Effects of Noontime Shows in Philippine Economy and Filipino Families Essay

Since television came out in the Philippines in the 1950s, it has become â€Å"the most accessible and most influential medium to the society† (SEECTV, 2012). The television has become such an integral part of homes in the modern world that it is hard to imagine life without television. Not just for entertainment value, but TV is also a valuable resource for advertising and different kinds of programming (Jezek Geno, 2014). The TV affects many lives of Filipino people. One’s perception, attitude, and behaviour in politics, education, health, economics, and the like are also affected. No matter how old you are, TVs are powerful in affecting one’s life either positive or negative or even in both aspects. One that affects much in the Filipino society and economy are the noontime shows. Most noontime shows are classified as game shows or variety shows. According to a research conducted by Second Year – BS Accountancy students that its effects to the Filipino families have constantly been very influential on the values of numerous Filipinos. These variety shows are entertaining, touching, and helping the lives of the Filipinos by their segments that exhibit humorous acts and taglines, their grand prizes that turn lots of Filipinos to millionaires and their other segments that help out many unfortunate Filipino families. Not just the Filipino society and families, but noontime shows also affect the Philippine economy. Philippine economy is concern about these noontime shows because these things either will result with positive or negative outcomes – the state of economy is dependent to its people. Unhealthy people will surely have a poor economy. It was also said that shows are under competition with the other shows where Philippine economy is concerned about and to its effects to the Filipino families where they are trying to take something to catch people’s attention. The Philippine economy with its noontime shows has its benefits. The bigger rating the show, the more opportunities of money to circulate. Most especially when the shows are shown outside the country, the rating would probably get higher and higher even to the countries outside Philippines. Noontime game shows have showcased two sets of audiences the balikbayan mostly women with their foreign husbands – the HAVES. The other side would be of course the HAVE NOTS that comprises the marginalized whose professions ranges from balut vendors, takatak cigarette boys, the dyaryo boteros and the palenkeras. This noontime show scenario only says one thing: there is more money and opportunity abroad. Generally, the atmosphere imbibes their audience to have a mindset that joining the game, coming to the studio as contestant or just merely watching it would improve one’s life (Jethernandez, 2008). These noontime shows also help the Philippine economy, specifically for a high rating of tourists who visit the country. Like the twin segments entitled You’re My Foreignoy and You’re My Foreignay in the Philippine noontime show, Eat Bulaga in GMA – 7. It brings to light its significance as not only a mass cultural reference but also in terms of questioning the parameters of belonging in a foreign culture and the extent of being able to become a part of a national history (Juntado, 2014). In the noontime shows that have been practically taken over by all kinds of palaro, money is being made for the program’s producers even as it is being given away. In these shows, most of their sponsors do not only place ads, but are also allotted space on the stage for their banners and have their names said aloud several times by the program hosts. But there’s the rub; in the old noontime shows, for example, much of the fun was provided by professional entertainers who sang and danced or put on skits. The few contests the programs had usually showcased a particular skill or talent — say singing or debating — and people clapped when participants were finally rewarded their well-deserved prizes (Lorenzo, 2008). Noontime shows also affect the economy when some idiotic, cheap, nonsense noontime shows were shown where people make idiots of themselves. They only show what the people want to see and not what they need to see (Func, 2015). They exploit women and insult people’s intelligence. Sometimes these shows often showed lack of respect towards others. Severe lack of common sense is what most Pinoys need to really work on – the ability to question and think first. If the show easily falls prey to even the typical â€Å"kwentong barbero† or â€Å"tsismis† around, how about the shows they watch every day? (Func, 2015). Filipinos are not dumb and senseless not to realize that they are wasting their time watching nonsense, useless, noontime shows. Instead of finding some fun in watching these shows, they will just rather take a rest and nap. These three big noontime shows affect much in the Filipino society, culture and the economy either good or bad or both. Two of these are still airing in these present times. The longest noontime show in the Philippine television is the Eat Bulaga, first aired by Radio Philippines Network or RPN 9 on July 30, 1979. The program’s original core consisted of the comic trio, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon (TVJ). This noontime show has become a showbiz institution. Eat Bulaga has time and again defied the changing seasons, shifting trends, stiff competition, and a slew of cast changes for 35 years (GMA News, 2007). The show is still on air up until now on channel GMA – 7. It’s Showtime (formerly known as Showtime) is a Philippine noontime musical variety show broadcast on ABS-CBN. The show is also broadcast worldwide through The Filipino Channel. On October 24, 2009, Showtime premiered as a morning program, airing before the network’s noontime shows, which served as the replacement of Pilipinas, Game KNB? The original cast consisted of Vhong Navarro, Anne Curtis, Kim Atienza, Jugs Jugueta and Teddy Corpuz, and Vice Ganda as the permanent judge. It’s Showtime has been airing since 2012. Wowowillie was a Philippine noontime variety show aired by TV5, The show premiered on January 26, 2013, and was broadcast live from TV5’s Delta Studio in Quezon City, with its main host and producer, Willie Revillame. The show earned the distinction of being the only noontime program to have a Strong Parental Guidance rating from the MTRCB, which was imposed due to the dancers’ provocative outfits. In September 2013, Revillame admitted in an interview that the show’s ratings â€Å"fell below expectations†, and contemplated on a possible cancellation. The show aired its final episode on October 12, 2013, six months after its debut. It was replaced by Sine Ko 5ingko Hapon on weekdays and Sabado Sinerama on Saturdays. Filipinos are known to be really innately happy but it takes a lot to make them genuinely laugh. So variety shows at noontime are very entertaining to some. Some Filipinos would say that shows at noontime are very eye-catching and also called as palaman during the lunch time. When talking about Filipino kids, some shows would probably be unhealthy to the ages such as those in the very young age where Movie and Television Review and Classification. Board (MTRCB) is concerned of. There are variety shows which are suspended due to some violations regarding in catching up viewers where people at very young age are subjected to not see or hear some actions on the shows which is not healthy at their age. Like the Wowowee where Pinoy migrants who hold get-togethers with fellow Pinoys often congregate around a television set that has The Filipino Channel (TFC) in order to watch the show and get their kids learning to dance to the Ocho-ocho, Spaghetti Song, and other sexually-explicit and unfit-for-public-broadcast crass embarrassments to Filipino identity that very often get criticized by non-Filipinos. Those immigrant Filipino communities are just small microcosms of what goes on in the teeming squatter colonies and shanty-towns all throughout the country, where birthday parties of little girls aged 5, 6, 7, or older are celebrated with the same sexually-explicit songs and dances popularized on the noontime shows (Correct Philippines, 2015) thus, not a healthy developmental milestone. Also, any kind of shows would be inappropriate when taking so long to watch especially to kids where their diet would be very affected. It is noon and the time to eat their lunch. Some children forgot to eat their foods and according to research, there is a rising case of obesity. One study showed that although there was no increase in exercise levels, relative body mass index was lowered because the children snacked less, lowering their average consumption by 100 calories per day (Guballa, 2008). Noontime shows also affect the exercise level of the individual when really focused. Some also, specifically at young ages are reading less and poor in focusing. In the same study, it was found that boys and girls with bedroom TV sets spent less time reading than others (Guballa, 2008). Furthermore, George Gerbner stated that television also have the powers to cultivate beliefs and values through the constructs‘occurrence in television shows. In his theory â€Å"The Mean World Syndrome†, he identified two types of viewers; the heavy and light. The heavy viewer‘s repetitive and hefty exposure to the same kind of information increases the probability of being affected by the show‘s content (Littlejohn, 2008). With this, a belief system about a certain topic is cultivated on the audience. This can be amplified through the process of resonance where the audience‘s view, based from television consumption, is amplified by her/his personal experiences that are aligned with the view (University of Twente). In the process, the Mean World Syndrome would be an outlook of how the world is generally perceived as a mean environment, due to the cultivation of violence among the heavy- viewing audiences. This hence creates a scary view of world. With resonance, a coincidence of an audience‘s personal experience with the prevailing view of the world would make the world even scarier. The theory also states how TV viewing leads to learning of incidental information based on the focus, involvement, capacity of the audience, or the nature of viewing. This would lead to construction of their social reality as amplified by their personal interaction and experiences in the real world (University of Twente). In contrast, noontime variety shows are not just as an entertainment to Filipinos but also an instrument to some for them to stand up, especially with their game, segments, and they give opportunities to the people in need for them to cope up with a circle of life. They had also segments promoting a game. Noontime shows also helped people to show, to develop, and to enhance their different talents and skills. Just like in Xavier University â€Å"With It’s Showtime’s great influence and exposure to Filipino viewers, XUFD 2014 also had a comical adaptation of the said noontime show and organized its very own talent competition dubbed â€Å"X-Ur show, X-Ur time, It’s XU- Time. The competition was participated in by six talented groups vying to become XU-Time’s grand winner. † (Magallanes, 2014). Noontime shows way back was a battleground for a spelling contest for elementary and high school students. Like the â€Å"IQ-7, a quiz show that was part of GMA-7’s Student Canteen in the ‘80s, in which contestants really used their brains (Lorenzo, 2008). Some shows were the Mathtinik, Sineskwela, and more. The noontime shows make the Filipino families feel relax that the only way to help them forget about their problems are to be entertained. Help relieve persistent feelings of depression or general sadness. It is like their relieving stress to avoid the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of daily life. A post on Tumblr from â€Å"Filipino Culture† that noontime shows help the family to bond and laugh together while watching these noontime shows. These improve family ties and helps in tightening the bond of Filipino families. These shows are a proof that Filipinos are standing together, although not all are fortunate to be chosen. According to some Filipinos, they also get some lessons. The Filipino rendition of a successful noontime show doesn’t really have any synonymity with the Western take on the variety or game show. It focuses on the individual, talents, and wit; if ever there would be any games, they are more often both substance and vehicle for a political economy of emotions. The objective of the Filipino noontime show is to be, to an extent; personal with those it places its attention on (Juntado, 2014).

