Bata Proposal

Proposal For The Student Internship Report Semester: Fall 2012 Title of the Report: Automation and Update of the Employee Profile in BATA Shoe Co. (BD) Ltd. Rationale for Selecting the Report: I am Doing my internship in BATA shoe Co. (BD) Ltd. and currently working in the department of Human Resource Management. As BATA is a production based company and the company has to deal with man power frequently and in a huge amount. And for managing this huge man power HRD plays a huge role. And one of the biggest company in our country and in the world they are practicing Human resource Management for a long time.As they are practicing it for a long time now, previously they were doing the operations of HR in manual way but by time they got into Automation. They were keeping the data into HRIS software for a long now but in the old HRIS software many fields were missing and now they have decided to develop new HRIS software and add some new fields to it which is very important for the organ ization. By this new software they will get fully updated HRIS software with new information about all the employees, so that they will e able to use it whenever they need.And now I am helping the HR department of BATA to update the employee profile by assisting them to fill up the employee information field and collect the up-to-date information about all the employees of the organization. And giving input into the software. I think this will help me understand the process how HRIS of BATA shoe Co. (BD) Ltd. Works and how it will help the organization as well as the department of HR. it is to see how they manage the personnel through this HRIS software. Background of BATA Shoe: Bata Ltd. is a privately owned global shoe manufacturer and retailer headquartered in Ontario, Canada.The company is led by a third generation of the Bata family. With An operation in 68 countries, Bata is organized into four business units. Bata Canada, based In Toronto, serves the Canadian market with 250 stores. Based in Paris, Bata Europe Serves the European market with 500 stores. With supervision located in Singapore, Bata International boasts 3,000 stores to serve markets in Africa, the Pacific, and Asia, Finally, Bata Latin America, operating out of Mexico City, sells footwear throughout Latin America. All told, Bata owns more than 4,700 retail stores and 46 production facilities.Total employment for the company exceeds 50,000. 1894: The Bata family establishes a company in Zlin, located in what is now the Czech Republic. 1932: Founder Tomas Bata dies in an airplane accident. 1939: The Company relocates to Canada after the movement of German military forces Into Eastern Europe. 1945: Czechoslovakia business operations are nationalized by the new communist Government following World War II. 1991: Bata returns to the Czech Republic following fall of the communist regime. 1994: Thomas J. Bata, the son of the company's founder, retires. 1962: Started in Bangladesh 2001: Thomas J. B ata, Jr. becomes chairman and CEO. Bata Bangladesh is affiliated to the Bata Shoe Organization, the world's largest footwear Manufacturing and marketing organization.Started operation in Bangladesh in 1962, Incorporation in Bangladesh in 1972. Currently, Bata Bangladesh operates 2 manufacturing plant Tongi and Dhamrai, Bata Bangladesh is producing around 110,000 pairs of shoes daily. It has a modern tannery With the latest technological facilities to process 5 million square feet of leather yearly. Objectives: General Objectives: The general objective of the internship report is to learn how the HRIS works in the BATA Shoe Co. BD) Ltd. and the organizational behavior how the corporate culture works in the organization. I can also compare the practical and theoretical knowledge of Human Resource Management and HRIS. Specific Objectives: †¢It will help me to complete my undergraduate program †¢I will be able to know the HR process of BATA †¢It will also be useful for me to understand about the HRIS in BATA. Submitted By: Name of the Student (Intern): Fahmi Rahmat Nawaz ID No# 09-14444-2 Major: Human Resource Management (HRM) Date: 07-11-2012 Action by the Supervisor: Approved: Disapproved: Approved With Revision:

Consciousness In “To The Lighthouse” Essay

Stream of consciousness is a modernist narrative technique that attempts to create the illusion that the reader is experiencing the unstructured flow of observations, ideas, memories, and associations that occur in the mind of the fictional character. The stream is often illogical and puzzling in its apparent disorganization, but some patterns of association, habits of thought or recurrent images begin to emerge, providing indications of the overriding fears, preoccupations and interests of the character. The stream of consciousness tries to portray the elemental, emotional life, and the hidden psychological life of the character. In To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf develops the stream of consciousness technique as a means of exploring the inner lives of her characters, and she displays life as an aspect and function of the mind. In To the Lighthouse, we find ourselves in a small community of people who are expected to have individual interests and experiences. The Ramsays and their eight children are on holiday on the north coast of Scotland. In addition to the Ramsay family, included on this holiday are friends and acquaintances. Mr. Ramsay is a professional author and philosopher and the characters that Woolf has placed with him all seem to be of the intellectual set; Lily Briscoe is an artist, Augustus Carmichael is a poet, William Bankes is a botanist, and Charles Tansley is a scholar. Part One of To the Lighthouse, The Window, shows us the basic personalities of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey and the intricacies of their relationship with one another, as well as the mind set of other characters presented by Woolf. As the plot progresses, it appears to move on normal constructional lines from scene to scene. However, it must be remembered that Woolf uses the stream of consciousness technique, so that the change of scene is more a change of aspect, as we move from the consciousness of one character to the other. Woolf has developed her characters to be of similar intellect. Because of the closely knit, homogeneous world in which we find ourselves, Woolf has taken great care to make the movement from one consciousness to another easy and natural. To the Lighthouse is divided into three parts. Woolf marks both the change of scene, as well as the passage of time, ten years, by numerical heading. This does not interfere with the flow of the steam of consciousness, and actually fastens the reader in the plot securely, one knows where one is. The middle part entitled Time Passes, contains the facts that Mrs. Ramsay has died, Andrew has been killed in the war, and Prue has died in childbirth, as well as the decay of the neglected house. Time Passes acts as a connection between the first part, The Window, and the third part the ?The Lighthouse. Since the characters in The Lighthouse, find themselves set in the same environment as The Window it is easy for the reader to find his position in each of the characters consciousness. When I first sat down to read To the Lighthouse, I was a little confused. But as I continued reading, I recognized that through the stream of consciousness technique, Woolf made it possible for me to experience the Ramsays home and the lighthouse, as well as see and feel the characters personal reflections. Virginia Woolf successfully transported me back into a period long gone. As I finished reading To the Lighthouse, I actually visualized the green lawns, the blue ocean and the lighthouse in the distance.

