Monday, December 30, 2019

Five Forces Analysis of the Swedish Construction Industry

Five Forces analysis of the Construction Industry in Sweden â€Å"The authors conclude that the less competitive a market environment, the higher will be the amount of corruption by giving public servants the incentive to extract some of the monopoly rents through bribes.† (Lambsdorf, 1999) Industry background: The Swedish construction business consists of four main actors namely JM, NCC, PEAB and Skanska that historically have had exclusive rights to bid on large-scale governmental projects. This is not a result of corruptive and lobbying activities but rather a result of the sheer size and financial budgets of these projects and firms with the ability to finance them. (Hà ¥dell and Uveborn, 2004). This in terms cause extensive†¦show more content†¦The power they posses might grow even bigger as the reputation and trust of the market has decreased over the last couple of years causing mistrust towards some firms and making them fight even harder to win a bidding (Hà ¥dell and Uveborn, 2004). Supplier power is generally low due to the competitive nature of the market. Nevertheless medium- and small-sized suppliers influence is of both high and low level, many times depending on at what stage in the process of a project they are. If it is in the beginning stages and there is a demand for material or service the medium sized actors have the negotiating power and can mark up prices, because the main actors want and need to get started as soon as possible often choosing the first and best sub supplier. In the latter stages of the process, the large-scale firms can use their power discounts to bargain for prices (Hà ¥dell and Uveborn, 2004). Gothenburg corruption case During the last 5-year period several corruption cases have surfaced in the construction industry in the municipality of Gothenburg. Cases that show that local medium- sized actors have used network skills and foul play to secure the acquiring of governmental projects. This has been attained in a number of ways, by carrying out personal construction jobs for officials free ofShow MoreRelatedVsm Group: Examination of Strategic Position and Development of a Competitive Strategy4519 Words   |  19 Pagesmodels will be used to analyse both the internal and external environment of the company, namely, PESTEL, Five Forces Model, and the SWOT analysis The examination of the strategic position of VSM will involve analysing the strategy of the company with emphasis on the environment it operates in, its strategic capabilities, and how expectations affect organisational purposes and strategies. The analysis will conclude with a clear statement of the Key Issues and Critical Success factors. The strategic positionRead MoreIkea Case Study on Marketing22843 Words   |  92 Pages......................... 6 The theoretical framework..................................................7 Social and cultural aspects ..................................................................................................... 7 PEST Analysis theory .......................................................................................................... 10 Marketing Mix theory .......................................................................................................... 11Read MoreKanthal2499 Words   |  10 PagesCase Analysis Dr. Joseph Szendi Managerial Accounting 640 Yega Tita Company Background /History†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦............†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 Current System†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 Dilemma †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 Options/Solutions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.5 Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Competitive Forces†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Porters Five Forces †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreVolvo Geely12051 Words   |  49 PagesAPPLIED SCIENCES Savonia Business China’s Foreign Investment Analysis Case Study of Geely Acquired Volvo Zhang Huihui Business Administration Bachelor’s Thesis Degree Programme International Business April 2012 SAVONIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES SAVONIA BUSINESS Degree Programme, option Degree Programme in International Business Author(s) Zhang Huihui Title of study China’s Foreign Direct Investment Analysis Case Study of Geely’s acquisition of Volvo Car Type of project Read MoreA Comparison Between Advertising Agencies’ and Pr Agencies’ Internationalization Motives and Entry Modes - Eight Cases from Sweden20158 Words   |  81 Pageslarge, firms. The service firm internationalization literature is slowly growing. Few international contributions are found investigating the advertising industry and no such studies focus on the Swedish market. The PR industry has been internationally neglected. This study investigates four advertising agencies and four PR agencies in the Swedish market. The eight case agencies confirm traditional internationalization motives, but also new motives are found, such as the foreign customer-followingRead MoreVsm Group Strategy Essay4776 Words   |  20 Pagesother will exert threats on the organization or both. The environment of VSM Group will be examined by PEST analysis and Porter’s Five Forces analysis. 2.1.1. PEST Analysis PEST analysis, a useful approach of examining the Political-legal, Economic, Social-cultural, Technological factors of the environment of an organization, can be used to examine the various aspects and trend in one industry by understanding market growth or decline, and as such the position, potential and direction for a businessRead MoreA Project on Industrial Relations and Labour Welfare16776 Words   |  68 PagesForeword This report is based on the main findings of two workshops on Quality of Working Life, Industrial Relations and Labour Productivity as part of the WORK-IN-NET project. The workshops were organised by FAS, the Swedish Council for working life and social research, and VINNOVA, the Swedish Innovation Agency, and were held in Stockholm in the end of May 2005. WORK-IN-NET is a four-year (2004-08) project with the full title ‘Labour and Innovation: Work-Oriented Innovations – a Key to Better EmploymentRead MoreManaging and Organizing for Innovation in Service Firms a Literature Review with Annotated Bibliography30787 Words   |  124 PagesAnnika Schilling Andreas Werr - Stockholm School of Economics Series: VINNOVA Report VR 2009:06 ISBN: 978-91-85959-47-1 ISSN: 1650-3104 Published: Februari 2009 Publisher: VINNOVA - Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems / Verket fà ¶r Innovationssystem VINNOVA Case No: 2008-02234 About VINNOVA VINNOVA, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems. VINNOVA ´s mission is to promote sustainable growth by funding needs-driven research and developing effective innovation systems. ThroughRead MoreEssay on The Economics of Wind Power 2057 Words   |  9 Pageswhich strives enforce rules and regulations on the industry. Recently, current issues such as long-term power supply, power sustainable and longevity lead people to begin to think of new ways to address these issues. Thus, the rise of renewable energy (power) triggered research and the possibility of renewable changing the dynamics of the world’s power situation. A closer synopsis of world power concerns leads economist to develop a cost benefit analysis associated with current power methods versus futureRead MoreCommunication as a Cross-Cultural Challenge for International Management18350 Words   |  74 Pagesrelationships have a more deciding impact. Global expansion and the rapid developmen t of technology contribute to faster communication possibilities across boarders, therefore the highly international, dynamic and quick communication based fast-fashion industry becomes an interesting object when studying crosscultural communication. Moreover, this research will investigate which specific areas of business communication that creates the greatest challenges for international managers within the fastfashion

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Human Trafficking Is A Grave Crime And A Serious Violation...

