ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Alinma bank is one of the leading organizations in the finance industry and has been operational in Saudi Arabia since 2006. Alinma is known for providing a wide range of Shariah-compliant retail and corporate banking and investment services to many people. Nonetheless, the company faces competition in the industry, with Bank Albilad, Al Rajhi, and Riyad banks being its main competitors. Therefore, this report will involve an industry analysis where various factors that can impact Alinma bank’s performance will be examined. Analysis and Prediction of Industry Profitability An industry’s profitability can be determined by various aspects such as demand for products and services, cost of production, competition, and the general economy. In this case, one can examine competition in the sector to determine whether the organization has high chances of gaining profits. Typically, competition in business is factual in all industries and unavoidable. However, the company can make profits using various strategies such as advertisement and improving its services. The demand for the services is another essential factor that shows the industry is profitable. Many people in Saudi Arabia acquire money from the sale of petroleum products. The presence of many investors in the country shows that the demand for financial services is high. Globalization has also enabled many people to engage in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Thus, many people desire to invest in Saudi Arabia, mainly in the petroleum sector, which increases the demand for corporate banking and investment services. Porter’s Five Forces Framework Level of Industry Profitability Based on the Porter’s Five Forces Framework Porter’s five forces have been used to determine the level of profitability since the model helps identify competitive rivals, potential new entrants, and substitutes that can limit a company’s output. High, intermediate, and low ranks of productivity are attained using Porter’s five forces approach. In this case, one can argue that Alinma’s finance industry’s viability level is intermediate since factors such as competitive rivals and availability of substitutes can limit efficiency in the sector. For example, many people may opt to invest in micro-finance, which offers discounts and low-interest rates. Competition is also experienced in the industry since Saudi Arabia has many banks that offer similar finance and investment services. Consequently, clients have different substitutes, which limits the profitability of the industry. However, companies with a strong brand name, such as Alinma, have attracted many customers in many areas. Implications for Strategy One of the implications of the strategy is that it can lead to increased competition. In this case, organizations can identify their weaknesses and develop approaches to improve their performance. For instance, firms can focus on marketing plans such as using social media marketing to increase their competitive advantage. Industry analysis is also essential since it helps corporations gain insights about competitors and seize other opportunities to enhance productivity. Industry exploration has been used as a form of
Abstract Business environment keep on changing with time. Many changes have been witnessed forcing other businesses to close even as others to thrive. This difference therefore is squarely credited to the management for failing to timely accept the changes within the organization or its environment. Whenever a change or a crisis occurs, the management team is mandated with the task of acting decisively by either giving directives on how best the organization can effectively adapt to the changes without jeopardizing its noble future and its relation with their customers. A business success relies on how fast a company can comply positively with the ever changing environment. Introduction Threat Rigidity Effects in Organization are the reactions of the organization after an unusual trend in the business operating environment. These changes can be either in terms of technology, employment requirement, government policies, or market chances such as price or cost of production. On the other hand, organizational behavior is the expected reaction from an organization after a certain change in the line of business. Some management team in certain organizations tend to not to react swiftly towards the changing business environment because their decision making process is either slow or insensitive (Hamblin 323). Most organizations take long to act, hence subjecting their organization to hostile operating conditions. Technology and other changes that affect businesses directly have increase crisis in corporate business management because not all the changes they pose to the organization calls for or need quick action to be taken (Hamblin 324). This is because some of the changes need to be re-examined and scrutinized carefully. At the same time however, corporate bodies should always act on time to avoid unnecessary avoidable losses that might be brought forth by slow decision taking. For prudent management, corporate institutions should put in place good plans for the coming challenges for effective future management. Method By observing how two big companies namely: The Penn Central Railroad and Evening Post failed in their mission in business environment. The reasons why and how these two companies should have managed the crisis that eventually pushed them out of business is considered. Also addressed is the prevailing condition at the time and the impact this had on the business. Results The Penn Central Railroad collapsed because they continued with their normal operations schedules without factoring in the oil crises that had a major impact on the company’s line of operation. They failed to meet their operational costs while in operation hence leading to a closure of their company. On the other hand, Evening Post considered transferring the high cost of production they met during production to their customers (Staw Sander
