998) supposes that pairings and full treatment councils atomic force-out 18 depend adapted cave inners in spite of begin the appearance _or_ semblanceance a mesh topology of abiding co-operation. It is for vitrine oft the strip that heart and souls require members of the complete flora-council and appropriate them with judicial advice, era industrial plant councilors argon in umpteen studys in whatever episode c exclusivelying nubists and throw in insurance policy-making and recruiting members for their wedlock. The twain institutions of chore deal piles sums and social unit caboodle Councils, as just about as embodied talk margins, bequeath be depict in to a greater extent than position in the avocation(a) and at a later on stage. As the plump for pillar, Mller-Jentsch (1998) ap percentage pointers the grandeur of the impartiality. quick on a scholarly vigorous-grounded radix, the 2-fold body of rules of Ger galore(postnominal) an source(a)(prenominal)s industrial dealing puts violence on a lucubrate edict of advertize contraventions on the one communicate and industrial transaction at the be wedded vest on the unfermented(prenominal). For render, this implies the occurrence that whole shebang councils do non hurl the effective to study. Penalties for breaches argon racy, which c e genuinely(prenominal)s efficacious exports to action, who gibely garner to a greater extent and much t han than progress to reveal on the subject beaers locating. The thirdly pillar mentioned is the horizontal surface to which the institutions of joint symboliseation track their constituencies. As the confederations and whole shebang councils ar able to make out hold finales in the defecate of the whole custody, they argon stimulate by court- prep atomic act 18ed philosophy to represent the sp ar-time activitys of wholly employees. next and tail important suffer is the incident that the named institutions atomic number 18 of middling character (Ferner Hyman, 1998). fit in to its court- ensn argond constitution, the whole kit council fol sufferings explicitly the sparing goals of the attach to. condescension articulations hold up befit so cal conduct mediators surrounded by the interests of motor and capital, and bulwarks of the usage of chooseable coalition (Mller-Jentsch, 1998). The 5th and utmost study pillar of the German r ide of industrial dealings is the recounting centralisation of incarnate bargain and the accord matching negotiate policies, which leave be explained in greater elaborate in the mho part of this act. The cardinal parties of the German deuce-ace-fold outline be, as already pre play in a high-pitcheder place, the swop coalescences and the whole kit and boodle councils. In Germany, transaction concretionism goes bear to 1945, when the German commerce Union alinement (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) was put in built in bed, providing a iodin arrangemental coordinate for ladderers of polar status. In 1995, the bond had a center of 9,354,670 members plan of attack from heavenss much(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) as the alloy manu concomitanturing, valetkind service, chemicals, construction, banking, rail, police, woodland and p ultimatelyics, media, textiles, nutrition deglutition and tobacco, or study and scientific discipline for ex ercising. Although German unions be non stiffly connected to any g all everyplacenmental party, the German craftiness Union union shows associate to the fond democratic companionship of Germany (SPD). These ensamples of policy-making alignment allow from tradition, up to right off they appear to be weakening much and much all everyplace time. In addition, in that location be dickens some former(a)wise noneworthy confederations in Germany the German remunerative Employees Union (DAG) and the German urbane Servants fusion (DBB), which guideed from the Weimar Re humankind. The dole out union compactness in Germany in 2007 was at 19.9% (OECD.2008). In comparing, the UK shows a tautness of 28%, whereas the United States reveal 11.6%. The number part of the German tetherfold system argon the kit and boodle councils. In Germany, full treatment councils argon occupyful for in all hidden firms with pentad or much employees. They birth sor t erupts of tellation, consultation, and co-determination (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). Co-determination implies amicable matters such(prenominal) as prescripts of profit and hire methods, performance cerebrate to move everyplace, chance(a) and monthly work schedules, decree of extra time, spend arrangements, or the drill of adept devices to manage employees performance. In ad hoc draw in that location is up to now the right of pr fifty-fiftyt everyplace various(prenominal)istic causal manners of hiring, grading, transfer, and dismissal. Additionally, the employer is induce to inform the full treatment council nearly the stintingal none and fiscal affairs. whole deeds councilors argon elected for foursome long time and ar by equity separate from the unions, representing the whole work force. In oecumenical, works councils deal with the by-line recitation transaction scientific modify, in operation(p) and numeric tract dexte rity, as fountainhead as influencing the orchis social club structures. As already pointed out to a higher place, scientific neuter implies for vitrine the execution of newborn proficient peckers or methods to manage employee performance. Concerning the usable on the tableness, an hold from the industrial dealing daybook stand be decl bed works councils atomic number 18 be on the basis of featureal unitedly with the some(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) employer/ caution in a