Business Commnication Essay

Expanded Communication Opportunities Technology allows individuals to communicate and carry on a business relationship without ever meeting face to face, so people in all parts of the world now have the chance to interact with a company in a rural part of the United States. For example, technology allowed for the emergence of the virtual assistant, a worker who completes tasks for her client online without having ever met him, in the 20th century. Communication Must Be More Deliberate Although technology has made communication instantaneous, so you don’t have o spend hours planning and composing before you communicate and wait for a long period for the reply, it has also made planning deliberate communication periods more important. First, companies that do take advantage of telecommuting and virtual offices need to deliberately plan to communicate with individuals in teams to avoid employees losing touch and to make sure all are working toward the same goals. Second, even if you work in a physical office, instantaneous communication regarding quick decisions and memos cannot replace specific communication times where big decisions are discussed and progress reports given. However, when employees are communicating in multiple ways every day, it can be easy to forget to schedule these types of meetings. Communication Is More Distracting From constantly overhearing cell phone conversations, to the worker who is constantly emailing or texting you to the incessant â€Å"ding† of your office’s instant messenger, communication tools that were designed to make you more productive can actually do the opposite. Instant communication can make it harder for workers to deal with one task at a time when their work is constantly being interrupted by comments and questions that relate to other projects or even personal issues. In fact, some employees must make an effort to turn off communication devices while they work to meet deadlines. by Miranda Morley, Demand Media References (2) †¢ Walden University College of Management and Technology: How Has Technology Changed Business? †¢ â€Å"Entrepreneur†; Effective Communication for Managing Virtual Office Employees; David G. Javitch; December 2008 Information technology is a modern phenomenon that has dramatically changed the daily lives of individuals and businesses throughout the world. Information technology is driven by the microchip, which owes its existence to the semi-conductor. IT solutions run the gamut from personal computers and computer software to production robotics to communications technology. Leveraging information technology for business success is key to survival in the modern business world. Significance Information technology has grown to permeate the business world, affecting how companies make and market their products, as well as how people communicate and accomplish their jobs in modern organizations. Specialized software shapes best-practices and industry standards, continually changing the face of business in almost every way. Production Technology Production technology has allowed modern companies to make great strides in operational efficiency and the effectiveness of human resources. Automation technology, such as assembly lines and computer-controlled machinery, can allow companies to produce unprecedented volumes of goods, and advances in transportation technology allow businesses to ship their products anywhere in the world. Information technology has also changed the way that companies operate internally. Personal computers have become a necessity for a large majority of corporate jobs, and many manual labor jobs require the use of a handheld computer or other electronic device as well. Communications Technology Leveraging advances in communications technology is imperative to surviving in the modern business world. Advances in cellular phone technology have revolutionized the way businesspeople communicate with clients, employees, suppliers and strategic partners. The Internet has revolutionized the marketing function in addition to opening up a wide range of communication options. Modern smartphones are changing the game yet again with the introduction of new and innovative applications. A small business owner can now access a web-based customer relationship management service on a smartphone from anywhere in the world, for example, allowing him to obtain vital data about contacts before making calls. Considerations While information technology solutions can contribute to the success of your organization, there are a number of unique costs to consider. In addition to the cost of implementing an IT solution, you must employ highly educated and specialized workers to maintain, monitor, expand and repair your IT infrastructure. The Future Modern information technology has gained popularity rapidly since the mid-twentieth century, and the trend is likely to continue into the future. As IT solutions continue to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations and communications, businesses will continue to rely on IT for success †¢ Small Business Bible: Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Information Technology †¢ Benefit Of: Benefits of Technology The Disadvantages of Information Technology in Business Information technology has changed the way that the world does business. Correspondence that once took weeks to get from one organization to another is now delivered instantly with the push of a button. Advances in telecommunication allow associates from all point of the globe to confer in a virtual environment, minimizing the need for business travel. Although the benefits of integrating information technology in business are many, there are also disadvantages to its use. Implementation Expenses Every business must consider startup costs when implementing any type of information technology system. In addition to the cost of hardware and software, some technology vendors require businesses to purchase user licenses for each employee that will be operating the system. Businesses must examine the cost of training employees in unfamiliar technology. Although basic information technology systems may be user friendly, advanced programs still require formal instruction by an expert consultant. In addition to the startup expenses, information technology systems are expensive to maintain. Systems malfunction, and when they do, businesses must engage skilled technicians to troubleshoot and make the necessary repairs. These expenses present a major disadvantage of information technology in business, particularly to businesses that are entering the technology era for the first time. Job Elimination Implementing information technology into business operations can save a great deal of time during the completion of daily tasks. Paperwork is processed immediately, and financial transactions