Friday, September 6, 2019

Agriculture Industry Linkages in the Economy of Jammu and Kashmir Essay Example for Free

Agriculture Industry Linkages in the Economy of Jammu and Kashmir Essay Agriculture plays an important role in contributing to socio-economic development in many countries. It is the primary source for employment, livelihood, and food security for the majority of rural people. The success of this continuation depends largely on the direct impact it has on the national economy as well as how the agricultural sector stimulates the growth of other sectors in the economy. Consequently, understanding the role of agriculture and its linkages to the rest of the economy is important. The inter-relationship between agriculture and industry has been a long debated issue in the development literature. In the Indian context the issue has acquired interest since industrial stagnation in the mid 1960s. Over the years the Indian economy has undergone a structural change in its sectoral composition: from a primary agro-based economy during the 1970s, the economy has emerged as predominant in industry. This has triggered an interest in readdressing the analytical and methodological aspects of the interlinkages between the two sectors the service sector since the 1990s. This structural changes and the uneven pattern of growth of agriculture, industry and service sector economy in the post reforms period is likely to appear substantial changes in the production and demand linkages among various the economy. At the same time the growing integration with the rest of the world in the post-reform period (post 1991 period) and the recent spurt of service sector led growth are also likely to have significant impact on the linkages between the agriculture and industry. This has triggered an interest in read dressing the analytical and methodological aspects of the interlinkages between the two sectors. That agriculture and industry being integral component of development process due to their mutual interdependence and symbiotic relationship, the contribution of agriculture to the economy in general and to industry in particular is well known in almost all the developing countries. However, the degree of interdependence may vary and also change over time. In the theory and empirical literature, the inter-relationship between agriculture and industry has been discussed from different channels. First, agriculture supplies food grains to industry to facilitate absorption of labour in the industry sector. Secondly, agriculture supplies the inputs like raw cotton, jute, tea, coffee etc. needed by the agro-based industries. Thirdly, industry supplies industrial inputs, such as fertilizer, pesticides, machinery etc. to the agriculture sector. Fourthly, agriculture influences the output of industrial consumer goods through demand. Fifthly, agriculture generates surpluses of savings, which can be mobilized for investment in industry, and other sectors of the economy. Sixthly, fluctuations in agricultural production may affect private corporate investment decisions through the impact of the terms of trade on profitability, whereas some of these channels emphasize the agriculture-industry‟ linkage on the supply side or production side, others stress the linkages through the demand side. The production linkages basically arise from the interdependence of the sectors for meeting the needs of their productive inputs, whereas the demand linkage arises from the interdependence of the sectors for meeting final consumption. Further, the linkages between the two sectors can also be categorized into two groups based on the direction of interdependence. One is the backward linkage, which identifies how a sector depends on others for their input supplies and the other is the forward linkage, which identifies how the sector distributes its outputs to the remaining economy. More importantly, these two linkages can indicate a sector’s economic pull and push, because the direction and level of such linkages present the potential capacity of each sector to stimulate other sectors and then reflect the role of this sector accordingly. As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned Agriculture is the predominant sector of the economy. Directly and indirectly, it supports about 80 per cent of the population besides contributing nearly 60 per cent of the state revenue, which adequately explains the over-dependency of the population on agriculture. The overall economic growth of the state depends largely on the progress of the agricultural sector, the development of which becomes even more important in the context of the very nominal progress it has made in the secondary sectors. With the introduction of planned development in the state during 1951-56, production of foodgrains and fruits has increased considerably. During 1998-99, the state produced 15.50 lakh quintals of food grains against 4.53 lakh quintal in 1950-51. Of this, Kashmir region contributed 27.20 per cent, Jammu region 72.14 per cent and Ladakh and Kargil region 0.66 per cent Industries play a vital role in the development of an economy. In this regard unfortunately, JK has not been able to attract investments in industries and remained as an industrially backward state. The state does not have a strong industrial base, because geographical location of the state is such that the setting up of large industries with a large Capital base is not feasible, besides adverse environmental consequences. Nevertheless, many small and medium-scale industries have come up basically in the traditional sectors along with areas like food processing, agro-based units and metallic and non metallic products. Thus in such an sectoral environment were industrial sector has low opportunity, Agriculture provide basic linkages in its development . Thus the state of Jammu and Kashmir were main source of income is agriculture for masses of people, the linkages between Agriculture and Industry is very important to study in order to know the potential of Agriculture to develop an industrial environment in the state. In mean while it is important to study the dependence of agriculture on industry, so that both sectors will flourish the development in the state of Jammu Kashmir. The macroeconomic linkage between the agricultural sector and industrial growth has been one of the most widely investigated in the development literature. In the early stages, researchers paid great attention in studying the relationship between the agricultural and industrial sectors, and how these sectors were inter-related. They argued that agriculture only plays a passive role; which is to be the most important source of resources (food, fiber, and raw material) for the development of industry and other nonagricultural sectors (Rosenstein-Rodan, 1943; Lewis, 1954; Ranis and Fei, 1961). Many of these analysts highlighted agriculture for its resource abundance, and its ability to transfer surpluses to the more important industrial sector. India being a predominantly agrarian economy and an agro-based industrial structure, the interrelationship between agriculture and industry has been one of the major issues for the researchers and policy makers since the beginning of the planning period. In the pre and early post-independence period, the industry sector had a close relationship with agriculture due to the agro-based industrial structure (Satyasai and Baidyanathan, 1997). Satyasai and Viswanathan (1999) found that the output elasticity of industry with respect to agriculture was 0.13 during 1950-51 to 1965-66. Rangarajan (1982) has found that a 1.0 percent growth in agricultural production increases industrial production by 0.5 percent, and