5-Year Budget Cycle
Place all USG agencies on a five-year budgeting cycle similar to DOD. Strategic vision would be the new mantra across the USG.
Browse Ideas with tag 'management':
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Add your comment for Idea: 5-Year Budget Cycle -
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Salaried Senior-Level
As a counter to forthcoming telework for recognized senior-level employees that cannot work telework for whatever reason, allow a certain number of these recognized senior-level employees to become salaried vice 40-hour work week-based. Everyone knows those that would abuse such a system, and all surely know those good, solid employees that would not abuse but benefit in productivity. Start off with GS-15s on a pilot-basis. ...more »
1 comment for Idea: Salaried Senior-LevelAs a counter to forthcoming telework for recognized senior-level employees that cannot work telework for whatever reason, allow a certain number of these recognized senior-level employees to become salaried vice 40-hour work week-based. Everyone knows those that would abuse such a system, and all surely know those good, solid employees that would not abuse but benefit in productivity. Start off with GS-15s on a pilot-basis. Just like telework abusers, those who abuse this process would become ineligible. Trust is the basis of telework; trust can be the basis for this change as well.
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Consolidate IT Services for Massive Savings $$
There are people that collect data for whatever reason and there are people that store and analyze data. In between, there could be numerous "nodes" or "servers". Anywhere there is a "server", that "server" needs to be managed and it is very costly. Usually a GS-12 or 13 Information Technology (IT) Specialist is required. The problem is, most of these servers are truly unneccessary! With today's wideband communications ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Consolidate IT Services for Massive Savings $$There are people that collect data for whatever reason and there are people that store and analyze data. In between, there could be numerous "nodes" or "servers". Anywhere there is a "server", that "server" needs to be managed and it is very costly. Usually a GS-12 or 13 Information Technology (IT) Specialist is required. The problem is, most of these servers are truly unneccessary! With today's wideband communications and massive storage capabilities of main servers; all the little servers in between that may have at one time been legitimate "nodes" or "tokens" in Wide Area Networks (WANs) are probably all waste at this point. We need to gut the IT bureaucracy, the data empires, the "web farms" and consolidate Information Technology services.
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Wind Turbine and Solar Panels - Green Energy for Feds Buildings
Wind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings. The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal ...more »
6 comments for Idea: Wind Turbine and Solar Panels - Green Energy for Feds BuildingsWind turbine and solar power plant for Government offices owns by Government agencies and / or GSA and contracted out to Government agencies. This can also be applied to Military and other general buildings.
The implementation of Solar Panels and or Wind Turbine could be of benefits to the organization, the installation would be an example of future enterprise or local business to the area, military, and other federal buildings.
The Gov office could set the example by assign a pilot program especially to a NEW CONTRUCTION offices and or business. This pilot can be set and studies can be used to compare conventional usage of energy versus new Wind Turbine and / or Solar Panel.
I have seemed the Corp of Engineer along with the local agency organization conducting and planning 2 or 3 years ago having the implementation of outdated R22 refrigerant (this Freon is being banded by the EPA effective 2008) versus Eco-Friendly R410a.
Additionally:
Military building can benefit from this in the long run instead of warhead expenses; by diverting some of the tomahawk and other missiles strategy cost to this Solar and Wind Turbine energy. It’ll pay back.
See other ideas.
http://governmentreform.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Equipment-CONSOLIDATION-and-ReUTILIZATION/123337-13060
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Product Portfolio Management (PPM) tools
1 comment for Idea: Product Portfolio Management (PPM) toolsHaving come recently from the private sector, I see a huge opportunity to manage better using simple project and portfolio management tools. They don't have to do everything or be perfectly customized. Implement off-the-shelf tools with minimal setup to pilot groups quickly and see the returns right away.