are automatically calculated. Although businesses may view this expediency as a boon, there are untoward effects to such levels of automation. As technology improves, tasks that were formerly performed by human employees are now carried out by computer systems. For example, automated telephone answering systems have replaced live receptionists in many organizations. This leads to the elimination of jobs and, in some cases, alienation of clients. Unemployed specialists and once-loyal employees may have difficulty securing future employment. Security Breaches The ability to store information in an electronic database facilitates quicker, more efficient communication. In the past, an individual would sift through stacks of paper records to retrieve data. With properly implemented technology, information can be recovered at the touch of a button. Although information technology systems allow business to be conducted at a faster pace, they are not without their flaws. Information technology systems are vulnerable to security breaches, particularly when they are accessible via the Internet. If appropriate measures are not in place, unauthorized individuals may access confidential data. Information may be altered, permanently destroyed or used for unsavory purposes. Small Business Bible: Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Information Technology Information Technology & Its Role in the Modern Organization Information technology (IT) has become a vital and integral part of every business plan. From multi-national corporations who maintain mainframe systems and databases to small businesses that own a single computer, IT plays a role. The reasons for the omnipresent use of computer technology in business can best be determined by looking at how it is being used across the business world. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]Sponsored Link Looking For New Customers Drive Customers To Your Website W/ Free Rs. 2000 Advertising Credit www. Google. com/AdWords Communication For many companies, email is the principal means of communication between employees, suppliers and customers. Email was one of the early drivers of the Internet, providing a simple and inexpensive means to communicate. Over the years, a number of other communications tools have also evolved, allowing staff to communicate using live chat systems, online meeting tools and video-conferencing systems. Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephones and smart-phones offer even more high-tech ways for employees to communicate. Inventory Management When it comes to managing inventory, organizations need to maintain enough stock to meet demand without investing in more than they require. Inventory management systems track the quantity of each item a company maintains, triggering an order of additional stock when the quantities fall below a pre-determined amount. These systems are best used when the inventory management system is connected to the point-of-sale (POS) system. The POS system ensures that each time an item is sold, one of that item is removed from the inventory count, creating a closed information loop between all departments. Data Management The days of large file rooms, rows of filing cabinets and the mailing of documents is fading fast. Today, most companies store digital versions of documents on servers and storage devices. These documents become instantly available to everyone in the company, regardless of their geographical location. Companies are able to store and maintain a tremendous amount of historical data economically, and employees benefit from immediate access to the documents they need. Management Information Systems Storing data is only a benefit if that data can be used effectively. Progressive companies use that data as part of their strategic planning process as well as the tactical execution of that strategy. Management Information Systems (MIS) enable companies to track sales data, expenses and productivity levels. The information can be used to track profitability over time, maximize return on investment and identify areas of improvement. Managers can track sales on a daily basis, allowing them to immediately react to lower-than-expected numbers by boosting employee productivity or reducing the cost of an item. Customer Relationship Management Companies are using IT to improve the way they design and manage customer relationships. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems capture every interaction a company has with a customer, so that a more enriching experience is possible. If a customer calls a call center with an issue, the customer support representative will be able to see what the customer has purchased, view shipping information, call up the training manual for that item and effectively respond to the issue. The entire interaction is stored in the CRM system, ready to be recalled if the customer calls again. The customer has a better, more focused experience and the company benefits from improved productivity. In the past 20 years technology has made many changes in the world. One of the most significant changes was in business communication, with the invention of smartphones, emails, and communication apps turned business communication into a much more efficient and effective tool for the firm’s use. Throughout this essay contrasting arguments will be provided to highlight the effects of technological advancement in business communication.. One of the most innovative technological inventions used for communication purposes was the cellphone. Important time was lost when co-workers had to move within the company in order to reach other employees with the aim of exchanging valuable information towards the company success. Now with a cellphone, employees can often be found quickly by text messaging or direct calls. With the most recent advancement of technology in the cellphone industry, the smartphones offers a higher level of productivity by offering a wider range of services and tools making communication through e-mail and other apps. Employees now can reply to emails wherever they are and use free application tools to give the feedback even faster. Therefore it can be said that most firms have become more productive after the implementation of smarthphones. Computer tools combined with fast Internet connection enable Tele-Conferencing with employees or suppliers. Tele-Conferencing also helps us setup live virtual meetings, saving a lot of money for the firm as a result of lowered travel expenses; no participants of the meeting need to add extra traveling expenses. With the advancement of smartphone apps it is now possible to scan any images on demand, any place, any time; converting paperwork or photos into virtual documents. With these technological advanced phones we can send these documents to any co-worker within the company.