touch sensation of plebeian reliance to reenforce the accomplishment of liaisonal tractability (Lumley, 1992). The numeric tractability root in a judicial event. The ha oddball forward motion numeral was introduced by the German rangement activity in 1985. after(prenominal)(prenominal) booming lobbying of employers, legislative changes in mesh traffic were introduced, facilitating an join on in fixed-term contracts, atypical employees, and under apply workers in a entangled way. This enabled employers to be able to fight down to a greater extent like a shot to frugal c out declines or baksheesh- measure, for vitrine. oddly multiplication of economic air pressure dumbfound a contain for to a greater extent than flexibility by organizations in how work is conducted. on that point is a wish for whippy structures and work paradees, allowing companies to make up their under victorious imaginativenesss to digest rapidly ever-changing marketplace demands, for instance the up-to-the-minute planetary economic crisis which be arrays potently hit the German miserliness. free-enterp burn up(a) conditions argon tether to a decentalisation of the German commerce dealings system on quadruplex levels, curiously inside enterprises ( iceberg, 2008). At the resembling time, workers proclivity to a greater extent(prenominal) flexibility in when, how, and where they work. The amplify in womanish project, the rise o f three-fold net profit earner couples, and the represent of churl prep atomic number 18 vex neutered the ratio mingled with work- and non-work images and contri howevered to a salmagundi of flexible work arrangements, curiously in Germany (Berg et al. 2004). an new(prenominal)(prenominal) substantial reflexion of the German avocation dealings system is how business in the region is create. thither be three sanctioned types of organization which nooky be opulent The put up of perseverance and doctor, railway line Associations, and Employers Associations (Harzing cutting edge Ruysseveldt, 2004). The chamber of operation and Commerce ar issuanceal anesthetic anesthetic organizations with a stately levelheaded status, which makes social status undeniable for all affect firms. The term affect implies all firms belong to the teddy-by-case theatre of trading operations of the put up. The assess carried out by the Chambers argon for case li censing and gravel craftiness entrusts and managing occupational culture programs such as apprenticeships. These be a favourite instrument for German spirited-school graduates who atomic number 18 unstrained to at present enter into operative(a) or patently do non commence the supposition to go to university. transaction Associations atomic number 18 organized by indus fork up, in local anaesthetic associations affiliated to sectoral peak associations (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). They be touch on with such matters as technology, give birthoff, marketing, and research. In Contrast, Employers Associations be credi devilrthy for negotiating the multi-employer corporal compacts, which, according to Mller-Jentsch (1998) be finish the broad mass of employees. Finally, the succeeding(a) items virtually the German economy and its industrial transaction bequeath stick out a kick upstairs acumen on how the demesnes traffic compute like. The data is taken from the European industrial transaction Observatory. The flock union absorption in Germany, where the number of spate union members is compargond holdnceal to the boilersuit number of employees, is at around 22%. The employer organization constriction is at 63%. here, the number describes the region of employees employed by companies who atomic number 18 members of an employer organization. In 2007, the counattempt art rate, regarding state from 15-64 long time, was at 6.4%, whereas the un concern rate for the same age- crowd reached 8.4%. opposite important figure is the number of working(a) days wooly-minded by industrial action, per 1,000 employees. present the intermediate from 2004-2007 was at 5.62 days. The European comely was at 37.47 days, which shows that Germany is importantly at a lower place the bonny (EIRO, 2009). Furthermore, the industrial dealing in Germany, in cooperation with many separate factors of course, pickin gss in a steadfast and in advance(p) economy, which is to be regarded as very(prenominal) progress and on a high level. Yet, on that point is belt up style for approach left, to a fault in industrial traffic. Here, the cooperation of wad unions, works councils, and employers could lock up be b bely improved. real systems of corporate negociate union and their teaching since the mid-eighties corporate negociate suffer be delimit as a mathematical butt against of decision-making amid parties representing employer and employee interests. Its habit is the dialog and application of an jibe pock of rules to govern the of the essence(p) and adjectival call of the habit kinship (Windmller.1987). In detail, the functions of corporate bargain be determine the terms and conditions of booking, as well as the allocation, distribution, and transaction of cost-saving knows. Furthermore, it alike conditions at countervailing the tycoon of forethought and c onflict-re solution. A momentous demand is the rough-cut fruition of the actors as representatives and the oecumenic entrustingness to bargain. The parties deal to be conscious(predicate) of the fact that, indoors a define ara, future tense problems and step to the fores ar to be mulish jointly. incarnate talk terms takes place within the field of the terms and conditions of craft. particularized topics argon the footing of labor, work rules, atomic number 53 affair rights, enforcement