Exploratory, Descriptive and Causal Research Essay

Exploratory, Descriptive and Causal Research - Essay Example imarily desires to develop insights into the problem Exploratory research must be an initial research to be conducted to clarify and then define the nature of a problem (Eden, Herrmann and Li, 2004). This is not supposed to provide conclusive evidence and subsequent research is expected. Meanwhile, descriptive research as the name implies, intends to describe the nature of business or market characteristics. It can also be used to produce data (Hughes, 2003), enable researchers to recognize associations among factors of interest. On the other hand, descriptive research cannot explicitly establish causal linkages. Mainly, surveys fall in descriptive research. Similarly, causal research is another type of business research method which aims to discover a cause and effect relationship by generating data beneath controlled conditions. Also it is capable of launching cause and effect between factors with a greater degree of certainty. The objectives as well as the research design and methods of the research problems stated in a-f, are critically analyzed and categorized according to the definition, classification, purpose, characteristics and outcomes of the three (3) research types - exploratory, descriptive and the causal research. 2. There are instances that the business team might want to find out the relationships of particular causal factors to the effects which they are predicting. In this case, they may utilize the causal research process. At the moment causes of the effects which are desired to be predicted will be fully understood, they can invariably improve the ability both to predict as well as to control the corresponding effects (Feldman, 1975). The stage in research by which researcher has to know the responses to the â€Å"why† questions without arriving to precise answers is part of the exploratory study. It is often the initial move in a series of actions that is planned by the marketing team. Exploratory research usually answers research

Three-Phase Induction Motors Essay Example for Free

Three-Phase Induction Motors Essay Three-phase induction machines account for the great majority of applications that call for motors with power ratings over 5 hp. They are used to power pumps, fans, compressors, and grinders, and in other industrial applications. Rotating Stator Field. The stator of a three-phase induction machine contains a set of windings to which three-phase electrical power is applied. The stator field can be visualized as a set of north and south poles rotating around the circumference of the stator. (North stator poles are where magnetic flux lines leave the stator, and south stator poles are where magnetic flux lines enter the stator. Because north and south poles occur in pairs, the total number of poles P is always even. The direction of rotation of the field in a three-phase induction machine can be reversed by interchanging any two of the line connections to the electrical source. We will see that this reverses the direction of mechanical rotation. You may find the fact that interchanging two of the electrical connections to the source reverses the direction of rotation to be useful in working with three-phase motors. Squirrel-Cage Induction Machines. The rotor windings of a three-phase induction machine can take two forms. The simplest, least expensive, and most rugged is known as a squirrel-cage rotor. It consists simply of bars of aluminum with shorting rings at the ends. The squirrel cage is embedded in the laminated iron rotor by casting molten aluminum into slots cut into the rotor. In the squirrel-cage induction machine, there are no external electrical connections to the rotor. The other type of rotor construction is known as a wound rotor. Torque is produced in an induction motor assuming purely resistive impedances for the rotor conductors. However, the impedances of the conductors are not purely resistive. Because the conductors are embedded in iron, there is significant series inductance associated with each conductor. The rotor slows down from synchronous speed, the stator field moves past the rotor conductors. The magnitudes of the voltages induced in the rotor conductors increase linearly with slip. For small slips, the inductive reactance of the conductors is negligible, and maximum rotor current is aligned with maximum stator field, which is the optimum situation for producing torque. Thus, the torque tends to level out as the motor slows. Because the poles on the rotor tend to become aligned with the stator poles, the torque decreases as the motor slows to a stop. The torque for zero speed is called either the starting torque or the stall torque. The maximum torque is called either the pull-out torque or the breakover torque. The motor designer can modify the shape of the torque speed characteristic by variations in the dimensions and geometry of the motor and by materials selection.

