ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The natural resource curse affects countries with abundant natural resources. Studies done to investigate this phenomenon reveal several paradoxical issues relating the presence of natural resources in a country. For instance, countries that rely on natural resources for budgetary financing seem to have an inverse economic growth in relation to the percentage of the national budget financed using natural wealth. This paper looks at the issue of the natural resource curse with a view of uncovering why some countries suffer from it, while others do not. Natural resources refer to endowments in mineral wealth, or naturally occurring plant and animal life. Mineral wealth in this case refers to mined substances such as precious metals, gemstones, or oil wealth. Some of these resources occur near the surface of the earth. In this case, the resource may not require mining in the conventional sense. Timber is one of the most valuable natural resources extracted from naturally occurring forests. The worldwide demand for timber is growing mainly because of increasing control and restriction on logging by authorities concerned with the conservation of nature. To a certain extent, the presence of animals such as elephants and rhinos makes a country vulnerable to natural resource issues related to the ivory trade. However, the significance of animal related natural wealth is reducing because of greater enforcement of animal protection legislation. The natural resource curse refers to the paradoxical situation where countries endowed with natural resources tend to suffer from poor economic growth, war, and poverty, more than countries not endowed with these resources. This is counter intuitive because the presence of natural resources should mean the availability of finances to bankroll development projects in a country. However, many countries that have vast amounts of natural resources tend to suffer from slow economic growth, resource wars, and disproportionate levels of corruption. Scholars present various reasons for this situation that range from corruption, to weak governance. Why Some Countries Suffer From the Natural Resource Curse There are many reasons why many countries suffer from the natural resource curse. This section examines the role of corruption, resource dependence, weak central governments, and the international business environment surrounding trade in natural resources. The nature of natural wealth is such that it is difficult to track the exact quantities produced and then delivered to markets. In addition, after the sale of the resources, it is difficult to track with accuracy the exact amount of money that eventually ends up in projects that are for the benefit of the country. Many times, governments do not control the actual mining or extraction operations of the natural resources in their territory. For instance, oil companies such as BP control mining operations in many territories around the world. This means that the governments cann
An allotment is a process utilized to measure the cost in the production departments to evaluate and measure the values of different commodities utilized in the manufacturing process. Besides, the cost allotment process also applied in evaluating the returns (profits) of a manufacturing firm thorough the evaluation of both the production and service cost centers. This paper thus will evaluate the various methods of cost allocations over departments which are composed of: the direct method, Step method, Reciprocal method, and the step method allocation as well as calculations based on the costing system. Direct method This method is the simplest of all as it only charges the service costs to production without making distributions among the supporting service units. This method does not take into account the amount of work done by a service section for other service departments or even it. However, the direct method is well known to allocate costs to the support service sections, based on the corresponding total amount allocations in different production sections as argued by (James, 2002). Reciprocal Method This technique does not assume support services costs as they are generally assumed by both direct and the step methods of cost allocation. This method tends to recognize and allocate the costs by any support service unit. Besides, it reflects on the actual processes that are exchanged within a firm system thus termed as the most accurate method of apportionment (Togo, 2014). Step Down Method allocation This technique of cost apportionment, allocates support service sections costs in an ordered, sequential steps to the production departments. There is a ranking of the support service unit, by the proportions of their total distributions bases in other support service units; from the most general support unit to the least general support service unit; until all the support services are apportioned as argued by (Yukcu & Ozkaya, 2012). This part investigates the case of the vice president of ADBI bank, who was interested in investigating the efficiency of the bank operations through checking on how ADBI handles its banking cost operations in comparison with other banks. Despite ADBI bank maintaining proper records of wages and other costs, the vice president unveils that the bank has not put any efforts to indicate how costs are linked with the various services that his bank offered. In this case, then the vice president of ADBI asked me to assist in investigating the cost of opening an account, the cost of processing withdraws and deposits, and the cost of processing the customers’ other transactions. Based on the delegated role the ADBI generates some data as per 2019 at one of its branches (Deerfield), which is instrumental for the cost unit investigation. The data that was submitted by the Deerfield branch include; the teller wage, which amounted to 160, 000 Dhs, assistant branch manager salary, which amounted to 95,000 Dhs, and the branch manager salary, 80,000 Dhs all summing to 335, 000 Dhs. Besides, the data concerning the transactions that prevailed within the branch during the ye