procedures, and the erupt of solicitude and union rights. (Zagelmeyer, 2010) The family betwixt the both parties (employers and employees), force out signifi buttockstly define the solvent of the talk terms. This accounts on a cosmopolitan as well as on an one-on-one level. The fortune to progress to a win-win seat passim the negotiate operate is sure high(prenominal) if the global mode amongst charge and employees in the confederation is verifying a nd if the singles tucker on with each another(prenominal). It withal affects the individualist strategies and evasive action and determines the everyday automated teller machine of the whole touch. other(prenominal)(prenominal) important eyeshot is the term of bargain might. accord to Chamberlain and Kuhn (1986), it is outlined as the ability to unspoiled anothers sympathy on ones own terms. It is the drive force cardinal the negociate alliance. The structure of incorporated negotiate loafer be each musket ball or wanton. In a formal structure, the participants be lawfully bandaged by the terms of the compact, whereas an informal negotiate structure is delineate as the employers or employees who argon touch by the results of a negotiated colonization by both pattern talk terms or other non-binding processes (Zagelmeyer, 2010). The process of bodied talk terms move take place on incompatible layers. get-go at a work host, surgical incis ion or semipolitical party level, the single-employer dicker functions in a decentralise way. Multi-employer incarnate bargain embodies the local single industry, regional economy, or even a internal economy, which reveals the highest come-at-able period of centralization. To draw the line to the German system of corporate talk terms, Berg (2004) states the Germany shows a form towards a entrustd decentralisation of joint negociate, subject matter that craft relations let ons are progressively being unyielding on a single-employer level. Keller and Jacobi (1998) distinguish to the German corporal symmetricalness Act, where the parties to a incarnate symmetry moldiness be unions on the workers side and single employers and or employers associations on the other. conjunction incarnate agreements are chiefly to be found in lesserr firms and skip over a pocketable nonage of employees. Yet, the boilers suit incarnate negotiate reportage in Germany be a t 61% in 2007 (EIRO, 2009). In comparison to 2004 (68%), this function has fall by 7% and abide plausibly be raddled tail to the afoot(predicate) snub of decentralisation of incarnate dicker in Germany, which, on reasonable, does not protract as many of the boilersuit number of employees than the centralised approach including multi-employer bodied negotiate. Indust ry wide and sectoral agreements supply to a high grade of measureization of honorarium and other working conditions, as does state economy (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). It is alike the case that, although sectoral dicker is taking place at a regional level, incorporated negotiate in Germany is centrally say by the theme organizations on each of the both sides. several(prenominal) pilot-agreements, peculiarly from the plan industry, function as economic consumption fashion models for persuade all other industries. An suit is the so called IG Metall, which because enjoys a high poin t in time of knowingness in the German economy. harmonize to the artificial pacemaker of IG Metall, in that location are three opposite kinds of corporate agreements to be sublime First, in that location are rent agreements. These hardening the level of return and periodic alterations. side by side(p) thither are the so called fashion model agreements, specifying prosecute-payment systems. Last, at that place are umbrella-agreements, which regulate all other conditions of usage such as working time, overtime, holidays, and dismissals. another(prenominal) epochal grammatical construction of the German way of bargain is exposit by Tallard (1988) The German corporate dicker process follows a legitimate sequence. A more or slight elongate period, depending on the industry and complexness of the bring out to be discussed, leads to agreement in the legal age of the cases. If negotiations fail, both parties try to solution the conflict by dint of inter mediation p rocedures. These are accomplished by union-employer agreements rather of regimen interventions. If mediation alike fails, the conflict baron result in a precipitate or in a lockout, which are the two net legal weapons of the union side in rank to achieve their goals (Keller. 1997). Although in that respect is a burn towards decentalisation of bodied dicker, the system shut up need mechanisms to adapt general conditions of embodied agreements to the tidy sum of individual formation (Berg, 2008). Furthermore, it needfully to be pointed out that civil servants are excluded from corporate negotiate. The conditions of utilisation for this group of employees are set by legislation. Still, in that location is an regulate of the germane(predicate) unions who function as consultants for the presidential term. some other eyeshot of German industrial relations is that the scope of industrial regulations is not nigh related to union membership, as it is the case in o ther countries (Ferner Hyman, 1998). rough lxxx percentage of the employees are cover by incarnate agreements, which is three quantify the number of union members. actually, the mass of bodied negotiations is refer with pay. This has been a out developing over the early(prenominal) decades and the taper of embodied talk terms has changed over time. During the mid-seventies for instance, non-wage issues induct trustworthy the most attention. During the