Self-Help Group A self-help group consists of people with similar problems, who wish to provide mutual support for each other. Self-help groups share a common problem in the sense that they suffer from a psychological or physical condition. The condition might be a result of a disease or a human condition. The main aim of the self-help group is to achieve common goals. For instance, the main aim of an addicted group is to recover fully from drug addiction whereas the aim of a group suffering from a disease is to heal. Self-help groups emerged in the modern society to replace the nature of cooperation witnessed in the traditional society. In other words, traditional societies cared for the sick and the physically challenged in society. However, the case is different in the modern society. Self-help groups have replaced the traditional care provided to the disabled and other special groups in the modern society. Social change and mobility are two aspects that have disrupted the family unit in the modern society. It is not surprising to find a family member being taken to a care home yet family members are available. In the care homes, those with similar problems join hands to air their views (Miquez, Vazquez, & Becona, 2002). Treatment Group On the other hand, treatment groups are clinical in nature meaning that they are used as control groups in experiments. Those suffering from a particular problem are taken to a safe place whereby they can access basic needs such as food, medication, water, housing, and care. They are very different from self-help groups because they have no control over polic
Political corruption is a known issue in the modern world, and it significantly affects multiple areas of governmental functioning. It is characterized by government officials using their power to create illegitimate private gain. The vast majority of countries face the corruption issue to a certain extent, which minimizes the prospects for growth and development. Corruption causes instability and uncertainty and affects capital flow by discouraging capital investments. The economic sector is one of the main fields being influenced by political bribery. Corruption in politics negatively affects economic growth by decreasing foreign investments, undermining the function of specific economic sectors, and lack thereof demonstrates a positive effect on a country’s development. Corruption in politics is proven to be a major flaw of a country on a higher level, and it affects, first of all, the country’s international position. The presence of corruption in a country can reduce its authority on a global scale. With the growing demand for transparency from a government affected by political corruption, methods of influence are created, such as decreasing international investment. As the assets from the foreign countries become limited, sustainable development and economic growth are no longer ensured, and the poverty levels are rising (Cieslik and Goczek 330). This factor is essential for developing countries that rely the economic stability heavily on international investments. In addition, developing countries show a higher level of corruption due to poor management and lack of regulation. Therefore, a corrupted political system discourages foreign investors and forms low-growth tendencies. The decrease in international investments is followed by the undermining function of specific economic sectors. In assessing the most problematic economic sectors, it becomes apparent that some areas of production are not functioning well with poor regulation. For instance, the alcohol industry has always been the subject of law, and it has been debated as to how it may be reduced. However, when the reduction was implemented during the prohibition of alcohol in the US, government officials allegedly started profiting off of it in order to ensure self-gain (Bullok 250). Therefore, the inequality was reinforced, and the economics suffered significantly, as one of the largest industries halted its production. Another example of political corruption affecting the economic sector is the lack of regulation in industries that are beneficial for people. There is an example of human organ sales that could be useful if legalized and well-regulated (Bullok 301). As people of power have the opportunity to change the system for the better but refuse to change it, there appears a possibility that personal gain is involved in a situation. Although political corruption is a global issue and most countries suffer fro