Impact of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India

Impact of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India Abstract NGO’s have grown in number over the past years in India and has been an important factor that has an impact on business, government and society. NGO’s work directly or indirectly with companies to ensure proper corporate behaviour especially when it has an impact on the society and environment. NGO’s have become an important stakeholder in business activities, government decisions by playing an important role in pointing out the shortcomings of government and Multi national corporations. The visibility of NGO’s has increased throughout the years. Many corporations are partnering with NGO’s to carry out their Corporate social responsibility related activities. So this paper aims at measuring the impact of NGO’s on Business, government and society through certain indicators and case study . Literature Review Hansen and Spitzeck.H (2010) in their paper â€Å"Stakeholder governance:An analysis of BITC Corporate responsibility index â€Å" have found that over the years NGO’s have become an integral stakeholder of a multinational corporation. Companies are partnering with NGO’s in order to address social and community needs . LaFrance and Lehmann(2005) in their paper â€Å"Corporate-Awakening why some corporations engage in Public –Private partnership† have found that the important factors why companies engage in CSR activities are to improve the community as a whole and companies provide the necessary finance , the NGO’s ensure that the right amount reaches the right people. Hess and Warren (2008) in their paper have indicated that it is important that both the company and the society benefits from CSR activities. This is on the impact of NGO’S on the business and society front. The impact of NGO’s on the functioning of the government has also increased over the years. Inger Ull in his paper â€Å"The role and impact of NGO’S in capacity development â€Å" found that NGOs have become the main service providers in functions where government lacks efficiency and over the years NGO’s have moved a step ahead from a mere â€Å"gap filling â€Å" role to a capacity building role. So this paper aims at answering the research question â€Å"In India are the NGO’s able to play a significant role in CSR activities of a company and inturn help in the transformation of the society â€Å" and â€Å" Is the government in India shunting the role of NGO’s in improving the society ?†. Method The research methodology is a case study based approach in which Procter and Gamble’s Shiksha program is taken to study how NGO’s and companies can work in a collaborative manner to bring about a change in the society. The case of Karnataka is taken to discuss the relationship between NGO’S and the government . Case Discussion CSR ACTIVITIES IN INDIA A 2011 KPMG report showed that of 100 earning companies in India only 16% of the companies have a proper CSR strategy . Even after the 2009 rule that all companies must set aside atleast 2% for CSR activities many companies struggle in putting that to use. This is mainly because companies often lack expertise on how to manage these funds. This brings a wide range of opportunities for NGO’s to step in . Major companies are relying on NGO’s to manage the CSR activities. One of the companies that has successful CSR activity in collaboration with NGO’s is Procter and Gamble through their Shiksha program PG’s CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM IN INDIA PG’s flagship CSR program is the shiksha program which was started in 2005 when PG found that education is the sector in which consumers were willing to contribute in their own little way. Shiksha enable consumers to contribute for education of under-privileged children through simple brand choices. Since inception Shiksha has gathered close to around 22 crores for helping children for a better education. The major pillars that help PG in this endeavor are the consumers and the NGO’s with which PG has partnered with. It has partnered with NGO’s like Save the children India, Army wives welfare association, Round Table India etc where these NGO’s help in building infrastructure, lay emphasis on education of girl child and differently abled children . Through this program PG along with the NGO’s have built SHIKSHA schools which gives children proper health and hygiene facilities at schools such as clean drinking water, advanced educational aids for chi ldren such as libraries and computer centres. Shiksha has also evolved into a national consumer movement with support from media, employees , consumers and celebrities . IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY The shiksha program now reaches around 385,000 children in across 200 schools in India. It has provided children with various facilities like digital library and schemes like mid-day meal and parivartan. In 2012 PG’s initiative brought about distance learning program at Government High schools through which children had access to listen to experts from various parts of the country. PG also partnered with IBTADA an NGO to adopt a girls high school in Rajasthan to encourage education of girl child. PG’s key partner a NGO called Round Table India, takes care of the maintenance and running of the RTI Shiksha schools . With the Motto of â€Å"Padhega