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11 votes
This idea is active.Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »Stop Paying More to Interstate Managers
1 comment for Idea: Stop Paying More to Interstate ManagersManagers automatically get an extra pay grade if their responsibilities cross state lines. Why? What difference does it make? What possible ramifications of having people in more than one state would merit an extra pay grade?
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22 votes
This idea is active.Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »Eliminate Corporations Ability to Move Off Shore to Avoid Paying
How dare they? With so many unemployed Americans, an economy that has been on the rocks and needs everyone pulling in the same direction----these corporations that have been founded here and take all the perks, manage to go outside the country for lower taxes--PAID TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. Corporations say that they have an ordained right to go to other countries to make their corporate headquaters a European city rather ...more »
3 comments for Idea: Eliminate Corporations Ability to Move Off Shore to Avoid PayingHow dare they? With so many unemployed Americans, an economy that has been on the rocks and needs everyone pulling in the same direction----these corporations that have been founded here and take all the perks, manage to go outside the country for lower taxes--PAID TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. Corporations say that they have an ordained right to go to other countries to make their corporate headquaters a European city rather than in the U.S. It's all in the law, they say.
Read the 60 Minutes transcript if you missed the show:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/25/60minutes/main20046867.shtml
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Adopt Agile Project management practices over PMP waterfall
It's not just applicable to software! Use an iterative method of determining requirements (all products) and for delivering products in a highly flexible and interactive manner. The iterative life cycle products delivered by small teams in stages should be 'field-tested' prototypes with iterative complexity, which undergo regular status updates/customer reviews and lead to to strong functional requirements development ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Adopt Agile Project management practices over PMP waterfallIt's not just applicable to software! Use an iterative method of determining requirements (all products) and for delivering products in a highly flexible and interactive manner. The iterative life cycle products delivered by small teams in stages should be 'field-tested' prototypes with iterative complexity, which undergo regular status updates/customer reviews and lead to to strong functional requirements development (don't write requirements documents first!) Cut management overhead (and redundant CM board reviews+) using these PMBOK agile PM methodologies. To succeed the Team Lead/PM must have strong leadership and innovation skills by which to empowered individuals (smaller team/project leaders) from the relevant business and supplier and customer input must be received. Watch the return of innovation, accountability, and personal employee investment & self-motivation while dramatically reducing the cost and schedule!
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Improve IT Program Mgt
The Administration wants to strengthen IT program Mgt by job-classification and a career-path. Perhaps we could more narrowly focus some of these ideas. 1. Make sure that a PM not only gets his PMP but also has significant training and experience in using the defacto software MS Project. PMs must learn to put a specific deliverable(s) on every task line in a schedule (or identify a line entry as a summary task) - many ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Improve IT Program MgtThe Administration wants to strengthen IT program Mgt by job-classification and a career-path. Perhaps we could more narrowly focus some of these ideas. 1. Make sure that a PM not only gets his PMP but also has significant training and experience in using the defacto software MS Project. PMs must learn to put a specific deliverable(s) on every task line in a schedule (or identify a line entry as a summary task) - many put no explanation at all - others use generalities. For example, in IT projects, 'Completing a Test' is not enough deliverable info. Must say what kind of test, what is the measure of completeness, who says so, where this deliverable is delivered, etc. Not easy. PM must produce correct schedule info - MS Project software is supid and just accepts what you enter. Must insert reasonable task durations and followup with realistic assignment of people and other resources. MUST link tasks - not too much but not ignored either. Than we can get a critical path and find out early where we have to replan a project and can consider prioritizing projects so we do the ones we must have. At least some PMs apparently have no idea of how to handle Procurement and Contracting efforts that are needed in the project. -they need to be working closely with COs and use their insights in putting together complete plans. 2. Stop talking this problem to death and put together a MASTER PM CADRE in EVERY AGENCY who have the experience and capability to spearhead this overall effort. Make it work by requiring them to sign off on every project - not just A300 level. This will not be easy but I suggest it is the only valid approach.