Introduction For many years, the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) set of accounting principles have been used by major accounting firms around the world, and have acted as a standard framework for universal accounting in recording and summarizing, and in the preparation of financial statements. However, due to the emergence of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and its subsequent popularity, there has been an urgent need for all countries to adopt a single accounting standard (CFO, 2011). Although each of the two standards has known weaknesses, many accounting bodies prefer the IFRS, consequently, studies aimed at streamlining IFRS and doing away with GAAP has been ongoing. Although this could take many years, it will result into all accountants adopting a single accounting system, which will restructure the field of accounting. Benefits Even though several accounting bodies have streamlined their accounting principles to converge IFRS and GAAP, differences continue to persist between the two, and hence the IFRS needs to modified so that the two standards can converge into a newer IFRS, and do away with the GAAP (Porter & Norton, 2010). GAAP requirements for recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of transactions vary significantly from those in IFRS, the latter requiring more extensive disclosures. In addition, some issues are addressed only in one of the standards, for instance, GAAP does not cover accounting for agricultural activities while the IFRS has a particular entry for that issue. The GAAP has certain industry –specific standards, such as for investments, while the IFRS lack such provisions (Walton, 2009). Apart from the adopting a common principles, on of the reasons why a shift from GAAP to IFRS would be a positive move is that it will further promote globalization. IFRS is currently being used in more than 100 countries, and if the rest follow suit, it will be easier for companies and businesses in different countries to make deals with each other (Walton, 2009). The new system would also allow shareholders and stockholders in other nations to have a better economic indicator of how companies in other nations are doing. Multinational would also benefit as they would be able to streamline their operations, financial reporting standards, auditing, training, and general company financial principles. This would allow for accuracy and consistency in financial recording and reporting. Due to the several provisions provided by the IFRS, such as clarity, extensive disclosures, and provisions for several forms of transactions, its adoption by all accounting bodies would ensure that financial makers would use their professional judgment to handle a particular transaction (Walton, 2009). This would lead to less time being spent in accounting processes and also eliminate the need to follow complicated accounting rules. It will also allow accountants to keep statements in a simplistic ad easily comprehensible manner for shareholders, potential investors and parties interested in the financial records (Porter & Norton, 2010). Conclusion One of the major drawback
Clinical psychology is the scientific application of psychology with an aim to understand individuals, families, or groups’ dysfunction and in the process promote personnel development. It is a regulated mental health study that involves psychotherapy and psychological assessment. Social psychology on the other hand concerns itself with the behavior of people in a society. While psychology focuses on the individual’s feelings and behavior sociology is centered on the interaction of people A clash between an idea and an individuals’ perception causes uncomfortable feelings. This arises from a logical inconsistency. Induced compliance without sufficient justification causes cognitive dissonance. The clinician can draw information from studying the social behavior of the client. For instance, a smoker’s desire to live long is dissonant with smoking because the latter causes cancer and reduces his chances of living. The social psychology of the smoker informs the clinician on the attitude and beliefs held by the client. The first task of the clinician is to change the attitude of the client. An understanding of the client’s background information is crucial to the treatment and promotion of subjective well-being. To the client, there is a need to understand the behavior pattern as a means of accepting the situation and facilitate behavior change. Social psychology informs the clinician why traits in people occur as it appears. To the clinician, it is important to infer the behavior of the client in a social group. Internal attribution is in the case where the cause of a behavior is attributed to internal factors within the personality. In the explanation of a client’s behavior, internal attribution informs the clinician of the client’s attitude, belief, and character. External attributions explain the consequences of behavior as hinged to the environment in which the action was done. Internal and external attributions lead to different perceptions of individuals. The clinician is able to apply this concept of social psychology in treating psychological disorders. A person’s internal and situational engagement in a behavior explains why attributions about another person’s behavior are deficient in the external factors. Schacter, (1982) convincingly illuminates the creative mental reconstructions in the process of memory. He points out that memory is affected by the disease. In the understanding of the human mind, the clinician is presented with an opportunity to draw from the client’s memory pattern. Reconstructive memory is essential for envisioning future events. Memory is a reconstructive process that involves recalling by storing abstract features which are used in the future to recollect the memory. This is an essential process for both the therapist and the client. For instance, a client who has lost memory is taken through a process of reconstruction to build up and recollect the mental faculties. Soc