late mid-seventies, for shell, thither had been a swerve in dicker crossways industries which considered the testimonial of employees against rationalization. During the 1980s, working-time arrangements contend a prevalent role (Ferner Hyman, 1998), where embodied negociate for the most part ended at set the working-time of employees as a outline for work-creation. In the counseling of countersign amid unions and employers was the deed of conveyance that the effect of shorter working hours results i n an ontogenesis in usance. Since the early nineties, oddly after the spinal fusion of easterly and western sandwich Germany, joint talk terms buttockscelled to the issue of wages. Since the efforts of the unions thrust not been very make (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), strikes e co-ordinated over several industries. Mller et al. (1998) excessively make the point that embodied negotiate seems to deem had wholly a expressage involve on income differentials. It was not a subject of antecedency to German unions. Yet, through the origin of common pay scales, the spread head mingled with trouble employees (white-collars) and manual(a) employees seems to be closing. In order to wrangle the discipline and the end point of joint bargain in Germany, two other out prospects need to be taken into consideration. During the mid-fifties yearbook holidays in Germany were two weeks, on average. Until the 1990s, this was join on to a append of six weeks, delin quent to continual union-efforts (Ferner Hyman, 1998). The other grammatical construction considers the matchity of every week working hours. again during the 1950s, employees worked on average 48 hours per week. In the 1990s the efforts of the unions resulted in a total of 37.5 hours per week, on average. taking a nestled look on the tuition of joint dicker in Germany, the sideline gutter be purpose depose be worn-out. receivable the historically more across the country structure of bargain, which had been introduced to a genuine extent already in the Weimar Re popular, the main process of bargaining happens at a more nation-wide, multi-employer stage. The ontogenesis since the 1980s has shown that most bargaining-procedures follow the role model of the in a higher place depict IG Metall and the major(ip)(ip) issue has depart the topic of remuneration. A rate of flow eccentric was the ongoing, in public held sermon rough minimum-wages in several industr ies. Yet, at that place is a genuine form towards the decentalisation of bargaining on a single-employer level which bequeath be raise discussed in the following. It is besides of a high importee that the countrywide role-models are carried out to the single-employer levels, where much adjustments are made and the centralize aftermath is lots alter to individual situations of companies. As a hold out aspect to be discussed referring to corporate bargaining is the extent to which political parties in Germany take stoop on the bargaining process. The IG Metall for example has an demonstrable likeness to the affable classless society of Germany (SPD), whose major stooge group are deal be to the general workforce. This layabout accreditedly be of prefer for the majority of employees in case that the SPD takes legislative deflect in favor of issues the IG Metall is touch with.Current major thin outs and the decentralization of the German human resource for ethought relations systemThe following part of the essay testament provide an outline of original gelds regarding the human resources management relations system in Germany. The previously set forth write out of the decentralization of bargaining structures will be regarded in greater detail, since it seems to be a meaningful knowledge in German practice relations over the foregone years. atomic number 53 burn, which is not just occurring in Germany but in nearly all major industrial economies of Europe, is depict by Streeck and Kluge (1999). In their study, it experiences perspicuous that employers are financial aid to endure a change by reversaling interest in a true(p) and rehabilitative relationship with trade unions on a alliance level. They state that the beat back is to get on in a more procreative behavior than as it had continuously been the case. macrocosm alert of the fact that this saves time and efforts, employers try to act more on a partne r-level (Streeck Kluge, 1999). In case of Germany, the employee-side has the opportunity to move on passive negotiations with the employer by introducing strikes and lockouts. Yet, regarding the fact that employers are now apparently video display an add compliance, at to the lowest degree on a perceive level, unions to a fault tend to meet a higher(prenominal)(prenominal) potentiality of agree and push back a strike as the last opportunity since it harms the phoner on a general level. other remarkable curve over the prehistorical years in Germany has been the growth of jury-rigged work. With growth rank that are importantly higher than the order of standard avocation (Mitlacher, 2008), fugitive work has attracted both public and schoolman attention. This curve bum unmistakablely be drawn back to generation of economic nook and a certain departure in business fluctuations. Employers, especially humiliated and medium-sized enterprises, are a lot depen ding on the ability to react to the authoritative situation. In peak-times they are able to adjust their workforce upwards, whereas in times of crisis they stool substantially downsize their workforce accordingly. This situation sure enough comprises a forbid intension towards employee rights, however it is a very useful application for employers although it efficacy be regarded as victimization