Human resources Research Proposal Essay

Proposed Research Topic: A situational analysis of the role of Human Resource Management programs in developing competency mapping tests, training and development, analyzing quality of work life, and overall employee attitudes. Purposes: In this project I will explore the holes that Human Resource Departments in all scopes of business overlook in determining the best fit for their companies. In particular, I will explore how competency mapping affects department efficiency, recruiting, retention rates, and general employee satisfaction. Such a study should give insight into the workings of Human Resource Departments and open doors to concepts that are too often overlooked or not used in conjunction with other practices. Also, the study will prove the necessity for more extensive candidate study in order to recruit and retain the right jobs for the right employees. Search Terms: * Competency Mapping * Training and Development * Quality of work life * Employee Attitude * Human Resources Management * Human Resources Development Articles: 1. Holland, P. – In Australia, a study group has found that HR departments at various firms are allocating resources towards some of the wrong areas within their employee structure and need to focus them more on recruitment and retention. Skill and labor shortages spurred the initiating of the studies and found that in order for these Australian organizations to compete both domestically and internationally they must allocate the right resources to the right areas. 2. Levi, A. S. – In a quantitative study, reactions of African Americans and Whites were noted to describe the results of Affirmative Action Programs (AAP) within the HR department. Attitudes of AA has been mixed of course, but application to four HR activities including hiring, promotions, training, and layoffs proved differing opinions exist when analyzing both advanced undergraduate and MBA participants reactions. AA has frequently made available controversy in the workplace as unfair to non-beneficiary groups, especially white males, who understandably may resist such practices. 3. Toh, S., Morgeson – In a quantitative study, researchers found that bundling HR practices rather than just individual HR practices made a large impact on effecting employee performance. Since employee performance is a multi-dimensional factor that includes ability and motivation, it only makes sense that aiming strategies at multiple angles would increase response in employees. Based on results found, individual organizations displayed stronger competence and positive results in their respected HR bundle chosen to focus on. 4. Naqvi, F. – Inside every business lays a Human Resource Department that is dedicated to hiring and retaining the most competent employees for any given job opening. The basic premise of competency mapping is finding the right person for the right job, but this is literally just the tip of the iceberg. Just because a candidate displays strong academic records and knowledge does not necessary elicit the best fit for said candidate. Also, personality testing cannot be the sole means of weeding out candidates, as they do not explore the multi-dimensional aspects that will be needed to efficiently and successfully fulfill job expectations and purposes.