Introduction Mass fan following of popular Hollywood movies and television series have become a part of the popular culture today. It has become an important feature for popular culture in industrial society. Fandom is typically associated with popular music (or pop music), television series, movies, sports stars, actors, etc. this group is a heterogeneous group of people who are bonded by their homogeneous cultural taste. Thus, fans create a community by creating a form of textual production to circulate among themselves in order to create a fan community (Fiske). Fan culture is the upcoming genre of cultural studies which presents a deviation from the earlier pathological description of a fan as a potential fanatic (usually male) or the hysterical crowd (usually female (Storey). It is said to have various dimensions and various groups who are singularly identified due to their relation and categories of taste (Jenkins). Thus, fan culture may be defined as “a complex, multidimensional phenomenon, inviting many forms of participation and levels of engagement” (Jenkins 2). Fan cultures produce a parallel economy and culture all revolving around the mass media for instance fan fictions. They also breed a consumerist culture. This definition urges for a logical extension of the audience’s involvement with the mass media with construction of alternative texts and social identities (Jenkins). This paper aims to understand the fan culture of the movie Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino. The movie is considered to one of the best creations of Tarantino and has supposedly a huge fan following. This paper aims to draw a profile of the fan culture around Pulp Fiction and the different layers of the same. And to do so we try to understand the discourse of fan culture and how the different forms of culture has been adopted by Pulp Fiction fans. Fan Culture Jenkins describes five characteristics of fandom. First, the fan watches the movie for many times in order to capture the intricate message in each text of the script. Second, fan culture involves getting involved in the fan culture’s reading practices and producing a set of “critical and interpretative practices” (Jenkins, p. 278). Third, it opens an avenue for consumerist culture. Jenkins here suggests that even though fans can provide their criticism or opinion about the movie to the producer, their input is seldom considered seriously. Fandom is only a platform wherein they may speak up their cultural preferences. Forth, fandom creates a form of cultural production that speaks of their cultural affiliation. There are fan artists, writers, video makers, and musicians who create work that speaks of the special interest of the fan community. Jenkins here points out that the way fandom’s creation works it fails to satisfy the copyright of the popular narrative and fandom does not recognize the difference between an artist and a consumer. Fifth, fandom functions as a parallel s
Introduction Robert Dudley, the fifth son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, was born in 1532. When Henry VIII died in 1547, Edward was too young to rule, so his uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, took over the running of the country. When Seymour was executed in 1552, he was replaced by John Dudley. Soon afterward, Robert Dudley became a member of Edward’s Privy Chamber. Edward was suffering from tuberculosis, and as his health deteriorated suddenly, and the Duke of Northumberland tried to persuade the king to alter the succession in favor of his own daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey. She was declared a queen three days after Edward’s death. However, she was forced to abdicate nine days later in favor of Edward’s half-sister, Mary Tudor. Robert Dudley was arrested for his part in the rebellion, but after being tried for treason, he was pardoned by Mary’s husband, Philip II of Spain. Dudley fought with Philip in France, but when Elizabeth became a queen, he returned to England. Rumors soon began to circulate that Dudley and Elizabeth were lovers. These increased after Dudley’s wife, Amy Robsart, died after a fall. Dudley’s enemies claimed that he had murdered his wife in order to marry the queen. In 1563 Elizabeth gave him Kenilworth Castle, and the following year, he was granted the title, Earl of Leicester. Elizabeth realized that she would upset too many important people if she married Dudley. The couple remained close, and Dudley became one of the queen’s leading advisers. Elizabeth believed that Mary Stuart posed a threat to her throne. To counter this, she suggested that Dudley should marry Mary. Attempts were made to arrange this, but in 1565, Mary married Henry Darnley, the son of Lady Margaret Douglas, the granddaughter of Henry VII. Dudley was a strong supporter of Protestantism. In 1585 he was appointed commander of the expeditionary force to help the Dutch against Spain. Dudley later became Governor-General of the Netherlands. DUDLEY City (1991 pop. 186,513) and metropolitan district, W central England. Dudley’s famed iron, coal, and limestone industries began declining c.1870. Other industries include engineering works, steelworks, metallurgy, glass cutting, textiles, and leatherworking. Isolated on an elevated site, Dudley was enlarged in 1966. The ruins of Dudley Castle, around which the area developed in the 13th cent., are surrounded by a park with a zoo. It has education and technical colleges. The Black Country Living Museum depicts the Industrial Revolution. Dudley and his role in the Netherlands On 28 July 1588, Leicester at Tilbury wrote to Francis Walsingham in London about the Earl of Oxford: ‘…My Lord of Oxford… returned again yesterday by me, with Captain Huntley as his company. It seems only his voyage was to have gone to my Lord Admiral; and at his return thither he went yester night f