Humana Trafficking Introduction Human trafficking refers to the practice of recruiting, transferring, transporting, receiving, or harboring people through the use of force, threat, or other forms of abduction, coercion, deception, fraud, as well as abuse of power or vulnerability position (Segrave 2). Human trafficking is a grave crime and a serious violation of human rights as it involves a broad range of human exploitations, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, slavery practices, as well as servitude acts (Arhin 78). Several women, men, and children fall into the traffickers hands both in their countries and abroad. In fact, almost every world s country is affected by acts of human trafficking, either as a country of origin,†¦show more content†¦According to ILO s estimation, about 22 million victims of human trafficking are trapped in modern-day slavery (Segrave 4). According to ILO, about 68 percent of such victims get exploited for labor, 22 percent get sexually abused, and 10 percent underg o state-imposed forced labor. Besides, human trafficking stands as one of the fastest-growing trans-national criminal activities today despite being condemned by international conventions as a violation of human rights (Segrave 6). Additionally, according to ILO, about 400,000 people enter into Europe annually as illegal immigrants, while about 850,000 find their way into the United States annually as a result of human trafficking (Davy 322). The United States recently approximated that 700,000 to 900,000 people get trafficked internationally every year, of which 50 percent are minors, 80 percent are women, with about 75 percent of the females getting smuggled for commercial sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is, therefore, a widespread activity that significantly affects the most vulnerable group in the society such as women and children (Davy 323). Why I am Against Human Trafficking Human trafficking has become a global industry that incorporates millions of people every year and generates billions of dollars in annual turnover despite being an illegal practice. Human trafficking result in aShow MoreRelatedSex Trafficking : A Serious Crime And A Grave Violation Of Human Rights1876 Words   |  8 Pages Human trafficking is â€Å"a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights† according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (What is Human Trafficking - UNODC). Sex trafficking is also recognized as the sexual exploitation of human rights, especially those of women and children (UNODC). Sex trafficking and sex work are major issues within feminist debates with differing opinions. Due to its underground and discreet nature, it is difficult to determine how prevalent it is and what differentRead MoreHuman Trafficking587 Words   |  3 PagesHuman Trafficking Human trafficking is a major problem in the world that I am passionate about. Every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Article 3, paragraph (a) of the  Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons  defines Trafficking in Persons as  the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abductionRead MoreThe Problem Of Human Trafficking1168 Words   |  5 Pageswe know today as human trafficking. The trafficking in persons is a form of modern day slavery, and exploits it’s victims into a slavery type setting such as manual labor or for commercial sex purposes. Many adults and elderly make up a great number of the humans that are trafficked each year, but the general population is children since they are usually helpless and are easier to manipulate since they are still in the ag es of learning. Trafficking people is a very serious crime and a steadily growingRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is An Illegal Movement Of People986 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION: Human Trafficking is an illegal movement of people for the purpose of forced labour or sexual exploitation. Millions of people from around the globe have been captured and caught to undergo activities against their will mainly for the act of slavery or pleasure and prostitution.Human Trafficking is a criminal industry stripping people of life and freedom. To this day, human trafficking is happening around the globe and numbers of victims are increasing up until this generation. NeverthelessRead MoreIts Time to Stop Child Trafficking Essay examples1663 Words   |  7 Pagesorganization and active in more than 190 countries and territories through country programmes and National Committees â€Å"The huge transnational industry of trafficking in human beings generates approximately up to $10 billion per year† (www.unicef.org). Even though child trafficking is an illegal and underground trading, there are still huge numbers of child trafficking by we are known. Nowadays, most cou ntries have better laws to protect their own citizens. Moreover, as time goes by, people are receiving a higherRead MoreHuman Trafficking : The Violation Of Human Rights1494 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Trafficking What is the most basic of all human needs? One might answer food, water, and shelter. What is the most basic of all human rights? It should go without saying that the most basic of all human rights is freedom or personal liberty rather than bondage or slavery. If being free rather than in bondage is a human right, why is it that so many are held in bondage against their will? United Nations According to the United Nations website, Human Trafficking is defined as: The recruitmentRead MoreSex Slavery And Human Trafficking2202 Words   |  9 Pages Sex Slavery and Human Trafficking in Nigeria Ramapo College of New Jersey Kaitlyn Cestaro Human Trafficking is defined in article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receivingRead MoreEssay about Taking a Brief Look at Human Trafficking1733 Words   |  7 PagesTrafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into human trafficking. It is said that 12.3 million people are trafficked worldwide. On average, only 1 person is convicted for every 800 trafficking cases worldwide (All material  © 2014). Human Trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. During the medieval times human trafficking was introduced to the worldRead MoreDrug Policy And Efforts Of Control Substance Abuse1863 Words   |  8 PagesDrug policy and efforts to control substance abuse have resulted in human rights violations in many countries. 27 million people were problem drug users in 2013 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013), representing a â€Å"vulnerable and marginalised group† (Petty, 2012). The need for human rights to be at the forefront of any debate, policy or legislation regarding the ‘war on drugs’ is heightened by human rights abuses resulting from such action – namely â€Å"torture and ill-treatment by policeRead MoreHuman Trafficking And The Terrorism2321 Words   |  10 Pageshave been establishments between crimes that are not associated with the security of the country and that of national secur ity. Indeed, human trafficking crime has been added recently to the list of crimes that are been studied for implications of national security. In 2002, the US president Bush identified this relationship as merely theoretical and then recognized the concern of public policy and signed a national security directive, which linked human trafficking to terrorism and other insecurities