thus, GDP by 0.7 percent during 1961-1972. However, the industrial sector witnessed a slow growth, stagnation since the mid 1960s, which was largely attributed to the stunnedagricultural growth and favourable agricultural TOT, among other factors (Patnaik, 1972; Nayyar, 1978 and Bhatla, 2003).10 In fact the interdependence between the two sectors has found to be weakened during the 1980s and 1990s (Bhattacharya and Mitra, 1989; Satyasai and Viswanathan, 1997). For instance, Bhattacharya and Rao (1986) have found that the partial output elasticity of industry with respect to agriculture has declined from 0.15 during 1951/52 – 1965/66 to 0.03 during 1966/67-1983/84. Contradictorily, Satyasai and Viswanathan (1999) found that the output elasticity of industry with respect to agriculture has increased from 0.13 during 1950/51-1965/66 to 0.18 during 1966/67–1983/84, and then remained at the same level 0.18 during 1984/85-1996/97. The deteriorating linkages between agriculture and industry have been primarily credited to the deficiency in demand for agricultural products, decline in share of agro-based industries coupled with slow employment growth (Rangarajan, 1982; Bhattacharya and Rao, 1986; and Chowdhury and Chowdhury, 1995). Sastry et al. (2003), for the period 1981-82 to 1999-2000, found that the forward production linkage between agriculture and industry has declined, whereas backward production linkage has increased. They also found significant impact of agricultural output on industrial output, and that agriculture’s demand linkage to industry has declined, while that of from industry to agriculture has increased. Economic and Political Weekly August 26, 1989 1963 wean agriculture and merely the set of industrial consumption goods like clothing, footwear, sugar and edible oils, it may be concluded that the overall intersectoral linkages appear quite modest. The early writers, for example Rosestein-Rodan (1943), Lewis (1954), Scitovosky (1954), Hirchman (1958), Jorgeson (1961), Fei and Ranis (1961) and others emphasized the role of agriculture only as a primary supplier of wage goods and raw materials and abundant labour supply to industry (Johnston and Mellor, 1961 and Vogel, 1994). The role of agriculture in the transformation of a developing economy was seen as ancillary to the central strategy of accelerating the pace of industrialization (Vogel, 1994). Kalecki (1976) also pointed out the importance of investment and technological advances in agriculture for the rapid development of industry. The traditional literature on inter-sectoral linkages in the growth process generally emphasises the role of agriculture as a primary supplier of wage goods and raw materials to industry (supply-linkage on the one hand and as a provider of major output for in- dustrial goods (demand linkage) on the other [Johnston and Mellor, 1961 and tertiary sector in a modern economy. Further, it may be noted that with growing mechanization of agriculture it becomes dependent on industry for basic inputs, like, fertiliser, power, pesticides, etc. Incidentally the agriculture-industry relationship becomes more complicated in this process. A slow growth of net availability of food- grains or alternatively the movement of inter-sectoral terms of trade in favor of the agricultural sector is believed to cause deceleration of the industrial sector. However, empirically speaking there was no slow down in the growth of production of food- grains after the mid-sixties [Ahluwalia: 1985]. Nor was there any fall in the marketed surplus of agriculture [rhamarajakshi: 1977] so as to be related to the industrial decelera- tion. But, so far as the agriculture vis-à  -vis industry terms of trade is concerned, one en- counters a series of mixed evidence. Whe Thamarajakshi [1977], and Mitra [1977] visualised a favouralJe terms of trade for the agricultural sector during the mid-sixties andearly seventies, Khalon and lyagi [1983] obtained evidence that stand quite contrary to others view. Mundle [1977], however main- tains that in terms of intersectoral resource flow-of which terms of trade is just a single component-the industrial sector has been undergoing loss since the mid-sixties. Prior to that it was agriculture which was experiencing an outflow of resources. Rangarajan [1982a] in his macro econometric model makes an attempt to capture the demand linkage between agriculture and industry. He identifies a positive impact that agricultural output has on the demand for industrial consumption goods. The effect of foodgrain terms of trade on industrial products has been negative but elasticity is negligible. Both agricultural output and terms of trade had a positive influence on household saving and investment. Keeping in view such segmented impact of agriculture on industry zplaining the behaviour of indugtrial produc- tion purely in terms of agricultural performance .Bhattacharya and Rao [1986] emphasisesthe sluggishness that continued in the per-formance of industry even after the relative relaxation of the wage goods constraint that occurred during the green revolution period. Thus, the theoretical literature in the â€Å"agriculture-industry linkages † has broadly highlighted the place of agriculture and non-agriculture sector, especially industry in the development process and contribution of each in augmenting growth of output and employment. Most of the theoretical literature has largely focused only on one side of the â€Å"agriculture-industry linkages ’’ i.e. either the supply side linkages or demand side linkages. However it is both the demand side and supply side linkages that work together in an inter-sectoral framework, which determines the interlinkages between the two sectors. In this respect Bhaduri (2003) and Bhaduri (2007) are two important contributions in the literature. Bhaduri (2003) extends Kaldor’s model by considering the role of the agricultural surplus from the supply side as well as the importance of the demand side effect for industrial goods. In this set up, both the sectors grow in tandem, reinforcing and reinvigorating each other’s growth impulse, by resolving each other’s potential realization problem (Jha, 2010). Further, Bhaduri et al. (2007) have extended the Kaldor’s model by contrasting between the supply side and demand side linkages of the two sectors from the TOT point of view. Thus there has been lot of researches, publication and models on the topic â€Å"Agriculture industry linkages in the economy† given by many renowned economists, and peoples associated with this field. Everyone concluded that there is an unlimited linkage between two sectors which not only develop one other but also give birth to other sectors as well. Thus to conclude it can be said that in an economy mostly there is a l arge number of linkages originated from a primary level and put economy to those sectors which keep it in the level of developed ones.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Construction Plan for Business Expansion | Case Study