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12 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Consolidate Regional Offices
There are way too much duplication of management functions within the FAA. While the FAA has done some consolidation (FSS), there remains a duplication in many other areas....a HQ office, then service areas, and under then the old regional offices...seems like the FAA is always reorganizing to save money, but the number of positions and grade levels always increase. Lets get real............bring in an outside group ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Consolidate Regional OfficesThere are way too much duplication of management functions within the FAA. While the FAA has done some consolidation (FSS), there remains a duplication in many other areas....a HQ office, then service areas, and under then the old regional offices...seems like the FAA is always reorganizing to save money, but the number of positions and grade levels always increase. Lets get real............bring in an outside group to draw up a reorganization plan and then have them implement it....does anyone seriously think that the FAA managers are going to gore themselves? Seems like they spend more time, pulling the wool over the eyes of their political appointees and congress, then doing the job they were tasked to do.
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86 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Top Heavy Organizations
Too many high level positions have been and continue to be created, with little to no oversight regarding their need. The primary mission of some agencies seems to be how many of our friends can we move into high level positions and not how best to get the mission accomplished. The only way to cure that is to specifically CUT the allocation of high level positions...meaning GS13 and above. No grandfathering, etc. to be ...more »
5 comments for Idea: Top Heavy OrganizationsToo many high level positions have been and continue to be created, with little to no oversight regarding their need. The primary mission of some agencies seems to be how many of our friends can we move into high level positions and not how best to get the mission accomplished. The only way to cure that is to specifically CUT the allocation of high level positions...meaning GS13 and above. No grandfathering, etc. to be allowed, and limit save pay to ONE YEAR.
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This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Pay Scale Adjustment
The gap between the low end of the pay scale and the high end, has increased with every "cost of living" increase. It is time to bring the pay scale back into balance with the work performed. Provide a "full" increase to those at the lower end, and reduce that as you move up the scale to zero at those making over six figures (I make over six figures). The primary motivation in working for the government, should be service............not ...more »
6 comments for Idea: Pay Scale AdjustmentThe gap between the low end of the pay scale and the high end, has increased with every "cost of living" increase. It is time to bring the pay scale back into balance with the work performed. Provide a "full" increase to those at the lower end, and reduce that as you move up the scale to zero at those making over six figures (I make over six figures). The primary motivation in working for the government, should be service............not money. If you want or need to make a lot of money, leave the government and go to private industry.
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31 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Too much overhead.
1 comment for Idea: Too much overhead.Eliminate half of the upper level management jobs, we are too top heavy and High end managers are underworked.
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58 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Get rid of $1 bill, just have coins, SAVE BILLIONS, $5.5 of them
9 comments for Idea: Get rid of $1 bill, just have coins, SAVE BILLIONS, $5.5 of themThe $1 bill cost more than a dollar to produce. It is time we replace it with coins like they have done in Europe. They last longer and are cheaper to make.
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9 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Use All-Agency Check Before Travel Expenses
The $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint. Anything ...more »
1 comment for Idea: Use All-Agency Check Before Travel ExpensesThe $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint.
Anything over a certain dollar amount must be pre-approved by a board outside the agency. No one should limit actual peer training and collaboration, but spending this much money for powerpoint and a big party is flagrant abuse. If a proposed training event can be done better/faster/cheaper closer to home, or with use of webinars and teleconferencing, then those suggestions must be made. Simple design, let the proposal request go via an email form to GSA or OPM, and let it be approved at that level. The people who let this happen should have been disciplined and Travel for this agency should be severely curtailed. If you missed the story, use your home computer to view:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/party-time-faa-critics-question-million-gathering/story?id=9390933
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22 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Management
1 comment for Idea: ManagementRequire all personnel in management postions to have or receive instruction on effective and positive management and to develop skills in positive management. A happy worker is a more productive worker.
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72 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions
14 comments for Idea: Make Telework Mandatory for eligible positions1. Saves energy in America.