Friday, December 13, 2019

On the Roles of Microfinance in Developing Countries Free Essays

string(114) " that is poverty and scarce resources, we all are aware that such a big problem is rooted in more than one thing\." Much of the underdeveloped world grows and produces agricultural products. Because many of these underdeveloped nations have very little political clout with the rest of the world, and because farmers in wealthy nations have lots of political power, the goods from these poorer nations are tariffed and quota’d right out of the richer nation’s markets. † -Keith Brown, Free Trade Foreign Policy: The Independent Institute, May 1, 2000 Introduction The quote above provides a very nice generalization of exactly what we will discover in this chapter: the roles of microfinance in promoting economic growth, development, and sustainability. We will write a custom essay sample on On the Roles of Microfinance in Developing Countries or any similar topic only for you Order Now Microfinance can provide exactly what most of the underdeveloped world needs: capital to invest in themselves in order to reach themselves out of poverty, thus creating self sufficiency. However, as Mr. Brown stated, what microfinance has failed to do (albeit it was not designed to do) is make these poorer farmers globally competitive. They cannot be competitive due to larger ountries’ inability to make the free market free for all nations, not Just those who control most of it. However, even without making major strides on the global market, microfinance has done most of exactly what it was designed to do. It has brought most of its participants out of a fruitless future, one full of deabilitating poverty. There are many statistics out on the books about microfinance’s effect on the poor of the world. Throughout the chapter, we will go into further detail on how these statistics reflect the exact influence of microfinance on the world, poor and middle class. The statistics will reflect exactly what has been stated in past chapters: microfinance works. It isn’t the end-all, be-all solution to the world’s poverty, but it is a solid start to eradicate it. Another topic we will cover in detail is the paradox between economic growth and sustainability, and whether or not they are mutually exclusive. An article, brilliantly written by Dr. Karen Higgins of Claremont Graduate University in California suggests that â€Å"limitless economic growth counters sustainability’. If the economy grows too big, will we end up exhausting our resources, thus actually making the economy more hort lived? Furthermore, we will go in depth on the effects of microfinance on the world, and more specifically, developed and developing nations. There is a plethora of information on what impact microfinance has on the world, mostly in the form of a poor farmer receiving a loan to buy supplies in order to make more product, so that the farmer’s family can actually live on as well as sell their stock. However, there are also stories in which an especially lucky person receives a loan, invests in a good product or business, and actually goes from abject poverty to middle class. Such As you read, keep in mind that, as stated earlier, microfinance will not solve poverty and all its ills. Whether you are a passionate skeptic or supporter of it after reading this book, know that there are many more obstacles in the way of a poverty free world, those obstacles including political corruption, power inequalities on a global scale, climate change, war and conflict, disease, education, and availability of resources. By no means does microfinance seek to save the world. It does not mean to take the place of charity and giving, nor does it mean to take the place of hard work and perseverance. However, it does hope to make it easier for those who struggle amidst hard work, perseverance, and charity. It means to give every child a chance to live and be educated. In a world where nanotechnology and outer space travel are taken for granted, why does three quarters of the world still live on less than a dollar day? While we know that there are many answers to that question, we also know for a fact that microfinance can solve some of those problems. What is Economic Growth, Development, and Sustainability? According to the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE), economic growth is defined as: â€Å"†¦. n increase in the production and consumption of goods and services. It entails increasing population and/or per capita consumption. It is indicated by increasing gross domestic product (GDP). † It goes on to say that â€Å"economic growth literally refers to an economy that is getting bigger, not necessarily one that is getting better†. According to BusinessDictionary. om, economic development is defined as progress in the economy, or a qualitative measure relating to it. It usually refers to the adoption of new technologies, the transition of agriculture-based to industry-based economy, and a general improvement in living tandards Finally, according to Wise Geek, economic sustainability is â€Å"the term used to identify various strategies that make it possible to use available resource s to their best advantage†. So what do those definitions mean when we apply microfinance to them? Simply put, microfinance can be attributed to all three of these things. As has been proved since microfinance first stepped onto the economic scene, microfinance can cause economic growth in the simple fact that once a poor family receives a microloan, they can use it to invest in themselves or their children, thus making it possible for them o repay the loan, and in due time (in most cases) make a profit that will allow them to expand their propensity to consume. In terms of economic development, microfinance has also changed the face of businesses, small and large. Poor farmers in the third world can receive a microloan, and go from having to perform backbreaking labor to purchasing a machine to help them do it. Finally, as for economic