India Toh Badhega India† PG believes that secret of brighter India lies in the future generation attaining good quality education. Through this program PG commits a minimum donation of 1 Crore every year. IMPACT ON BUSINESS CSR activities at PG had not only benefited the society , it has benefited the business activities of PG too. The shiksha program became a huge movement which was endorsed by top notch celebrities . This has increased the brand image of PG products among consumers. Moreover by making the consumers also contributors to their CSR program , PG has made the consumers also their major partners in the CSR activities and gives them the sense of giving back to the society by buying PG products. All this wouldn’t have been possible without proper partners who can make use of the funds appropriately and ensure that the money reaches the right hands. So major credit for the success of this program is owed to the NGO’s who ensure that all activities take place in a smooth manner. Therefore NGO’s indirectly contribute to the growth of a company by helping companies manage the CSR activities. Therefore from the above example of PG we can conclude that a collaboration between a company and NGO can have a significant impact on the business and society. IMPACT OF NGO’S ON GOVERNMENT Over the years NGO’s have become an integral part of the society they have become the main service providers in areas where government fails to achieve. They not only play the role of gap filling but they also help in capacity building . Unless government and NGO’s partner with each other capacity building initiatives will not be successful. But does the government in India really support NGO activities is a big question mark. Inorder to answer the question the case of relationship between government and NGO’s in Karnataka is taken. IMPACT OF NGO IN KARNATAKA In India there can be observed a pattern in the relationship between state and NGO’s pre independence NGO’s where silent partners . Post independence the relationship became antagonistic. The state sought to control the NGO’s by posing many restrictions and regulations. But in the present India most of the states work in a collaborative manner with NGO’s and the NGO’s have also become highly professionalized. Karnataka was one of the states which has an active collaboration with NGO’s. Karnataka has a fair amount of voluntary groups and they are majorly rural oriented NGO’s. One major factor for NGO development in Karnataka is the devolution of powers within the panchayathi raj. Decentralization of power makes the relationship between the government and NGO’s easier. The NGO’s in Karnataka are mostly rural oriented NGO’s but apart from these there are NGO’s who emphasize on growing importance on the alliance between the state and NGO’s . In 1990 when Infrastructure was lacking in bangalore CIVIC was started to address the issue of rapidly decaying infrastructure in Bangalore and to pressurize the government in taking necessary steps. Today Bangalore is one of the cities that has best infrastructure. Karnataka also has a strong formal networks which helps NGO’s to express solidarity, share experiences and help in identifying developmental problems. Another important factor that has helped in the collaboration of NGO’s and the state is the establishment of point of contacts. The government of Karnataka regulates and funds NGO’s . The government has also taken initiatives in setting up NGO’s or supporting existing NGO’s . An example of this is the establishment of MYRADA inorder to resettle Tibetean stay homes. The government of Karnataka has also attempted to establish institutional channels for communication with the NGO’s. In 1984 it set up a forum that consisted of NGO representatives and government heads and it was chaired by the development commissioner . This forum meets atleast twice a year inorder to discuss developmental problems and to resolve the procedural problems between the government and NGO’s . This has facilitated a better relationship between the two parties. Today Karnataka is one of the states that has active voluntary groups and the number has increased year on year. From the above case we can conclude that if NGO’s work in collaboration with the government they can have a huge impact on the government and the society Conclusion The number of NGOs in India has increased over years and they play an important role in the society. NGO’s can also have a huge impact on business and government. Through CSR activities NGO’s help companies in manging their funds and ensure that the money allocated for CSR purpose reaches the right hands. With proper collaboration with governments NGOs not only do the role of gap filling but they also help in capacity building. Therefore NGO’s have a significant impact on business, government and society. References Allard, Gayle. The Influence of Government Policies and NGOs on Capturing Private Investment. Diss. Instituto De Empressa, 2008. Web Home. PGIndia.com Social Responsibility Programs in India: Team Building, Employee Engagement. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. Hansen, and Spitzeck. Stakeholder Governance:An Analysis of BITC Corporate Responsibility Index. N.p., n.d. Web Lafrance, and Lehmann. Corporate-Awakening Why Some Corporations Engage in Public –Private Partnership. (2010): n. pag. Web