Planet Organic Marketing Report

Through primary research we wish to study the marketing strategy for Planet Organic particularly in the use of interviews, questionnaires and in store visits. Having arranged an interview with the Store Manager of the Westbound Grove branch, we hope to ask questions that we feel could contribute towards our final marketing report. Through the use of the questionnaire this will give us particular help with looking into the demographics of our chosen retailer. We also expect to carry out secondary research with the help of Planet Organics newsletter, the Internet and the Planet Organic website.We will analyses newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian in which will enable us to view information on its retail competitors as well as general articles on organic farming. I nurturing ten process AT writing tons report we alma to nave regular contact Walt a spokesperson representing Planet Organic. This will help us gain both an informative insight into the marketing techniques and environment. To anchor our information on the micro/macro environment we will produce a SOOT analysis within our report, which highlights the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats ofPlanet Organic. 2. Micro Environmental 2. 1 Company â€Å"Planet Organics natural ethos also extends to our beliefs about health and how complementary therapies and remedies can prevent and cure illness. Nourishing our families with good wholesome home cooking combined with a complementary approach to well being is the foundation for a healthy, vital life now and for generations to come. † Renee Elliott 2000 Planet Organic is a unique supermarket dedicated to organic and other ethically sourced products.They have 4 stores spread across some of the most affluent areas of London and have a large target arrest of organic consumers looking for essentially chemical-free , fresh or minimally processed food. Their mission is to raise awareness of British farming and organic goods while fi ghting against genetically modified foods. Renee Elliott a former American wine Journalist opened her first Planet Organic store in 1995 in Noting Hill, with each restaurant containing a designated seating area where customers can purchase foods from the deli counter, offering a selection of fresh Organic Produce.The shelves in all four stores are aligned according to Meat, Dairy Products, Confectionery and Health and Beauty. When walking into a Planet Organic Store you have immediately stepped into what is set out to be like a market stall of fresh fruit and vegetables. The shop is very appealing to the eye with its color coordination and neatly stacked shelves. The smell of the fresh deli counter makes shopping in Planet Organic thoroughly enjoyable instead of the hustle and bustle that you may encounter when shopping in other supermarkets such as Testes and Kingsbury.This is why Planet Organic continue to have such a loyal sense of customer value, they want to make your food shop ping experience enjoyable and relaxing. More and more people are choosing to arches and look into eating organic food because they want to know what they are eating, the reassurance that the environment has not been harmed in the process of which their food has been produced This year Planet Organic are celebrating 1 5 years since they opened as the first organic and natural supermarket in the I-J.Planet Organic became the first Soil Association certified organic supermarket in the I-J when they first started in 1995, they were also the first to have an organic British meat and fish counter within a supermarket. I en company were also ten TLS London retailer to KICK start ongoing trend of replacing plastic bags with biodegradable bags, this has been picked up on with many other large retailers such as Waitress, Testes and Kingsbury. Planet Organic now have their own website (www. Planetarium. Com) in which consumers can purchase products online and have them home delivered.This is u seful to their loyal consumers, as unlike many supermarkets such as Waitress and Marks and Spencer, accessibility is limited due to such a limited amount of stores. The website entices customers with ‘gift ideas' and gives factual information in ‘Renee's blob (The company director of Planet Organic). In this blob she introduces ewe and innovative recipes such as ‘Soaked Cinnamon and Apricot Porridge' and ‘Parmesan Baked Asparagus', she also directly targets mothers with young children, for example what to put in their packed lunch or meals that both grown ups and children will enjoy.This blob is updated almost weekly and is full of informative and current news that makes an entertaining read. Planet Organic also send out a monthly newsletter with details of latest products, environmental and health issues and ‘Planet Organic News'. They do this to keep that close relationship that is needed between a retailer and its consumers thus creating brand loyalt y. Planet Organic is not Just a foods supermarket; â€Å"We believe the body can usually heal itself, not with medicines that often Just suppress or mask symptoms, but with natural remedies that support the body in the healing process† (Renee Elliott).They particularly specialize in herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals as well as providing consumers with organically produced cosmetics such as make up and body lotions. 2. 2 Suppliers The company sells over 27 different products within each category. Books, Vitamins, supplements, natural remedies, body, face care and make up are only a small part of the company's success. They sell organic free range eggs and organic meat (all animals are vegetarian). Planet Organic only sells natural, free range organic products. The business was the first to be part of the Soil Association Organic Standard in the I-J.The soil Association is a charity, which campaigns for planet friendly food and farming. They believe that the connection bet ween food, soil and health of people is very important, which is also very important within Planet Organic. Planet Organic are forever introducing new products into the market, by promoting conventional farming, home grown products and raising awareness about health. By sourcing organic food from sustainable producers this reduces the environmental impact of consumption of items brought through its stores.Planet Organic have a British policy on buying meat and British first for fruit and vegetables. Suppliers come from local areas in London and Planet Organic is always trying to promote local businesses. Planet Organic sources and sells seasonal produce, which therefore minimizes transport and thus the impact on the environment in which helps to reduce the carbon footprint. Planet Organic maintain regular contact with tenet suppliers Ana attend trace snows to Tina ten Test new products I nee are committed to British farmers, bakers, producers and manufacturers and continue to mainta in high standards.Planet Organic is also part of Fair-Trade, which is an organized social group that helps people in developing countries to earn a respectable wage and living. Fair- Trade also ensures that better prices are obtained, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Companies are required to pay sustainable prices, which must never fall below the market price. Fair-Trade helps to stop the injustice of trade; which in the sat has been unjust and discriminated against the poorest and weakest producers.Fair-Trade enables the workers to improve their position and have more control of their lives. 2. 3 Intermediaries The intermediaries, also know are wholesalers, the middlemen or distributors, are what fill out the gap between the point of production and the point of sale. They can help overcome the lack of compatibility between the suppliers and the end customers (being Planet Organic) by reducing t he number of contacts between the two. This would also help in reducing the costs of the distribution and selling.The organization must decide whether to involve an intermediary, this can be determined by its size or also whether they trust the resources and skills of the produces to successfully meet the needs of the consumer. Most often the intermediaries add value to an organization in different ways, firstly to the marketing side as long as they are effective to the producers goods and the distribution channel, as they most likely know their target market. Making sure that the goods are stocked appropriately so that the economic and life-style needs match the shoppers, for planet organic being natural, healthy, environmental friendly products.Planet Organic uses intermediaries for the majority of their products. Around 60% meaning 40% of their products are delivered directly from the suppliers. They use 4 major consolidators, The Health Store and The Tree of Life are cooperate w holesalers for natural and organic products. They are two of the leading health Food wholesalers in the I-J. The Health Store is based in Nottingham and has been trading over 76 years throughout the I-J, Ireland and Europe. A Dutch company called the Royal Weakens NV that is based in the Netherlands owns the company Tree of Life. They distribute food products throughout North America and Europe.Planet organic uses their Newcastle branch. Another 2 intermediaries used by Planet Organic are Marigold and Lingering Organic. Marigold health foods are only based in the UK and distribute their products within a 60-mile radius from their warehouse in Kings cross using refrigerated vehicles. 60% of their product lines are organic. Lingering Organic is based in New Covent Garden, London and specializes in the distribution of organic Truly Ana vegetables Language started In ten early Bus's supporting local UK Tarts however they have now growers throughout Europe and the rest of the world.Plane t Organic also has an online shopping and delivery service. Goods to their consumers bought from the website are distributed from their Westbound grove branch. They have their own van for fresh items delivered only to certain areas within London. All other orders such as non-fresh items or for delivery outside the UK are sent mainly through Parcel Force and are carbon neutral. All of their distributors from the store use echo-friendly packaging. The cardboard boxes used for packaging are 100% post-consumer recycled and are made within the I-J, even the printed ink is made from vegetables.They use gummed paper made from starch as tape, the bubble wrap is biodegradable, which is an organic material that will quickly brake down in landfill and be absorbed back into the soil harmlessly. For their fragile items instead of Styrofoam they use expanded corn, which are completely comfortable. Parcel Force is part of the Royal Mail Group, and for over 14 years there express delivery services have been covering 27 million addresses in the I-J. 2. 4 Customers We conducted a customer survey at planet organics Westbound grove branch.The main research objective of this study was to find out what type of customers shop at lane organic and why. To collect primary data a questionnaire asked customers about the main purposes of their visit. The questionnaire was made up of 15 closed questions with a pre-set list of possible answers and was conducted inside the store itself. The customers who participated in the survey completed the questionnaire in our presence. We used a convenient sampling approach and a total of 36 questionnaires were collected during a two hour time slot. We determined the size of the sample by the resources availability and the limited timescale.Due to the Westbound grove branch being the largest of the 4 planet organic stores, made it important to approach customers shopping in different sections and aisles of the store including customers sitting down and having lunch. This is so that we did not to concentrate on 1 particular type of customer who might only be shopping for 1 specific type of product. It goes without saying that the results shown in figure 1 and 2 are a clear majority. Many customers, when asked if they shopped online with planet organic, were surprised to find out that they had a website with home delivery.This also goes to how that in figure 3 only 5% heard about planet organic online, the 31% form word of mouth and the majority with 61% saw the store when passing by. The 19% of male customers were mostly with families; one man said ‘I'm only here because my wife gave me the shopping list, she's crazy for organic'. However there were a few men that were vegetarians or had special dietary needs. Figure 1 Figure 2 Hogue s Hogue 4 The results show in figure 4 that the majority of customers lived locally with 58% and secondly worked locally with 17%.The 8% who were Just visiting, did so, along with another custom er who lived around the area. The least amount of customers were tourists with only 6%, on the other hand the few tourists had specifically sort after organic products, whether planet organic had been suggested to them or searching themselves on the internet. Moving on to figure 5 and 6 below, we can point out that most customers walk (with 69%) to the store taking them generally 5 minuets or less (with 47%), where as only 3% use their private vehicles or motorbikes.This result proves to us that they are highly likely too live locally as seen once again in figure 4. Customs traveling the longest accounted for 19% though no customers travel time kook longer than 30 minuets. Figure 5 Figure 6 Results in figure 7 below show that planet organic attracts a large range of their customers between the ages of 25 and 44, Just over 60%, with 28% aged between 25 and 34 and 33% aged between 35 and 44. The minority of customers are aged between 18-24, various reasons for this were due to student life and funds, not being aware of the benefits with organic food, visiting or happen to pass by.The customers aged 65 or over stated mainly that their reason for shopping there simply because planet organic was the closest supermarket to them. Notice in figure number 8 the majority of shoppers with 36% are in pm or later mainly due to finishing work. Before 1 lam with 11%, again before work, 17% of customers shop at different times, 14% between 1 lam and pm and 22% that shop between pm and pm. Figure 7 Figure 8 Planet organic clearly appears to have loyal customers acting on the information given figure 9, customers shopping one a week with 36% and those who shop more than once a week with 25%.Very few were there as a one off with only 3%. It is obvious in figure 10 that when asked whether they visited other planet organic stores round London and if so where, the question was no with 67%, they keep to their local Westbound grove branch in Backwater. However 25% had been to the bra nch in by Darlington place Camden, 5% to planet organic in Isolation and least with 3% Mussels Hill. Looking at figure 11 the majority with 33% of planet organics customers shop at Marks and Spence's, they more or less have similar price ranges, quality food and Marks and Spence's hold a variety of free range and organic foods.Minority of customers with 6% said they shopped at Tests. Customer's second and third main supermarket choices were Kingsbury with 19% and Waitress with 22% , e believe this is mainly due to the fact that Kingsbury and Tests are conveniently close to planet organic, within the same area. Hogue Y Hogue Figure 11 Seeing as Planet Organic hold a wide range of organic, gluten free, dairy free, wheat free, vegan and vegetarian products, the question was asked whether they were vegetarian or vegan. 28% stated vegetarian, 8% vegan and 58% said neither.The remaining 6%, who stated other, had special dietary needs such as lactose or wheat intolerant. This lead to a que stion concentrating on what type of products they regularly bought from planet organic. The most popular products bought, shown in Geiger 13, with 47% were general groceries including beverages, home and household products. The least poplar products with only 6% of customers mainly bought bakery, 8% came for the fruit and vegetables, 11% for health and body care products, 22% for lunch/dinner or food on the go.Also with 6% were customers who came and bought a selection of everything. Figure 12 Figure 13 One of the most interesting questions in our opinion is the main reason why people purchase organic food. Precisely 50% of planet organics customer's motives for purchasing organic food are that they understood it is much healthier for them. They leveled that organic produce will not be full of man-made chemicals and that organic meat for example did not contain antibiotics or hormones.They also believed that organic fruit and vegetables had not been harmed by fungicides or pesticide s. Organic foods are mostly kept the same from the time they are grown until the time they are displayed in the store. Nothing is added and foods are not processed, as a result of this, for 22% of the customers this was the reason they thought organic food tasted better and believed that buying organic meant buying quality. Other customers at 9% shopped at planet organic because buying organic reduce meant being environmentally friendly.They knew that organic animals were treated better than conventional animals. There were 8% of customers who mainly needed dietary product such as gluten free, dairy free or wheat free products. The remaining 11% of customer didn't specify a reason for shopping at planet organic other than the store being the closest to them and for convenience. As seen earlier in figure 45 this category co in sides with customers that were age 60 or over. Figure 14 Overall planet organics customers were very sociable and welcoming. They liked to express their views. We also asked a 1 5th question, which entailed occupation, however instead of formulating the question into a closed question we collected each individual answer through a box question. Out of all 36 customers that participated in out questionnaire neither of them had the same occupation as another. They ranged Trot sculpture artists, Dustless consultants, pr collocates, grapnel gleaner, lecturers, site managers and antique dealers to unemployed, retired and entertainment or fashion industry workers. The male customers seemed to have creative occupations such as architects.Where as the women who shopped in the diddle of the day said they were unemployed or charity workers, this could mean they were house wives or had no necessitate making money. 2. 5 Competitors Planet Organic believes in ethical and sustainable farming, therefore the natural and wholesome food company has a highly competitive and volatile business field. We mainly believe that the key competitors for Planet Organic are actually the larger leading supermarkets who have recently expanded their companies and opened their market field to consumers who appreciate organic products.Recent statistics have confirmed that large Supermarkets are responding to their customer requests ND are making efforts to both stock organic and locally-grown produce which allows consumers to be ‘green' shoppers, choosing from locally grown, ethically sourced goods. [The Telegraph, 15th October 2007. ] The organic food market is rapidly increasing therefore the competition between supermarkets is rising dramatically. The increase of product availability and the expansion of purchaser interest in premium foods have fuelled sales.Figures illustrate that fruit and vegetables comprise to be the largest sector of organic foods and the main entry point to the market. From 2002 to 2008 organic dairy products have more than doubled in retail ales and Minute predicts that the market is set to grow by over 54%, from 2007-2 012. (Minute Report, 1st February 2008. ) Three of the major UK retail chains; Waitress, Kingsbury and Marks and Spencer are all examples of supermarkets that are direct competitors for Planet Organic.All three supermarket chains have been awarded ratings of grade B by the National Consumer Council (NC) for their stocking of environmentally friendly foods and goods. Waitress has made enormous efforts over the past years to increase their organic range and their business sales are dramatically increasing due to their quality of fresh produce. Moreover, Waitress's main target audience is middle-class consumers, which conflicts with Planet Organic as they both aim to appeal to a similar target market.Waitress offers fair trade products to consumers in order to ensure that workers in less developed countries get a fair wage and are treated in a fair manner. Likewise, Planet Organic proposes the idea of selling fair trade products, which increases the competitiveness between the two busi nesses. In addition, Waitress is known as the best chain retailer when it comes to trading practices, sourcing from I-J farmers and committing to smaller appliers allowing them to stock the largest range of organic fresh produce.Yet, sources confirm that consumers find that the fresh produce at Waitress is exceedingly cheaper than Planet Organic, which means that many customers would resort to Waitress over Planet Organic itself. However, sources did corroborate that Planet Organic do stock a high percentage of products that are not viable to find elsewhere, but the question is can we do without most of those if needs be? [Urban Path- Planet Organic Reviews, 2nd January 2008. ] Furthermore, Kingsbury is another K retail canal Tanat Is a Key competitor Tort Planet organic, as It offers ten most suitable range of organic products for their target market.Kingsbury organic range primarily focuses on goods such as fruit, vegetables, dairy products and meat. It has been shown that food sa fety scares have promoted consumers to seek greater guarantee about the value and quality of the meat they buy. Therefore, with Kingsbury stocking organic meats, profits and loyalty with customers will increase as the consumers know they are receiving produce that is fresh, making organic stores such as Planet Organic observe them as being great competitors.Kingsbury has been voted the number one organic food retailer in the UK by a panel of consumers therefore this highlights the success that the organic products have had upon the other retail stores. Kingsbury sales have significantly been increasing due to the growing popularity of its organic and premium food ranges, and Mr. King (Chief executive) implies that â€Å"Kingsbury strong quality food offer has helped it take customers away from rivals such as Tests and Sad. † [The telegraph, 20th June 2007. Moreover, this entails that Planet Organic has suffered a loss of profit due to key permeated chains increasing their pro duce of organic foods. A further example is Marks and Spencer and how they have improved there value of organic food with sales rising 48% this year, with their organic range doubling in size to almost 500 products. M&S, like Planet Organic focus on targeting the middle class audience, by producing organic food that meets the higher food standards.M&S believe strongly in sustainable farming and free range products therefore, since 2009 their entire fresh whole ducks, geese and majority of turkeys came from free range products because of response to customer requests. Similarly, Planet Organic offers the same free range assistance which again can cause rivalry between the companies. However, especially since the recession consumers have believed Planet Organic is too pricey for a regular food shop and therefore alternate to M&S as there organic produce is cheaper and still satisfies the consumers.Overall, the rising sales of organic products in larger supermarkets puts smaller food s tores I. E. Planet Organic in danger, as the smaller suppliers have to think of new ways in which they can attract there target audience to come to there shops instead of committing to the argue supermarkets. Due to the fact that all of the above UK retail chains offer a similar supplies as Planet Organic they are all seen as a psychical threat to the company. 2. 6 Publics Publics are groups that have an interest or could potentially have an impact on Planet Organics abilities to achieve their goals and objectives.The general publics are one of the groups that can have a great impact on a Planet Organic. Whether the change is positive or negative, a change in the general publics attitude can cause change within Planet Organics reputation and profitability. Another group of people ho can have an impact on Planet Organic are their employees; these are people who are employed within the company, this can range from its sales associates to the farmers. Companies that could affect Planet Organic are Fair trade, Ere sign and Organic Standards.We also found six main groups, which have a great impact on Planet organics adjectives Ana products * Soil Association * Green Providers Directory * I-J Organic Directory * Organic Food * Cycle Lifestyle * Fair Trade I nose SIX companies Include: Planet Organic support all of these companies by stocking and promoting their goods thin their store. Planet Organic also provides leaflets and details about these organizations for its consumers to find more information on, they work closely together in order to create public interest.The above companies main concerns of health implications are similar to Renee Elitist's, which is great publicity for Planet Organic being linked with them and vice versa. Organizations such as Soil Association is not funded by the government as it is a charity based company relying on donations and support from members as the public in order to continue to carry out their work. The Food Ethic Council al so retirees over 80% of organic food sold within the I-J, aiming to inform the public about the many benefits of organic food and farming, they also have a similar mission statement to that of Planet Organic.