sustainability, microfinance can assure that stocks are not going to waste, and in the case of poor farmers, they can actually sell their crops, instead of having to eat them to stay alive. Economic Growth, Development, Sustainability As much as we would all love a straight answer to the question that is poverty and scarce resources, we all are aware that such a big problem is rooted in more than one thing. You read "On the Roles of Microfinance in Developing Countries" in category "Papers" However, we all know that complex problems also have complex solutions. Microfinance is one thing that contributes to economic growth, but sometimes, its effect can be negated and bolstered by factors out of the control of those who run microfinance firms. Gender and Sex Inequalities Women in America are considered to be independent. Most women work, have their own property, and in some cases, even are the heads of their households. The same goes for most of the developed world. The problem here is that in developing nations, women are still, with little hope of the contrary, subjugated to men. Women in developing nations have nowhere near the rights as their developed nation counterparts do. In most Middle Eastern countries, women are still expected to wear veils over their faces, in accordance with the Muslim religion. Furthermore, they are also expected not to work, but to bear children and take care of home. In short, most of the world still has a very traditionalist point of view. This being said, when a oman’s husband dies, or leaves her, what is she to do other than to starve? Her children come first, but she barely has enough to feed the eight of them that her husband gave her before his passing. Microfinance has helped women gain more equality to their husbands and to men in general, but the fact of the matter that only when these restricting views are abolished will the chains of poverty start to come off. Once women are allowed to make their own money, they will be able to feed their children, saving the from malnutrition. They will be able to pay for their education, thus setting the children up to make something of themselves. Once women become independent, no longer will they not be able to live with a man by their side. They will be able, all things considered, to sustain their standard of living without falling into the traps of poverty. Power Trip: Political Corruption This mainly pertains to Africa and it’s long, dark history of warring nations. Ever since time began, tribes have been fighting in Africa over land, resources, and money, which could all be considered the same thing. While the heads of these tribes and regimes are eating plentifully, their followers still live in abject poverty, and are food insecure. Also, they are dying at an alarming rate. Yes, that’s right. In some African nations, men, women, and children are brutally murdered in the name of politics and power. The shameful part is that microfinance can’t stop a bullet. So how exactly do we counteract the chains of political corruption? A microloan may help a child get an education, but it means nothing if we cannot motivate them to do greater things. Just think about all of the potential Albert Einsteins, Barack Obamas, and Marie Curies out there, growing up in Africa. Now think about the fact that they were either too scared of the politics of government or killed too early to ven try and show off their potential. A main stay of the microfinance movement as well as economic development is to need to make their living situation better. What purpose do American doctors serve coming to Africa if the children they are healing never get the chance to be great like them? What purpose does a microloan serve when it pays for a child’s education that will only end up dying at the age of 1 5 from a gunshot wound? These are the questions that skeptics of microfinance need to ask themselves. Without the proper learning environment, or the proper environment in general, a child cannot be uccessful by conventional means. That goes double for a child whose parents never had an education either. A Deadly Detriment to Economic Growth: Disease Yes, a few dollars can get you that cough medicine that you need to get rid of that dastardly common cold. A few more dollars, and you can get the vaccine for the flu. A doctor’s visit is rarely too costly, but Just in case you’re running a really high fever, a call to your insurance company can get you to the nearest hospital, where you can get quality care by trained doctors that rarely have too many patients that they can’t attend to your needs. Such is the luxury of living in the developed world. At least for the lucky ones. However, if you’re that special person who has to choose between your medicine or paying for college tuition, then this may mean something to you. A huge number of the Juvenile deaths in developing nations comes from disease, whether it be HIV, AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, birth defects, or even cancer. What’s worse is that in most of these developing nations, they dont have the luxury to pay for, not to mention the convenience of even being close to a research hospital. Consequently, we are presented with the same problem I mentioned before. Children, full of potential and intelligence, dead before their time. Microfinance can only do so much, but it can cause a domino effect. Say you aren’t in reach of a hospital as a poor family in West Africa. You apply for a microloan, and invest in your children’s education as well as your farm. In time, your children go from becoming potential HIV infected children to being able to work on a cure for it. Of course, that’s an idealist’s situation, but also a completely possible one. The point here is that disease, although completely natural, is responsible for much of the turmoil we see in the developing world. However, food inequality is a big part of this. Most people don’t realize how countries like the United States suffer from obesity and heart disease while countries like Indonesia suffer from malnourishment and starvation, which leads into the next detriment from economic growth, development, and sustainability. Nominal FMF: Free Market Freedom Ever since the introduction of the free enterprise system, especially on a global scale, the intelligent, innovative, and witty people of the world have amassed fortunes beyond the wildest dreams of even their middle class counterparts in the developed world. They have had the opportunity to be themselves and create something that will ultimately better the world, and make a decent fortune at the same time, with certain government regulations, but not too many as to limit creativity. Such is the same in all the developed