Construction Plan for Business Expansion | Case Study BEJAY GILOI YAPP Task 1 SENARIO 1 Building economics is a small part of a much larger subject of environmental economics whereby it consists of the application of the techniques and expertise of economics to construction projects. Its is important as economics are introduced in the early design stage for the entire build team and even for the client. This is concerned with the study of man’s needs in connection with shelter and the suitable and appropriate conditions in which to live. Building economics is also important to ensure that the resources available to the industry is effectively used and not wasted. Moreover, it ensures the increase rate of growth of construction work in the most efficient manner. Consideration must be given to other economic aspects such as the roles of the profession and the division of design and construction. Furthermore, the types of development and the size of the industry and its relationship to other industries should also be considered. Lastly, it is important that the types and sizes of construction firms and the variations in building costs and its influencing factors to be considered. Task 2 SCENARIO 2 Before Mr. Hashim should purchase a new office block to expand his business, I would advice him about a few factors that he might need to consider. The factors are as follows: One of the factors that Mr. Hashim should consider is the Accessibility. The site should be easily accessible by automobile and within walking distance of some potential users. Mr. Hashim should also count in the safety of the location whereby it would be safe for potential users to work in the proposed location. Next, is the Visibility of the office block. It is important that a prominent location is required so that the users can easily identify the office block. Visual Quality is also one of the factors that should be taken as the quality of the existing neighborhood or surroundings needs to complement with the office block. For example, it is not appropriate to set up an office whereby the surrounding buildings are residential buildings. Moreover, Mr. Hashim should consider on the Site Capacity whereby the site should be large enough to provide sufficient space for the users including parking space or for future expansion. Most importantly, Mr. Hashim should consider on the rental cost or the building cost of the proposed office property. It should be reasonable or to say atleast following his budget. This is to ensure that the rentals or price of the office block are affordable so that he can run his business accordingly and in the same time his business can be profitable. Lastly, Mr. Hashim should also consider the Facilities provided around the office property. For example, the presence of restaurants, cafes and department stores which will be really beneficial for him and his workers as they will not need to travel far to have there meals during Break hours. We can almost say that the meaning of the words Value and Cost are almost similar, although when it comes to building economic terms, these two components have totally different definitions. Value is usually meant by the sum of original cost estimates and assumptions. Although in building economic terms, value can be defined as the measure of benefits that an individual or company can gain either form goods or service. In construction, value is what the building is worth based on various market rates. It can be said that the as the demand and supply for a particular building or product increases, the value will also increase accordingly. Value can also be the amount of money that say, an asset has for a certain time period whether at present or any other time. There are few factors that can affect the value of a certain building. As for example the Location of a proposed project as a 2 Story Bungalow build in the center of the city has a different Value compared to a 2 Story Bungalow built in the village. Cost can be defined as the expenses or actual cost of a given project. In other words, it can also be defined as the total price of the project itself beginning from the design process to the finishing. This can be related to the components of cost which are the labor cost, material cost, plant and equipment cost, overhead cost and also the profit. These components can majorly affect the cost. For example, during the construction process of a given project, there happens to be a major breakdown on the equipment used. This will surely affect the end cost of the project. Task 3 SCENARIO 3 Wall to Floor Area Ratio is the measurement of the total floor area built or to be built in relation to the total size measurement of the project. The Wall to Floor Area Ratio is calculated by dividing the External Wall Area (EWA) by the Gross Floor Area (GFA) and the result ratio can be used to compare the building designs. Calculations:(Floor Height = 3m) External Wall Area (EWA) = (10+10+10+10) X 3 = 120 Gross Floor Area (GFA) = (10 X 10) = 100 EWA GFA = 120100 = 1.2 Calculations:(Floor Height = 3m) External Wall Area (EWA) = (10+5+15+5+10+5) = 150 Gross Floor Area (GFA) = A (10 X 5) + B (10 X 5) = 100 EWA GFA = 150100 = 1.5 FIRST SECOND Gross Floor Area (GFA) (10 X 10) = 100 A(10 X 5) + B(10 X 5) = 100 External Wall Area (EWA) (10+10+10+10) X 3 = 120 (10+5+15+5+10+5) = 150 EWA/GFA 1.2 1.5 Based on the calculations, the FIRST floor plan is more economical because it has a lower wall to floor ratio which is 1.2 compared to the SECOND floor plan with a wall to floor area ratio of 1.5. The lower the wall to floor ratio, the more economic will be the design. Task 4 SCENARIO 4 (i) Time- Time can be defined as the given period or length of time during any construction process. Time should be discussed in detail to the client so that they may know when the construction project starts and when is the given time for the completion of the project to be done according to the deadline. (ii) Cost It is the total cost of the project to be finished up or completed. The cost of a given project should be carefully analyzed and controlled from over budgeting and causing problems to the build team and especially to the client. Cost can come from the proposed land the project to be built, the materials used for construction and other various factors. (iii)Quality It is based on the finished product and will be judged by the client itself either from the quality of design, its looks and its overall function. It is also judged through the ability of the contractor to execute the project in such a way that the finished product is according to the client expectations and that the finished product does what it is intended. The three components, Time, Cost and Quality in the construction industry do play a big role in the success of a construction project. Although, these components should be balanced to ensure the success of a construction project. For example, if we reduce the time for a given project, the cost will drastically increase and the quality of work also increase. For example, Mr. Kumar is deciding to further expand his current business. He currently owns a 2 Block Restaurant and now he is deciding to extend his restaurant. Although, there are a few factors that have to be suggested by Mr. Kumar’s consultant in order to minimize the total end cost of the project itself. It would be great for Mr. Kumar to have a specific time line for the construction of the new extension of his current restaurant. This is to ensure that expenses for the project will be used by the best way possible and that his investment is profitable. Having a very short time period of construction process would only burden him as the cost of the construction process will be a bit more expensive but in the other hand, this will result in a great quality in it. The extension of the restaurant will surely be able to have a return on Mr. Kumar’s investment if it has a short time period of construction time and will eventually incur a high price, but in the end hav e a great quality on the project. Task 5 Quality in the construction industry usually means excellence. It is the totality of the attributes of a building in which enable it to satisfy needs, including the way in which individual attributes are related, balanced and integrated in the whole building and its surroundings. Thus, it is also considered a philosophy rather than a mere attribute. For