The topic I have selected is on Internet based collaboration tools. I have chosen this topic with an aim to understand the tools that people use to electronically communicate with each other since the introduction of the new technology has brought a lot of changes in various fields and information being one of them. It is to my realization that information can be passed to people without even watching the television, making phone calls or listening to radio.Meetings can now be conducted without people moving to the conference places just because of improvement in the computer software system. Concept map on internet based collaboration tools. Figure 1. Concept map on internet based collaboration tools. Source: Self The hypothesis I have constructed is to find out the internet based collaboration tools and their applications in learning environment and the whole business world environment areas. The following questions I suggest will help me search for the information on the topic where by to add more lather or taste on the finding Iam to exhaust all the relevant sources of information. One is what are internet based collaboration tools? What are the meanings and application of the following ten internet collaboration tools, Desktop video conferencing, E-mail, listservs, newsgroups, BBSes, Muds (Moos), VRML chat system, I phone and internet radio, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and web conferencing. I have tried to look at each other specifically with a view of identifying their applications. How do students use the various collaboration tools? What are the preparations the student should make before attempting to use the various collaboration tools in classroom? What are other areas in which the internet collaboration tools are applied? By answering these questions successfully, I believe my research will contain the materials required. The use of modern computer software technology has made people to communicate easily using the different kinds of internet collaboration tools. These tools have moved people from the manual or traditional way of communication to modern way of communication electronically. Apart from being used by students in education environment there are quite a number of areas they are applied or used. The following are the internet collaboration tools discussed in this research paper and their applications in education sector majorly by students in the universities and the entire global environment. I would begin with discussing the Desktop Video conferencing (DVC) as an example of internet collaboration tools. The Desktop Video Conferencing (DVC) is a set of interaction on the telecommunication system which uses video and sound to interact at the same time. Sound and pictures of people in discussion or conferences are featured to those
Introduction Outsourcing is a process of seeking external services from another company or group other than getting the services from within the company or organization involved. It has become an important tool in shaping business especially as globalization takes place. It is growing very fast as people realize its importance. Although outsourcing has many benefits, it also has some shortcomings and it is therefore necessary for a company to evaluate its needs and consider if it is essential to outsource its services. Purchasing on the other hand is a process by which an organization obtains goods and services in order to attain its goals. It is a crucial element in a company and should be given due importance and ranked high in the organization structure as it is a top-management task. Communication in purchasing, both internal and external, is a very essential tool and should be taken into consideration in every stage of the purchasing process. This paper discusses the reasons and benefits of outsourcing, the drawbacks and remedies that should be taken, the process of outsourcing, the levels of outsourcing, and finally application of outsourcing in purchasing. Reasons and Benefits of Outsourcing The major reason why companies embrace the concept of outsourcing is to cut cost involved in the provision of a service or a product compared to when the products and services could be produced in-house. Any business aims at attaining high productivity while maintaining efficiency and cutting the operating costs. This is so because the outsourcing company evades most processes involved in the production of a good or service for example quality ascertaining and pricing all of which incur costs. The outsourcing company is able to lower its purchasing costs of some of its inputs by taking advantage of the suppliers’ low costs. Outsourcing also enables access to the best services and products in terms of quality since the services are usually obtained from specialized and qualified vendors, which would otherwise be too difficult and time consuming when done in-house; there is also exposure to a wide range of skills and expertise because of specialization. The skills help the outsourcing company improve its services and overall image. Outsourcing also brings about the aspect of positive change in a company as ideas from the outsourced company are incorporated in the outsourcing company. It is as well viewed as a way to manage risks as the risk is minimized through partnership between the outsourcing and the outsourced companies and in most cases the suppliers take the responsibility of catering for the costs incurred in the procurement process. In addition it fosters innovation since the outsourcing company is able to supplement the skills they have with the skills and knowledge acquired from the outsourced company and hence improve their ways of carrying out activities. Outsourcing also enables a company to concentrate well on the core functions and values as it outsource other services from specialized providers enabling the company to utiliz
In 1999, Verizon, an American carrier that was then known as Bell Atlantic, and its European counterpart Vodafone created a joint venture called Verizon Wireless. It offered wireless voice and data services, which were becoming increasingly valuable nationwide at the time. As a result, the project attained considerable success, growing to serve 103 million customers in 2013. Both partners were satisfied with its performance, but Verizon decided that it would benefit from owning the service entirely. It proceeded to buy Vodafone’s 45% of shares for $130 billion, expecting the increased income from the acquisition to compensate the price eventually. At the same time, Verizon pulled out of its Vodafone Italy investment, severing the relationship between the two firms on agreeable terms. This report will analyze the acquisition from a variety of perspectives and determine the move’s value. Verizon Wireless was arguably the United States’ biggest wireless carrier, leading in revenues and Wall Street popularity but trailing behind Cingularity Wireless in customer numbers. Moreover, while phone sales were declining due to market saturation, people began using various devices that featured wireless connectivity. As such, the market for the division in question was growing steadily and rapidly despite moving away from its initial foundations. Verizon expected sales to grow further, increasing profitability, and wanted to be in full control of the enterprise and receive all of its benefits in the future. The consolidation of its resources would give it the ability
One of the biggest aspects that significantly affected my understanding of the issue of utilizing artificial intelligence for a variety of tasks is the increasingly important role of human interventions. Even though the initial reason behind implementing artificial intelligence instruments was to replace humans, the existing evidence shows that individuals managing specific instruments are still necessary, as machines would not perform as robustly as they do now (Coombs et al., 2020). From my point of view, artificial intelligence should be researched further in order to help the community as a whole develop a different outlook on how digital tools could be utilized to improve everyday life, manufacturing processes, or governmental responses to natural calamities, for example. The key problem that remains unsolved is the questionable influence of human factors that cannot be either mediated or mitigated with the help of available resources. Either way, it is going to take humans sometime before they come up with proper artificial replacements that would not commit mistakes. Another important thing to mention is that I have significantly enriched my knowledge base via the interface of the completed research paper since I had gained access to additional aspects of artificial intelligence and its areas of utilization. The impact of artificial intelligence on society has always been a problematic topic that was addressed by researchers only to a certain extent due to the presence of multiple elements of bias. Many researchers believed that artificial intelligence instruments are never going to outperform their human counterparts due to the lack of behavioral responses and unique human logic (Parry & Battista, 2019). Nevertheless, all the evidence that I had the opportunity to scrutinize showed me that artificial intelligence is currently on the rise and already showing the first signs of emulating human decision-making processes. To my mind, this is a huge step forward that has to be reckoned with if humanity expects to reap the most benefits from technological advances. It may be safe to say that the existing research paper also allowed me to look at the issues related to artificial intelligence from a completely different perspective, especially knowing that this tech-related phenomenon is not going to disappear. The omnipresent nature of artificial intelligence makes me believe that the future holds an incredibly high potential for this phenomenon in all spheres of human life. Researchers are exerting an incredible amount of effort in an attempt to humanize artificial intelligence instruments, and it may be considered one of the biggest prospects for all people across the globe. The process of redefining the value of artificial intelligence continues today, as many civilians are reconsidering their outlook on different technologies when they “meet” them in real life. Once believed to be science fiction, artificial intelligence currently holds its own against
Introduction With the ever-increasing cost of studies and family demands, nowadays it is very normal to find a student who is struggling with the three aspects of life, as these are responsibilities that an individual cannot run away from. Although most individuals usually manage to study while working and attending to family needs, many learners usually find it a very daunting task, as each of these three important aspects of life has its own demands that must be met. In most cases, failure to find a balance between these aspects of life can be very stressing; hence, unless an individual finds an amicable solution to this, likelihoods of one suffering from a burnout are high. Although most individuals try to solve this by taking courses that are less demanding or require no formal class attendance, likelihoods of most of them becoming victims of failure are high, because of the increased risk of taking time to do one activity while neglecting others. Therefore, because meeting all college, work, and family demands depends on how well learners mange their time, it is important for individuals to plan well their time by drawing a well balanced working schedule, which should include all the demands of each task, without forgetting to include some resting and recreation time. How to balance studies, work and family demands The primary factor that will determine whether learners will be able to manage the numerous full-time multiple responsibilities that they face every day is their ability to draw a good time management plan. The plan should be able to divide all the time at a learner’s disposal in proportions that will depend on the time required attend to each responsibility. In addition, because in normal life scenarios, numerous responsibilities that individuals may not have planned for are likely to arise, it is important for individuals to set some free time aside on their schedules to cater for any emergencies. Further, one should set some play and resting time in their timetables, as this will help to relieve one from any form of tension, tiredness, and any work or study or family related stress. On the other hand, although some individuals may understate the significance of some responsibilities; hence, the tendency of them not catering for such responsibilities in their work schedules, it is advisable for a one to give each demand an equal amount of consideration, because failure in one responsibility can be an obstacle towards succeeding in another responsibility (Bradley 1). A second strategy that individuals can use to ensure that they balance their studies with work and family responsibilities is involving their families and bosses in their studies. Although not every family member or boss may appreciate this, at least it will make them feel less threatened by one’s intere
Pest Analysis PEST analysis is a strategic management tool used to analyze the political, economic, social, and technological environment in the operational setting of a business (Daughtry & Casselman, 2009). The political environment that surrounds the marketing of the Nissan GTR in the Middle East varies depending on the country. The Arab spring upset the balance of power in the region (Perry, Chase, Jacob, Jacob, & Von Laue, 2012). Some countries have undergone regime change to usher in more open and democratic governments. In other countries where old regimes survived, the systems of government have become more open due to the Arab spring. This means that consumers have a bigger say in the things they can buy. Government control over the private life of citizens has reduced. The economic environment bears marks of the 2009 global economic crisis and the economic impacts of the Arab spring (Perry, Chase, Jacob, Jacob, & Von Laue, 2012). The region is economically subdued because of the events of the last four years. However, some countries such as the United Arab Emirates are registering growth brought about by the increase in oil prices, and trade (Ortiz & Clark, 2012). The social environment is becoming more and more receptive to the open display of wealth (GroupM Knowledge & CIC, 2011). This is an opportunity for Nissan GTR because it is a high-end vehicle. As countries in the Middle East produce more millionaires, the demand for luxury vehicles such as the Nissan GTR will increase. The technological environment in the Nissan markets may affect the ability of consumers to service the Nissan GTR. The car requires specialized servicing which is not available in all the countries of the world. Therefore, this means that Nissan needs to invest in the provision of services and spares in all the markets where it would like to sell the Nissan GTR. Key Competitors The main competitor of the Nissan GTR is the Porshe 911, the Audi R8, the Ferrari F-430 Scuderia, among others. These cars represent what enthusiasts call “supercars” because of their performance specifications (Rosner & Shropshire, 2011, p. 42). They are very fast and they have utilities that are unique to sports cars to support their driving requirements. The differences in the performance of supercars include fuel efficiency, the overall weight of the car, and the power of the car. Some of them also compete on price. This demonstrates that the Nissan GTR is not alone in the market. There are other cars of similar quality and comparable performance competing for market share. Value Proposition The value proposition of the Nissan GTR is mainly in its technology and cost. Nissan is one of the car manufacturers that have managed to keep production costs down. The company’s association with Renault is also a big factor in this. The two companies share distribution channels and service locations. This gives the Nissan GTR a big advantage over most of the other supercars because Nissan