world. People have made fortunes from Steve Jobses, Bill Gateses, or Mark Zuckerbergs come from the developing world. The answer to that dilemma is quite simple, and it was the first thing you read. Most businesses in the developing world are agriculture based instead of industry based. However, that is all that they have in terms of business. They grow food, and their economy depends on selling the food to prosper. The cruel irony is that they have been unceremoniously taken out of the free market economy to sell their goods to richer nations. Tariffs and quotas have done their Job well, making selling goods on the world market a process that makes pulling teeth look like the easiest thing in the world. The free market has been that way in name only. The reality is that only those who control most of the free market are actually free in it. Just think if an African country like Sierra Leone traded frequently with the I-JK? Sierra Leoneans would have more money than they could spend on a regular basis. However, the I-JK has so many trade barriers set up that Sierra Loeneans cannot afford to trade with them, thus forcing them to trade locally, and limiting their earning potential. Why would the US and their allies do something like this? Most sources say security. Trading with African nations, especially in the midst of political turmoil could lead to another world war. Also, African nations are not exactly household names. For example, you will usually buy a purse made of Italian leather instead of leather made in South Africa. The biggest motive is money, but what richer nations dont realize is that trading with African nations can actually alleviate some of the problems that they face. When you have an abundance of land and resources, you no longer have a need to fght, and conflicts can be solved diplomatically, more or less. Microfinance can’t sway the decision of a country that has been doing something a certain way for over a century. But what it can do is provide a developing country with not only the money to be able to afford to trade, but the power to take control of their own lives, instead of being pushed back and forth into poverty based on the ecisions of a few, powerful nations. It All Starts Here: Education and Microfinance If you are reading this book, then you already know the value of a quality education. You know for a fact that without one, you can be stuck in a situation with no hope of getting out of it. Education, or better yet, and abundance of it, can only add to our economy. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to the same quality education. Even in developed nations, we can see that certain nations have an edge over others, and thus the more educated you are, the better standard of living you can enjoy. Take America, for example. A high school diploma is much more education than you can get in a developing nation, but in America, the mean salary for a high school graduate only is 38% less than the mean salary for a college graduate, from a study done by the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Accordingly, based on a study done by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was an unemployment rate of 14. 4% among those with only a high school diploma. Among those with a college a degree, the unemployment rate was 7. 6%. The irony is that Sweden, and Japan in terms of education, and accordingly, we have a lower standard f living. The lower you go down the ladder, the worse the standard of living gets. Let’s take a country like Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a third world country on the east coast of Africa, and it is needless to say that they are in need of a better educational system, but for the sake of proof, here are some facts. In the years 2007-2011, a study from UNICEF showed that 82. 5% of Ethiopian children who were of age attended primary school. In those same years, the same study showed only 16% of Ethiopian children of age attended secondary school. Translation: only 16% of Ethiopian children went past the sixth grade. The previous section was aimed at what we need to get rid of in order to promote economic growth, development, and sustainability. Now we focus on what drives those things. Education is the only one worth noting, because the others are only possible when things like disease and political corruption and nominal freedom are no more. While it is not equal among nations, it is to be noted that educational competition sparked outer space travel, one of man’s greatest innovations, back when the United Stated and the former USSR were in competition. Maybe that same fire with education will spark a race to end poverty once and for all. How to cite On the Roles of Microfinance in Developing Countries, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Analysis of John Foulchers Essay Example For Students

Analysis of John Foulchers Essay Poets convey their thoughts and emotions throughout their poems in a wide range off of ways, with the use of many different techniques. These emotions and thoughts could be hidden deeply or so simply written. Robert Frost quotes Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words which is basically stating that what is written in poems is thought that is already in your mind. You just have to find the words to describe it. This is exactly what the poet has done in the 2 poems I have studied both by John Foulcher For The Fire and Loch Ard Gorge. In For The Fire John Foulcher conveys the emotion to be somewhat mysterious and horrifying. The mysterious nature is shown by the quote Its singular, human thud which is giving the impression of a person walking, but in reality its actually the sound of a Kookaburra beating a lizard to death. Whilst the horrifying nature is shown by the use of many harsh words to show the violence including: hacks, axe-blade, stunned open, legs arched, pouting blood, clutching, and cold air congealing also giving a sense of harshness. Not only does John Foulcher convey those emotions but he also has a deeper meaning hidden in his poem. It seems that the thoughts, ideas and issues he was thinking of whilst writing this poem all relate back to his view on society, nature and mistreatment. Society is shown as nature in a somewhat survival of the fittest aspect and it also portrays peoples mistreatment in many ways. Examples of these ways are shown in the poem by the way the man reacts with all this violence going on around him He just ignores it all, takes what he came for and leaves. In Loch Ard Gorge John Foulcher conveys the emotion to be somewhat sad and harsh. The sadness in the poem is shown easily in the parts talking about the shipwreck, with the negative tones he uses and the way it talks