example, we tend to judge the two objects by their qualities. In the construction industry especially in manufacturing, quality can be divided into different parts such as quality control, quality assurance and many others. Quality in the construction industry can also be devided into different views, which are the customer’s view itself, the producer’s view and the government’s view. In Malaysia, we have certain certifying bodies based on the construction projects. For example, we have Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) whereby these bodies set their own regulations to con trol the Quality of work according to the views of different clients. Whereby Standards in the construction industry is more to achieving a recognized level of quality within an organization. For example, to ensure that a proper standard of insulation is done and the proper standard of carpentry is done on a house according to the given standards within an organization. For Standards, there are also several certifying bodies in Malaysia. For example, SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd. And Bureau Verritas Certification Sdn. Bhd. Which is responsible of controlling the standards on the construction products in Malaysia. There are three categories of quality cost. Firstly, is the Prevention Cost whereby its main purpose is to avoid defects on the product in the beginning of production stage. It also supports activities whose purpose is to reduce the number of defects of the products. For example, this costs in put in place through methods and procedures which ensures that the product is made according to its standards, meet its requirements and that it is made according to the design. Secondly, is the Appraisal Cost, whereby it is usually influenced by a third party. Appraisal Cost or also know as Inspection Cost where its main function is to identify defective products before the products are shipped to costumers. For example, some sample of the products pass through another inspection test or quality test before being certified to be packed and shipped to the costumers. Lastly, is the Inter Failure Cost whereby this cost is divided into two, which are Internal Failure Cost and External Failure Cost. Internal Failure Cost is a result from identification of defects before they are shipped to customers while the External Failure Cost include warranty, repairs and replacements of the product.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

GeoStrategic Importance of Pakistan

GeoStrategic Importance of Pakistan Geo- Strategic means importance of a country or a region as by virtue of its geographical location. Geo political is defined as, stressing the influence of geographic factors on the state power, international conduct and advantages it derives from its location. Pakistan is located at a region which has a great economic, political and strategic location. It has been the hub of great activities for the past twenty years. Stephen Cohn describes this importance While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit. It has resource rich area in the north-west, people rich in the north-east. Pakistan is a junction of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia, a way from resource efficient countries to resource deficient countries. The world is facing energy crisis and terrorism. Pakistan is a route for transportation, and a front line state against terrorism. Pakistan has witnessed the intervention of three great powers Britons, U.S.S.R and U.S. Its significance is further enhanced during the cold war when it became the alley of the U.S policy of containment of U.S.S.R and now the post cold war era has witnessed its significance politically after the event of 9/11. Pakistans Geographical Location: Pakistan is located in southern Asia. It is located between 24 and 36.5 Northern latitude and between 61 and 75.5 eastern latitude. The area of Pakistan is estimated at 803,940 square kilometers. Pakistan is the bridge between South Asia and South West Asia. Towards the North western part of Pakistan there lies Afghanistan. Pakistans boundary with Afghanistan is about 2,250 kilometers long. In the north, it runs along the ridges of the Hindu Kush (meaning Hindu Killer) mountains and the Pamirs, where a narrow strip of Afghan territory called the Wakhan Corridor extends between Pakistan and Tajikistan. This strip is about 16 to 25 kilometers long. The boundary line between Pakistan and Afghanistan is called Durand Line and it was drawn by Sir Mortimer Durand in 1893 and he was the foreign sectary of British India and was acceded to by the ameer of Afghanistan that same year. It was not in doubt when Pakistan became independent in 1947, although its legitimacy was in later years disputed periodically by the Afghan government as well as by Pakhtun tribes straddling the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. On the one hand, Afghanistan claimed that the Durand Line had been imposed by a stronger power upon a weaker one, and it favored the establishmen t of still another state to be called Pashtunistan or Pakhtunistan. On the other hand, Pakistan, as the legatee of the British in the region, insisted on the legality and permanence of the boundary. The Durand Line remained in effect in 1994. In the northeastern tip of the country, Pakistan controls about 84,159 square kilometers of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. This area, consisting of Azad Kashmir (11,639 square kilometers) and most of the Northern Areas (72,520 square kilometers), which includes Gilgit and Baltistan, is the most visually stunning of Pakistan. The Northern Areas has five of the worlds seventeen highest mountains. It also has such extensive glaciers that it has sometimes been called the third pole. The boundary line has been a matter of pivotal dispute between Pakistan and India since 1947, and the Siachen Glacier in northern Kashmir has been an important arena for fighting between the two sides since 1984, although far more soldiers have died of exposure to the cold than from any skirmishes in the conflict. From the eastern end of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a boundary of about 520 kilometers runs generally southeast between China and Pakistan, ending near the Karakoram Pass. This line was determined from 1961 to 1965 in a series of agreements between China and Pakistan. By mutual agreement, a new boundary treaty is to be negotiated between China and Pakistan when the dispute over Kashmir is finally resolved between India and Pakistan. The India-Pakistan Border, known locally as the International Border (IB), is the international boundary between India and Pakistan that demarcates the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat from provinces of Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan borders India in the East. The border resulted from the Partition of India in 1947. The Line of Control (L.O.C) separates The Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan administered Azad Kashmir. Wagah, the ceremonial point of crossing between India and Pakistan lies along this border between the Indian city of Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore, and is within close distance of both cities urban sprwal. The boundary with Iran, some 800 kilometers in length, was first delimited by a British commission in 1893, separating Iran from what was then British Indian Balochistan. In 1957 Pakistan signed a frontier agreement with Iran, and since then the border between the two countries has not been a subject of serious dispute. To the South of Pakistan , Arabian sea and Indian ocean are located. The costal belt of Pakistan is about 700 kilometer. Pakistan significance is enhanced as it located near the Persian Gulf from where 65% oil of the world is produced. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: 500 BC , one of the worlds first great civilizations began to develop in the Indus Valley in what is now Pakistan.Ruin of Harrapa and Mhenjo- Daro , were the two major cities of the civilization, show that both were large and well planned. By about 1700 BC, the Indus Valley civilization had disappeared. Experts dont know why it collapsed. During the next several thousand years, many people from southwest and Central Asia came into the region that is now Pakistan. About 1500 BC, a Central Asian people called Aryans came through the mountains passes to the Punjab region. In time, they settled across almost all of india. The Persians conquered the Punjab during the 500 BC and made it part of the huge Achmenid empire. In 236BC, Alexander the great took control of most of what is now Pakistan, a few years later, the emperor Chandra Gupta Mauriya made the region, part of Mauriyan empire. The Mauriyan Empire began to break up about 230BC. Greeks from the independent state of Bacteria in Central Asia then invaded the Indus valley, they established kingdom with capitals near the present day cities of Peshawar and Rawalpindi. About 100BC Scythians from Afghanistan came into Baluchistan and Sindh. In time they conquered the Indus region. The Parthian, who in turn was conquered by the Kushans of Central Asia, replaced Afghans. The Kushans ruled what is now Afghan. Pakistan and northwest India from about AD 50 mid 200s. They controlled the trade routes from China to India and the Middle East, Peshawar, the kushan capital, became the major commercial center. During the mid 300 the Indus valley become part of the Gupta Empire which had expanded westward from northeastern India, Huns from Central Asia conquered the empire in mid 400s. The coming of Islam, In AD 711,Arabs Muslims sailed across the Arabian sea and invaded Sindh bringing Islam to the region, Beginning about AD 1000 Turkish Muslim invaded Northern Pakistan from Iran. The Turkish ruler Mehmood of Ghazni established a Muslim kingdom that in time including the entire Indus Valley. Lahore become the capital of the kingdom and developed into a major entre of Muslim culture. In 1206, most of what is now Pakistan became part of the Delhi Sultanat, a Muslim empire that included Northern India. The Delhi Sultanat lasted until 1526, when Babar a Muslim ruler from Afghanistan, invaded India and established the Mughul Empire. By far Sher Shahs greatest legacy is the modern Grand Trunk road which ran from Bengal to Attock, however some claim it ran right up to Kabul. Along the way Baulis and Sarais were constructed which are the equivalent of Modern day Service stations. Some 450 years later, an incompetent ruler of Modern Pakistan also fancied going down in History as Sher Shah Suri. The result, a road though one of the best in the world but a white elephant for the Pakistani Nation.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Defining Good Advice :: Definition Essays

Defining Good Advice Many times, good advice will happen if a person has gone astray, then, suggestions would be made to the lost and he could either take it or leave it. Also, as Doug mentioned in discussion, is that "it may be impossible to deny information given to you." So, in this case, the advisee knows what has been said to them, and "he may not take the advice at the time", but store it for later.(Nate Hall), and because of this, good, or bad advice, in my opinion, is also in the eye of the beholder. Advice may only be used if it hasn't been heard before. For example, if someone is doing something wrong, and someone keeps telling them over and over, it may just go in one ear and out the other. This is why the advisor must find a way to leave the suggestions up the person weather they want to use it or not and they have to be ready for the information given to them.(Mike) Being the advisor takes a lot of patience and confidence. You must be able to tell truthfully to someone, something that they may not want to hear. When my friend came to me asking why her boyfriend wasn't acting the same towards her, I had to be honest and sincere to tell her the bad news. Tone of voice may also play a role in this factor. If someone says something to me in a rude tone or like I am in 5th grade, I may not take them seriously, or may even get mad. In basketball, someone might catch me doing something wrong and would like to point it out to me. If they yell at me I get frustrated and on the other hand, if they talk down on me, that makes me furious. Advice works best when the advisor should puts themselves in the other person's shoes. Sincerity is a must to make a good connection. Advice can be spoken, written, or portrayed by body language. Putting your finger up to your lips may make someone quiet for awhile, but saying, "Shut up." Would make more of an effect on them. As far as good advice in writing, I believe that many people are capable of saying many things while writing, but not always is the right idea portrayed. Sharing advice in notes, or e-mails, isn't the same as hearing it person.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Analysis of Marketing Techniques used by American Express :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Analysis of Marketing Techniques used by American Express American Express continues to attempt to expand its customer base, while at the same time trying to keep its reputation as a card of status. Its successful marketing tactics in the United States compared to the slow expansion into markets abroad show its lack of consideration of the differences of these markets. By preparing a more decisive plan as to what type of consumers to target and what products to push in each of its market areas, American Express could have a much greater success with foreign expansion. American Express has been known as a commodity to most business travelers. In order to build its customer base, other consumers need to see the card as an indispensable convenience in their lives. American Express offers convenient methods to obtain account information, pay bills, find discounted products, and even make travel plans via the Internet. The Internet site offers these options, as well as other services, such as on- line help and assistance for small businesses. American Express realizes the need for many consumers to save time and money, but to still feel important and respected. The ingenuity and thought put into the services offered on the web site shows that American Express is genuinely concerned with the satisfaction of its customers. American Express has always been known for its benefits to travelers. Some of the new travel discounts; such as the â€Å"Bahamas Getaway† packages offer significant discounts for planning a vacation in the Bahamas through a travel agent. The catch is that one must charge it on the American Express card to get the discounts. Coupon books that offer discounts at many shops, restaurants and attractions are given to those who buy a package. Over $11 million in â€Å"Bahama Getaway† packages were sold in 1999. Other getaway packages are available to consumers all over the world. American Express has successfully used this marketing strategy, as it realized that consumers want an opportunity to enjoy an exotic vacation, while at the same time, getting value for their dollar. Saving money is important to most consumers. Once again, American Express aims to please its customers. With these successful ventures, it is difficult to imagine that American Express is struggling in many parts of the world.