Teacher Professionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teacher Professionalism - Essay Example Frpm this research it is clear that when she asked Mario if he understood the corrections, she displayed what reflects the 3rd Feature laid by the MELS which expresses that teachers must â€Å"judge how well the student has read the problem situation.† These two features in the 5th Competency would mean that the MELS notion of the role of teacher not only comprises instruction, but also the social aspect. It is clear then that teachers should motivate and inspire the students in order for the teaching and learning process to be more effective. This will equate to a turnaround of the traditional means of evaluation for the teacher, thus bringing about a reformative process of the professional conduct in schools.This study presents that in the reporter's ongoing professional development as a teacher, I observed and now comprehend that the conduct of my skilled CT is professional and that she is a very caring individual. She gave the student a chance after recognizing that indeed he understood what were his mistakes. This correlates slightly with the other features under the 5th Competency which is similarly grounded on the idea of evaluating the student progress on a standpoint of socio-constructivism.  This situation introduced him to the standard of teaching where the virtues of compassion and understanding are instilled. It is worthy of emulation!   the importance of a teacher being supportive in giving encouragement and building a positive self-image for the student.

Changing Landscapes of work (Argument Synthesis) Essay

Changing Landscapes of work (Argument Synthesis) - Essay Example It is also expected that the American workers would migrate to other countries in search of better and well paid jobs but only the best ones would be able to fit into an organization. New jobs would not require much physical ability it will have to be brains and brains only, it is also expected that the old American workforce and women would continue to struggle to get into decent organizations. Exporting jobs to Asian countries has become a very popular trend and this trend is expected to continue, it is expected to continue because American workers ask for too much compensation when compared to the workers in Asia, this makes the decision very simple and straight forward for the employers. The same work is being done in countries like India and Singapore for far less than in America. Low-skilled labors will be affected the most, globalization has already taken a toll on them and they have to be content with subpar wages and this is expected to continue. There is a lot of competition when it comes to the low-skilled or unskilled American workers and this competition is expected to get even fiercer. The students would inevitably have to change their career plan because a lot of changes are going to take place in the near future. Specialization and specialized courses would be preferred and would become more rewarding in the near future. America is getting older and this will be a problem in the future. Baby boomers would refrain from retiring early because they would keep looking for external sources of income and this is going to affect the economy on the whole. Technology is getting better with each passing day and sophisticated technology is going to take away several jobs in the future, it has already taken away jobs in the past. For instance, an automated voice on the telephone was earlier recorded by Indian

How the Associated Press News influences US and how they are playing a Research Paper

How the Associated Press News influences US and how they are playing a role in the Globalized World - Research Paper Example Various organizations participate and have actually influenced how globalization impacts various parties. The media as an industry has been a key player in the transfer of information from one part of the world to another or the rest of the world. The Associated Press is one organization that enjoys international presence with a remarkable resource and customer base to its advantage in fulfilling its mission. This paper will focus on analyzing how the Associated Press News influences the United States of America and how the organization impacts the globalized world. Historical Background and Operating Logistics of the Associated Press The Associated Press (AP), formally New York Associated Press (NYAP), is a news agency that is owned and mainly operated by Americans, established in 1846. The organization was formed by five individual dailies based in New York with an aim of sharing the costs associated with transmitting news. The five daily newspapers that founded AP include New York Sun (the actual originator of the idea), the Express, the Herald, Journal of Commerce, and Courier and Enquirer. Other dailies that joined the five with time included the Tribune (1849) and The New York Times (1851). At the time of its establishment, AP needed to transmit news of the Mexican War, and this was supposed to be accomplished by the use of telegraph, boat and horse express services. In a Supreme Court case, in 1900, involving the Associated Press and Inter Ocean Publishing Company, it was ruled that the former was a public utility that was operating in trade restraint, a factor that led the organization to shift its base to New York from Chicago. This reason for the shift was because corporation laws in New York better favored cooperative organizations. Under the leadership of Melville Stone, the organization’s standards included impartiality, integrity and accuracy. Later, Kent Cooper came to establish news bureaus in the Middle East, South America and Europe. St one oversaw the introduction of the telegraph typewriter in newsrooms. The organization later started using the Wirephoto network that made it possible to transmit photographs within 24 hours from the time they were taken via telephone lines. In 1945, AP began broadcasting its news by distributing them to established radio stations. In 1974, the organization established a radio network for itself. Later in 1994, the organization started using APTV, an agency that worked at gathering global news on video. The organization saw the formation of APTN whose aim was to provide video to websites and international broadcasters. AP has managed to diversify its capabilities to an extent that in 2007 alone, its revenues from US newspapers only accounted for about 30% of its total earnings. In the same year, 18% of the organizations revenues were derived from photography and international newspapers, 15% from internet related ventures and 37% from global broadcast activities. According to the n ews agency, AP is a non-profit organization that is owned by 1500 United States daily newspaper members (Associated Press, 2011). The Associated Press has an admirable resource base, mainly in the form of news articles and features. No wonder its news has previously been published or republished by over 5000 radio and TV broadcasters and

Tax(see attachment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Tax(see attachment) - Essay Example Manufacturing parts in UK and then exporting to third world countries is not viable due to various financial factors. Hence the company has decided to set up a manufacturing unit in any of the third world country. This will help the company to maximize its profits, and at the same time give an opportunity to expand and explore new markets. The following report addresses the various issues that have to be considered from international tax perspective while expanding operations offshore. While setting up an overseas operation there are certain very important tax related issues that need to be considered before choosing an appropriate location. The issue might seem to be too complicated initially given the numerous nations and their individual legal and political systems but there appears to be abroad consensus among all the nations of the world regarding tax matters. And, this is surely a matter of utmost relief to companies that intend to operate across political boundaries as tax matters indeed create problems in estimating income earned by a subsidiary, more so what portion of it can be rightly considered as income of the consolidated entity. However, with the phenomenal rise of multinational corporations, the vexatious issue of which state should rightfully tax which portion of the income of a multinational business entity still poses certain questions for which unambiguous answers are hard to come by. Legally speaking, every state has the jurisdiction to impose tax, irrespective of whether the tax is generated within the domestic territory of the state (source country) or it is generated outside the domestic territory but by a legal entity that is normally resident of the state (residence country). In the international taxation regime that is adhered to by almost all the countries of the world, the country where the tax is generated has the first right to tax

Discussion #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Discussion #3 - Essay Example ket by expanding its operation in a number of countries outside America, even to far flung continents such as Africa where it has a formidable market share in the fast food sector (Luthans & Hodgetts, 2012). McDonald’s Corp employs the franchising market strategy to expand its operations globally. Franchising involves the company offering subsidiary firms the rights to use the Macdonald’s brand/trademark name or business model to offer products and services exactly similar to those offered by the parent company in exchange for some discount on sales and the payment of royalties for using the company’s brand name (Luthans & Hodgetts, 2012). Thus, with the use of this strategy, the company has outlets in over one hundred and twenty countries with a total of twenty-five thousand outlets. McDonald’s Corp considered the idea of franchising as the best alternative for penetrating the global markets because franchising is a relatively cheaper technique of expanding operations globally, compared to penetrating into the international markets with the firm’s own capital, which is more risky and uncertain given the global competitiveness of the industry. Therefor e, company considered this strategy as a prudent idea because franchisees (the local firms) fully understand the market dynamics influencing their respective countries and regions thus, are better positioned to tackle any eventuality arising as a result of rolling out new products or services in that market (Luthans & Hodgetts, 2012). However, earlier on the firm had employed licencing as a marketing strategy for expansion when it awarded a licence to Ray Kroc in the year 1954. It is this licencing deal that gave birth to the most lucrative McDonald’s Corp business outside the United States of America because within the first two years of the deal, the company managed to establish more than seven hundred McDonald’s outlets in Canada; the largest number of outlets in any nation outside USA (Luthans &

Pathways, Signs and Symbols Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Pathways, Signs and Symbols - Essay Example The origin of symbols is still unknown but it is well connected with the tribes and small communities of the past. â€Å"Ndebele Tribe,† as they are mainly known for their decorative symbols, beadwork, crafts and paintings, that â€Å"hails from South Africa and is divided into four different groups of which two, Ndzunda and Manala live in Pretoria and Mpumalanga area of South Africa† (Lalioti 1) They are known for their colorful geometric symbols and designs and their distinctive use of colors and striking designs has made them popular around the world. The wall paintings by Ndebele portray â€Å"triangular and v-shaped designs† with distinct color (Lalioti 1). As the tribe started getting more exposure to urban style they started using synthetic paints and also including city scenes on their paintings. Ndebele symbols and art form do not contain any mystical content. Their women are very creative and use â€Å"their fingers to create† symbols and designs . The main occasion of painting and renewing their houses is on the â€Å"male initiation or wela† (Lalioti 3). The completion of paintings comes with family celebrations and get together. They intend to create these designs just to please the eyes. Their quality of artwork is exceptional as every design includes straight geometric designs. An interesting fact is that they paint all the designs with free hand without any rulers and the help of any shapes. Similarly, it is entirely the responsibility of women to make designs for walls. Their choice of colors and design patterns symbolizes their individuality and creativeness and makes them stand apart. Ndebele women paint both the interiors and exteriors of their houses. Most of the patterns they use are repeated but with variations in colors and designs. According to the reference most of the pictures have black outline and are done on white surface. Every section or pattern is filled with different colors before it gets repe ated in the next design. Their connection to the urban society is evident in their paintings. The designs could be a little complicated for the first time viewers. But the understanding makes it clearer when one finds the geometric shapes. The contemporary artists of this tribe usually make use of a wide range of bright colors like yellow, red and green. They use natural colors and few earth colors but their connection with urban society helped them to use synthetic colors as well to create better effect. When discussing art and symbol, Giorgio de Chirico deserves special mention. Born in Greece, he is known for his classic and symbolic representation of art work. He is the pioneer of the â€Å"Metaphysical Movement† and was known for his strange style of paintings. He painted the cityscapes not with much movement but with a creepy atmosphere. The streets were often shown as eerie and haunted. Critics have mentioned his art work as dream writings. The themes of most of his pa intings were focused on melancholia, done by depicting pictures of clocks. In his images he conveys feelings of power and freedom through trains, clocks, towers, arcades and shadows. The walls and towers of the paintings give a sense of power for the viewer. The most familiar thing in de Chirico’s painting was the â€Å"train† which is believed to have a link to his â€Å"childhood train set† and also reminiscent of his father was an engineer in

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology Essay

Microorganisms in Nature and Biotechnology - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that a microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where there is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. A microorganism or microbe is an organism which is microscopic, usually too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microorganisms are very diverse including bacteria, fungi, archae, protists etc. They live in all parts of the biosphere where t here is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside the rocks within the Earth's crust. Microbes are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystem, biochemical and ecological cycles. They also play a major role in precipitation and weather. Microbes are exploited in the fields of biotechnology, food technology, and genetic engineering. Even though most of the microorganisms are useful, a few are pathogenic too. However, the recent developments of science have made the applications of microbes quite vital in the applied research of modern days.

Daily plate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Daily plate - Essay Example My diet consists mostly of beef, iced tea and fast food. Sometimes I would have chicken and fruit but these days were not very common. I also tend to skip meals due to a busy schedule. As a result, these occurrences are empty in the excel file. I know I can improve on the kinds of food I eat in order to have a more nutritious diet. I can plan accordingly so that the amount of food I eat corresponds to the food pyramid. (Food Pyramid, n.d.) I should try and eat more vegetables, dairy products and fish. I can also avoid skipping meals because this only makes me hungrier. Consequently, I end up eating more than what I should. I know a little fat is good for my body. Nevertheless, with the data I have gathered I believe I have been eating more than the proper amount of fatty foods. From now on, I believe I should be more aware of what I eat and the nutrients it can give me. This way I can monitor the amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein I take in. Reference: Food Pyramid. (n.d.) Retr ieved on April 20, 2011 from http://www.charantia.com/30-day-challenge/learn-a-healthy-lifestyle/food-pyramid/