War of 1812 Essay -- essays research papers

The War of 1812   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The war of 1812, supposedly fought over neutral trading rights, was a very peculiar conflict indeed. Britain's trade restrictions, one of the main causes, were removed two days before the war started; the New Englanders, for whom the war was supposedly fought, opposed it; the most decisive battle, at New Orleans, was fought after the war ended.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Napoleonic wars, Britain and France had disrupted US shipping, confiscated American goods, taking US seamen into the British navy, and both sides had blockaded each other's ports. This caused great annoyance to American traders, and Britain's abduction of American sailors especially caused great uproar and indignation at home. Many called for war, although it is interesting to note that it was southerners and westerners, the so-called war hawks led by Clay and Calhoun, who supported war who were least affected by Britain's actions. Some historians attribute this to their desire to take British Canada and Spanish Florida in the process of war. The Republican administration, traditionally supportive of France, finally declared war on Britain in 1812, ironically two days after Britain had lifted their trade embargo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two and a half years of fighting commenced, and when the peace treaty was eventually signed in Ghent, there was no mention whatsoever of neutral rights. The treaty gave neither si...

Intangible Asset Essay

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine several issues when dealing with intangible assets. By means secondary research, relevant evidence from many sources was selected, evaluated and organized into three main points, which are research and development cost, brand valuation and the risk of intangible asset in financial statement in relation with market and book value. The evidence includes statistical data and expert opinion. The research results that intangible assets give a significant impact to the company if they are not measuring appropriately based on the accounting standards. Based on these findings, it is argued that intangible asset would affect company’s performance if there are misjudgments in the valuing of these assets. Introduction Financial statement has a significant role in businesses system in due to transparency of company’s financial position in the businesses environment. The purpose of financial report is to give important information about any changes in company’s performance that is useful for a wide range of users in making decision making in order to make investment in that particular company. According to FASB that is stated in Canibano, Garcia-Ayuso, & Sanchez (2000, p.102), financial statement should provide a useful information that will benefit to any potential investors and creditors to make further investment, credit and similar decision. Therefore, any event that will affect company’s performance either present or future should be presented in this annual report. During last 20 years, expansion in technology, economic system and people knowledge have brought many changes in businesses environment which increase the use of media due to more competition between companies a nd company’s feasibility in the future. Due all these changes as stated in Canibano, Garcia-Ayuso, & Sanchez (2000, p.102) the resource of wealth and future economic benefit is not from material production or tangible asset but from investing and management of intangible asset. As defined in paragraph 8 of AASB 138 that is noted in Picker et al (2006, p. 313) intangible asset is â€Å"an identifiable non monetary asset without physical substance†. There are two main forms of intangible asset, first legal intangible such as trademark, patent, brand  and other thing that defendable in the court and the second one is competitive intangible such as knowledge activities and other activities that have a direct impact and effectiveness to company’s performance (Wikipedia, 2010, accessed 15/05/10). Intangible asset is one of accounts that should present in the financial statement; this is however, by putting intangible assets in the financial statement, this report would be less informative because they raise the difficulties of estimation of market value and book value which can affect the company’s performance. It can be argued that there are some issues that arise when dealing with internally generated assets. Therefore, in this essay the author will discuss possible issues that can arise in intangible asset such as research and development cost, brand valuation and the risk of intangible assets in financial report in relation with market and book value. R&D cost In order to expand intangible asset, companies need to spend more money in research and development (R&D) due to market competition to get more profit. This expense is relatively expensive and continuous until the firms can find a new finding in intangible asset that can improve company’s performance. This statement is strengthened by Canibano, Garcia-Ayuso, & Sanchez (2000, pp.108-109) argument which states that between R&D and future economic benefit had not been confirmed thoroughly because there were no confirmation that can be found in relation with expanding research and development a new product can lead future improvement in the company’s performance. Changes in the R&D can cause a divergences between profit each year and also enlarge the difference between cash flow that is actually generated by firms and profit that is stated in financial statement because a new product of the research is about to be commenced and generated revenue later (Wrigley, 2008, p.258) . Furthermore, in determining research and development cost, this activity will lead to greater amount of expense in balance because when any spending for research incurred, it will be recorded as expense and it will affect company’s performance which can be a huge disadvantages for companies. If there are more expense that company generates as a result of research and development in one accounting period, it will decrease value of profit which lead to a negative expectation to investors because the investors will start to doubt with the company’s  performance if they see more expenses than profit during the year. An example arises from Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited (SIP) that was developing a new product that have a purpose to measure carbon gas emission in order safe the environment (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited 2009, p.5). Based on SIP summary of complex accounting policy, R&D cost would be capitalised if the research bring a future economic benefit or can be sold to other parties (Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited 2009, p. 54). This means that SIP would spend a lot of money to make this research success and able to generate profit but it is more expense would be generated during this research that has possibility to reduce the profit in that year. Another significant example is from Rolls-Royce Company, â€Å"in 1960’s because of R&D expenditures Rolls-Royce Company couldn’t make profit† (Yardimcioglu 2008, p.91). This explanation can be conclude that even companies increase their research and development to find a new intangible asset such as patents that have expectation to bring more profit to the particular corporation, the firms still do not have control to this expectation because of uncertainty in the future economic benefit. It also gives negative impact to firm’s performance in investing activities because it will affect the investors’ confidence to put their investment in a particular company’s. Brand valuation Brand valuation has appeared as issues that arise from measuring intangible asset in financial report of companies. This is because of the deficient of perceptive and evaluation from accounting standard in measuring brand in a firm that mostly lead to uncertainties between goodwill and other intangible assets. Brand can be defined as a unique symbol or trade mark that is used to identify goods and services differently from its competitors (Tollington, 1998, p.180). The problem that occurs from brand as intangible asset is from useful life of it because brand does not have a fixed life which can lead to misjudge of indefinite and definite life of other intangible asset (Seetharaman et al, 2001, p.247). Another problem that arises from brand measurement is the difficulties of prediction in maintaining the value of brands in a period of time, for example, well known brand like Ferrari, Marlboro and Coca Cola mostly have a stable value if compare with forgotten brand that may have less v alue (Seetharaman et al, 2001, p.247). In the most case, it has been debated that the value of brand asset could be measured  appropriately because in order to evaluate brand value, the company will use relief from royalty. However, Royalty rate is not always available and often the rate used is based on the company’s decision rather than reliable source in that particular company. If the royalty rate is too high, it could be destroy the company’s profit that could earn (Sinclair & Keller, 2007, accessed 16/05/10). Risk in financial statement. Intangible asset that takes a place in financial statement would create significant risk in relation with company’s performance. This is because the values of intangible assets have not exhibited in the financial report due to lack of measurement on intangible asset such as trademark, knowledge of employees and development of technology. An example of the risk that is reflecting the difficulties of measuring intangible asset value is from Nokia Corporation. According to the data from Yardimcioglu (2008, p.91), financial position that stated on financial statement in 1999 was US$11 billion of total asset, liabilities were US$5.3 billion and residual cost US$5.7. In 2000, Nokia’s market value was US$190 billion and made US$183 billion differences between book value and market value, and this differences arise because intangible asset that Nokia possessed. This difference should be stated in the financial statement, but after one year Nokia’s market value has decrea sed to US$97 billion and if the difference of market and book value was stated in the financial position, Nokia would lose profit by US$86 billion. Another example of the risk of intangible asset in financial statement is Rolls Royce Company; this company has suffered a loss in 1960’s that lead to serious financial issues because of transference of more sources to R&D process (Yardimcioglu, 2008, p.91). Based on these two examples, measuring intangible asset is quite difficult because â€Å",,, it is impossible to supply the deficiency between book value and market value in consequence of taking the intangible assets into financial statements (Yardimcioglu, 2008, p.91). In conclusion, there are some issues that arise from valuing of intangible asset in a corporation. This issue is including uncertainty of research and development cost that still cannot be ascertained to make future economic benefits, brand valuation because inadequate measurement for this intangible assets and the risk of putting intangible asset in financial report. Companies should do some actions to  solve this problem that might be useful for company’s management or even for investors who are willing to invest their money to the company. First, maximise the use of intellectual property by expanding only small proportion of patents. Second, introduce a new product to the market that will possibly generate an innovation and third, technologies involvement (Hand & Lev, 2003, pp. 511-512). References Canibano, L, Garcia-Ayuso & Sanchez, P 2000, â€Å"Accounting for Intangible: A Literature Review, Journal of Accounting Literature, vol.19, pp.102-130. Hand, J, R, M & Lev, B 2003, Intangible assets: values, measures, and risks, Oxford University Press, London, accessed 14/05/2010, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=RmFLUk7NydQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intangible+assets&source=bl&ots=1QtSgbhUPK&sig=Nsy8mguyyw6tV8-FUAqpWi6pzVw&hl=en&ei=jNfsS96tM47U7APH_tiMBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false Picker, R, Leo, K, Alfredson, K, Pacter, P & Wise, V 2006, Australian Accounting Standards, John Wiley & Sons, Queensland, Austalia, Seetharaman, A, Azlan Bin Mohd Nadzir, Z & Gunalan, S 2001, â€Å"A Conceptual Study on Brand Valuation†, Journal of Product & Brand Management, vol.10, no.4, pp.243-256. Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited 2009, Annual Report 2008-2009, accessed 14/05/2010, http://sigma.ice4.interactiveinvestor.com.au/Sigma0901/Annual%20Re port/EN/body.aspx?z=1&p=-1&v=2&uid= Sinclair, R & Keller, K, L 2007, â€Å"Determination of Fair Value of Intangible Assets for IFRS Reporting Purposes†, International Valuation Standards Committee (IVSC), pp.1-6, accessed 14/05/2010, http://www.ivsc.org/pubs/comment/intangibleassets/06_keller.pdf Tollington, T 1998, â€Å"Brands: the asset definition and recognition test, Journal of Product & Brand Management, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 180-192. Wikipedia 2010, Intangible Asset, accessed 14/05/2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intangible_asset Wrigley, J 2008, â€Å"Discussion of ‘What financial and non-financial information on intangibles is value-relevant? A review of the evidence†, Accounting and Business Research, vol.38, no.3, pp.257-260. Yardimcioglu, M 2008, â€Å"The Risk of Intangible