about the bodies as if there nothing and meaningless, shown in the quote being lugged from the sea and dumped in the soil. Also in the quote Its gravestones hump the grass a hundred yards away you can just make out their names. It makes it out to be as if all these people were just forgotten adding to the sad emotion shown throughout the poem. The harshness is related to the nature. The way John Foulcher emphasizes and describes the words relating to nature shows how strong and powerful nature can really be. He uses the emotion of harshness because the are Loch Ard Gorge was named after a ship called Loch Ard that was shipwrecked due to the harsh waves as current. With all the harsh and sad emotions put aside there is also a deeper meaning hidden in this poem. His thoughts, ideas and issues on this subject all lead to him showing that like nature, people can also have two sides. One of those sides being calm, beautiful and friendly but the other side is evil and cruel. John Foulcher is basically trying to describe life to be cruel. The reason this relates so well to this poem is because on the ship that ended up being taken down by the rough seas there were people who were travelling to start a new life, with only two of them surviving.  Some of these emotions the poet deals with arent so easily spoken about, so instead he expresses his thoughts and feelings through writing. Finding the exact words to express them. Leading back to the quote by Robert Frost -Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words. The quote that defines almost all poetry.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Product Level Planning free essay sample

Market analysis 3 SWOT Analysis 4-7 Objectives 7 Marketing Strategy 8 Action Program 9 Financial Projection 10 Feedback Control 10 Conclusion 11 References 11 Executive Summery Cement Industry is highly important segment of Bangladesh’s Industrial sector Plays a vital role in socio-economic development. Although cement industry of Bangladesh has witnessed its ups down in recent past but in last decade it has recovered now it’s a self-sufficient industry of Bangladesh not only fulfilling domestic needs of Bangladesh also exporting a huge amount of cement to other countries, bringing foreign reserves help in up lifting Bangladesh’s GDP. Bangladesh is currently operating at their maximum capacity due to the boom in commercial industrial construction within Bangladesh. In this report I have selected Anchor cement, Olympic Cement Ltd (OCL) of ‘Khansons Group’ simply called gray cement we will describe how they do product planning for that? Khansons Group has extended its industrial arena by putting-up a clinker grinding cement plant named as Olympic Cement Ltd. We will write a custom essay sample on Product Level Planning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The plant is located at Rupatoli, Barisal all in a row along with its textile industries. The finished product (cement) has been branded as Anchor the same has become popular in the local market. This cement project commenced its initial production at 800 tpd and gradually increased the production to the level of 1,600 tpd. Olympic Cement Ltd (OCL) is one only cement factory which has targeted to meet the entire demand of cement in Southern Bengal. As a result, OCL has concentrated its sales on a soaring trend by increasing production volume. OCL is maintaining the reputation of its quality product and aiming at the extended project in days to come. Current Market Situation Overall Market Situation Bangladesh cement industry is the 40th largest market in the world. There are 70+ cement factories in Bangladesh and daily production capacity is 16. 687 Million MT. In January 2012, Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau released data confirming that cement exports had witnessed a 21% increase in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (July 2011 – January 2012). The boost in the cement sector is because of the rising construction activity in the country increasing development expenditure by the govt. Due to this the sales of cement sector will also rise every year. Product Situation Since Cement is a specialized product, requiring sophisticated infrastructure production location, so, Most of the cement industries in Bangladesh are located near/within a river side that are rich in clay. Iron mineral capacity so ‘Anchor’ cement is situated near to the bank of river ‘Kirton Khola’. Anchor cement installed capacity is 1,600 tpd at present with the turnover of 50 crore in a year. Competitive Situation: In competitive situation we will describe all the competitors of Anchor Cement producing gray cement. There are 70 + firms in the market along with Anchor Cement. All these companies are using different marketing tactics to grape as much market share as possible but they are acting like a cartel under the tree of APCMA. They are producing same quality of cement with all most same price and features that’s why competition in the market is very tough for local as well as foreign market. All are using same bulk penetration strategies to cover major portion of the market. Some are using cost leadership strategy but due to cartel act behavior they are not getting the target results that they want to achieve. Currently Crown cement is the market leader while Anchor cement is a niche in the national market but it is the leader in the local market of Barisal southern part of Bangladesh. Distribution Situation: Anchor Cement Company uses different channels of distributions to transfer the gray cement from company to the different part of Bangladesh. †¢ACC gt; Whole Sellers gt; Retailorgt; Customer †¢ACC gt; Retailorsgt; Customer †¢ACC gt; Customer †¢ACC gt; Regional Offices gt; w/s Retailors Macro-Environmental Situation Macro environmental factors directly or indirectly effect the production of the company its market. Macro- Environmental factors are the factors that are not in the control of the company. These factors are†¦.. 1. Political 2. Law order situation 3. Cultural values 4. Technological change . Demographic trends 6. Economic Condition 7. Inflation Opportunity Issue Analysis After completing the market analysis now we will do analysis of opportunities issues for the ACC. Opportunity is a chance of progress or advancement that is available in the market the company has to avail it for the progress and profitability while issues are the weakness or th reat for the company to avoid or settled down. For this purpose we have to do SWOT analysis of ACC. Strength of ACC Strengths are the internal positive factors of advantage that a company possesses. Following is the strength of ACC. Installed Capacity: Installed capacity of company is 16. 687 Million MT daily they are producing 6007. 32 MT per annum so they can exceed the production easily by proper implementing their marketing mix strategies it will directly increase profits of the company. oRaw Material: Anchor Cement Company is situated near the bank of the river kirtonkhola. So they can easily avail the huge reserve of raw materials with a very low cost as compare to other competitors’ as their cost of material is high. oHigh Quality of ACC: Quality of ACC is much better than the standard set by Bangladesh importers. Quality of production is better than most of the competitors in the market. oCheap Labor: They are using cheap labor market of Bangladesh which is strength of them due to this their price is low as compare to other compotators. oGood Govt. Policies: Local federal govts. Policies are supportive favorable to the cement sector. They are getting many benefits in term of electricity etc from BD govt. So over all ACC is enjoying good environment created by Government. Weakness of ACC Weaknesses are the internal negative factors of a company that should be avoided or to be controlled. Following are the negative factors of ACC. oNot Utilization of Full Capacity: ACC is not utilizing its full capacity of production of gray cement. They can produce more per annum so not utilizing their full capacity is also their disadvantage which they should convert it into opportunity. oFuel Electricity Charges: ACC cost comprises more than 50% costs of fuel electricity. So they should minimize these expenses as much as they can. It can really help them in uplifting their market share growth profit as well. They can convert their system or can generate their own electricity by investing in this sector. Management: ACC major boards of directors are from the same family which is also a negative factor of them. So they should introduce competent personnel’s in the company for the growth. oFreight Charges: Freight or transportation charges to other parts of the country are also a problem for them which should be settled down as soon as possible. They should minimize their e xpenses to avail greater markets present in other parts of Bangladesh. Opportunities for ACC Opportunities are chances for progress or advancement that is available in the market and the company has to avail it for the progress and profitability. These are positive external factors. Following are the opportunities available for ACC. oGovernment Development Expenditure: Govt: is spending huge amount on development projects like roads, schools, hospitals, dams infrastructure etc. ACC can avail these opportunities by responding on time to these projects. oConstruction of Big projects: Recently there are many big projects are going on Bangladesh like construction of Jamuna future park, many high rise buildings etc, also in nationwide in Barisal. ACC should explore all these opportunities to increase its market share. oDemand of Bangladeshi Cement: Recently Bangladeshi cement demand is increasing day by day in foreign markets so ACC can improve its foreign market share. This will be very favorable profitable for them. Threats for ACC Threats are the negative factors that are available in the external environments. These are unhidden threats that are waiting for company should be ready or prepared to tickle down all these threats for their existence survival. Following are the threats available for ACC. High Energy Prices: Energy prices are constantly increasing in Bangladesh worldwide which is directly affecting the profitability of ACC because major portion of cost consists of fuel energy expenses so they should find out alternative source of energy to minimize the cost of goods. oHigh level of Taxes Custom duty: High level of cost custom duty are affecting its profitability. So govt. should take constructive steps fo r the development of the industries. oCompetitors: There are 70+ firms in cement industry which make the competition very tough. Each firm is striving to get as much share as they can and they are using different tactics to excel their sales. So, ACC should take proper steps for its growth while taking into consideration all the Competitors. oPolitical Instability: It is also a main threat for ACC because it brings changes in laws regulation accordingly. Objectives After analyzing all the factors now we will set the objectives or targets we can say, for ACC that is going to be achieved in the next financial year of the company. Our objectives should be ? Specific ?Measurable ?Achievable ?Realistic ?Time bound There are 2 kinds of objectives which are: Financial Objectives †¢Marketing Objectives Financial Objectives: Financial objectives are related with the financial performance of the company or simply objectives that relate to finance. Following are the financial objectives that we can set for ACC for 2013. ?Profit after taxes should be 60 crore ?Cash flow should be 10% high Marketing Objectives Financ ial objectives should be convertible to marketing objectives. Marketing objectives are related to market or overall industry. Following are the marketing objectives of ACC. Sales should be 50% high Exports should be 40% Average price should be up to 450 pg Sales of 5,00,000 tons should be achieved in 2013 Expand the number of dealers Market share should be up to 5% Marketing Strategies Strategies are the game plan or road map to achieve the objectives set by the company by utilizing its resources. Following are the marketing strategies that should be used: oNew Markets New markets in outside inside of the country should be achieved. oDistribution outlets Distribution outlets or big distributors must be located in all the targeted markets. oAdvertisement 2% budget should be allocated for advertisement campaign on bill boards certain media channel. Low pricing strategy Low pricing strategy should be adopted as compared to competitors. oAlliance Alliances should be made with distributors realtors in important markets preference should be given to them. oSales force Sale force or sales agents should also be hired in remote areas with 5-8% commission. oMarket Research 10% Budget should be allocated to market research to know competitors , customer behavior new markets. oLower cost of goods strategy Cost of the cement should be low down to earn maximum profit Action Programs Marketing strategies should be supported with action programs or day to day plans. Each strategy should be broken down in to small programs or action that can easily be implemented. It tells us that which marketing strategy is to be completed by whom, when how what will be the cost of that? ?Sales department have to do 25 crore sales after every 4 months. ?Production department have to produce 0. 