CTVA 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CTVA 2 - Essay Example The number of males portrayed in photos and pictures totaled 121 while the number of females totaled 69. In all, 15 people were identified belonging to different ethnic groups. The number of writers with male names counted 13 while with female names counted 7. Text pages were 67while artwork was visible through some of the photos and pictures also included on 47 pages. Article analysis: Palestine Goes It Alone by Dan Ephron Dan Ephron has written on the possibility of making peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the year 2011. Examining the article on the first core concept of media literacy, which states that all media are construction, one perceives this construction by projecting the opposite of what President Mahmoud Abbas intends to achieve; the title of the article also points out, â€Å"Goes it Alone†, doubting the success of the peace talks. First paragraph of the article speaks in favor of the chances of peace realization but the very next paragraph dismi sses such efforts as waste of time, recalling Yasser Arafat’s 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which was a one-sided attempt without any concrete result. Different decisions and determining factors are reflected. Till the end of the second paragraph, the writer goes on dwindling between the viewpoints of stakeholders to the peace talks. Here the external reality is presented not in simple words but by presenting the past historical context on failure of talks between the two warring countries, the one still far away from global recognition as an independent country, Palestine, reflecting decisions taken by Yasser Arafat. The writer has deconstructed historical events to forecast failure of any possible peace movement in 2011. Through crafted language techniques and following its own rules, the writer makes a start with, â€Å"ODDS ARE THAT 2011 WON’T†¦Ã¢â‚¬  making a pun by using all capital letters to stress on the conclusion that the writer wants to project. In another line, â€Å"Remember Yasser Arafat’s 1988...Independence?† indicates the uselessness of the efforts of peace talks. The conclusion of the article is already decided as the title suggests, â€Å"Palestine goes it alone,† indicating that no discussions can reach a conclusion until both the warring parties come to the table. As media through this article is conveying a sense of actuality, away from superficiality; one cannot imagine any wonder here that one-sided attempts at peace making will be fruitful. Palestinians while reading the article would have different feelings of remorse while Israelis might marvel at the economic growth achieved by the West Bank, which comes nearer to the 3rd media concept of different people experiencing the same messages differently. Palestinians could experience helplessness from the endless sufferings of their people because of political instability. Lingering of the talks and not reaching their aims, people could feel a sense of harassment over the peace efforts made by the Palestinian political leadership. A small article of hardly half page projects a realistic picture of the political aspects of the problem. Readers worldwide would react on the author’s viewpoint as per their political and geographical attachment with the region and its people. The whole

Summary about a book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary about a book - Essay Example They conclude that the only person who could be in the store is the old woman working for their parents (Ledwidge). Without Andy’s knowledge, Hank hires an experienced thief who happens to be his own co-worker. The thief is known as Bobby Lasorda. Bobby is very experienced in robbery. With just one loaded gun, he can rob the shop by himself. Hank needs to wait in the car. The brothers’ mother Nanette happens to be in the store herself in place of the original clerk. The robbery goes sour when Nannette pulls a gun on Bobby, leading to a shootout. Hank runs away from the scene after seeing Bobby die. Later Nanette dies in the hospital after her husband denies her life support. Charles is not satisfied with the help from the police. He therefore decides to investigate the case himself since he knows that Bobby had a partner thus he becomes obsessed with finding out who the other criminal was. Andy chastises Hank for his mistake while Hank himself finds himself fixing many problems. Hank removes evidence he had left in the rented car he had used for the robbery. Hank is later confronted by Bobby’s brother Dex who asks for financial compensation for Bobby’s death in order to provide for his widow (Ledwidge). Hank has a secret affair with Andy’s wife, Gina. Gina claims that Andy is not satisfying her. Gina reveals her feelings to Andy at the point of leaving him. When Andy hears of Dex blackmail, he decides to solve the situation with Hank by robbing Andy’s drug dealer. Once they get at the dealers house, they overpower him and rob him off his money. Hank is shocked at seeing Andy murder the dealer together with the client who happened to be present. The brothers go to pay Dex, but Andy kills him impulsively fearing that Dex might blackmail them further. When Hank opposes Andy’s decision to kill Chris, Andy decides to kill Hank. He reveals to him that he knows about his relationship with Gina. Before Andy pulls the trigger, he is shot

What is happening with modern day China and its environmental issues Essay

What is happening with modern day China and its environmental issues - Essay Example Because of severe contamination of water, air pollution, and land degradation problems, life expectancy in the North of the country has decreased by 5.5 years (Dong, Liu, and Klein 164). Environmental degradation cost China about nine percent of its gross national income yearly. These threaten to undermine the growth of the country and exhaust society’s patience with China Government’s pace of reform. Further, this has threatened the Country’s stability, as the ruling party has to deal with increased public discontent and media scrutiny. The energy consumption of China has increased, reaching one hundred and thirty from 2000 to 2010. In 2013, Beijing witnessed a prolonged severe session of smog that the citizens dubbed it as â€Å"airpocalypse†; the hazardous particles concentration was forty times the level considered safe by the World Health Organization. Later in 2013, visibility in the Northern City of Harbin was shrank by pollution to less than fifty meters (Dong, Liu, and Klein 163). Research reveals that less than one percent of China’s five hundred cities sustain the World Health Organization’s air quality standards. In the degradation of the quality of air, coal has been the chief culprit. China is the greatest producer of coal in the world, and it accounts for approximately half of the global consumption. Equally, coal is also the chief source of the country’s sulfur dioxide accounting for ninety percent of the country’s total sulfur dioxide emissions and half of its particulate emissions. In China, coal is mostly burned in the North part of the country, and it avails approximately seventy percent of the country’s energy needs. Nevertheless, in 2011, coal emission levels from coal plants single-handedly contributed to almost two hundred and fifty thousand premature deaths. Similarly, air pollution in China is compounded by the country’s shocking urbanization pace. China’s government plans to move seventy; to seventy-five percent of

Consumer law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Consumer law - Essay Example Thus, the court held; "it was possible that a business could deal as a consumer". On the surface it appears that the ruling in R & B Customs totally contradicts the basis of the statues themselves, But upon review, we see that the vehicle was in fact purchased for double use; partly for family use, and partly for business use. The family use of the vehicle, coupled with the fact that the purchaser was not in the car business influenced the courts decision to extend an exception to the statue. So in the case of Andy, he would now be in accord with R & B Customs, he would now be classified as a consumer availing him of protection under The applicable statues found in the UCTA and the SOGA. In that we have stratified him and established his privilege to coverage as a consumer, we can approach the remaining issues affecting the car and his likely remedy. The only acknowledged car fault was with the brakes, and the dealer acknowledged the fault by accepting a 400-pound reduction in his initial price. It was presumed by Andy that a repair of the brakes would render the vehicle totally road worthy, thus of satisfactory quality. And presumably place the sale in accord with the SGA. We find a similar case in Bartlett v. Sydney Marcus (1965) the claimant purchased a second hand car from the defendants and was advised that there was a minor problem with the clutch. Being offered the option of purchasing the car at a reduced price and effecting the repairs himself, or allowing the vendors to repair the car and paying full price, he chose to accept the reduction and get the work done himself. This was indicated on the sale documents.... Andy purchased a used car for multi-purpose usage; shopping, collecting the children from school and occasional business use. He paid for the car with a cheque drawn on his business account.The only acknowledged car fault was with the brakes, and the dealer acknowledged the fault by accepting a 400-pound reduction in his initial price. It was presumed by Andy that a repair of the brakes would render the vehicle totally road worthy, thus of satisfactory quality.In the Product Warranty Liability Act a description of Implied warranty is provided to describe the suppliers contractual responsibilities (or guarantees) regarding the quality or fitness of the goods. Implied warranties, which don’t depend simply on what the supplier says but based on the consumers’ reasonable expectations about the goods in all circumstances. The supplier may be responsible under the implied warranty even if the supplier says nothing at all about the goods. The purpose and nature of implied warr anties is to protect the reasonable expectations that a buyer would have about the goods considering all the circumstances of the sale. Because reasonable expectations do not simply depend on what the supplier says but on other circumstances as well, implied warranties apply even when the supplier says nothing at all. (PWLA) The issue is supported in law by Smith v. Land and House Property Corporation, 28 CHD 7 South Australia, where the court held; â€Å" a statement of opinion can be regarded as a statement of fact in certain situations.

Consolidating U.S. and Foreign subsidiary financial statements Research Paper

Consolidating U.S. and Foreign subsidiary financial statements - Research Paper Example Is Consolidating U.S. and Foreign-based Financial Statements Hides Useful Information? The author makes a conclusion that consolidating U.S. and foreign-based financial statements withholds some information to both the public and their foreign counterparts. This is evident in many situations within their many business transactions and statements. The first case where crucial information about financial statements is masked is while translating foreign currency. According to the author, the literature that shows foreign currency translation is usually categorized into four groups. The first group shows surveys issues related to the many changes that occur in the management behavior. The second, on the other hand researches on effects that come after using alternative methods of translating financial statements. The third literature is one which studies the market and the many emerging behaviors related to market patterns, and the final study reveals different preferences that are used as translating methods, this is done by making early adoption and embracing SFAS. However, studies that are made in the first category, a study were conducted on almost 70 Multinational Companies from different parts of USA. It was found out that that most management of these companies were not speculative and were very defensive as far as rate variations were concerned and were not willing to give comprehensive reports about their translational losses. It seems like these managements felt more insecure by giving out real financial statements about their standing financial status (Rodriguez 70). In respect to this, they were ready to pay big costs which would be much higher than the existing average exchange depreciation. Houston in a different report states that managements of MNCs tend to decrease their financial exposure as they adopt SFAS # 52 (Houston 52). They have been very unpleased with the newly passed translational rules as they advocate for financial openness and transp arency (Choi 54). This is a clear indication that most Multinational Companies to a greater extent hide some important financial information that relates to their current financial status. Example 2: If there exists a foreign debt to equity ratio of 5 in the US and the parent company’s ratio is 1.25, the two of them shows different market positions at different time. Though the ratios seem vastly different from one another, it may be said that they are healthy. This is always in reference to the environment at that particular period of time. This consolidated ratio however, is given to be 2. Practically, this number is too low for a good financial environment and it can be said to be extremely high in USA. Thus, the consolidated debt in elation to prevailing equity ratio does not give us the reality in the two environments. It is clear that it contains very little and insignificant knowledge, which in fact, might be misleading. The only best way that can be employed to clearl y interpreted and analyze this debt to equity ratio is through disaggregate, which means, consolidating, and later interpreting separate numbers in respect to particular environments (Rodriguez 92). In a nutshell, consolidating US and foreign financial statements masks some of its important information. This has been proved to be true by the many cases where transparent in as far as release of

Global Crimes Rate Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Crimes Rate - Research Paper Example B. There seems to be a consistent relationship between the economic indicators and the homicide rates. For instance the nations having the lowest homicide rate also tend to have relatively low unemployment rates with Monaco having an unemployment rate equal to zero (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). In contrast the three nations having the highest homicide rate also tend to have a relatively high unemployment rate, with Jamaica having an unemployment rate of 14.3% (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). There also seems to be a relationship between the Per Capita Income and the rate of homicide in the nations under consideration. The nations having the lowest homicide rate also have a high per capita income as compared to the nations having the highest homicide rates (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). C. The other factor that needs to be mentioned is that the three nations having the lowest homicide rates that are Monaco, Palau and Hong Kong tend to be less populated as compared to the three nations having the highest homicide rates that are Honduras, El Salvador and Jamaica (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). The other thing is that in the nations having the highest homicide rates, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is much more as compared to the nations having the lowest homicide rates in which a large proportion of the GDP is accrued from the industrial and services sector as compared to the agriculture sector (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). Also the nations having the lowest homicide rates do have high life expectancy as compared to the nations having highest homicide rates (CIA The World Factbook, 2013). D. On the basis of the statistics pertaining to the nations having the highest and lowest homicide rates, it could safely be concluded that the nations with the lowest homicide rates happen to be the well developed economies where the citizens do have a relatively better access to

Kate Chopins the Awakening Essay Example for Free

Kate Chopins the Awakening Essay The Awakening, Edna Pontellier is caught by the contradictions between the way others see her and the way she sees herself. The novella is a story narrating her awakening and discovery of self. â€Å"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being, and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her. †¦ How few of us ever emerge from the beginning! † The narrator is remarking at Edna’s boldness and uniqueness as an independent woman on a quest for self-discovery. And the narrator also points out â€Å"How many souls perish in [the beginnings] tumult! † which serves to predict the chaos that comes about as Edna’s awareness grows – and can also be read as a remark foreshadowing her death. The female role that involves bearing children and being a â€Å"perfect† wife is also an important aspect of the society represented in The Awakening. While this lifestyle suits someone like Adele Ratignolle, Edna finds it unbearable and oppressive. She loves Robert and he inspires her, but her awakening at Grand Isle was complex She does not simply find a new love interest, she finds a new way of appreciating and living life. Robert is more of an excuse and an occupation rather than a full explanation for her transformation. Even though Ednas awakening means she suffers from the resulting self-awareness, the year of joy and understanding that accompanies this suffering is worth more to her than a lifetime of the semi-conscious submission that defined her former existence. The years that are gone seem like dreams—if one might go on sleeping and dreaming—but to wake up and find—oh! well! Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all ones life. † According to Edna, to live with self-awareness offers an existence far richer than a life lived according to the restricting â€Å"illusions† that are imposed by the expectations of others.

Technology in Helping the Problem of Resource Scarcity

Technology in Helping the Problem of Resource Scarcity Nimra Hussain (11U0141) and Saeeda Malik Introduction A recurring theme in economics has been the economic growth fueled by an increasing consumption of finite resources that ultimately results in those very same resources unable to cope with its greater productive use. Resources here are any essential inputs to the economic process and are restricted to energy carriers, products of photosynthesis and other industrial raw material extracted from the natural environment. Such a practice is unsustainable and instigates the need for resource innovation so as to figure out how to generate growth with fewer resources. Much of economics runs around this one basic problem of resource scarcity and the aim of this paper is to emphasize on how human beings have created technologies or developed innovative methods to meet the challenges of limited resources available. More specifically this paper will review how technological innovation has made the problem of resource scarcity less onerous. The notion of scarcity as a constraint on economic growth goes all the way back to Malthus.(Malthus 1798, 1946).Only in recent decades has scarcity been seen as a driver of innovation and thus a driver of economic growth. There have been actual instances of resource scarcity and even exhaustion usually limited to a particular resource or country. However technological innovation in these instances have allowed for the resulting issues of scarcity to be rectified. For example natural fertilizer, guano and nitrate deposits from the West coast of South America were largely exhausted by the end of the 19th century. However superphosphate from bones and mineral apatites were a replacement for natural guano. Similarly, synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers from coke-oven gas, calcium cyanamid and finally synthetic ammonia provided an alternative source of fixed nitrogen for agriculture (and military explosives). The search for alternatives to natural nitrates was deliberate and well-organiz ed. Germany led this scientific search, with the objective of breaking the British monopoly control over the Chilean sources of nitrates (Smil, 2001). Scarcities have not proven to be obstacles to economic growth. Far more often they have been stimulants to innovation that, in case after case, has led to new applications, new markets and accelerated growth rather than inhibiting it. An emerging scarcity is environmental assimilative capacity for wastes and pollutants. As it happens, most of the pollutants of concern, regionally and globally, are direct consequences of the use of fossil hydrocarbon fuels, especially coal. There is now a worldwide search for technological `fixes’ for the various environmental problems, from smog, acidification to global climate warming. But the most promising solutions involve reduced emissions, either by capture, treatment or storage of pollutants or by more efficient use of energy. Technical change is a dynamic process which includes the creation of new knowledge and technology, and the adoption of new technology by firms (Chavas et al, 1997). This technological change allows for increased production of outputs with the same amount of resources, or the use of fewer resources to produce the same amounts as before. In this way technological progress plays a vital role in the reduction of resource scarcity. It must be kept in mind that the improvements in technology do not augment the reserves of these resources, but rather augments the efficiency with which these resources are being used. A focal point in resource scarcity concerns the incentives for the discovery of reproducible technologies to substitute for finite natural resources that are being exhausted. According to Robson (1980) the date of innovation is random but can be brought forward through expenditures on research. However, according to Harris and Vickers (1995) the urgency to innovate increases as the stock of these already scarce resources dwindles. Looking at both statements intuitively it makes sense to think of technological innovation as being driven by the severity of its need as well as the expenditures needed to fuel its progress. Market responses to natural-resource scarcity automatically induce endogenous technological change that leads to resource conservation and substitution, and in turn, to the amelioration of scarcity (Barbier Homer-Dixon, 1999). Regardless of its source of provocation technological innovation plans cannot be set by countries in advance but will have to be done as they evolve with resource extraction. The idea of technical progress resolving the scarcity issue may seem simple but in reality the cost of acquiring any new knowledge and adapting it to local conditions, the adoption process of new technology may be slow. These lags between RD investment and its payoff can vary with each technology and each industry (Chavas et al, 1997) The most motivated to discover technologies are the importers of these scarce resources. Not only do they desire to overcome the problem of finite stocks but also according to Harris and Vickers (1995), to reduce their dependence upon resource producers, who often enjoy a considerable degree of monopoly power over them. The scarcer their stocks of natural resource the greater will be their RD efforts. It must also be kept in mind that innovation is exogenous and costly which explains why the possessors of large resource endowments are apprehensive towards its pursue*.Robson mentions that innovation and depletion should have opposing effects on growth as more efficient innovation leads to a slower rate of exploitation of the resource. Similarly, a larger output share for the depletable resource can lead to less innovation and a faster rate of exploitation. As mentioned earlier technological innovation is endogenous, and is determined by private and public sector decisions, rather than exogenously brought about into the economic system. If investment by these sectors is optimal then a constant growth rate of output and consumption can be maintained in the economy. Despite there being exponential population growth and scarce natural resources that are essential to production, technological innovations can allow for sustained growth and a long-run steady-state level of positive per capita consumption subject to certain conditions. These conditions as stated by Barbier and Homer-Dixon (1999) are that stable economic policies and social institutions should exist to facilitate endogenous innovations. There is a growing realization that solutions to ongoing and emerging threats to freshwater ecosystems and water resources require collaborative approaches that engage scientists, policy makers, the private sector, and other stakeholders (Chavas , 1997). Contributions by both sectors to technology have had a large and positive effect on productivity. For Chavas more specifically private RD has a strong short-term effect on productivity (after 5 to 10 years) and basically little longer term effect. In contrast, public RD has a small short-term impact on productivity, but a larger positive impact in the longer term (after 15to 22 years). Technology and research based knowledge trickles down or is transferred to and translated by policy makers and natural resource managers (Stelzer Kashian, 2014). models of knowledge transfer have been mentioned as participation, integration, learning, and negotiation. Such partnerships are essential to obtain sustainable outcomes. Once again looking at the link that overdependence on resource exploitation results in the economy remaining structurally tied to less innovative resource-based sectors, such as agriculture, minerals, oil, and other primary product sectors, and is unable to develop manufacturing and other value-added sectors that can produce learning-induced growth. In poor countries heavy resource dependent sectors have higher incidences of scarcity and conflicts over resource use. The severity of allocations can be enough to create social unrest and even violent conflict. In this way the little amount of stable institutional and policy environment needed to attract investments in innovation is disrupted coupled with the disruption of efficient and sustainable management that would have created the rents need to encourage long-term investment in innovation. Any resource crisis that does occur, its impact will be felt à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ rst and foremost by the poorest sectors of the population, for instance should a water crisis occur its impact would fall upon those that are dependent for their livelihoods on rain-fed or irrigated water in arid and semi-arid regions, where 52% of the world’s population lives (UNESCO-WWAP, 2006). Simply put poor countries such as our own will fail to achieve higher rates of growth because they fail to generate or use new technological ideas to reap greater economic opportunities. The possibility of technological innovation based solutions might not even be considered as increased scarcity often gives birth to competitive action by powerful elite groups and narrow social coalitions to defend their interests or to profit from the scarcity through rent-seeking behavior (Barbier Homer-Dixon, 1999). Robson on the other hand believes that if all the rent from the depletable resource is invested efficiently in innovation and capital, while no investment should occur, then consumption is constant. Truly technological innovation has played an important role. From Lopez-Gun and Llamas point of view thanks to virtual water, many water scarce countries have avoided a water crisis, particularly in politically unstable regions like North Africa and the Middle East. These revolutions of virtual water, groundwater and geographic information systems (GIS) are all created through scientific and technological innovation not in a vacuum but rather with the responsibility of states and other actors to carefully assess their full potential and limitations. Another instance is that of advances in technology, policy and management, such as improvements in pollution control measures (Dolan 1993) and fisheries regulations (Bruch 1999), that have benefited freshwater ecosystems. In China Hybrid corn is an example to demonstrate how innovation can help us overcome scarcity. Fish farming is another example. Intensive fish farming has increased China’s aquatic products supply by 10 times, fr eshwater aquatic products by 20 times over the last quarter of a century. This has greatly improved the food structure of Chinese people. Technological innovation is not without its flaws, as there is a cost of adjustment associated with such technologies such as those borne by workers that are displaced as a result (Stier, 1980). In conclusion innovation can indeed overcome resource scarcity as long as it is joined with government’s support for research, especially for those that of certain nature of public goods. There is also a requirement for qualified scientists and engineers, especially those who understand local needs. There needs to be team work by scientists and engineers coupled with an effective mechanism for knowledge diffusion so that invention and innovation can be used to increase productivity and create wealth. Recommendations Pakistan is another developing country where food in security and energy shortages are key indicators of resource scarcity and problems that are associated with it. In order to overcome this problem, technological innovations should be made use of which would help manage and consume these resources much more efficiently. Firstly, Pakistan should move towards more renewable sources of energy to reduce its dependence on other nations. Solar thermal energy is a cost effective resource in Pakistan (Mirza et al., 2003) and it’s consumption by the household sector can be encouraged by subsidizing solar panels. This would greatly reduce the demand for electricity from the government. The government should install small hydro power plants in areas where there is a natural flow of water to provide electricity to communities/villages that have no access to it or where it is not cost effect to install power lines. Secondly, the government needs to take large scale initiatives to not only develop but also promote the use of technology in large-scale sectors such as agriculture to ensure that producers are made aware of the scarcity of their product and also equip them with the information and ability to use technology to enhance their production capabilities and slow down the rampant process of scarcity, even if it is to a small extent. If such initiatives are streamlined by the government, it will go a long way in ensuring that resources are managed more efficiently and will also pave the way for a technological revolution in rural areas as people become accustomed to it. Thirdly, Allwood and Cullen (2012) argued that emphasis should be put on vehicles and buildings. According to them, vehicles consume a worryingly large amount of natural resources is gas and petroleum. Therefore, if manufacturers start producing lighter cars, that will significantly reduce energy use by almost 75 percent. The production of lighter cars entails not only the physical aspect but also other vehicular aspects such as a smaller engine and less horse power to ensure that the car burns less petrol. Toyota’s production and distribution of hybrid cars in Japan is a perfect example of such an initiative where hybrid cars can be seen just as frequently as normal cars, subsequently saving energy on a large scale. Furthermore, it is essential for governments all over the world to ensure that buildings are built using lesser amounts of steel and cement. Fourthly, industrial waste is a major contributor to scarcity of resources as a large amount of non-renewable resources is wasted during production. Allwood (2012) stated that one-quarter of steel produced goes to waste each year as it is not even used in the production of the final product. Ensuring that such high amounts of industrial waste are cut down will save already existing resources and make production more efficient and eco-friendly. Lastly, it is essential to improve water management and make sure that wat er is not wasted. This issue exists all over the world but is most apparent in countries like Pakistan where due to lack of water management systems, a lot of water is lost in transit and there are major issues of over-irrigation in some areas. This essentially means that some areas receive unnecessarily large amounts of water whereas some receive none at all. Ensuring a balances water management system will lead to better management of resources. This can be done by setting up a central regulatory framework that keeps a check on water distribution. Furthermore, this regulatory body should conduct research to evaluate which areas need what amount of water and subsequently make sure that the right amount reaches the right areas, in turn eliminating the concerns with water supply through proper management. References Harris, C. Vickers, J. (1995, Autumn). 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