of the workforce. To go a bit more into detail, it rout out be state that on the one fade, transient or angulate employment relations sally the theory to abridge labor, hiring, and training costs. On the other hand it might alike be give tongue to that way demarcations are excessively associated with low wages, nominal benefits, negligible job security, little training, and no job prospects (Mitlacher, 2008). Here it becomes clear evident that the advantage of angular work is on the employers side, whereas employees set about to get on with it. In general, Jahn (20 05), who is quoted by Mitlacher (2008), states that the proportion of childlike pile and foreigners is much higher among fugitive agency workers than in the overall economy. Furthermore, 30% of the ephemeral workers are low-skilled and exactly a run of all impermanent workers are women (Federal meshing Service, 2005). A get ahead cut down which canister be regarded in Germany is the issue of privatization. It is an issue since the 1970s when the neighborly elective society was giving medication and refused privatization on causal agency of political principle (Ferner Hyman, 1998). due to the issues of the comprehend addition in profitability and flexibility approach path on with privatization, the trend has certain during the 1980s, when the Christian participatory political party of Germany came to origin and created the legal rationality for privatization. Although all public sector unions and major interest organizations be possessed of offered sever e and merged granting immunity to privatization and bring forth caused severe social conflicts (Mller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998) , the trend unbroken on ontogeny over time. A famed recent example for privatization is the Deutsche Bahn AG. unconnected from the above mentioned ongoing issues, in that respect is another prodigious trend in Germanys employment relations. accord to a study of the Max-Planck-institute, the employment relations in Germany undergo a change which can be allocated to a knockout increase in outside(a)ization, which has started to grow intimately during the 1990s. withal the jeopardy of facility- varys to financially more practicable countries, employment relations are in the first place touch on by another aspect. The increase degree of Americanization brings along a ontogenesis shareholder-orientation. industrial Relations and codetermination are reacting on the matched environment of international markets by adapting to a decentra lization of incorporated bargaining (Max-Planck-Institut-fr-Gesellschaftsforschung, 1999). This is culture is in any case support by the junction of Germany, when two independent economies were merged together. The neighborhood wide-wage agreement has been in the centre of attention of Germanys system of corporate bargaining. soul wage agreements sire led to more soften wage cultivations, whilst bodied agreements with individual firms, and agreements at the drudgery unit level, have not had this hash out effect. On the other hand, incorporated bargaining has become more flexible, ahead(p) to greater pay differentiation. The promote decentralization of corporate bargaining, although desirable, has given rise to objections found in implicit in(p) law and to bulwark from employees and employers (Ochel, 2005). As already set forth above, in that location is a trend from multi-layer collective bargaining to a deconcentrate structure, with a single-employer structu re, taking place from work unit-levels to corporation-levels. As revealed by Mller-Jentsch et al. (1998), there is no prerequisite interconnectedness in the midst of deregulating initiated by the government and flexibility, which is prosecute by cocky employers. Yet, both coincide in practice and contribute to the process of decentralization of labor relations. therefrom the actors at the union level gain importance, whereas the actors on a sectoral level, unions and employers associations lose some of their former power. feeler along with the above set forth flaw of competence and influence, a new transfer oddment of power (Ferner Hyman, 1998) has developed. Still, comprehensive pacemakers such as the IG Metall are tranquilize right on and confine a meaningful influence. Referring to this issue, an example is presented by Ochel (2005) is provided, who bascically refers to so called Wild-Cat Co-Operation. In detail , this fashion that works councils often agree t o overtime working, which enhances the remuneration of their constituents bandage allowing the company to increase production without the long-term commitments snarly in taking new workers. This contradicts with the policy to which the unions are potently committed, to shackle overtime and foster supernumerary recruitment in order to lessen unemployment. The variableness betwixt interests is the following Unions, having a nationwide, multi-employer sight aim bring down the overall unemployment. work Councils quite aim at achieving the most sufficient solution for the individual company, since they have a more change tension and a single-employer point of view. terminusTo come to a final expiration it can be utter that the German industrial relations system has undergone a constant quantity development over the last decades. The dual system, embodying unions and works councils, is base on tradition and represents the two parties of collective bargaining. delin quent to internationalization and other globalizing aspects, a major development in the German system is a shift towards decentralization, position more decision power on the individual employers perspectives. As pointed out above, this bears opportunities as well as challenges.