Smoking In Pregnancy And Childbirth Health And Social Care Essay

Harmonizing to Fink ( 1998, pp.3 ) the literature reappraisal procedure can be termed as â€Å" a systematic method for placing, measuring and construing the work produced by research workers, bookmans and practicians † . Government Policy on smoke in gestation and after childbearing: There are three of import policies made by the British authorities in related to smoking in gestation foremost is kids ‘s wellness and good being, than malignant neoplastic disease bar and the decrease of wellness inequalities. To back up this policies there are assorted different policy paperss like Every Child Matter ( HM Government, 2004 ) , Maternity Matters: Choice, entree and continuity of attention in a safe service ( DH, 2007a ) , the Cancer Reform Strategy ( DH, 2007b ) , Health Inequalities: advancement and following stairss ( DH, 2008 ) , Smoking Kills ( DH, 1998 ) and the Implementation Plan for cut downing wellness inequalities in infant mortality: a good pattern usher ( DH, 2007c ) . In add-on to damaging the wellness of the female parent, antenatal smoke is associated systematically with a figure of complications during gestation ( Castles et al, 1999 ) and several possible conditions impacting the baby ( Cnattingius, 2004 ) . Smoking rate among pregnant adult females in the UK was 23 % in the twelvemonth of 1995, it declined to 19 % in 2000 and farther declined to 17 % in 2005 ( Baxter et al, 2005 ) . But RCM has noted an addition in gestation smoke rates since 2005 ( Baxter et al, 2009 ) . It is estimated that around 17 % and 23 % of pregnant adult females are estimated to smoke throughout gestation in the United Kingdome ( Owen et al, 1998 ) . It is of import that cost effectual intercessions are developed and disseminated so that smoking-related wellness complications can be avoided. While face to confront smoking surcease behavioral support is by and large available for pregnant tobacco users, attending rates are really low ( Taylor et al, 2001 ) . In instance when the pregnant adult females are non able to go to face to confront smoking surcease behavioral support the option is self aid intercessions ( Ussher et al, 2005 ) . Self aid intercessions are peculiarly of import due to their low cost and they can make wider group of population. Giving pregnant adult females brochures incorporating information of jeopardies of smoke is one of the common signifier, but they can besides include picture, telephone and computing machine based systems. A recent Cochrane reappraisal concluded that, compared with having no stuffs, self help stuffs on their ain addition surcease rates merely marginally among non pregnant tobacco users ( Lancaster and Stead, 2005 ) . Tailored ego aid stuffs were found to be increasing the quitting rates compared to standard stuffs used for intercession ( Lumley et al, 2004 ) . Tailoring is the usage of participant features to individualize intercession stuffs and is believed to be effectual because it increases the relevancy of the information to the person and heed to the message ( Dijkstra and De Vries, 1999 ) . Self aid stuffs are common constituents in behaviour intercessions for pregnant tobacco users and are considered to be of import to cessation reding aid to pregnant adult females tobacco users to discontinue smoke ( Ussher et al, 2004 ) . However it is ill-defined whether ego aid intercessions on their ain can increase discontinuing among pregnant tobacco users. Several reappraisals have confirmed that intercessions promotion smoking surcease during gestation can cut down smoking rates significantly ( Kelley et al, 2001 ; Lumley et Al, 2004 ; Mullen et Al, 1999 ) . Lumbley et Al ‘s ( 2005 ) reappraisal largest in this country to day of the month included tests supplying a assortment of surcease intercessions, including self aid stuffs, reding techniques, fiscal inducements and nicotine replacing therapy. Lumbley et Al ‘s ( 2004 ) indicated that hazard of smoking in late gestation was lower among intercession groups than usual attention groups. They besides found that intercessions of greater denseness determined by personal contact, added small benefit. Kelley et Al ( 2001 ) reported that the degree of reding provided within an intercession was non associated with efficaciousness. Sing the possible benefits of ego aid intercessions it is of import to find whether they can be effectual on their ain in mark group.Inclusion/Exclusion:As an ethical bookman my inclusion and exclusion standards explains my attack towards choosing a proper literature for my attack. As a pupil of Northumbria University my first attack was to travel through the diaries available on NORA. There was plenty data available on NORA for research articles related to my subject. I besides tried to get quality resources from other hunt engines every bit good. I searched through Cochrane library to acquire good reappraisal articles on my research subject.Search Engine:I used Nora, Wiley Inter scientific discipline, The Cochrane library, British diary of Psychology, Official site of Elsevier publication which enabled me to entree articles through scientific discipline direct, PubMed, CINAHL etc. I used my university login wherever required for the entree of articles. This hunt engines are choice assured and supply entree to high quality of international resources.Search footings:Four chief databases were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Science Direct. Sear was done utilizing combination of keywords like ‘smok* ‘ , ‘tobacco ‘ , ‘pregn* ‘ , ‘cessation ‘ , ‘self help intercessions ‘ , ‘quit* ‘ and other proper equivalent word. A computerized electronic hunt was performed to place relevant articles. The hunt was conducted on Medline [ Jan 1997 to November 2010 ] , Embase [ Jan 1997 to November 2010 ] , CINAHL [ Jan 1997 to November 2010 ] , ScienceDirect [ Jan 1997 to November 2010 ] and PubMed [ Jan 1997 to November 2010 ] . PICO method was used to seek cardinal words to govern out the articles in each database. PICO is a method of hunt scheme that allows taking a more grounds based attack to literature seeking in database like CINAHL, ScienceDirect, etc ( Schardt et al. , 2007 ) . Electronic seeking yielded 1010 relevant articles of which 725 were extras and after testing of the commendation or mention 285 articles were published one. Based on the survey criteria 11 articles were related to self aid intercessions. 3 articles were eliminated due to type of qualitative or prospective survey. 