2. Saves roads / extends their life
3. Less energy consumed in office space
4. Focus for projects
5. Improved morale
6. More agile workforce able to work offsite during contingencies
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25 votes
This idea is active.Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »Program to Allow Congress to Voluntarily forfeit pay to pay debt
4 comments for Idea: Program to Allow Congress to Voluntarily forfeit pay to pay debtMost of them are very rich. We will see how many of these rich are there to serve. Let them volunteer to do this and see who the true patriots are!
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90 votes
This idea is active.Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »Add solar power to military and federal buildings!
10 comments for Idea: Add solar power to military and federal buildings!My building in the military had one that powered the HVAC and the hot water. We were always very comfortable and it was not at the expense of taxpayers beyond installation. What made this good was that we were a 24/7 function. We need more of these where it pays to add them and they should be made in America!
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41 votes
This idea is active.Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »Made in the U.S.A.
7 comments for Idea: Made in the U.S.A.For decades we have focused on free trade. This is not a bad thing but Americans must hear from the top that buying American is a good thing to do. If we buy more then prices go down.
I looked at the American Living line in JC Penney and it is made in the usual suspects. They charge more and you would think it would be AMERICAN made!
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6 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Program Management at it's finest!
1st, a different mindset needs to be encouraged for a competitiveness spirit. Although government agencies are viewed as public service in nature, a different approach needs to be frostered: Public service with a "Spirit of Excellence" for empowering employees and meeting the needs of our customers from within and outside the government for improving moral and how business is conducted. 2nd, what I am proposing will ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Program Management at it's finest!1st, a different mindset needs to be encouraged for a competitiveness spirit. Although government agencies are viewed as public service in nature, a different approach needs to be frostered: Public service with a "Spirit of Excellence" for empowering employees and meeting the needs of our customers from within and outside the government for improving moral and how business is conducted.
2nd, what I am proposing will take a lot of manpower hours; however, you could utilize students needing career credits/hrs for school studies to assist with a government wide audit. Review all agencies/divisions to cross-reference mission, goals, objectives.
3rd, the audit could show an overlap of divisions working towards the same goal. Merge these divisions or have them work closely together to streamline processes. [Some agencies are too top heavy! Responsibility and accountability issues exist throughout the government.]
4th, look at a way to cross-train employees for multitasking efficiency. Not to overwork the employee, but to broaden the employee's outlook as to best work with one another to accomplish the same goal for a more unified government.
[Why cross-train? A. Continue flow of business operations with no gap or lapse in carrying out a desired task/objective/goal. B. Enables agencies to meet the contractual completion target date with little to no excessive (overage) cost. C. Cuts down on the use of outsourcing. Many fees for contract employees exceed the salary of federal employees who would be capable and available to perform the expected task needed. D. There is a very noticeable problem and need for cross-training federal employees when a person retires from an office was considered to be the only knowledgeable person within his/her division for filling a position for continuity.]
5th, look at the processes to see if steps could be shortened or redefined for greater maximizing of time [time management] and efforts.
Last: A. Much money is spent on program/project management, but it does not seem to be utilized as it was intended or prescribed. [Review the current operation of a particular thing/task, evaluate time and cost from start to finish, determine processes to streamline/shorten/lenghten for less waste of time, manpower and cost to implement change for a desired outcome. That change should not add an hardship or increase in any area of operations.]
B. Understanding the need to outline a person's duties within a job description shows structure and organization; however, it also seems to be used by individuals to say what they are not willing to do or won't do outside of that job description. There should be a sense of protection for each employee in the way of guidelines and not violating one's human rights [employment law, labor relations, unions], but each and every job description needs to be reviewed and rewritten in accordance with the mission, goals and objectives of an individual office or agency. Thus keeping in mind the department's overall operational budget, number of employees based on responsibilities and duties for meeting the mission, resources, etc. Most times, not all is taken into consideration in the order of processes from start to finish which creates an exorbitant budget issue that many people (upper management, leadership) scrample to fix or address after the fact.
C. Those in management or areas of leadership roles should possess a knowledge of how or what it takes for each of their employees to successfully carry-out his/her task. Should a problem develops, the employee should be able to count on his/her management for guidance. Meaning managers should be hired based on what they know and not who they know in filling a position.
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20 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Federal Employee Development Plans
Each Federal position should have an Employee Development Plan attached to it. This plan would consist of education, experiential training, and other tasks and goals designed to help the employee become more proficient at their current job, and also prepare them for promotion to higher-level positions. This would make government more efficent in three ways: agencies would have a viable, powerful tool for succession ...more »
4 comments for Idea: Federal Employee Development PlansEach Federal position should have an Employee Development Plan attached to it. This plan would consist of education, experiential training, and other tasks and goals designed to help the employee become more proficient at their current job, and also prepare them for promotion to higher-level positions.
This would make government more efficent in three ways: agencies would have a viable, powerful tool for succession planning; employees would be encouraged and rewarded for high acheivement; and burnt-out or unsuccessful employees could be replaced with higher-performing ones.
Succession planning in many agencies is limited at best, and training dollars are often the first to be cut from a program's budget. However, there are shortages of talent for many necessary Federal positions. If each employee has training and development written into their position, agencies could be better prepared for the future, and more likely to make an investment in their staff. Agencies would be actively developing their future leadership, and employees would see clear opportunities for an ambitious career path in the Federal government.
Opportunities for education, promotion, and personal development would attract many high-performing and ambitious workers. A continuous focus on high acheivement, rather that taking the safe route and doing "good enough", would encourage staff to bring new ideas forward and seek out ways to make their agencies perform better.
Requiring employees to stay active in their own development, and having Progress Reviews every 3-5 years, would allow managers to make performance-based decisions to reward high achievers, and release workers who are stagnant or unsatisfactory. Concrete, objective standards would give employees clear goals to work towards.
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9 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Make job functions more fluid and encourage cooperation
1 comment for Idea: Make job functions more fluid and encourage cooperationSome people are super busy while others have down time - make it easier for people to help others out when they have down time so more can get done faster. For example, have a "grab bag" of tasks that anyone could pick up if they have a bit of free time - this could be managed at the agency, office, or division/branch level and could be sorted by the basic skills required to complete the task.
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33 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Limit Upper Management Spread
Particularly at HQ-level agency offices, there are often many more GS-15 level managers than required to manage a handful of employees. Using the agency office where I work, there is both a GS-15 Unit Chief position and a GS-14 Section Chief position managing four GS-14 national program managers. GS-14's should not require that level of oversight. An SES oversees a GS-15 deputy director and three other GS-15 Unit Chiefs, ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Limit Upper Management SpreadParticularly at HQ-level agency offices, there are often many more GS-15 level managers than required to manage a handful of employees. Using the agency office where I work, there is both a GS-15 Unit Chief position and a GS-14 Section Chief position managing four GS-14 national program managers. GS-14's should not require that level of oversight. An SES oversees a GS-15 deputy director and three other GS-15 Unit Chiefs, with each one of the Unit Chiefs supervising one GS-14 Section Chief, and then that Section Chief has 4 - 8 high-level program officers. That is a major waste of time, talent and funds. There needs to be strong guidance on agency structure to eliminate the top heavy nature of the beast.
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14 votes
This idea is active.Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »Ideas Worth Spreading---- Ted Talks
Each government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/ Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Ideas Worth Spreading---- Ted TalksEach government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/
Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker
go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back to the drawing board until you can.
Watch at least three (3) to get a feel for how they are constructed. You will learn that sprightly presentations work. Using humor, personal examples get the listener's attention. You will soon learn, that if we were all thinking like this, we would get alot more done, in our families, in the workplace, in our nation, which is part of our ever expanding World.
You can listen on your home computer or through your home download of iTunes.
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