Choose two characters from the novel Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Choose two characters from the novel Of Mice and Men Essay America in the 1930s was a class-based society where women had no choice. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 meant the Great Depression was occurring, people living in poverty because of this but most would travel round to find work. Racism was still a critical problem in this time so this was affecting many lives, only white people could get a decent job, if a black person could it would be living in the same conditions as slaves, even though slavery was abolished in 1865- over 60 years before. Crooks is the stable buck and is black, he is a clever but lonely man who just wants some companionship. Curleys wife is seen as a tart, we see that she is also lonely and very misunderstood. In the novel, even though Steinbeck had made the characters an isolated group, they all represent different sides of the society, this allows him to criticise what he sees as problems. Slavery started in America in the 15th century, thousands of slaves arrived looking for a better way of life than what they had left, but infact their new lives were worse. Slavery meant big business in America. In the north most Negroes were free but in the south it was the way of life. Slaves were employed as either field workers; they worked long hours, lived in huts and slept on the floor. Then there were the house workers who would cook, clean, run the masters house and bring up the children, they lived a more comfortable life, but caused mistrust between the two. Sometimes a way to solve this was to split up families, selling the children. Slave revolt was common and in 1831 people started to understand the need to abolish slavery, in 1833 it became more widespread but Lincoln and the civil war offered more help to the black society. Finally in 1865 slavery was abolished Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the United States. Crooks was not a slave but was still a victim of racial prejudice. He is lonely and very clever, He reads a lot. Got books I his room, and we see that he is aware of his rights, a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California Civil code for 1905-98 this in a way is worse as he knows that he could have a better life. He loves company but hides it, as he is sure this was the best his life would get. The men know that they can be racist towards him and get away with it; this is made clear when George asks give the stable-buck hell? Asking why its ok, he is given the simple answer from candy that its fine because he is a nigger. Crooks was still very much treated as a slave. The men tell the stories of how they make him fight for a use of entertainment but on the count of the niggers got a crooked back, Smitty cant use his feet the men think its fine beating Crooks up and that theyre being kind. The group do not realise that Crooks is scared of them and so isolates himself from everyone and everything going on around him he kept his distance and demanded everyone else kept theirs but by doing this he had to live alone in the stables while the men on the ranch lived together, however they did respect he was a human because they did keep away from him. Crooks pain-tightened lips show he is suffering and is punishing himself, he tells himself that he aint wanted in the bunk-house and so other people aint wanted in my room. He says this to Lennie, who doesnt understand why crooks doesnt want to talk to someone or why he doesnt go in the bunk house, Crooks response to this is that the men say I stink- another example of the racial prejudice; hes black so therefore he must stink. Crooks sees that with Lennie he has someone he can tease and so does, when he tease s him Steinbeck writes that, Crooks pressed forward some kind of private victory. Crooks victory is that probably all his life he has been teased because of his colour, now he has someone he can pick on that he can beat. There is a sense of war in which black verses white and unusually the black can easily win. Crooks know he can get away with picking on Lennie, his face lighted with pleasure in his torture, he is enjoying that he can pick on a white person. Crooks is a dreamer, he has one dream of the past; I remember when I was a little kid on my old mans chicken ranch. Had two brothers. They were always near me, always there. He dreams of his past because he knows that he has no future, and that the others do have a future, there is a slight sense of jealousy as he cant leave the ranch. This is also another example of Crooks need for companionship; he is showing how lonely he is. Lennie then tells Crooks of his and Georges dream to own some land, to which he replies, Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody ever gets no land he knows what societies like and has seen many men with dreams but none ever come true, but even though he is pessimistic he is right. However even saying this he is still tempted to join the dream, he wants to be around people and is happy when people talk to him. He says I didnt mean it. Jus foolin. I wouldnt want to go no place like that. He knows he has to support black people and that it wouldnt happen. Through the character of crooks we see that Steinbeck thought that Crooks was treated badly and that he obviously felt sympathy for him and all black people in America. We see examples of Crooks being afraid of all people, including Curleys wife, in a time where women werent listened to, Steinbeck puts the message across that he shouldnt have to pull back and have to live in fear, worrying about what is going to happen to him and who by. If Crooks had been white he wouldnt be treated in the way he was. Curleys wife is another character that is seen as by the men on the ranch as insignificant, like Crooks. There are many similarities between the two; they are outcast, misunderstood, and oppressed. Neither are treated as equals and are trapped in the same life with no future. Even so she does not see these similarities and picks on Crooks for the same reason he picks on Lennie, because she can she knows that he will listen to her and be afraid. Curley s wife is all she was ever called, she was not given a name showing that she means nothing and is only a possession to Curley. This suggests that women were on the same level as black people and in some ways the same position. As Negroes were victims of racial prejudice women were victims of sexism. Curleys wife has no relationship with her husband and she doesnt look after the household like she is supposed to, this suggests that she is trapped and is only there so Curley can say hes married. She doesnt love him and is only there for his satisfaction. Curleys wife is lonely and when she looks for companionship within the ranch, the men say that she is too flirty, they think that Curleys married a tart but they dont understand her and dont try to. The men dont trust her and there is a sense of danger when George describes her as jail-bait. This also proves what the men think of her. There is a description of her, it goes through that she has, full, rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages this is very superficial and shows that in a way she is covering herself and her feelings with a mask. Knowing that her husband is at a whorehouse she says I dont like Curley. He aint a nice fella this is very simplistic and suggests her interest, it also suggests that Curley does not love her either. She is obviously lonely and only gets a cold reception from the workers, she is isolated from the world and has lost all chance of having friends, and Steinbeck feels pity for her. He gives this message when she says think I dont like to talk to somebody ever once in a while? Think I like to stick in the house alla time? She questions them and gets no response from being kind. We see her lash out on page 111 when she is talking to Crooks, Lennie and Candy, she is angry because of Curley and so takes it out on them; people who she has a sense of power over; Ever body out doin sompin. Everybody! An what am I doing? Standin here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a nigger an a dum-dum. This also gains her pity from the reader. Curleys wife is lonely and frustrated that there is nothing she can do or say make herself feel better but she does try by taking it out on the men, in this case Crooks. She says to him well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny although she is being so nasty we still feel sympathy for her, we understand that she is so lonely, we can relate to this. As Crooks does Curleys wife dreams of the past and what could have been, she says to Lennie I could of went with the shows. Not jus one, neither. An a guy tol me he could put me in the pitchers. She also talks about her dream later. She says that the only reason she married Curley was that she wanted to leave home. This is because she thought that her mother had stopped her from being an actress by stealing a letter from a man who had said he could make her famous. She explains I ast her if she stole it, too, an she says no. So I married Curley. Met him at the Riverside Dance Palace that same night she married him out of spite to her mother and no other reason. This is a tragic picture, she is being very naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve in thinking that a letter was being sent, she doesnt realise that the man was playing her for a fool, this gains her sympathy from the reader. When she is dead there is such a sense of calmness and tranquillity, and the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention was all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. This is saying that she is now at peace and in a way because her life was such a disaster in which she had no future she is better off dead. It was the only way she could be happy and escape Curley and her loneliness. The 1930s was a class- based society within America. Racism was an ongoing problem and black people were still being treated as slaves, even though slavery was abolished in 1865. The great depression was also still a huge problem with 3 million people unemployed in 1930 and 13 million in 1932. People were living in poverty and any jobs going were poorly paid. However life was worst for black people, who were victims of racial prejudice and discrimination and women who were seen as insignificant and possessions of their husbands or fathers and were only there to look purty and look after the house. In the novel, even though Steinbeck had made the characters an isolated group, they all represent different sides of the society, this allows him to criticise what he sees as problems. Curleys wife and Crooks are just two characters that illustrate what life was like in America in the 1930s.

The Characteristics Of Design And Build

The Characteristics Of Design And Build The construction projects involve many activities. A construction project can refer to any building activity that includes building, repair, erection, demolition, maintenance, land clearing, earth moving, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, concreting, installation etc. (Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act, 1996). All these activities require large number of goods and services. Large number of transactions is needed to be set up to support the project. The goods and services are procured. They should be procured at the best possible cost to meet the needs in terms of quality, quantity, time and location (Weeley 2010). The construction sector is very important to the economy. In most of the countries it accounts for approximately 8-10 percent of gross domestic product GDP. In India it accounts for 8 percent of GDP currently. The main sectors in construction industry in India are Infrastructure, housing and commercial developments. In 2014 the second phase of infrastructure development will be started. This will give additional boost to the construction industry. Due to large number of projects the significance of procurement will be very important. If a construction project is procured appropriately then only the project is completed in time with desirable quality and within estimated cost. There are numerous procurement methods around the world. The main procurement methods used in construction are Design and Build, Management Contracting, Construction Management, Build Operate Transfer, Public Private Partnerships, Strategic Partnership, Joint ventures etc. In developed economies procurement methods such as Design and Build, Construction Management and Management Contracting are used effectively. This is due to the maturity of the industry. In India mainly traditional procurement methods are used. This is due to the nature of the Industry. The construction industry in India is large and scattered. It consists large number of small firms. As there are large number of local firms, people are reluctant to change. The professionals also prefer to operate within their silos. Due to this they do not get out of the comfort zones and use traditional methods. Currently the trend is changing particularly in infrastructure projects and large projects due to the numbers of projec ts, the size of projects and the capital involved in the projects. Mainly the upcoming procurement methods are Build Operate and Transfer and Public Private Partnerships. But these are restricted to only a few numbers of projects. Still large numbers of Projects are carried out in a traditional manner. The main barriers to take up new procurement methods are, large population (1.2 billion approximately) large inclusive demand, large demand spread across the country, large number of small projects, traditional outlook of construction professionals, segregated industry, large number of small firms, large unskilled work force. The other barriers include large number of regional languages, excess availability of skilled professionals in one part of the country and scarcity in the other parts, no standard terms of contracts, different legislation in different states, local suppliers, monopoly of manufactures in a region. In order to find out why the new procurement methods cannot be implemented, main issues should be checked namely, economic issues, management issues, technical issues, legal issues and cultural issues, in India. These issues are inter-linked, interdependent up to a certain level. Careful observations will let us know what are the challenges in order to implement new pro curement methods and will also let us know why it is difficult to implement new procurement methods. The main question that needs to be answered is why it is difficult to implement new procurement methods because implementing new procurement methods other than traditional methods will benefit the industry and will make it easier to operate, deliver quality goods, enhance the standards, and complete the projects on time and within budgets. 1.2 Research Aim The aim of the research is to identify the barriers, difficulties and gaps that restrict the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 1.3 Research Objectives The research objectives will include the following 1) Identifying the barriers which act as hindrances for implementation of new procurement methods in the Indian construction industry. 2) To investigate the issues, namely economic issues, technical issues, management issues, legal issues and cultural issues, to find out the factors which affect the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 3) To investigate procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management and relate it to the traditional Indian procurement method to understand the challenges of the implementation of new procurement methods in India. 1.4 Scope of Study This study of identification of barriers and gaps that restrict the implementation of new procurement methods is confined to the Indian construction industry. The data is collected from secondary sources. The main sources were U.N views on India, U.K Trade and Investment and other secondary data. This study looks only into the gaps and barriers. It outlines various gaps and barriers which are already present in the Indian construction industry which in turn affects the implementation of new procurement methods. This study restricts itself to Identification of gaps and barriers and only derives the gaps and barriers from the nature and character of the Indian construction Industry. As moving more forward into detail of everything was not possible. It investigates mainly into economic issues, management issues, technical issues, legal issues and cultural issues and finds the gaps which prevent the implementation of new procurement methods. In the Indian construction industry more traditional methods of procurement are used, whereas in developed economies various new methods of procurement are used. This study will also mainly look into procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management and compare it with the traditional Indian procurement method to find the barriers and gaps. 1.5 Structure of Dissertation Chapter 1) This chapter gives an introduction to the topic and gives the idea about how the study will be carried out. It gives an idea of a fast developing Indian construction Industry and the need to adapt new procurement methods. It states the research aim, objectives and scope of study and also discusses the structure of the dissertation Chapter 2) This chapter reviews the literature associated with the study. It looks into new procurement methods, types of projects in India, Indian construction industry and important factors affecting the construction industry in India. Chapter 3) This chapter describes the research methodology adapted within the scope of the dissertation. Secondary data, unstructured talks with the experts and academicians were employed to address the objectives. Chapter 4) This chapter characterizes India. It describes the nature and the character of the Indian construction industry. It gives an insight into the Indian construction Industry and its approaches. Chapter 5) This chapter looks at the barriers and the gaps that restrict implementation of new procurement methods in India. It looks at the present construction Industry in India and its characterization and identifies the barriers and gaps that restrict implementation of new procurement methods in India. Chapter 6) This chapter presents the conclusions and direction for further research in this area. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Procurement Methods Introduction Around the world various procurement methods are used. These methods are developed through the years as per the various upcoming new projects. The selection of the most appropriate procurement method is critical for both the client and other project participants as it is an important factor that contributes to the overall clients satisfaction and project success. This selection will be dependent upon a number of factors such as cost, time and quality which are widely considered as being the most fundamental criteria for clients seeking to achieve their end product at the highest quality, at the lowest cost and in the shortest time (Hackett et al. 2007). The type of procurement method adopted mainly depends upon the type of project, type of ownership, nature of construction industry in that particular country and the maturity of the industry. The selection of the procurement path is much more than simply establishing a contractual relationship (Newcombe 1992), inspite of the continuing search for maximum value for money. In the developed economies such as USA, UK, Australia, Sweden etc. procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management are used from a long time. This is because the construction industry is developed, the projects are needed to be delivered that way and the clients demand the delivery of projects in that particular manner. In this dissertation the study is limited to procurement methods such as Design and Build, Management Contracting and Construction Management. 2.1 Design and Build Design-build is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design-builder or design-build contractor. Design-build relies on a single point of responsibility contract and is used to minimize risks for the project owner and to reduce the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. Design and Build with its single point responsibility carries the clearest contractual remedies for the clients because the DB contractor will be responsible for all of the work on the project, regardless of the nature of the fault (John Murdoch and Will Hughes 2007). The traditional approach for construction projects consists of the appointment of a designer and the appointment of a contractor differently. The design-build procurement route changes the traditional sequence of work. It answers the clients wishes for a single-point of responsibility in an attempt to reduce risks and overall costs. Today it is commonly used in many countries and forms of contracts are widely available. The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) takes the position that design-build can be led by a contractor, a designer, a developer or a joint venture, as long as a the design-build entity holds a single contract for both design and construction. The main contractor takes responsibility for both design and construction and will use either in-house designers or employ consultants to carry out the design. Most of the construction work will be carried out by specialist or sub-contractors. The contractor tenders against a client brief and will often follow an initial concept design prepared by consultants appointed to advise the client. The design will be developed by the contractor and the works will be completed, usually for a fixed price. Tendering is more expensive so it carries more risk for the contractor than the traditional approach. This is because the contractor has to develop an outline design and a detailed price. Tender lists will probably be shorter than for traditional contracts. The Design-Build approach gives the client a single point of contact. However, the client commits to the cost of construction, as well as the cost of design, much earlier than with the traditional approach. Changes made by the client during design can be expensive, because they affect the whole of the Design-Build contract, rather than just the design team costs. This strategy is a low-risk option for clients who wish to minimize their exposure to the risks of overspend delays or design failure. However, the exposure to risk will increase where the design phase is rushed, where unreasonable time targets are set or where the tender documents are not fully completed. Owner Client Architect Engineers Quantity Surveyors Design and Build Contractor Consultants Subcontractors Figure 1 Design and Build Process 2.1.1 Characteristics of Design and Build It provides single point of responsibility so that in event of a failure the contractor is solely responsible. There is no ambiguity between the designer and the contractor. The clients interests are safeguarded in this respect. When the client adopts Design and Build method he knows his total financial commitment early in a project. The client has direct contact with the contractor. This improves the lines of communication and enables the contractor to respond and adapt to the clients needs more promptly. In Design and Build contractor is responsible for design, planning and control. This gives him a better control over the activities and can concurrently carry out the activities which are not generally possible using traditional procurement methods. The contractor can purchase, obtain planning permission and arrange his finance simultaneously which helps him to give a better deal to the client. He can also benefit himself and the client by making use of proprietary modular designs which reduces design time and time required for approval. The contractor can start the work as soon as the approvals are obtained and sufficient information regarding the site operations is available. The design does not need to be finalized before some, at least, of the work may be commenced. The Design and Build proposals ensure economical tenders and alternate design concepts which can benefit the client. The nature of Design and Build procurement system promotes the creation of integrated design and construction team. In some countries using Design and Build system relaxes the architects code of practice, which encourages them to become full partners in design and build firms. The closer involvement of architects leads to more aesthetically pleasing buildings and leads to designs which have a greater appreciation. Design and Build promotes integration and improves communication between designer and contractor, which encourages prompt decisions. The prompt response in achieved even in the event of material and labor shortages. In the Design and Build system design costs are built into the package the costs involved are also less. In Design and Build the nature of the contract tends to reduce changes and variations from the original design and disruption of the works is less likely to occur. By using Design and Build method time and cost savings are achieved, which benefits the client. The total project completion period is also reduced. Design and Build reduces the employers financing charges, inflation has less effect and the building is operational sooner which commercially produces an early return on the capital invested. The Design and Build method facilitates novation of design with the consultants to the contractor which provides advantages to the client. If the design is novated the client has the advantage of knowing that his needs and intentions are met for tendering purposes by referring to the drawings and specifications. It is advantageous to the contractor as he is provided with more detailed information on which he can quote his tender. The contractor also has less design work to carry out before tendering so his tendering cost is also less. The contractor accepts responsibility for risk of building failure due to inadequate design and his increased responsibility is reflected in his tender which helps the client. The advantage of Design and Build is that the contractor has some control over the design and is able to introduce components, materials and systems which are beneficial and which he knows are more economical to construct. 2.1.2 Critique of Design and Build Design and Build is not suitable for complex projects. The traditional method of construction procurement dissociates the designers from the contractors interests, design-build does not. The contractor decides on the design issues as well as issues related to cost, profits and time exigencies, which may be the matter of concern in some situations. Difficulties can be experienced by clients in preparing an adequate and sufficiently comprehensive brief. The client is required to commit to a concept design at an early stage and often before the detailed designs is completed. There is no separate bid for design and construction, bids may be difficult to compare as each design will be different, this will vary the project programme between the bidders and prices for the project will be different for each different design. There is no design overview unless separate consultants are appointed. And there is no one appointed from clients side to manage the works or act as clients agent. Few firms offer the Design and Build service so there is less real competition. If client changes the scope of the project, this can be expensive. The design liability is limited by the standard contracts available. Design-build does not make use of competitive bidding where prospective builders bid on the same design. In Design and Build the criteria to select contractor is subjective and difficult to evaluate and to justify later. 2.2 Management Contracting In management contracting the clients appoints the designers and a management contractor separately and pays the contractor a fee for managing the construction works. Payment to the management contractor is done on the basis of cost of the works packages plus agreed fees. The main benefits of management contracting are the time required for design and construction is shorter. There is an early involvement of managing contractor during design phase, in which his expertise can be used. The management contractor has the responsibility to manage the project. The sub-contractors are appointed by the management contractor, thus reducing the day to day administrative responsibilities of the client. The management contractor has major role in directing the project. The lines of communications are improved. As there is a direct relation between the management contractor and the client changes and variations can be done in a project. The main advantage is that the project is completed in time as the management contractor manages the works. Because of this the client gets possession quickly and the return on investment starts. The client normally appoints the management contractor to take an active role in the project at an early stage and the client can benefit from the contractors expertise. The overall design is the responsibility of the clients consultants, but the management contractor is normally responsible for defining packages of work and then for managing the carrying out of those work packages through separate trades or works contracts. The management contractor can sometimes not be employed to undertake the work but is employed to manage the process. All the work is subcontracted to works contractors who are directly employed by the management contractor. The client usually needs to be given the opportunity to approve the terms and conditions of the trades or works contracts before the packages are subcontracted. The management contract will usually include both a pre-construction phase and the construction phase. The management contractor is responsible for the administration and operation of the works contractors. However, the management contractor is not liable for the consequences of any default by a works contractor so long as the management contractor has complied with the particular requirements of the management contract. Architect Owner Client Engineer Quantity Surveyor Subcontractors Works Contractors Management Contractor Figure 2 Management Contracting Process. 2.2.1 Characteristics of Management Contracting Clients and contractors adapt this system once they gain experience, which suggests that it has merits. It is generally recognized that its adoption requires mutual trust. The management contractor is appointed much earlier. He is able to become a member of design team and contribute his expertise and mainly his management expertise. Management Contracting is an effective method for the client retaining control of the design whilst drawing on the experience of a construction specialist as part of the Professional Team. The Management Contractor is paid a fee for its services as well as enters into contract with the client for work packages, generally separate works contractors are appointed to carry out work packages under the management contractor. This type of arrangement tends to be used on complex projects where early input from a construction specialist is required. The management contractor finds it easier to identify with clients need and interest and integration of team becomes possible and practical. Decisions regarding appointment of subcontractors are made jointly by designers and management contractor thus making use of wider experience. Specialists contractors and subcontractors compete at second stage ensuring economical tenders which benefits the client. Lines of communication are shorter between management contractor and client than with the traditional procurement method. The client has direct control over the management contractor, who is the main contractor, so that the project is completed in a better way and in shorter time. The total project completion period is reduced by parallel working. A reduced project completion period produces a corresponding reduction in financing charges and interm payments to the contractors. Inflation has less effect. The client takes the delivery of the building more quickly and obtains returns on his investment more quickly. The main functions of the management contractor may include acting as principal contractor, cost planning and cost control, consenting for works contracts, coordinating and managing works contracts, coordinating commissioning, collating pre construction information and construction phase plan, monitoring key performances and managing the site. 2.2.2 Critique of Management Contracting The client is usually given an approximate estimate of the final project cost by the management contractor early in the project life but the client does not know the final project cost until the last sub contract is entered into. On other projects he is given a guaranteed maximum cost. The architect may have less time to develop the design because he is under greater pressure from the client and contractor. The design may suffer as a result. Specialist contractors frequently prefer to be in contract with the client rather than with the management contractor because interim payments are usually made more promptly when paid direct. The client should provide a good design brief as the design will not be completed until the client has committed significant resources to the project. The strategy relies on quality committed team or it may just become a mere reporting system in some cases. It reduces resistance to works contractors claims where such demands are passed on to the client by the management contractor. Management contracting is not suitable for inexperienced clients. It is less suitable for clients wanting to pass the complete risk to the contractors. Specialist contractors frequently prefer to be in contract with client rather than the management contractor appointed by the client because interim payments are usually made promptly when paid directly. 2.3 Construction Management In construction management the client appoints a construction manager for a fee to manage, programme and coordinate the design and construction activities. The client does not allocate risk and responsibility to a single main contractor. Construction work is carried out by trade contractors through direct contracts with the client for various packages. The client takes the risk. The construction manager supervises the construction process and coordinates the design team. The construction manager has no contractual links with the design team and contractors. He only provides professional expertise without assuming financial risks. On appointment the construction manager takes over any preliminary scheduling and costing information and draw up detail programme accordingly. In this method the client should have administrative or project management staff with the ability to assess the recommendation of construction manager and take actions. Adapting construction management reduces the time required for the project. This occurs because the contract strategy, construction and design can overlap. A construction manager should have a good track record in cost forecasting and cost management, as the time can be reduced but the price certainty is not achieved unless the design and construction have advanced to the extent that all the work packages have been let. This method puts so much emphasis on the role of client, if the client is experienced, with the help of construction manager he can control the project effectively. The clients continue to use construction management to their advantage, for example, the cultivation of direct, long-term relationships with trade contractors helps to secure many of the benefits more often associated with partnering. Furthermore, by employing a construction manager who is able to focus on the interests of the project, rather than on its own risk management, the client can be confident that its project objectives will be shared by the rest of the team. Construction management is distinguished by the influence of the clients and construction managers management and leadership skills on the success of the project. By adapting construction management method the client can have greater influence over the project and can have more flexibility over the contractor selection and so on. Owner Client Architect Engineer Quantity Surveyor Construction Manager Contractors Subcontractors Figure 3 Construction Management Process. 2.3.1 Characteristics of Construction Management Construction management offers relative time saving potential for overall project duration due to overlapping of various activities. The roles, risks and relationships are clear for all the participants during most of the situations. In some situations changes in design can be accommodated later than some other strategies, without paying a premium. In construction management method the client has direct contracts with the contractors and pays them directly. This helps the contractors as they are paid promptly and there is evidence that this results in lower prices because of improved cash flow certainty. The client has direct involvement in the project as compared to most of the traditional methods. As the client is directly involved he is enabled to make prompt decisions which can be implemented without delay. This also makes possible a prompt response by the client to unforeseen site problems and also makes possible a prompt response by the contractor to changes required by the client. In this type the construction manager acts as an agent of the contractor. This benefits the contractor in managing the works. This also excludes the client for keeping his own staff for overlooking the issues which are looked by the construction manager. The central role of the construction manager is managing the project and providing administrative support to the employer. In this there is no single point of responsibility related to the delivery of the project. 2.3.2 Critique of Construction Management In construction management price certainty is not achieved until the last works packages have been let. Budgeting primarily depends heavily on design team estimates. The client should be pro-active and must provide a quality design brief to the design team in order to complete the design. The strategy relies upon the client selecting a good quality and committed team. In construction management the client has to manage and administer many contracts as there is no single contractor, all the works contracts are directly between the works contractors and the client. The client has to manage coordinate with the design team appropriately or else there increased likelihood of design change. There is a high degree of client ownership of risks associated with design including impacts of late or incomplete and uncoordinated design. In construction management the client has exposure to performance risk and exposure to consequential loss associated with trade contractor default. In construction management method there is increased administration role for the client. Construction manager owes duty of care liability only. The client is at the center of management and requires decision making capabilities. The client has to rely on management capability of construction manager. 2.4 Indian Construction Industry and Economy Indian economy has been growing from last two decades at an unprecedented rate. This is mainly because of industrialization and service sector growth. The main reason for Indias growth is its huge internal demand. In recent years particularly after the global recession in 2008 the Indian economy has shown signs of slowing down. In 2011-12 due to the current global economic scenario India found itself in the heart of managing growth and stabilizing prices. The Indian economy is grown by 6.9 per cent in 2011-12, after having grown at the rate of 8.4 per cent in each of the two preceding years. This indicates a slowdown compared not just to the previous two years but 2003 to 2011 (except 2008-09). At the same time, sight must not be lost of the fact that, by any cross country comparison, India remains among the front-runners. The Gross Domestic Product (nominal) of India is $ 1.848 trillion. The Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing power parity) of India is $ 4.457 trillion. The annual expenditure budget of India is Rs.1490925.29 Crores. Over the years, more than half of the expenditure budget is spent on civil engineering, construction and related activities. The construction industry sets in motion the process of economical growth in the country, investment in this sector contributes 6.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The construction industry in India is large and scattered. Today in India there is a massive demand in housing and infrastructure. The construction industry is the second largest industry of the country after agriculture. It makes a significant contribution to the national economy and provides employment to large number of people. The use of various new technologies and deployment of project management strategies have started to gain importance. In its path of advancement, the industry has to overcome a number of challenges. However, the industry is still faced with some major challenges, including hous

Role of port pricing

Role of port pricing Introduction Port pricing plays important role in the growth and prosperity of the ports. It influences port competition, investment decisions, development strategy etc. This paper presents the current pricing system of Kandla Port Trust and its impact on the traffic, intense competition, financial gains etc. Kandla Port Trust (KPT) is one of the 12 major ports of India under the Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India (Location at Annexure I). Also there are 187 minor ports under the control of various State Maritime Boards. Kandla Port faces severe competition from 20 such minor ports (Gujarat Maritime Board Ports) and private ports around it on the 1600 kms coastline of Gujarat (Annexure II) whose total traffic during 2009-10 is 2.59 times of Kandla Ports traffic and 36.73% of the total traffic handled by all the major ports of India. The present tariff structure of Kandla Port Trust had undergone its last revision in 2005 which is taken as a base for presenting the pricing system for this paper. Accordingly the data presented is related to the year from 2002-03 to 2004-05 and projections from 2005-06 to 2007-08. Current Pricing System 1. Kandla Port has fixed the tariff for the various services which are classified as under : for the use of properties belonging to the port such as cargo handling, warehousing, storage, supply of equipments, floating crafts, dry docking and miscellaneous charges etc. The fees for the services such as pilotage, berth hire, hauling, mooring and other services rendered to the vessels and Port Dues on the vessels entering the port. Based on the above, the Scale of Rates of KPT (KPT website) has been divided into 4 Chapters. Chapter I-Definitions; Chapter II- Vessel related charges; Chapter III- Cargo related charges Chapter IV miscellaneous charges. 2. Pricing Strategy: â€Å"There are four usual tariff approaches for the determination of the port charges: Cost-based tariff, investment based tariff, comparative tariff, flexible and promotion tariff. Cost based and investment based tariff aim at achieving the financial objectives whereas comparative and flexible and promotional tariff are suitable for achieving the market needs† (Cariou Handout 2010 p-16). Pricing strategy is based on the objective that a port aims at: may it be the profit maximization, throughput maximization, trade promotion or minimization of the ships time in the port The Kandla Port has adopted a ‘cost plus return on capital employed approach while fixing the tariff to achieve the financial objective of the port. However, congestion pricing (for the priority berthing and ousting priority for berthing) and the other strategies such as comparative tariff and flexible and promotional tariff has also been adopted for certain commodities to attract the cargo. Thus the profit maximization and throughput maximizationarethe objectives of Kandla Port. Assessing and Forecasting Port demand: Traffic projections are one of the influential factors in deciding the tariff structure. It gives thebasis to decide whether the tariffs fixed are enough to cover the cost and the investment. Therefore, correct traffic forecasting is crucial in any port pricing system. In KPT, traffic projections made are in line with the projections in the five year / annual plans and the current / expected growth. (Annexure III) These projections are made after taking into consideration the various factors such as trend of cargo handled during previous years, capacity increase, economic growth, traffic handled by the nearby competiting ports, market survey based on the indications given by the port users, reports of the various associations such as Agricultural Product Export Development Authority (APEDA), Timber Association, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-Operative Ltd. (IFFCO), Oil Coordination Committees report (OCC), reports from the important importers and exporters, Expert opinions, governments policies etc. The demand is also studied on the basis of size of the vessels handled at port (Annexure IV) based on the draft restrictions and future dredging plans of the port. Competition level Kandla Port Trust handles almost 80 million tons of cargo and has a sprawling hinterland of 1 million square kilometers right from the state of Gujarat to the Jammu and Kashmir. (MAP of hinterland and location of other major ports is placed at Annexure V). Port faces severe competition from nearby State owned 20 minor ports and private ports which handled 205.98 millions metric tons during 2009-10. The Herfindahl Index (H) calculated comes out 1 and clearly shows the monopoly pattern of these ports. Traffic comparison of Kandla Port and 20 minor ports of Gujarat and Herfindahl Index is placed at Annexure VI. There is also an acute competition faced by KPT from the Port of Mundra, a private port which is in the vicinity and handled almost 40 million tons of cargo during 2009-2010. Port takes this severe competition into consideration while fixing the tariff structure. Tariff rates are also made concessional and promotional if ashipper commits major volumes. Thus, tariff has been fixed considering the emerging competition by the private ports in the near vicinity in terms of traffic, tariff rates and the likelihood of losing of cargo. Comparison of tariff is important particularly so when the port compete for the same hinterland. It is observed from the comparison that all charges are abysmally low at Kandla Port Trust except the port dues, pilotage and berth hire charges which are little higher than the GMB Ports (GMB website), due to the huge expenditure of dredging cost. Kandla Port has less competition with the major ports as each major port has distinct hinterland without muchoverlap. Herfindahl Index (H) for these ports shows pattern of equality in the market share i.e. moderate concentration of competition with the Index of 0.09868. Traffic of all other major ports of India along with Herfindahl Index is placed at Annexure VII. However, Kandla Port puts lot of efforts to attract cargo from the nearby major ports such as Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port by providing the competitive rates. Cost Structure Attempts are made in Kandla Port Trust to evaluatecost of each component of port operations. It provides the consciousness that the inefficiencies are not passed on to the users. For the purpose of fixation of the tariff, it is necessary to know the operating cost of the port. Operating cost includes labour cost, material cost, maintenance cost, fuel cost and other expenditure such as management and administration, insurance, security. Expenses such as retirement benefits, write off of losses are also considered for the purpose of fixation of the tariff. For this purpose, the operations of the Kandla Port are classified into five main activities such as Cargo handling, Port and dock facilities, Railway working, Estate Rental and Township. ‘Caro handling Activity comprise sub-activities such as cargo handling, warehousing and storage, mobile cranes etc. and ‘Port and Dock facilities Activity comprise sub-activities such as Cranes, berth hire, port dues, pilotage, water supply, dry docking, dredging, flotilla etc. These activities and sub-activities are again divided into various cost centres where in the cost is booked. Based on these cost centres the ‘Direct Cost of each activity is booked/allocated under that sub-activity. The ‘Indirect Cost/overheads such as Departmental overheads, management and general administration overheads(such as store keeping expenses, labour welfare and medical expenses, engineering expenses, work shop overheads, insurance etc), security expenses, social welfare expenses, fire fighting expenses et. al are also booked under different cost centres and then they are apportioned to all the sub-activities. Thus based on the Direct and Indirect Cost, Total Operating Cost has been arrived at. To this operating cost, as stated above, the cost such as retirement benefits/ex-gratia payment, writing off losses etc. (which are called Finance and Miscellaneous expenditure) is added to arrive at the Total Cost. To the Total Cost arrived at, Return on capital employed (ROCE) calculated @ 15% is added to get the Price/Tariff of that activity. (Rate of return is calculated on the basis of CAPM). Specimen of the Cost Statement of Cargo handling sub-activity is placed at Annexure VIII which gives an idea as how the costs are booked under different heads. Based on all the above factors, the copy of the cost statement for the Port is placed at Annexure IX. Capital Employed comprises Net Fixed Assets (Gross Block minus Depreciation minus Works in Progress) plus Working Capital. Capital employed for each activity, return on capital employed (Annexure X) and cash flow statement (Annexure XI) are placed only for 2004-05. (Such calculations are done for 2002-03 and 2003-04 also). Cost statement also shows future projections. For income projections, traffic projections and present tariff rates are considered. Wherever the rates are mentioned in the dollar terms, the effect of foreign exchange fluctuation is given. For expenditure projection, latest expenditure is adjusted to the Wholesale Price Index for All Commodities announced by the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India and applied to the traffic projections to arrive at the expenditure projections. Present Tariff Proposal As revealed from the tariff order for KPT (TAMP website) the tariff proposal is as below: â€Å"Based on the cost structure, the financial position reveals how much tariff is required to generate the [emailprotected]% and to make the activities self sustained. However, Port finds that such recovery of return will not be possible as it demands almost 38% hike and traffic can not bear such huge hike. Hence Port decided to recover only the short recovery/deficit of 286.40 millions (Annexure IX p-17). While doing so, however, port has considered various factors such as (i) severe competition by the nearby state owned and private ports on account of better facilities such as deeper drafts, speedy cargo handling systems (impacting ships turn around time which was the main reasons for getting diverted the Kandla Ports traffic) (ii) heavy capital expenditure incurred by the ports by addition of infrastructure such as quay, heavy duty cranes, godowns, road-rail network etc. since last revision and like expenditure in the coming years (iii)substantial maintenance dredging cost to the tune of Rs.400 millions p.a. (iv) increase in the operating cost by 23.68% etc. . Over the current rates, Tariff Revision considered a hike of 15% in cargo handling storage, pilotage, port dues and miscellaneous charges and 50% in the berth hire charges. Port has also considered cross subsidization in other the surplus activities while deciding to go for recovery of only the deficit. However, port further gives specific justification as below for the upward revision of tariff. For port dues, port considered the huge expenditure on account of maintenance dredging. Rates of the pilotage charges of the nearby ports which were 82% higher than the Kandla Ports rate justified 15% hike. Huge investments by developing infrastructure like berth and heavy duty cranes which benefitted the port users by reduction in turn around time of the ships reduction in the no. of gangs justified the hike of 50% in the berth hire charges. For pilotage, port dues and berth hire the GRT slab of 10001-30000 is focused more as 56%of the vessels visiting port falls in this category. For the storage activity also likely investment in the open storage area justified 15% hike. For the cargo handling activity however, it is observed that Port instead of giving flat 15% hike to the existing rates, used the proactive pricing by increasing the rate of those commodities in which port has monopoly in handling such as food grains, scrap, timber, salt and sugar and reducing the rates of the car go such as ores minerals, metals, oil cakes etc. which was getting diverted. Kandla Port expected additional revenue generation of approx. 304.30 millions p.a. after the tariff revision.†(Annexure XII) Recommendations on as to ho w the current pricing system could be changed to increase a) attractiveness of the port; b) the profit of the port . Emerging growth of the GMB ports during thelast decade in terms of capacity creation and speedy cargo handling has posed a severe competition to Kandla Port. Further, tariff of the State owned ports are not subject to approval of any Tariff Regulatory Authority like Major Ports and hence very flexible and attractive. With this backdrop, thefollowing recommendations are made to increase the attractiveness as well asprofit of the port by the cost control and cost reduction measures: Port should think ofworkingon the ‘normative costing principlewhere by standard costs and standard tariffscan be derived which could be bench-marked for pitchingthe right actual tariffs for each sub-activity and principal activity. This will give a strict control over inefficiencies and thus will help to reduce the tariff. Efforts are required to be concentrated in the areas where the potential savings are likely to bemaximum. Implementation of the cost effective systems will definitely help the port to overcome the redundant costs. Developing ‘satellite ports at new location with slimstrength of man-power and cost-effective systems can also be thought of by the port. Best solutions in terms of making a port cost-effective and attracting traffic is to develop the terminals under public-private participationmodel wherein the risks are optimally shared/distributed and costs are brought down witha right blend of public management and private management. Port, by taking up various productivity measures and specifically adding infrastructure, can reduce the turn around time of the ships and get benefitted by accommodation of the large no. of vessels. This will increase traffic at the port and thus through the economies of scale the price at the port gets reduced. Of course, coefficient of elasticity of tariff on traffic is to be found out to determine to what extent the tariff is to be reduced.(Generally ports in India are in oligopoly market and coefficient of elasticity of tariff on traffic is less than one) For cost reduction and adding infrastructure, Kandla Port has to work on the various areas such as massive mechanization through high capacity cranes, marine unloaders, transfer mobile equipments and commissioning ofspecialized terminals such as coal terminal, car terminal, container terminal etc. for speedy handling of the cargo. Increase in the capacity of the port is urgently required as the berth occupancy at the port is 89% (Ministry of Shipping, India website) which is much on the higher side impacting the turn around time of the ship which is almost 3.09 days (KPT website). Though Port has prepared dredging plan, it is required to reduce the time span so that larger vessels get accommodated within a short period. Port requires to work on procedural delays and thinking on modernizationin terms of ‘modern Gate-in Gate-out systems and web-based port community systems etc., in order to reduce transaction time and cost . Port can also take up the value adding services and ‘door-to-door solutions tobuild -up captive customer/clientele base. Conclusion: Pricing plays a prominent role in any organization. It is one of the determining factors to fetch the traffic at the port. As it is said that price makes and price makes, Port has to take into considerations holistic view before taking any pricing decision.