25 million tons after every 4 months. ?Purchase department should purchase furnace oil raw materials 5% less as compared to previous year. ?Management should reduce unproductive expenses @10% as compared to last year. ?Other incomes should be increased up to 10 crore as compared to last year. Marketing department should achieve their target within given budget on the basis of six months. Financial Projections †¢Following are the overall projection for year 2013. In millionsIncrease Sales500060% Cgs (Cost of goods sold)(3200)36% Gross Profit120080% Other Expenses18010% Other Income2040% Profit Before Taxes800 Taxes200 Net Profit60020% Feedback Control In the last st age of product level planning we will consider does the company actually achieved its objectives or not. In this step we will compare the actual results with the standards set out there in the planning stage. According to the above results figures ACC has achieved all the targets goals efficiently effectively. They have properly implemented the planning as compared to previous year so they have achieved the level of performance what they want. Even more fruitful results have been achieved. Usually, Anchor Cement Company carries out three types of controlling strategies which are as under.. oAnnual Plan Control ACC usually do audit or check up at the end of year that whether that have achived their annual goals/objectives or not regarding sales, profits, market share growth etc. They want to know the gap between actual standard, if found any then will fix it down in the upcoming period. If they have performed much better then they watch out the reasons behind that to implement forever in the organization. oAudit Control Internal Audit is carried out by the internal auditors. External Audit is carried out by external auditors. oStrategic Control Strategic Control is the step of the last section. In strategic control usually they evaluate whether the Anchor Cement Company marketing strategy is appropriate to the market condition or not. If not they do Changes in it to make implementable in the market. They change their strategy according to the market situation that changes so rapidly. Conclusion From the above analysis we can easily conclude that how a company usually does their product or marketing planning. I pick Anchor Cement Company collect data from different sources (mainly from web) then make the palling for them accordingly. All the above discussion gives us a bird’s eye view regarding a good product planning that a marketer can do. References http://www. khansonsgroup. com www. scribd. com Marketing Management- Philip Kotler, 11th edition

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Piri Thomas essays

Piri Thomas essays Throughout the literary life of New York, many writers have concentrated their works on the influence that the atmosphere of the city has had on their lifestyle. There is hardly a major American, English, Irish, French, or Spanish writer who hasnt poured their heart out in an autobiography that reflects their personal experience as a New Yorker. In the past few years, an enormous number of books about New York have appeared which represent a close look at the city as it is poised to defy all expectations and change in a new way. Piri Thomas was born of Puerto Rican and Cuban parents in New York Citys Spanish Harlem in 1928. The vicious street environment, racism, and crime caused Thomas to struggle for survival, identity and recognition at an early age. Poverty in the ghetto led him to drugs, youth gangs, and a series of criminal activities for which he served seven years in prison. There he began his life of rehabilitation and rose above his violent background of drugs and gang warfare by using his street and prison experience to turn youths away from the lives of crime. In 1967, Piri Thomas career and fame as an author were launched with the fascinating autobiography, Down These Mean Streets. In his writing, which he began while in prison during the 1950s, Thomas introduces the stereotypes that the society imposed on his Puerto Rican and black heritage. The undeniable power of the book claims the readers attention and emotional response because of the honesty and pain of a life in outlaw, where the dream is always to escape even in the heart of our city. Writing Down These Mean Streets forced Piri Thomas to go back into time and relive certain traumatic experiences of growing up on the rough streets of the Spanish Harlem. The book combines urban street talk and Spanish phrases with a poetic technique by giving a powerful reflection of the ghetto subcult ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Principle of Legality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Principle of Legality - Essay Example Such an integrated supply chain would be especially effective if it is designed after the market knowledge is taken into consideration and the decoupling point is properly determined. The principle of legality is based upon the premise that two different kinds of initiatives can be successfully combined in improving the efficiency of the supply chain and making the agile supply chain a reality. One of these aspects is postponement and the other is information decoupling, and Naylor et al (2000) have argued that these two can be combined into a liability or the combination of both agility as well as lean capabilities into one supply chain. Agility is defined as â€Å"using market knowledge and a virtual corporation† in order to be able to exploit the most profitable opportunities within a volatile marketplace. Leanness, on the other hand, refers to the development of a value supply chain stream that ensures that all kind of waste, including any waste of time, are all eliminated.(Naylor et al, 2000:108). The supply chain is defined as a â€Å"system whose constituent parts include material suppliers, production facilities, distribution services and customers†, all of whom are linked together in a cycle where there is a forward flow of materials and a backward flow of feedback. The decoupling point is the one that separates that part of the supply chain that is oriented towards the generation of customer orders from that part which is based on planning. (Naylor et al, 2000:108) Naylor et al (2000) also point out that agile manufacturing is the best suited to meet a market situation where there is fluctuating demand, while lean manufacturing, on the other hand, requires a level schedule but when these two elements are combined with the market knowledge taken into consideration, the decoupling point can be positioned correctly. The legality approach therefore essentially attempts to incorporate lean production methods while also adapting to a fluctuating market.   Â