Goal and California College San Essay

Motivation is an interesting subject which is strictly linked to success in life, academic achievements, achieving goals and making dreams come true. I have always been a pretty smart individual who actually liked attending school and liked learning. For some reason once I graduated high school, I couldn’t find myself in the college career, I mean, I wanted to study and become someone important and successful but I just couldn’t fit it. I never even applied to any State Universities because I never thought I could achieve something so great and push myself, even though I graduated with a 3. GPA. After thinking and thinking and searching for the right career and college I finished at California College San Diego (CCSD). I chose this college because it is a short term course, with an excellent program and educational system. I also have spoken to a variety of student that have attended and graduated from CCSD and I have heard nothing but positive outcomes and they have all succeeded in their fields. I decided to pursue a career in Business Management and accounting because it just seems to click with me. A business administration degree is one of the most sought after by employers because it covers such a wide area of expertise (Hunt 2013). Attaining such a degree gives you the option to a huge variety of job opportunities seeing that it covers an enormous amount of advanced professional skills for any type of field, it prepares you with special capabilities that employers seek and you will have greater opportunities for advancement, have greater earnings potential and have the opportunity of truly enjoying your job. A Peak performer sets goals and develops appropriate attitudes and behaviors to achieve desired results. Peak performers succeed by basically just focusing on results. They have their long-term goals in mind but break them down into daily to weekly goals to be able to reach the main goal. Anyone can become a peak performer by changing their mind set and having in mind â€Å"the little engine that could. † Some of the characteristics of peak performers include setting a vision, having a sense of adventure or curiosity, being willing to take risks, a devotion to personal growth, and a strong belief in themselves. Some of the traits I that I acquire are, having my long term goal in mind at all times, take responsibility for my actions, behaviors and decisions, and remain confident and resilient. Short Term and Long Term Goals My Short-term goals during my course at California College San Diego are to overall graduate in honors and on time. In order to achieve such goal a series of mini steps include: have perfect attendance, be physically and mentally in class 110%, graduate with a 4. + GPA, achieve the Dean’s list, never stay with a doubt, and always ask questions. Also applying to a numerous of scholarships is at the top of my goal list. During my college career I plan to get internships/externships to get experience in my type of field in order to procure an employment sooner than expected. During my college career I will attain a job at any high-end company with a starting position. After achieving my associates in business management and accounting I plan to go straight into my bac helor’s. My long term goals meaning in approximately 5 years is after finishing my bachelor’s I plan to continue to my master’s if not done so yet. After my college career by that time I will be in a higher paying position and with my higher paying ratio I will then have the deposit for a new home, a new car, and maybe a deposit for a new start-up business. By this time I will then start my own family wanting only 2 children and still living in San Diego, Spring Valley as a preference. A more personal and one of my biggest/main goals is after completing all of my credentials/degrees is helping my parents in all their troubles and go visit my grandmothers grave to show her and tell her that I did it. That I, Estephene Santana, did it and that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Fears When it comes to having fears I could sincerely say I don’t have any when it comes to my college education and my life. â€Å"Fears are nothing more than a state of mind. †- Napoleon Hill. What I do have is possible obstacles that can occur during my road to success. A big obstacle yet a blessing that I can stumble over is, getting pregnant. Both my husband and I have been planning on wanting a baby but at the same time I want to wait till I achieve my degrees. A variety of obstacles that can arise in my life consist of financial issues, conflicts with my husband/family, grief, losing people we love is inevitable even though I don’t desire something so tragic to happen sadly it does, etc. if you have a mind-set of achieving whatever you set your mind to, the world cannot know what you can be capable of. Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. †(Washington ) Thanks When I reach graduation the main people I will thank will be my mother and my husband because they have both seen me struggle and have helped me throughout them. My husband, who has been my main support system for about 6 years, is the one who has always pushed me to strive. He knows me from head to toe, he is my strength when all I am left is weakness. He is the one who pushed me to walk through the doors of CCSD. My mom, my everything, my guardian angel, my mother is so amazing and the most important person that can ever exist in my life. I have her to thank because she is always there for me she gave me life, she has and I know that she will continue to help me overcome any obstacles that come my way whether they be big or small she is always there. She has always wanted me to become someone important in life and not suffer how my dad and she did. And when I graduate in honors I will smile at my mom and tell her â€Å"I love you I did it, and I did it for you. Conclusion In closing, I have established a variety of goals, I know there will be many barriers to overcome but I will achieve it I will succeed in life and become someone important. The high-expectations I have for myself will give me the motivation in completing my Business degree and graduating from California College San Diego in Honors. In brief, I want to become someone important in the business world working for a high-end company. I am not only motivated by my loved ones but also I am self-motivated to be great, to live great and to do great.

Chicago Bulls and DNA Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chicago Bulls and DNA Testing - Essay Example As the discussion outlines, a DNA test would have detected any anomalies in their systems and would have given the club’s medical team a head`s up and thus prevented these situations. It is crucial for professional athletes especially the ones whose families have a history of these diseases and complications to undergo a DNA test. Examples of such diseases include heart diseases, blood pressure complications, asthma and hypertension. If the symptoms are detected, the medical team can determine if the athlete should be allowed to play or not, it all depends on how the level of the threat posed by the discovered signs is handled. There are no clear laws that prohibit or disallow DNA testing although some players feel that the club asking for a DNA test is abusing its powers. The club and the affected individuals to decide on whether the test should be conducted. Clubs and professional sports associations conduct DNA tests for different reasons. Some clubs especially in Major Lea gue Baseball conduct these tests to insulate themselves from lawsuits and spending of millions of dollars on players` medical bills and lawsuits. In the recent past, sports prospects from the Dominican Republic often lie about their age to gain access in the United States where they are offered millions of dollars only to find out that the player lied about his age and name. Clubs also perform the tests to prevent any future situation that may arise from earlier detected complications and spare the fans from witnessing terrifying spectacles as players collapse while playing on the field. Some countries such as Australia have made strides that ensure predictive genetic information cannot be used to make decisions affecting employment and this law extends to professional sports.

Medicaid and HMOs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medicaid and HMOs - Essay Example Of the different types, HMO is usually the least expensive plan. Patients will not have any deductibles in HMOs and the co-pay is very reasonable. This plan covers preventive measures such as yearly check-ups. The perceived downside of HMO is that you have to choose your doctor and other health providers in your HMO network. You can be restricted in your choices. PPOs, or Preferred Provider Organizations, like HMOs, have pre-approved lists of healthcare providers. Like HMOs, this type of Medicare Advantage Plan allows for the insured to choose from doctors and other healthcare professionals outside of this network. However, this plan cost you more in the deductibles, co-insurance and other out-of-pocket expenses. In this plan, when you use a non-participating provider you will be paying more for that privilege. A Point-of-Service plan or POS is a bit like a combination of the HMO and PPO. Like the HMO, you must select your own doctor or primary physician but can also have the choice to go out of your network like in a PPO. If you stay within the network like HMO, your copayment and deductibles are small.

The Federal Reserve System Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Federal Reserve System - Term Paper Example Its major mandate is to regulate the monetary policy in the country in order to support the broader economic objectives of economic stability, low inflation as well as the unemployment level. President of United States of America appoints the chairman of the Fed along with the seven members of the board of governors. Board of governors is required to serve for the period of 14 years however; the approval of the Congress is required in order to give legal credence to the appointment of the members of the Board. This paper therefore will discuss Fed, how it operates, and its role in the future monetary policy besides discussing its structure and broader objectives it is required to achieve. The Role of Central Bank Before discussing The Federal Reserve System, it is important to present a discussion on the role of central bank within the economy and how it supports it. There are three important tasks or functions of a central bank within an economy i.e. to issue currency notes, regulate monetary policy as well as control the inflation. Based on these broader objectives, a central bank therefore also serves as the banker of the government and serves as lender of lost resort for the banking system in the country. Its role is therefore not just limited to the management of monetary policy within the economy but also to ensure that the whole financial system remains stable and intact. (Blinder) The overall primary function of a central bank is to regulate the monetary policy of a country however, there are also other functions also including managing interest rates within the economy , ensuring that inflation remains within the acceptable level and issuance of currency notes as legal tenders. Managing the level of unemployment at a certain level is also one of the key tasks of a central bank. The recent economic downturn could have resulted into the overall collapse of world financial system however, timely intervention from the central banks of different countries ensured that the financial system remains intact. During the current phase, different central banks therefore took steps which were not traditionally related with the central banks. Steps such as quantitative easing, injecting liquidity into the financial institutions resulted into the complete aversion of the collapse of whole financial system. The Federal Reserve System The Federal Reserve System or Fed is the central banking system in United States of America and was formulated during 1907. Over the period of time, the roles and responsibilities of the Fed as a central bank of the country have also evolved and Fed is now considered as one of the most advanced central banking systems in the world. (Greider) It is to be noted that the Fed as a system evolved as a resulted of the enactment of different laws which gave different powers to Fed. Over the period of time, the overall independence of Fed as a monetary policy authority within the country has increased and Fed is now completely independent in taking its own decisions without significant intervention from the Government or any other body of the State. Fed was initially formulated in order to tackle the initial issues faced by the US economy due to wider fluctuations. However, its role was further broadened and expanded in the wake of the

Challenging Banning Boxing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Challenging Banning Boxing - Essay Example Lately, health and fitness-conscious people have included boxing in their exercise regimen since it also increases stamina and makes dieting more effective. People's interest in boxing increases as years pass by. More kids would want to follow the footsteps of boxing icons like Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano who rose to fame and became financially able because of boxing. It can be noted that most of the boxers came from a lowly background; it could be because some view this sport as an avenue to escape from poverty. For boxing aficionados, the level of excitement that the action-packed sport brings is incomparable to any martial arts. But the boxers' dilemma does not vary that much whether they are in the boxing ring at the rural areas or in world-class arenas. But is the few critical injuries incurred in boxing enough to make the authorities decide to ban the sport I'd say, not! Banning boxing because of its close proximity to savage violent behavior is wrong. Prohibiting this sport will defeat its purpose of instilling a sense of disciple particularly in young individuals who are working hard to reach their dream of becoming a world boxing champion. Discipline in a sense that boxing keeps the youth away from engaging in prohibited drugs and other vices. Many of life's lessons are ac

Gestational diabetes and implementation Orem self-care model Research Paper

Gestational diabetes and implementation Orem self-care model - Research Paper Example Insulin resistance in pregnant women is an adaptive change that ensures delivery of glucose from the mother’s system to the fetus. According to Wada et al. (2010), placental hormones, such as placental growth hormone and progesterone, increases the activity of p85 in the 3T3-L1 found in adipose cells; and inactivates the second messenger system responsible for insulin response. Unhealthy eating habits, such as too much sugar in the diet, can cause glucose to accumulate in the mother’s blood; and prolong its clearance from the system eventually leading to gestational diabetes. The complications associated with GDM include: preeclampsia--blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg and protein in the urine; preterm labor; and increased risk of infection. GDM effects on the baby include: macrosomia (birth weight of 4000 to 4500 g); neonatal hypoglycemia; jaundice; calcium or magnesium imbalance; and stillbirth. Health Issue â€Å"Each year, nearly 135,000 American women develop type 2 diabetes while they are pregnant...even though their blood sugar levels were normal before pregnancy† (Metzger, 2006, p. 243). ... The complications associated with gestational diabetes can jeopardize the health of the mother and the fetus; and can lead to death. Macrosomic infants are predisposed to shoulder dislocation and suffocation while the probability that the mother will have to undergo emergency caesarean section is increased (Vidarsdottir, Geirsson, Hardardottir, Valdimarsdottir, & Daqbjartsson, 2011). According to Ekabua et al. (2005), perinatal mortality rate is highest in infants weighing 4.0 to 4.4 kg (4000 to 4400 g), as well as in macrosomic babies delivered via caesarean section. Cause of death includes obstructed labor, which cut-off the oxygen supply to the fetus and ruptured uterus that cause the mother to hemorrhage as well as cut-off the oxygen supply to the fetus (Ekabua et al., 2005). According to Thadhani (2009), gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are linked to a high incidence and a high death rate during pregnancy and increases the woman’s predisposition to develop diabetes a nd cardiovascular diseases after pregnancy. Planned Intervention Prenatal care ensures that the pregnant woman and the fetus are healthy for the entire duration of the pregnancy. Prenatal care allows the obstetrician to detect early signs of pregnancy-induced complications, especially gestational diabetes and prevent it from causing untoward effects to the mother, as well as the fetus. Due to the increasing incidence of gestational diabetes, Leu and Zonszein (2010) suggests that early screening of all pregnant women, unless categorized under the low risk group, should be employed by health care providers. Glucose tolerance test should be administered between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy, or earlier if gestational diabetes has occurred in past

Bank first Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bank first - Essay Example 381- 384). Factors that influenced demand curve of houses to shift to the right are increased disposable income through mortgages and a consequential demand level. This increased the aggregate demand to raise the equilibrium price (Boyes and Melvin, p. 49- 50). Factors that caused a shift in supply curve are reduced consumer’s financial capacity, the legal provision for foreclosures and the reduced number of people who could buy the available homes. This had an effect of lowering the equilibrium price (Boyes and Melvin, p. 54- 56). The U.S. economy was at the depression stage during the housing crisis. This is because of the comparative condition that unlike previous poor economic conditions in which banks could resell foreclosed homes, the period was the worst, and such resale was not possible (Boyes and Melvin, p. 132). The economy is currently at the recovery stage, a stage that follows depression towards restructuring. The recovery period is also identifiable by the transition that followed the crises such as government initiative to save the banking sector through bailing them. The banking industry has however not reached its peak performance (Boyes and Melvin, p. 132). The government efforts to bail out the banks did not prevent depression. This is because it played a microeconomic role to a single sector of the economy instead of ensuring a comprehensive approach to the macroeconomic problem. This is however not the proper role of the government whose responsibility covers all sectors of the economy, including protection of consumers. The company’s identified risk factors include inconsistency in â€Å"economic and financial environment† that sometimes adversely affect performance, lack of confidence in the government’s ability to ensure a stable economic status, variation in interest rates that sometimes lowers

Starbucks Coffee Essay Example for Free

Starbucks Coffee Essay Starbucks coffee has pursued rapid expansion both at home and abroad. In mid- 2004, Starbucks could boast more than 7,800 outlets around the world, and chairman Howard Schultz and CEO Orin Smith have no plans to slow the growth, ? The company planned at least 1, 300 more stores in 2004 and has a long term goal of reaching 10, 000 outlets in the United States alone. The presidents vision is that the company ? Starbucks? could have as many as 15,000 international stores. Today Starbucks has nearly 1, 500 store outlets in the United States including Europe , Pacific Rim ,Middle East and Mexico. ? Most of Starbucks international stores are now operated as joint ventures with local companies. Starbucks has to go fast or lose the opportunity ? and a local partner can facilitate rapid development of a new market. Executives are learning to adapt the companys operating methods and product offerings to better suit local conditions and tastes. 1) ? How could you classify Starbucks grand strategy and global strategy? Which of Porters competitive strategies is the company using? Explain each answer? ? ? We classified the grand strategy of starbucks pertaining to its Growth. In order for starbucks to sell and market its products is by: ? A. ?Allocating new funds to invest namely like prime locations and lots. Basically any establishment will earn more if the store is located in a highly busy route or place. Potential clients can be marketed. ? B. Investing in hiring the best and qualified personnel. In order for a store to run smoothly , the company should have competent and high breed of people who can manage the store and the same time enjoy the work itself. ? C. ?Purchasing of new set of equipments , glassware , lighting , tables and chairs can be a plus factor for a good ambiance. For the Global Strategy , Starbuck is implementing Transitional process where in they seek to achieve both global integration and national responsiveness. A true transitional strategy is difficult to achieve , because one goal requires close global coordination while the other goal requires local flexibility. However a lot of increased competition means they must achieve global efficiency , going pressure to meet local demands and national responsiveness. Starbucks designs quality stores to sell and market its products to use components in a few larger scale, basically , the company goes global to introduce it to other countries and to increase its market. 2. Discuss how top executives are using leadership structure , information and control systems and or human resource to implement international strategy? What steps would you recommend for implementing drive-through stores or Hear Music coffee houses? ? Top executives uses its leadership qualities by bringing Starbucks on a the right path and showing a vision for the company and its employees. Top executives have several ideas percolating to the companys growth. ? a. Establish rapport and solid partnership or joint venture with other countries makes things cohesive. b. ?Adapting the companys operating methods and product offerings to better suit local conditions and taste. Not all countries have same taste with regards to starbucks products. They sell what is needed and wanted. c. Acquiring highly skilled people barista? who can prepare , serve and enjoy the tasks. 3 Starbucks has typically maintained a uniform look and feel to its outlets and product offerings. What do you think this change might mean for starbucks in terms of further international expansion? ? ?Starbucks is known for there quality of coffee, excellent service and appealing ambiance. We believe Starbucks coffee is a brand and neighborhood name. You can see a starbucks store in a 2 km radius. Basically there everywhere. Making some changes the way they look and maintained a uniform type of set-up can only mean one thing. The Company is growing. Changes are normal. Most of the food and coffee establishments try to change and create ideas to in order to sell new products. As for starbucks , they should do the same to be more competitive and to increase sales and revenues. ?

Pramoedya Anata Toer Essay Example for Free

Pramoedya Anata Toer Essay Inem, is a short story written by Pramoedya Anata Toer. He was a Indonesian short story writter and a novel writer, born in a village called Blora. Blora was the village in short story where (Gus Muk), his mom, and Inems family lived in. The author refers to his culture and events about his life in the story. His father in real life is a activist who ruined his family by obsessive gambling. Pramoedya writes alot of Indonesian literature. The aspects of culture in Inem, is the tradition of child marriages. In some parts of the world child marriages was a tradition. Girls at a young age were supposed to marry an older boy. The story also shows the reader some of the cultural aspects such as popular entertainment and dances in her area. The characters in the story are, Gus Muk (age6) a boy, also the narrator who basically trails Inems life. Inems father who is a criminal and gambles alot, her mother who lives off batik work and helps the family, and Markaban (age17) who is Inems husband. Lastly theres Inem (age 8) a so called beatiful girl in the neighbor hood who had great manners. Inem is in search of happiness with her new life and husband but ends up being a beaten divorcee. Overview/summary Its a story told in second person perspective about a beautiful young girl (Inem) who is a servant to a boy (Gus Muk) and his mother. In the story Inem is so beautiful and respectful and able to do many things but is only eight years old and Gus Muk is six. Eventually her mother found a man named, Markaban who is seventeen years old. Her mom did not want to let this marriage go so she wants Inem to get married so she can help her familly at home. Inems family and the husband family both accept the marriage. Inems father was a criminal who robbed people in the forest, but was never arrested. Inems mother had a talk with Gus Muks mother to try and get her to come home. The boys mother disapproves of the marriage and does not want Inem to go on with this. Gus Muks mom said Its not right to make children mary repeatedly. Inems mother said that it would be a shame for her not to be married at such a old age. Inem was later taken home to prepare for her wedding day. Gus Muks mom did not want him playing with Inem but that did not stop him from going over to play. The day before the wedding Gus Muk sent her family five kilos of rice and twenty-five cents as a gift. The day of her wedding came, and everything was going well, the house was decorated, the tajuban dancing girls was the entertainment, and finally Inem and her husband get married. Inem was officially married and worked with her mom making batik. Every night Gus Muk and his mother listen to screaming and crying when Inems husband wrestles with her. She comes crying to Gus Muks mom and tells her that Markaban beats her and she tells her to go back home and serve Markaban faithfully. Inem comes back again but finally divorced with her husband, and asks if Gus Muks mother can taker her back, but Gus Muks mom denies her request and sends her back home. Inem gets beaten by anyone who wanted to, her family and neighbors could because she was a burden to the family. Although she cries and screams she never came back to Gus Muks house.

Trends in Nigerias telecommunications sector

Trends in Nigerias telecommunications sector CHAPTER 4 This section reviews the various trends in the flow of FDI in Nigerias telecommunications sector; the pre-liberalisation era and the post liberalisation era of the sector putting into consideration the circumstances that led to this policy change by the government of Nigeria. The determinants of telecoms FDI and its impact on Nigerias economic growth is analyzed taking note of the trend in inflow before and after the adoption of the liberalisation policy (1980 and 2008) 4.1.1 Pre-Liberalisation Era: Move towards Liberalisation (1980-1999) Prior to 1980, the telecommunications sector was viewed as a strategically imperative but comparatively neglected sector in Nigeria. It was one of the most undeveloped telecoms sector in Africa as it was largely characterized by poor performance manifested in low profitability, large unmet demand for services, poor technical and operational quality of service, and absence of new services. The sector was heavily dominated by the state-run monopoly-NITEL In spite of the mounting hitches of the telecom sector in Nigeria, the need for its privatization was not felt until the mid 1980s with the commencement of the structural adjustment programme (SAP). Between 1988 and 1991, the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC) carried out a comprehensive diagnostic appraisal of NITELs operations and adopted the commercialization option because the enterprise was considered strategic. The aim of this sector reform was to increase competition, lead to greater managerial autonomy and improve the incentive structure through the eradication of some of the principal-agent problems (Jerome, 2002). The resort to privatization/commercialization was informed by several considerations. First, by 1985, the quantum of resources required to sustain the state owned enterprise (SOE) NITEL had become an excruciating burden on Nigeria. Second, it was predicted that a carefully planned privatization programme would be an effective strategy to improve efficiency of operations, broadening share ownership, attracting foreign investment and reduce government participation where the private sector has the capabilities to operate more efficiently and lastly, the success of developed countries privatisation programme (Jerome, 2002). Prior to commercialization, NITEL operated as a very inefficient monopoly grappling with lack of clear policy direction, counterproductive bureaucratic red tape and a myriad of other problems. These negative factors put together prompted the government to make policy changes towards FDI. Subsequently, the telecommunications industry in Nigeria witnessed the deregulation of telecommunications services in 1992 through the promulgation of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Decree, No. 75 of 1992, introducing private participation in the provision of telecommunications services in Nigeria, thus ending the state-owned NITELs monopoly of the sector and ushering in competition. The federal government, through the promulgation of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Decree No. 75 of 1992, introduced private participation in the provision of telecommunications services in Nigeria. The telecommunications business was hereby open to foreign operators in different telecommunications se rvice areas to improve the sectors efficiency (Jerome, 2002). During this period, the government issued a new policy framework and set the following sector targets to increase telecommunication growth rate to an annual minimum of 13.5% such that 10% of the rural communities are served in the short term, 30% in the medium term and 60% in the long term; achieve a teledensity of 1.5 by 2001 by installing 1.5 million lines and 1.2 million mobile telephone lines. Install 8 million fixed lines by 2005; and ensure that in the medium term, telephones are within 5 kilometres walking distance in stead of the current 50 kilometres (Tella et al, 2007). All this and even more was achieved within a short period of time after foreign investors entered the telecoms market. Under the new dispensation, NITEL was denied access to subsidies, privileges and other forms of soft capital that enabled it to compete without improving efficiency. More importantly, commercialization was quickly followed by deregulation, which put an end to state owned NITELs monopoly of the sector. NITEL responded to the competitive environment by articulating a strategic plan aimed at ensuring growth and retaining a greater market share. The company was reregistered as a public limited company (Plc) under the Companies and Allied Matters Decree of 1990 with a completely new capital structure of fully paid 55 million ordinary shares of N100 each, giving an equity base of N5.5 billion and a new gearing ratio of 3:2 (Jerome, 2002). The companys stature as a fully commercialized enterprise invariably meant greater expectation from government, consumers and the general public. However, the commercialization of NITEL has not been a huge success as NITEL still operates like the civil se rvice, with functions structured within hierarchical and poorly coordinated departments and service provision organized along geographical lines corresponding to administrative regions in the country. 4.1.2 Liberalisation and FDI promotion Era (1999-2001) After the first step towards deregulating the telecoms sector by the military government in 1992 to boost the sectors development failed, and also due to the inefficiency of NITEL, the democratic government in 1999 further saw the need to liberalise and encourage foreign investment in the telecoms sector. As foreign investors seemed to have the expertise and finances required to provide telecommunications services in Nigerias market which was served by the monopoly of NITEL. The liberalization of Nigerias telecommunications industry started in the early 1990s and accelerated in 2000, after the election of a democratic government. By 2001, foreign investors were issued licences to commence operations. Prior to the auction of the license, Nigeria was viewed as a high-risk investment country, however, from 2001 all the companies have recorded impressive trading profits (Ndukwe, 2008). This could suggest that the factors that encouraged foreign firms to invest in Nigerias telecoms sector and the substantial improvement in the sectors efficiency was as a result of the regime shift. The democratic government encouraged greater private sector and foreign firms participation in the delivery of telecommunications services in Nigeria to introduce competition in the sector, and to strengthen ongoing reform efforts to embrace full privatization of NITEL with a view to overcoming prolonged constraints on telecommunications performance and growth (Jerome, 2002). There fore, it can be said that the involvement of the democratic government during the liberalisation era acted as an important locational advantage that encouraged market seeking FDI such as telecommunication service firms to invest in Nigeria. Some of the policies embarked on by the Nigerian government to attract foreign investors as a result of the introduction of the SAP are the establishment of the Industrial Development Coordinating Committee (IDCC), investment incentive strategy, the privatization and commercialization programme, and the shift in macroeconomic management in favour of industrialization, deregulation and market-based arrangements. Evidence from literature also found that the macro policies in place before the SAP discouraged foreign investors (Odozi , 1995). Some of the other incentives for foreign investors include the new Nigerian Enterprise decree in 1989 which authorized 100% foreign ownership in any new venture except those in banking, oil, insurance, and mining. Furthermore, the military government decreed the establishment of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the commission was charged with the responsibility facilitating the process of businesses set up in Nigeria and thereby reducing the time required to set up a foreign affiliate)as well as the liberalization of the foreign exchange market. The government also introduced a new visa policy to enable genuine foreign investors to acquire entry visa to Nigeria within 48hours of submitting the required documentation, furthermore, the expatriate quota requirement for foreign nationals working in Nigeria was replaced with work permit. The government also provides non-fiscal incentives to foreign investors in the telecommunication sector in addition to a tariff struc ture that ensures that investors recuperate their investment over a reasonable period of time, bearing in mind the need for differential tariffs between urban and rural areas. Rebate and tax relief are provided for the local manufacture of telecommunications equipment and provision of telecommunications services (UNCTAD, 2010). These, with amendments, are the policies implemented by the Nigerian government to attract foreign investment. The relative success of this era, though very little flow of FDI inflow entered the country initially, marked the beginning of increased foreign investors interest in Nigeria. As a result, there has been discernible change in the relationship between telecoms FDI and economic growth in Nigeria after these policies were implemented. Subsequently, the reform undertaken resulted in increased profitability, network expansion and modernization of telecommunications services in Nigeria. 4.1.3 Post Liberalisation Era (2001-2008) During this period, the sector recorded strong growth in the Nigerian telecommunications sector especially in the fixed-line market; also, private operators have recently increased investments as the market plans for the expected boom in internet broadband. Between 2000 and 2009, the telecommunications sector has contributed to Nigerias economy in various ways such as the creation of direct and indirect employment in the economy. Also, reliable telecommunications networks has improved the productivity and efficiency of other sectors of the economy such as the banking, stock transaction, e-payment, distance learning, e-health and other commercial transactions are now ICT enabled hereby enhancing the quality of life (Ndukwe, 2004). It has further assisted the country to attract FDI into other sectors of the economy; theoretically, greater FDI flow into developing countries that have better telecommunications networks (Lydon and Williams 2005). Which will invariably improve the standard of living of the inhabitants, as the number of people that have direct access to telecoms services have increased; previously telecoms services was seen as useful to and affordable for the educated and wealthy people in the country. Also through competition, it has helped improve sector efficiency and the costs of services and the telecommunications products such as phones, laptops, etc have become affordable for the average Nigerian population. Lastly, it has been a source of revenue generation for the government in form of tax. NCC (2006) reported that MTN paid N9.8million tax to the Federal Government of Nigeria, while the workers paid N 1.1 billion as tax to the government. The company also paid N34.8 billion to the government for license fee, duties and other statutory payments to the government. At the end of 2007, MTN had paid a total tax of approximately N150 billion since it began operations in 2000. The government has earned a total of N250 billion from spectrum licensing fee (NCC 2008, Mawoli, 2009). The rising share of greenfield projects amoung FDI investment in Nigerias telecoms (as in the case of MTN and Etisalat) reflects the effects of opening the sector to competition and the shrinking number of assets to be privatized (World bank, 2006). With the liberalization of the telecommunication sector, Nigerias telecommunications sector is evidently experiencing rapid growth. Figure 4.2 below shows the trend of telecoms FDI inflow into Nigeria between 1999 when the sector was liberalised and 2008; obviously the growth of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria has exceeded all estimated forecasts. With this growth rate between 1999 and 2008, theres enormous growth potential in the market, as there has been a continuous increase in demand for telecom service because of the market liberalization and massive telecom investments from foreign MNCs. Figure 4.3 below shows the increase in telecoms operators in Nigeria and other African countries. In the first quarter of 2008, there were 22 telecommunications operators in the country, compared to only the monopoly by NITEL as at 1999 (NCC, 2009). Over recent years, all branches of the telecom industry have generated considerable growth and the telecom industry has emerged as a main motor of the countrys economy. It is only the oil sector that has seen more investment and telecom is now seen as the second most lucrative branch for investment in Nigerias economy. As a result, Nigeria presently possesses Africas largest and most promising telecom market. Even though Nigeria is trying to meet up with other countries in terms of providing phone technology at an affordable price and doing so reliably, the market has taken significant strides in its development (Ariyo 2005). Concomitant with the encouraging volume of FDI inflow for the telecoms sector was a very successful policy which succeeded in effectively changing the pattern of FDI flow into this sector. This growth potential has also attracted foreign operators that have recently acquired some of the private players (HSBC global research, 2009). Such as in the case of Zain which was formely owned by Econet and was later acquired by Vmobile, in July 2010, Zain announced the sale of 100% of its shares to Bharti Airtel at $10.7 billion on an enterprise basis. The sectors contribution to Nigerias GDP increased from 0.6% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2008 which is an increase over fourfolds. This can be attributed to the increase in foreign investment in the sector. Also, the sector recorded a real GDP growth of 32.54 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared with 31.75 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2009. The figure below shows the performance of the sector in the first quarter of 2010. The total telecom productivity capacity, number of connected line, competition, GSM telecoms services, service quality, FDI inflow and employment generation in the telecoms sector improved significantly after full liberalization. However, the industry is still currently facing some challenges such as high operation costs and service tariffs of the telecom companies as a result of the poor electricity supply in the country (Mawoli, 2009). 4.2 Determinants of FDI into the telecoms sector of Nigeria It is important to note that various factors determine the choice of a firm to invest abroad. Because this case is that of a service firm where their services cannot be easily exported or traded, FDI is the best option. This is market seeking FDI therefore its determinants might be different from that of non-service firms. Theoretically, a firm must possess ownership of some firm-specific tangible or intangible asset or skill that gives it an advantage over other firms (Ownership advantage) before it can engage in FDI (Dunning, 1988). From the discussion above the determinants of foreign investment into the Nigerian telecommunications sector in the early 2000 till date can be deduced to be the following: 4.2.1 Liberalization of the sector The first sector specific step Nigeria took to attract foreign investment was to liberalize the telecommunications sector therefore opening it up to foreign investors to allow competition and efficiency. This is the most fundamental factor for attracting FDI because if there is no opportunity to invest in a country (other than purchasing the current operator, where that option is offered), there can be no FDI (Worldbank, 2006). By deregulating the domestic telecommunications sector, the Nigerian government predicted that this would make the telecoms markets attractive to foreign investors which was the same strategy adopted by developed nations to improve the state of their telecoms sector. The democratic government embarked on the reform of public enterprises, including privatization, within the framework of macroeconomic reform and liberalization which has been a successful strategy to attract FDI into the telecoms sector of the country (Afeikhena 2002). There was no way foreign investors would have invested in the market without the liberalisation policy which makes it the major determinant of FDI into the sector. 4.2.2 Regime type Positive improvements have taken place in Nigeria since May 29, 1999 when democracy replaced the flurry of military governments. The democratic government encouraged a number of strong-willed actions in an effort to attract foreign investors into the country (Fatoki 2006). It is obvious that during the military era, foreign firms did not have the interest of investing in Nigerias telecoms market despite the first move towards liberalizing the economy by the military government in 1992 until during the democratic era in 1999 when foreign firms entered the market the following year. Also, the involvement of the democratic government in 2000 encouraged market seeking FDI as it served as a locational advantage for telecommunication service firms to invest in Nigeria. 4.2.3 Market size and growth After the liberalisation of the sector, strategic foreign investors were drawn into Nigeria to seek new market opportunities, higher returns and diversification of risks. The failure of NITEL to meet the demand of subscribers must have influenced foreign investors been that they have prospects to gain large market share because of their knowledge, familiarity and past experiences of foreign investment in other developing countries (as the first entrants MTN and ECONET are multinational firms who have previous investment in other developing countries). With the success of the first few entrants into the sector further attracted more foreign firms into the country in subsequent years despite the perspective of Nigeria as a high-risk investment country. Theoretically, the investment incentive for market seeking FDI such as telecom firms who seek to expand their market presence by increasing their penetration in local markets is the market size and growth. These firms focus on local production and local sale (as opposed to exporting) they hereby place high emphasis on market size, market growth, and consumption ability (Na and Lightfoot 2006). As this is the case for Nigeria telecoms sector whos main aim is to serve domestic markets and become competitive in other ways-such as through proximity to the market and being able to respond to changing local circumstances and preferences (Lim 2001). Moreover, tapping the demand for services in a host country requires a physical presence when services are difficult to trade, which implies that FDI in services is likely to be market-seeking. 4.2.4 Institutional Environment Various policies and incentives were adopted by the government to attract FDI in Nigeria. Such institutional factors (as mentioned above) include the 100% foreign ownership, the NIPC, the visa policy to enable genuine foreign investors acquire entry visa to Nigeria within 48hours of submitting the required documentation, work permit in place of expatriate quota for foreign nationals, quick return on investment, rebate and tax relief provided for the local manufacture of telecommunications equipment and provision of telecommunications services. This factor directly affects business operations and has further encouraged foreign investors in Nigeria telecoms sector. 4.3 Impact of telecoms FDI on Nigerias economic growth Telecommunications in Nigeria has performed dual role as a traded service likewise a vehicle for trade in other sectors of the economy. Since the liberalization of the telecoms market in 2000, Nigeria has attracted foreign investors into the country and has been declared as one of the highest growing telecoms market in the world. Concomitant with this is the growth of the economy as a result of this inflow. The impact of the industrys FDI inflow on economic growth can be measured from various aspects but the four most important will be addressed in this section. Figure 4.6 below shows the revenue from telecoms as a percentage of GDP. There has been an increase in the revenue from telecoms as a percent of GDP between 1990 and 2008. In 1999 it was at 0.8% which continued to increase to 1.05% in 1992; it however dropped between 1993 and 1997 to 0.7%. In 1998, it increased to 1.35 and declined to 0.65% in 2000. However, the revenue from telecoms between 2001 and 2008 is very much higher than the revenue from telecoms recorded between 1990 and 2000. It increased from 1.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2004 but declined in 2005 to 3.1% and grew to 3.4% in 2008. 4.3.1 Telecoms FDI and employment generation. Subsequent to the entry of foreign investors into Nigerias telecom market, the sector has contributed to the economy in various ways one of which is through the generation of employment for a significant number of Nigerians. Over 3,500 people were directly employed and an estimated 400,000 indirect employment created by GSM operators in 2003. However in 2003, total subscribers of telecoms service were about 4million and approximately 59 million in 2008 which would infer that the number of direct and indirect employment created by the telecoms industry would have increased in manifolds (Mawoli, 2009). Though, in recent times no proper estimate has been made of the volume and impact of new employment creation due to this growth in the sector. Table 4.1 below (although a bit outdated as a result of unavailability of a more recent one) shows that the telecommunications sector accounts for the highest amount of employment creation in the whole economy as at 2005. However as at March 2010, the telecoms sector created a total of over 3million direct and indirect employment related to the telecoms service in the country. The telecoms sector has hereby increased employment through self finance businesses some of which include dealerships, cyber cafes, one-man phone boot operations, phone repairs, sale of accessories, GSM vendors, PR agencies, call centre employees, security personnel, etc (NCC, 2010). Based on this evidence, the fastest growing employer of labour in Nigeria is the telecommunications industry especially the wireless telephone service provider. This increase in employment is as a result of the liberalisation of the sector which was dominated by a single national telephone provider (NITEL), increase in competition among telecoms players thereby requiring more labour in order to meet the increasing demand for their services and improve the performance of the under-performing sector. Many young Nigerians who would have otherwise remained unemployed are finding steady employment in this sector. Hereby reducing the unemployment rate in the country, although it cannot be concluded that this sector has to large extent helped curb unemployment but it has created more employment in the economy. 4.3.2 Telecoms FDI and infrastructure development Since 2001, the telecommunication companies in Nigeria have jointly contributed to the development of the nations infrastructural facilities by investing billions of dollars in infrastructure deployments, network rollouts, upgrades and expansions due to the previous state of Nigerias infrastructure as highly underdeveloped. These consist mainly of fibreà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ optic cables, base stations and satellite connections, transmitting traffic between cities and to other countries. To support the mobile infrastructure, operators have also embarked on building backbone networks to improve their operations. Such investments include the construction of three networks: a core telecommunication network, a transmission network, a power supply network and also bringing in skilled ICT employees (NCC, 2010). Telecoms investment has focused on infrastructure development in the fixed and mobile networks, growing subscriber base from 17.4million in 2005 to over 24.1million in 2007. A look at a specific operator illustrates the magnitude of telecom players role in the overall infrastructure and operational investment in Nigeria. MTN which is also the operator with the highest market share has invested the most in Nigeria. After the initial network rollout, which took the lions share of its revenue in 2004, MTN claims to have allocated more than 30% of its revenue to capital expenditure (capex). During this period, MTN focused its investment on building up the transmission network to substitute for the lack of established telecom infrastructure (NCC, 2010). Figure 4.7 below shows the percentage of MTNs revenue allocated to capex. In April 2009, Nigerian operators declared that $10bn in further investment is needed for network upgrades and expansion over the next 10 years. Etisalat Nigeria has a budget to invest about $2bn to build network infrastructure in Nigeria over the next three years. MTN has also secured a loan of $600million for expansion of its operations in Nigeria (NCC, 2010). MTN has received N318 ($2.15 billion) bank loan from 17 local and international banks to further expands it network capacity across the country (Nkanga, 2010). Recently, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China agreed to provide $200 million worth of credit for another telecoms company Zain Nigeria to purchase telecoms equipment (NCC, 2010). Theoretically, the efforts of these firms to expand capacity reflect the strategic rivalry between firms in the global marketplace in order to compete effectively. 4.3.3 Telecoms FDI, Technology and Knowledge Transfer Foreign investment in Nigerias telecommunications sector has introduced new technology, research projects and initiatives which have brought significant revenue and an employment boost to Nigeria. So far, most Nigerian mobile operators, such as MTN, Zain and Glo (second national carrier), have undergone a technological evolution from 2G to 2.5G and even 3G. Following Glo Mobiles entry in 2003, the operator started operating on a 2.5G network and brought to Nigeria the benefits of value added services: Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS), Glo Mobile Internet, Glo Mobile Office and Glo Fleet Manager (a vehicle tracking application that gives the subscriber the ability to track and trace equipped vehicles which is an early implementation of an M2M (machine to machine) service). Glo was also the first operator to launch mobile access to the Internet, with other 3G licensees replicating the move soon thereafter. MTN launched an HSDPA enabled 3.5G network in June 2008, while Zain launched its 3G service in early 2009. The introduction of BlackBerry handsets is another step in the transition to next generation services. The BlackBerry was launched in Nigeria by Globacom in 2006, and MTN followed suit in March 2007. The BlackBerry platform is a powerful tool for business people across Nigeria, given the patchy fixed line and Internet penetration in the country. In May 2009, Zain contributed to further popularizing the device by introducing prepaid BlackBerry service. In Nigeria, and at the overall African level, the most immediate wave of innovation will come in the form of connectivity for the growing pools of laptop and smartphone users. In addition, mobile broadband has positive effects on societies through the development of human capital. After analyzing developments in Nigeria, it can be suggested that the rollout of Internet services has positive effects on three broad aspects of the society: development, resource management and networking. Telecommunication ser vices improve social transformation in Nigeria by bringing connectivity to remote areas and to lower income strata. In less than a decade, mobile technologies have enabled network access for a large share of the countrys population, with respect to the ability of these technologies to reach remote and sparsely populated areas both faster and more cost effectively than fixed infrastructure. The transfer of technology to Nigeria has reduced the technology gap between developed nations and Nigeria which is a great step towards development which is an essential determinant of long-term economic growth (NCC, 2010). Subsequently, there has been an increase in the number of technologies and a quality improvement of Nigerias existing technologies which both play a crucial role in economic growth. Transmission of this new ideas and technologies, adoption of high technology products from more advanced economies through FDI, are channels through which technological diffusion can spread to the different sectors of the recipient economy (Toulaboe et al. 2007). Conclusion This chapter has analysed the various determinants of telecoms FDI in Nigeria and the impact of telecoms FDI on Nigerias economic growth. The determinants are liberalisation of the telecom sector, market size and growth, regime type and institutional environment. Factors such as low transaction costs, political stability and trade openness are cannot be said to be determinants of FDI in Nigerias telecom sector as operators still face a lot of challenges in the cost of setting up and maintaining their companys operations in Nigeria such as poor power supply and security, high import duties on telecoms equipments (30-70%). Though international trade in services is on the rise, the fact remains that many services such as telecommunications are non-tradable or costly to trade. And for the telecoms sector whose products to a large extent cannot be subjected to cross-border trade, the trade openness of a host country can be expected to have less of an impact on FDI inflows in that sector. This section further discussed that FDI in the telecoms sector has contributed to economic growth through the generation of employment, infrastructure development and technology/knowledge transfer. The next chapter discusses the findings and concludes the research work.

A Look at Myelin and Myelin-Related Disorders Essay -- Biology Essays

A Look at Myelin and Myelin-Related Disorders Myelin is the protective sheath around axons in the nervous system, and is often referred to as 'white matter.' It acts as an insulator to the electrical signal that is conducted down the axon as a neuron fires, and can well be compared to the insulation around an electrical wire. The myelin sheath contains a variety of fatty substances (lipids), and contains at least ten distinct chemicals (2). . From what is known, axons are not fully myelinated at birth, but myelin is formed from birth on into the second decade of life (3). The way myelination takes place is through glial cells wrapping around the axons in a spiral fashion. The axons are originally embedded in these glial cells, and the cell's membranes extend to wrap the axon tightly and repeatedly. 'Glia' comes from Greek, meaning 'glue,' hinting at the way the cell's membrane sticks to the axon, and how the different layers of the extended membrane stick to each other. There are different glial cells that form myelin: in the ce ntral nervous system, these cells are referred to as oligodendrocytes, and in the peripheral nervous system they are Schwann cells. While in the peripheral nervous system the glial cell wraps around a single axon to insulate it, in the central nervous system a glial cell may wrap around several axons at once (4).. The characteristics and specific functions of myelin have not fully been explored by researchers, and as far as I can tell most current research efforts are initiated by groups that research myelin-related disorders, such as the Myelin Profect. In demyelinating diseases, the myelin sheath around some axons is targeted. These diseases fall into two main groups: acquired diseases and heredit... ...bout the leukodystrophies http://www.ulf.org/ulf/intro/#inf1 3) Myelin Disorders Menu

Grapes of Wrath Essay: Moving From Me to We -- Grapes Wrath essays

Moving From Me to We in The Grapes of Wrath      The play, The Grapes of Wrath, explores how the Joad family adapts to a new reality, how their concern changes from their own family and problems, to other families and their difficulties, until their concern includes all of the migrants and the larger problems of unemployment and prejudice. The Joad family’s journey to California results in the breakup of their family. The very first cause of the breakup of the individual family was with the loss of their land. The Joad family had lived there for many generations and had very strong ties to the land. Losing their land was equivalent to losing their family history. This is expressed by â€Å"She puts them in her pocket, closes the box, stands and with resignation tosses the box on the fire†(Galati 21). It is very evident that ma is reluctant to let her past go. On their journey they lose their first family member, Grampa Joad. This shows that there is a strong connection between a man and his home. Grampa’s great longing for his homeland ultimately resulted in his death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shift from individual thinking to wide spread thinking is most directly seen in the actions of Tom Joad. In the beginning of the play Tom is mainly concerned for his own welfare. He wants to make up for all the things that he missed while in prison. Later on in the play he is more concerned with the welfare of the people. Then finally his thinking had shifted to trying to do what is best for all the migrant people by helping them organize into striking. Casy also had foreseen trouble along the way, but the family still pursued west. When Casy states â€Å"I’m all worried up. I been watc... ...any other people in their situation. In the end, Ma realizes that the family doesn’t come first anymore but anybody who just needs help should come first. Everyone had a shift in thinking - sometimes it takes a tragedy to make you see things in a new and different way.      1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   You should include a conclusion paragraph in your paper.   A conclusion re-caps on what you have discussed in your paper.   In one sentence each describe what you wrote in each paragraph.   Then combine all of those thoughts into one sentence to end your paper.   The conclusion paragraph begins specifically with each theme but broadens, by the end, to include every theme. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also always be sure to cite each quote.   Make sure that you have the author and the page number every time.    Grapes of Wrath Essay: Moving From Me to We -- Grapes Wrath essays Moving From Me to We in The Grapes of Wrath      The play, The Grapes of Wrath, explores how the Joad family adapts to a new reality, how their concern changes from their own family and problems, to other families and their difficulties, until their concern includes all of the migrants and the larger problems of unemployment and prejudice. The Joad family’s journey to California results in the breakup of their family. The very first cause of the breakup of the individual family was with the loss of their land. The Joad family had lived there for many generations and had very strong ties to the land. Losing their land was equivalent to losing their family history. This is expressed by â€Å"She puts them in her pocket, closes the box, stands and with resignation tosses the box on the fire†(Galati 21). It is very evident that ma is reluctant to let her past go. On their journey they lose their first family member, Grampa Joad. This shows that there is a strong connection between a man and his home. Grampa’s great longing for his homeland ultimately resulted in his death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The shift from individual thinking to wide spread thinking is most directly seen in the actions of Tom Joad. In the beginning of the play Tom is mainly concerned for his own welfare. He wants to make up for all the things that he missed while in prison. Later on in the play he is more concerned with the welfare of the people. Then finally his thinking had shifted to trying to do what is best for all the migrant people by helping them organize into striking. Casy also had foreseen trouble along the way, but the family still pursued west. When Casy states â€Å"I’m all worried up. I been watc... ...any other people in their situation. In the end, Ma realizes that the family doesn’t come first anymore but anybody who just needs help should come first. Everyone had a shift in thinking - sometimes it takes a tragedy to make you see things in a new and different way.      1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   You should include a conclusion paragraph in your paper.   A conclusion re-caps on what you have discussed in your paper.   In one sentence each describe what you wrote in each paragraph.   Then combine all of those thoughts into one sentence to end your paper.   The conclusion paragraph begins specifically with each theme but broadens, by the end, to include every theme. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also always be sure to cite each quote.   Make sure that you have the author and the page number every time.   

Management Information System Essay

Question 1 : In the 21st century, information technology has emerged as the fundamental technology of business. Explain how it has helped business and state examples of real time situation which you have read about of experienced. Decision Support, Problem Analysis and Overall Control Business managers often need to make decisions that can affect the business’ fortunes one way or other. For example, a company with sales outlets or distributors spread over a wide geographic area might want to optimize the logistical operations of delivering merchandise to the outlets. The best solution might be affected by numerous factors such as demand patterns, availability of merchandise, distances involved and the option of using external carriers (who can find two way loads and might prove a lesser cost option over long distances) instead of own vehicles. While it might be possible to use complex mathematical formulas by hand to compute the best solution, computers transform the whole process into a routine task of feeding certain information as input and obtaining suggestions for best solutions as output. The task can typically be done in a few minutes (instead of hours or even days) and it becomes possible to examine several alternatives before deciding upon one that seems most realistic. Identifying problems and analysing the factors that cause them also has been transformed by modern computer information systems. In a typical MIS environment, standard reports are generated in a routine manner comparing actual performance against original estimates. The software that generates the report can be instructed to highlight exceptions, i.e. significant variations between original estimates and actual performance. Managers will thus become aware of problem areas in the daily course of their work simply by looking at the reports they receive, without having to do detailed data collection and computations themselves. Identifying the factors responsible for the problem can also be routinized to some extent by using such tools as variance analysis. Variance analysis is an element of standard costing system that splits deviations from estimates (or standards) into causative factors such as increase in price of materials used, excessive usage of materials, unexpected machine downtimes, etc. With such a detailed report, managers can delve deeper into the problem factor, such as why there was excessive usage of materials. Control is also exercised through variance analysis. Budgets are prepared for all business operations by concerned managers working in a coordinated fashion. For example, estimated sales volumes will determine the levels of production; production levels will determine raw material purchases; and so on. With good information system management, it then becomes possible to generate timely reports comparing actual sales, production, raw material deliveries, etc against estimated levels. The reports will help managers to keep a watch on things and take corrective action quickly. For example, the production manager will become aware of falling sales (or rising sales) of particular products and can prepare to make adjustments in production schedules, and purchasing and inventory managers will become quickly aware of any mounting inventories of unused materials. MIS thus enhances the quality of communication all around and can significantly improve the effectiveness of operations control. Effective MIS Involves Humans and Computers Working together The major aspect to note is that MIS provides only the information; it is the responsibility of concerned managers to act on the information. It is the synergy between efficient, accurate and speedy equipment and humans with common sense, intelligence and judgment that really gives power to MIS. As a chartered accountant with business management qualifications and decades of exposure to business in senior to top level positions, Gopinathan helps small to medium businesses with new business start-up, business performance improvement and marketing. He uses structured business modelling techniques to help with all these, and has launched a business support website to provide the help in a convenient manner irrespective of geographical distances and boundaries. 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. Information technology management includes many of the basic functions of management, such as staffing, organizing, budgeting and control, but it also has functions that are unique to IT, such as software development, change management, network planning and tech support. Generally, IT is used by organizations to support and compliment their business operations. The advantages brought about by having a dedicated IT department are too great for most organizations to pass up. Some organizations actually use IT as the centre of their business. Positive Impact on Business: First off, I.T. affects how businesses go about with their usual routine. For instance: the technology allows companies to go paperless, depending only on digital databases to store important data. Many pundits see this as a risk; isn’t digital data flimsy and unreliable, they ask. But the shift offers several benefits as well—including reduction in operational cost, since the business no longer has to buy or rent space or equipment just to store data. Information Technology also affects the accuracy of business operations. When a company uses a computerized accounting system instead of relying on a real live accountant, they eliminate (or, at the very least, significantly reduce) human error. And because such systems allow for faster operations, the company’s workers can concentrate on more pressing tasks. The impact of the Management Information System The impact of MIS on the functions is in its management. With a good MIS support, the management of marketing, finance, production and personnel becomes more efficient, the tracking and monitoring the functional targets becomes easy. The functional managers are informed about the progress, achievements and shortfalls in the activity and the targets. The manager is kept alert by providing certain information indicating the probable trends in the various aspects of business. This helps in forecasting and long-term perspective planning. The manager† attention is brought to a situation which is exceptional in nature, inducing him to take an action or a decision in the matter. A disciplined information reporting system creates a structured database and a knowledge base for all the people in the organization. The information is available in such a form that it can be used straight away or by blending and analysis, saving the manager’s valuable time. The MIS creates another impact in the organization which relates to the understanding of the business itself. The MIS begins with the definition of a data entity and its attributes. It uses a dictionary of data, entity and attributes, respectively, designed for information generation in the organization. Since all the information systems use the dictionary, there is common understanding of terms and terminology in the organization bringing clarity in the communication and a similar understanding of an event in the organization. The MIS calls for a systemization of the business operations for an effective system design. This leads to streamlining of the operations which complicate the system design. It improves the administration of the business by bringing a discipline in its operations everybody is required to follow and use systems and procedures. This process brings a high degree of professionalism in the business operations. Since the goals and objective of the MIS are the products of business goals and objectives, it helps indirectly to pull the entire organization in one direction towards the corporate goals and objectives by providing the relevant information to the people in the organization. A well designed system with a focus on the manager makes an impact on the managerial efficiency. The fund of information motivates an enlightened manager to use a variety of tools of the management. It helps him to resort to such exercises as experimentation and modelling. The use of computers enables him to use the tools and techniques which are impossible to use manually. The ready-made packages make this task simpler. The impact is on the managerial ability to perform. It improv es the decision making ability considerably. 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. Accessibility By making communication more convenient, communication technology has helped to make communication more accessible, especially long-distance communication. Through various computer-mediated communication methods–communication done through the use of a computer, such as email, instant messages, and social networking websites–you can easily and instantly communicate with people in other cities, states and countries. This is vastly different from early forms of long-distance communication. Early forms of long-distance communication included the use of homing pigeons and/or runners to carry a message to its destination. How long a message would take before reaching its destination depended on the distance between the person sending the message and the person receiving the message. Mass Communication Organizations, like schools and businesses, use electronic communication to share information with a large number of people. Businesses can send mass emails to employees in order to inform workers about things like rule changes and important meetings. Many academic institutions use mass communication in order to maintain a well-informed campus. In case of an emergency, such as a spreading fire or presence of an armed assailant, mass communication can quickly inform people of the situation, giving enough notice to allow people to take the necessary actions to stay safe. Computer-mediated communication can be socially beneficial. For people who are socially awkward, computer-mediated communication such as online forums and chat rooms can help create a more fulfilling social life. For example, someone who fails at personal relationships because he speaks before thinking about the consequences has more control with Internet communication. He can read back his statements before posting, which will likely reduce the number of awkward moments the person creates. Communication technology offers other benefits, as well. Dating websites, for instance, can relieve some of the frustration involved with dating by allowing you to view the profiles of potential dates so you can determine who is the best match for you. This can save you both time and heartbreak. 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. Question 4 : The role of hospital has changed from medical assistance to health care. What are the important information systems required to be considered while implementing front-end application development for hospital management? HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (HIS) A hospital information system (HIS) is essentially a computer system that can manage all the information to allow health care providers to do their jobs effectively. These systems have been around since they were first introduced in the 1960s and have evolved with time and the modernization of healthcare facilities. The computers were not as fast in those days and they were not able to provide information in real time as they do today. The staff used them primarily for managing billing and hospital inventory. All this has changed now, and today hospital information systems include the integration of all clinical, financial and administrative applications. Modern HIS includes many applications addressing the needs of various departments in a hospital. They manage the data related to the clinic, finance department, laboratory, nursing, pharmacy and also the radiology and pathology departments. The hospitals that have switched to HIS have access to quick and reliable information including patients’ records illustrating details about their demographics, gender, age etc. By a simple click of the mouse they receive important data pertaining to hospital finance systems, diet of patients, and even the distribution of medications. With this information they can monitor drug usage in the facility and improve its effectiveness. Many hospitals have as many as 200 disparate systems combined into their HIS. Hospital information systems have become very advanced and new innovations are continuously being introduced. But a HIS is useless if it confuses the hospital employees. The system must be user friendly and should include training by the vendors. A good HIS offers numerous benefits to a hospital including but not limited to the delivery of quality patient care and better financial management. The HIS should also be patient centric, medical staff centric, affordable and scalable. The technology changes quickly and if the system is not flexible it will not be able to accommodate hospital growth. COMPONENTS It can be composed of one or a few software components with specialty-specific extensions as well as of a large variety of sub-systems in medical specialties * Laboratory Information System (LIS) * Radiology Information System (RIS) * Clinical Information System (CIS) * Nursing Information Systems (NIS) * Pharmacy Information System (PIS) SOFTWARE COMPONENT Software Component is a system element offering a predefined service or event, and able to communicate with other components. It should be : * Multiple-use * Non-context-specific * Compostable with other components (inter relationship with other components) * Encapsulated i.e., non-investigable through its interfaces * A unit of independent deployment and versioning Laboratory Information System (LIS) Laboratory Information System (LIS) is a software based laboratory and information management system that offers a set of key features that support a modern laboratory’s operations. Those key features include but are not limited to workflow and data tracking support, flexible architecture, and smart data exchange interfaces, which fully support its use in regulated environments. The features and uses of a LIMS have evolved over the years from simple sample tracking to an enterprise resource planning tool that manages multiple aspects of laboratory informatics. Due to the rapid pace at which laboratories and their data management needs shift, the definition of LIMS has become somewhat controversial. As the needs of the modern laboratory vary widely from lab to lab, what is needed from a laboratory information management system also shifts. The end result: the definition of a LIMS will shift based on who you ask and what their vision of the modern lab. Radiology Information System (RIS) A radiology information system (RIS) is a networked software suite for managing medical imagery and associated data. An RIS is especially useful for managing radiological records and associated data in a multiple locations and is often used in conjunction with a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to manage work flow and billing. An RIS has several basic functions: Patient management * An RIS can track a patient’s entire workflow within the radiology department; images and reports can be added to and retrieved from electronic medical records (EMRs) and viewed by authorized radiology staff. Scheduling * Appointments can be made for both in- and out-patients with specific radiology staff. Patient tracking * A patient’s entire radiology history can be tracked from admission to discharge. The history can be coordinated with past, present and future appointments. Results reporting * An RIS can generate statistical reports for a single patient, group of patients or particular procedure. Film tracking * An RIS can track individual films and their associate data. Billing * An RIS facilitates detailed financial record-keeping, electronic payments and automated claims submission. Clinical Information System (CIS) Clinical Information System is a collection of various information technology applications that provides a centralized repository of information related to patient care across distributed locations. This repository represents the patient’s history of illnesses and interactions with providers by encoding knowledge capable of helping clinicians decide about the patient’s condition, treatment options, and wellness activities. The repository also encodes the status of decisions, actions underway for those decisions, and relevant information that can help in performing those actions. The database could also hold other information about the patient, including genetic, environmental, and social contexts. Features : * access the medical literature * ask clinical or administrative questions of aggregates of patient data, * receive automatic warnings or suggestions when the patient’s data satisfy certain logical rules * receive critiques when proposing therapies or ordering diagnostic tests, * access guidelines for standards of care * analyse trade-offs and the likelihood of alternative outcomes (decision analysis) * receive lists of differential diagnoses Nursing Information System (NIS) Nursing information systems is a type of health care management system. It helps nurses use their nursing skills and computer knowledge within a health care environment. A nursing information system has different features and benefits. Features Nurses can self-schedule work hours based on their work shift and departmental needs. Staff nurse managers or nursing administrators can review each nurse’s schedule and make approvals. Another nursing information system feature includes documenting patient care plans. Benefits One nursing information system benefit includes saving time. For instance, nursing managers can confirm a nurse’s work availability without contacting each nurse. Nurses can review a patient’s treatment plan when working outside the office, such as a home care nurse. Pharmacy Information System (PIS) Pharmacy information systems (PIS) are complex computer systems that have been designed to meet the needs of a pharmacy department. Through the use of such systems, pharmacists can supervise and have inputs on how medication is used in a hospital. Some of the activities which Pharmacy Information Systems have been employed in pharmacy departments include: Clinical Screening The Pharmacy Information System can assist in patient care by the monitoring of drug interactions, drug allergies and other possible medication-related complications. When a prescription order is entered, the system can check to see if there are any interactions between two or more drugs taken by the patient simultaneously or with any typical food, any known allergies to the drug, and if the appropriate dosage has been given based on the patient’s age, weight and other physiologic factors. Alerts and flags come up when the system picks up any of these. Prescription Management The Pharmacy Information System can also be used to manage prescription for inpatients and/or outpatients. When prescription orders are received, the orders are matched to available pharmaceutical products and then dispensed accordingly depending on whether the patient is an inpatient or outpatient. It is possible to track all prescriptions passed through the system from who prescribed the drug, when it was prescribed to when it was dispensed. It is also possible to print out prescription labels and instructions on how medication should be taken based on the prescription. Inventory Management Pharmacies require a continuous inventory culture in order to ensure that drugs do not go out of stock. This is made even more difficult when there are multiple dispensing points. When don manually it is very difficult to maintain an accurate inventory. Pharmacy Information Systems aid inventory management by maintaining an internal inventory of all pharmaceutical products, providing alerts when the quantity of an item is below a set quantity and providing an electronic ordering system that recommends the ordering of the affected item and with the appropriate quantity from approved suppliers. Patient Drug Profiles These are patient profiles managed by the Pharmacy Information System and contain details of their current and past medications, known allergies and physiological parameters. These profiles are used for used for clinical screening anytime a prescription is ordered for the patient. Report Generation Most Pharmacy Information Systems can generate reports which range from determining medication usage patterns in the hospital to the cost of drugs purchased and /or dispensed. Interactivity with other systems It is important that Pharmacy Information Systems should be able to interact with other available systems such as the clinical information systems to receive prescription orders and financial information system for billing and charging.