A Land Remembered essays

A Land Remembered essays In the novel, A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith, the lives of three generations of the MacIvey family are depicted over a course of one hundred and five years. The novel seems to mainly focus on the MacIvey men, Tobias and his son Zech and his grandson Sol, and the actions that they chose to take during the hardships that they faced in Floridas wilderness. One major factor of why the men made the actions and decisions that they did was because of the women in their lives. Tobias wife Emma, Zechs wife Glenda and his lover Twanda, and the woman named Bonnie that Sol was in love with, all had one thing in common and that is that they all were in love with one of the MacIvey men. In addition to being in love with the MacIvey men another thing that the four women share in common is that they all were their mens backbones. They are the ones that used their strength to keep the men going. There are many of occasions in the novel where Emma has showed that she was the backbone of the family. For example, when Tobias first decided to go on cattle drives Emma suggested that he find more men, drovers, to help him with the herd of cows. He told her that he did not have money to pay the drovers and she suggested that he pay them at the end of the drive. Tobias responded to her suggestions with a smile and said, You know, Emma, you got a heap more sense than me. This family would fall apart without you. Tobias also told Emma several times that she is the only MacIvey with brains. Glenda MacIvey showed her strength in very similar ways as Emma showed hers. After Emma died, Glenda had to step up into Emmas position and continue to take care of Zech and the rest of the men. ... just as Glenda was forced into the position of Emma. She tried to talk Zech out of doing dangerous things, but he was stubborn, just like his father, and sometimes he did not listen to Glenda pleading for him to not c...