4 articles were good, they were run intoing my inclusion exclusion standards but I was non able to entree them as they were paid articles. Finally, 8 to the full published articles were included in this assessment.Surveies included in Quantitative Synthesis ( narrative analysis )( n= 8 )Records excluded( n= 274 )Full articles excluded with grounds ( n= 3 )One article was related to cohort surveyOne article was related to assorted methodsOne article was related to pilot surveyFull articles accessed after eligibility( n= 11 )Records screened( n= 285 )Records after extras were removed( n= 725 )Records identified through database searchingMedline ( n= 127 )Embase ( n= 85 )PubMed ( n= 137 )CINAHL ( n= 225 )ScienceDirect ( n= 436 )Entire ( n= 1010 )Figure: Flow Chart of Systematic Appraisal Inclusion and ExclusionPICO Method:Population: Pregnant adult females smoking during gestation Intervention: Tests were considered if at least one of the experimental weaponries met the ego aid definition. The definition used based on Lancaster & A ; Stead ‘s ( 2005 ) defines self aid as the proviso of structured stuffs that assist the person in doing quit effort and prolonging abstention without important aid from a wellness professional or group support. Comparison: Comparison was done between different intercessions. Usual attention given to pregnant tobacco users during their ante natal attention was compared with ego aid intercessions. Besides usual attention was compared with picture based and brochures intercession. Result: Smoke results were accessed either in 2nd or during the 3rd trimester. The tests besides determined the smoke position either during late gestation or postpartum ( Moore et Al, 2002 ) .Features of Included surveies [ Ordered by Study Id ] :Aveyard et Al ( 2006 )State Focus of Study United kingdom To analyze whether, as predicted by the Transtheoretical Model of behaviour alteration ( TTM ) phase matched intercessions are more effectual than stage- mismatched intercessions in smoking surcease intercessions with pregnant adult females. Study Design RCT – matter-of-fact three armed test. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology Participants were 918 pregnant tobacco users drawn from 16 of 19 obstetrics antenatal services in the West Midlands. Arm 1: n= 289 Arm two: n=305 Arm three: n=324 Intervention Arm 1: Standard obstetrics advice to halt smoke and a self-help cusp appropriate for adult females in the readying phase. Midwifes received no extra preparation except in survey protocol. Arm Two: TTM based arm. Womans were been seen by accoucheuses with 2.5 yearss specialist preparation, 2 of these yearss on TTM. Women received a TTM based self-help brochure and received four Sessionss of behavioral reding from the accoucheuses ( three during gestation and one 10 yearss post partum ) Arm Three: TTM based arm. Womans were been seen by accoucheuses with 2.5 yearss developing as in arm 1. Intervention was the same as arm two, with the add-on of a computing machine based surcease intercession used on the four juncture ‘s of the accoucheuses visit. Result Measures Pregnant adult females in weaponries two and three ( TTM- based ) were significantly more likely to travel frontward in phase of alteration than adult females in the control arm. Consequences Overall, the TTM-based intercession produced some motion in adult females ‘s preparedness to discontinue but it was hard to construe this determination as the TTM intercessions were besides more intensive. The writers concluded that TTM had small cogency in explicating smoking surcease behavior during gestation.Cinciripini et Al ( 2000 )State Focus of Study United states An rating of videotaped sketchs for smoking surcease and backsliding bar during gestation. Study Design Randomised Controlled Tests. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology A sum of 146 adult females were screened for the survey. Sixty four adult females failed to run into the inclusion standards for the test ( & gt ; 18 old ages of age, smoke & gt ; 3 coffin nails per twenty-four hours, less than 30 hebdomads pregnant, have a on the job VCR, be willing to put a quit day of the month within two hebdomads of showing, and non involved in any other formal smoke surcease plan ) . 82 adult females participants were indiscriminately assigned. Intervention Usual attention ( UC ) ( N= 40 ) and UC plus picture ( UCV ) ( N= 42 ) groups. All participants continued to have the usual prenatal attention provided by their primary doctor, plus survey stuffs as described below. All intercession stuffs were provided through the mail, after participants had undergone a telephone testing for inclusion. All follow ups were besides conducted by telephone. Result Measures Abstinence was observed between the two groups. Abstinence studies were measured by salivary cotinine values. Consequences Seven twenty-four hours point prevalence abstention informations did non demo any significance consequences. At the terminal of quit day of the month the abstention rate was 10 % in control group and 3 % in experimental group. At the terminal of intervention the abstention rate was 12 % in control group and 7.5 % in experimental group. Decision The present sample size may be unequal to pull any i ¬?rm decisions sing the differential effectivity of the picture intercession.Ershoff et Al ( 1999 )State Focus of Study United states The effectivity of low-priced smoke intercessions targeted to pregnant adult females has been demonstrated, although few additions in absolute surcease rates have been reported in the past decennary. Under conditions of typical clinical pattern, this survey examined whether results achieved with brief reding from antenatal attention suppliers and a self-help brochure could be improved by adding more resource-intensive cognitive-behavioural plans. Study Design Randomised Controlled Trial Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology Womans 18 old ages of age or older who self-reported to be active tobacco users at their initial antenatal assignment. 131 adult females were randomised. Control group: 111 participants. Experimental Group: 120 participants. Intervention Participants were randomized to one of three groups: ( 1 ) a self-help brochure tailored smoke forms, phase of alteration, and life style of pregnant tobacco users ; ( 2 ) the brochure plus entree to a computerized telephone surcease plan based on synergistic voice response engineering ; or ( 3 ) the brochure plus proactive telephone reding from nurse pedagogues utilizing motivational interviewing techniques and schemes. Result Measures Biochemically coni ¬?rmed abstention measured by degree of cotinine in urine samples obtained during a everyday antenatal visit at about the 34th hebdomad of gestation. Consequences Twenty per centum of participants were coni ¬?rmed as abstainer with no signii ¬?cant differences found between intercession groups. Cessation rates in heavy tobacco users were less in all intercession groups. Decision Neither a computerized telephone surcease plan nor systematic proviso of motivational guidance improved surcease rates over a trim self-help brochure delivered within the context of brief advice from antenatal suppliers.Gielen et Al ( 1997 )State Focus of Study United states Evaluation of a smoke surcease intercession for pregnant adult females in an urban prenatal clinic. Study Design Randomized controlled tests. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology 391 tobacco users were indiscriminately assigned in two groups. Control group: 198 participants. Experimental group: 193 participants. Intervention Experimental group received usual information with a prenatal and station partum information. Control group received merely usual information. The intercession consisted of single accomplishments direction and guidance by a equal wellness counselor on the usage of a self-help surcease usher and everyday clinic support. Result Measures It was measured by smoking surcease confirmed by cotinine measuring. Significant decrease in smoke was besides considered as an result step. Smoking forms were besides considered Consequences Among the Experimental group ( n = 193 ) , 6.2 % were cotinine confirmed quitters at 3rd trimester and among the C group ( n = 198 ) the quit rate was 5.6 % . Decision No important differences were found in the two groups.Lawrence et Al ( 2002 )State Focus of Study United kingdom To measure the effectivity in assisting pregnant adult females stop smoke of two intercessions ( Pro-Change for a healthy gestation ) based on the Trans theoretical theoretical account of behaviour alteration ( TTM ) compared to current criterion attention Study Design Cluster randomised survey. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology 494 pregnant tobacco users participated. Control group: 243 participants. Experimental group: 251 participants. Intervention Arm 1 for standard attention. Second arm for TTM based ego aid manuals. Third arm for TTM based ego aid manuals plus session with an synergistic computing machine plan giving individualized smoke surcease advice. Result Measures Biochemically confirmed smoke surcease for 10 hebdomads and point prevalence abstention, both measured at 30 hebdomads of gestation and 10 yearss after bringing. Consequences There were little differences between the TTM weaponries. Uniting the two weaponries, the odds ratios at 30 hebdomads were 2.09 ( 95 % assurance interval ( CI ) 0.90 to 4.85 ) for 10 hebdomad sustained abstention and 2.92 ( 95 % CI 1.42 to 6.03 ) for point prevalence abstention relation to controls. At 10 yearss after bringing, the odds ratios were 2.81 ( 95 % CI 1.11 to 7.13 ) and 1.85 ( 95 % CI 1.00 to 3.41 ) for 10 hebdomad and point prevalence abstention severally. Decision Borderline important addition in discontinuing in the combined intercession weaponries.Moore et Al ( 2002 )State Focus of Study United kingdom To measure the effectivity of a ego aid attack to smoking surcease in gestation. Study Design Randomised controlled test. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology 1572 pregnant tobacco users Control Group: 757 participants. Experimental group: 678 participants. Intervention A series of 5 brochures given to pregnant adult females on different phases of gestation Result Measures Validation of smoke by measuring of cotinine at the terminal of 2nd trimester. Self reported smoke position. Consequences Smoking surcease rates were low when cotinine measuring was done. The rates were 18.8 % in intercession group and 20.7 % in normal attention group. Self reported smoking surcease rates were high. The rates were 29.1 % in intercession group and 25.6 % in Normal attention group. Decision Self Help Intervention was utile but non so effectual during prenatal attention. There needs to a more intensive and tailored made intercession be made for good consequences.Natan et Al ( 2010 )State Focus of Study Israel To look into factors impacting adult females ‘s purpose to smoke during gestation. Study Design Cross sectional survey. Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology Pregnant adult females aged between 19-26 old ages 201 participants enrolled in the survey. Intervention Theory of planned behavior. Result Measures Self reported smoke position. Consequences Behavioural attitudes, subjective norms and sensed behavioral control were found to foretell adult females ‘s purpose to smoke during gestation. Decision Nursing intercessions guided by the TPB may be helpful to assist adult females discontinue smoke in gestation.Strecher et Al ( 2000 )State Focus of Study United states Quit for supports: tailored smoke surcease ushers for gestation and beyond Study Design Randomised controlled test Participant, Recruitment and Sampling Methodology 173 pregnant tobacco users. 88 topics were enrolled as experimental topics, they received trim smoke surcease messages through mail, one after each antenatal visit. 85 topics in control group received a quit smoke brochure and no other stuffs. Intervention The experimental group was given trim messages after each antenatal visit. They were given manus held computing machine and were advised to make full up abruptly follow up interview. Urine samples were collected at the pre natal visits. The control group were merely given merely discontinue smoking brochures. Result Measures It was measured by the interview signifiers filled by the pregnant adult females. Consequences Rate of surcease in control group was 14 % as compared to experimental group was 15 % . There was no important difference in smoking surcease rates. Decision Tailored message produced no alterations in the smoke behavior of the topics.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Business communication trends

When I was working in if I had a Job, how this sentence would play into my day-to-day work activities would be is not have conflicts with my other workers, in if there were any conflicts I would try to smooth things out instead of making things worse, you want your coworker's to trust you not let them think you are against them, immunization skills is the best thing anyone can have because instead of someone talking behind your back saying this and that if you have great communication skills at work, conflicts can be handled without words being passed among each other, things can be controlled in a very timely and efficient way.How does it help you manage your daily activities? How it helps me is when I am working on our assignments or ass's, I find myself writing better so that people can understand what I am trying to relay to them I Just have to be careful of my run-on sentences, I still have some improvement on my immunization skills but I am taking it day by day, because I have had some complaints about my writing skills that's why I refer verbally speaking than writing mayday of the week because you don't have to worry about your punctuation of any kind. What trends have you seen in your current or previous workplace?I have not worked in quite a while, but I do use a lot of the communication skills with my schooling, because we have to communicate every week through our assignments as well as our ass's, and if what we are saying don't make sense or they cannot understand it, it means nothing at all, because if your words are not clearly written no one will understand what you are trying to relay to them, because before coming to the university my communication skills were terrible still is but I am hoping to improve hopefully this class will help me learn the right communication skills that I need to know.What message types are results of these trends? The message types consist of different kinds and if they are not used correctly they don't amount to a h ill of beans. The types that I can say can help me are verbal, mails, note taking, and letters.The reason I chose these is because when you are writing notes or letters or even sending emails you need to have great communication skills, without them whomever is reading your messages they want make any sense because communication skills is or can be very important, especially to whom you are writing to and about. Because for one you want your client or whoever you are writing to, to understand what you are writing about not trying to guess on the topic or subject that is being written on or about. No references again: