Email for Prescription for control system Coursework

Email for Prescription for control system - Coursework Example er relevant budgets that need to be prepared to analyze the movement of costs are: production budget; raw materials and purchasing budget; as well as labor budget (Agriculture and Consumer Protection, n.d.); 4. The production budget should contain the following the following information where the budget is â€Å"expressed in quantitative terms only and is geared to the sales budget. The production managers duties include: (a) analysis of plant utilization; and (b) work-in-progress budgets. If requirements exceed capacity he may: (i) subcontract; (ii) plan for overtime; (iii) introduce shift work; or (iv) hire or buy additional machinery† (Agriculture and Consumer Protection, n.d., p. 1); 5. The raw materials and purchasing budget should be evaluated in the light of factors that could influence and affect these, including production requirements; planning stock levels; storage space; and trends of material prices (Agriculture and Consumer Protection, n.d.). 6. The labor budget, finally, must be analyzed in terms of the following factors that influence and affect the costs: production requirements; man-hours available and used; grades of labour required; wage rates (union agreements); and the need for incentives (Agriculture and Consumer Protection, n.d.). 10. These costs should therefore be monitored on a regular basis, say monthly, quarterly and annually, against the budgets prepared to determine the factors influencing them and to institute the required courses of action to control and manage these costs. In response to your proposal to purchase an offset press to print manuals, instead of purchasing them from local print shops, please be advised that to enable management to decide on its feasibility and viability, the following information would be required for comprehensive and effective review: 2. The installation cost to be incurred should be determined. Some suppliers incorporate the cost of installation to their quotation price for the equipment. Since

Shakespeares Sonnets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shakespeares Sonnets - Essay Example For centuries, and still today, the theme of Shakespeare's sonnets was presented as a complex set of stories concerning Shakespeare's own relationship(s) with that rival poet, his fair-haired friend, and a dark women, whom he either served, was in love with, or was angry with because she was pursuing his friend. Sonnet 149 continues the theme of the other sonnets by speaking to the dark lady. The sonnet seems to be both apologizing for the speaker's actions, as well as explaining those very same actions. The tone of the poem is apologetic as well as abject. It's a confusion shared by the speaker as well as the reader of the sonnet The tone is set by the first couple of lines of the sonnet by showing how subservient to his mistress the speaker has become, even to the point where he is going against himself or his own thoughts, by loving her "for her sake". The speaker continues on by saying that he will hate all those whom she hates, and that (though he considers her a tyrant) will punish himself if he does wrong by her. The speaker seems to have sunk so low that he does not even know, or understand, his own subservience (thy service to despise). In the very next line of the sonnet, he says the best of him worships the worst of her. This is the tone of someone who realizes that what he is doing is pretty low, but he sees no way that such actions can be stopped. Many experts agree with this assessment of the sonnet and even evidence it with the last two lines of the sonnet. "Tucker dismisses the couplet as 'either very obscure or impotent" and Booth notes that it 'seems inappropriate" (Evans 269). Lately, however, the theme from the sonnets has been challenged by a 'modern' translation that says William Shakespeare was expressing some homoerotic tendencies, but had to keep them under wraps because an individual (during that era) could be 'hanged from the neck' for sodomy or fellatio.Duncan-Jones states; "as for the compromising or 'disgraceful' elements of the sonnets: their homoeroticism is here confronted positively, and is newly contextualized within the powerfully 'homosocial' world of James I's court" (Duncan-Jones xiii) Many experts disagree with Duncan-Jones and even use the sonnet(s) as evidence that Shakespeare was not homosexual, but was in fact, the exact opposite.The structure of the sonnet is classic Shakespearian. Shakespeare enjoyed writing sonnets and followed the English sonnet pattern, rather than the Italian pattern. This pattern is recognizable as the standard pattern for sonnets and includes fourteen-line poems set in an iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. As I read and analyzed this particular sonnet, the tone led me to believe that I did understand and feel the tone when it was perceived in the old-fashioned way; man torn between his love of a dark women, whom he should not love and society's perception of his love, than the Johnny-come-lately perception of the sonnet that says Shakespeare was attempting to espouse his 'homosexual' tendencies. The sonnet just did not make sense to me when I tried to read his love for another man into it. Sonnet 149 (Paraphrased) O cruel one, can you say you don't love me - Canst thou, O cruel, say I love thee not When I go against my own best

Rural Financial Intermediation of Ghana

Rural Financial Intermediation of Ghana CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study The rural sector comprises nearly 80% of Ghanas population of 18.5 million, with rural economic activities providing employment and incomes for an estimated 60% of rural dwellers (World Bank, 2001). At the same time, nearly 30 percent of rural inhabitants live below the poverty line. However, financial services remain significantly limited at present, mainly provided by informal groups and rural banks. After relatively successful macroeconomic and financial sector reforms, the absence of strong rural and micro finance institutions have continued to impede the attainment of rapid rural economic development. Existing rural financial institutions are often community-based, with strong socio-cultural linkages. The rural banks in particular are characterized by broad-based shareholdings by community members and compared to the larger commercial banks, have a higher propensity to serve clients with low asset base, education and/or collateral, clients who otherwise would have little or no access to formal financial services. At the same time, there is an emerging network of specialized micro-financial institutions that are testing out international best practice methodologies and adapting them to Ghanaian microfinance context and situations. Given the dispersion of rural banks, the nature of community ownership, and rural client base, development of strong rural and micro finance institutions would provide a coherent framework for rural economic growth that would lead to lowered poverty rates and improved standards of living for a majority of the countrys population. Since independence the Government of Ghana (GoG) has made several attempts to promote rural development to improve the living standards of its rural people. The 1992 Constitution has made a firm commitment to rural development as part of its national strategy to improve the living conditions in rural areas through decentralization with the establishment of political and administrative regions and districts. As part of its poverty reduction strategy the Government in 2000 sought funding from the World Bank under the Rural Financial Services Project (RFSP) to promote growth and reduce poverty in Ghana by expanding the outreach of financial services in rural areas and strengthening the sustainability of the institutions providing those services. The Rural Financial Services Project Objectives The Rural Financial Services Project (RFSP) seeks to promote growth and reduce poverty in Ghana by broadening and deepening financial intermediation in rural areas through the following measures: (i) strengthening operational linkages between informal and semiformal microfinance institutions and the formal network of rural and community banks in order to expand services to a larger number of rural clients; (ii) building capacity of the rural and community banks, the principal formal financial intermediaries operating in rural areas, in order to enhance their effectiveness and the quality of services they provide; (iii) supporting the establishment of an apex structure for the rural banking system to provide the economies of scale needed for these unit rural banks to address generic constraints related to check clearing, specie supply, liquidity management and training, etc. which have impeded growth of the rural finance sector; and (iv) strengthening the institutional and policy framework for improved oversight of the rural finance sector. 1.2 Problem Statement The search for a system to tackle the financial problems of the rural dweller started as far back as the 1960s under the Nkrumah regime. During that period, the need for a veritable rural financial system in Ghana to tackle the needs of small-scale farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, market women and traders and all other micro-enterprises was felt. The need for such a system was accentuated by the fact that the bigger commercial banks could not accommodate the financial intermediation problem of the rural poor, as they did not show any interest in dealing with these small-scale operators. Governments attempt in the past to encourage commercial banks to spread their rural network and provide credit to the agricultural sector failed to achieve any significant impact. The banks were rather interested in the finance of international trade, urban commerce and industry. There was, therefore, a gap in the provision of institutional finance to the rural agricultural sector. The failure of the commercial banks to lend on an appreciable scale to the rural sector had been attributed to the lack of suitable security on the part of farmers and the high operational costs associated with small savers and borrowers. Another reason may be the centralised structure of the banking set-up, which, despite their many branches countrywide, is controlled by their Head Offices in Accra, making decentralisation ineffective. One disadvantage of this system was that a centralised institution is not able to compete with the local private money lender in local knowledge and flexibility. More important still, the branch network of many banks covered mainly the commercial and semi-urban areas and did not reach down to the rural areas. Therefore, not only were rural dwellers denied access to credit from organized institutions, they could also not avail themselves of the opportunity of safeguarding their money and other valuable property which a bank provides. It is the realization that the existing institutional credit did not favour rural development that led to the search for a credit institution devoid of the challenges /disabilities of the existing banking institutions but possessing the advantages of the non-institutional credit agencies. This institution was the rural bank. 1.3 Research Questions The study sought to answer the following research questions: i. Are there success cases in the provision of rural financial services? ii. What are the challenges faced by the implementers of the Rural Financial Service Project (RFSP)? iii. How many of the rural poor have gained access to the financial services from the Rural and Community Banks? iv. What is the impact of the Rural Financial Service Project on the performance of the Rural and Community banks and what has been the profitability levels and shareholders fund of the rural banks? 1.4 Research Objectives The primary objective of the study was to ascertain the extent to which the Rural Financial Service Project had been able to promote growth and poverty reduction by strengthening the capacity of those institutions providing financial services. Other objectives for this study are as follows: i. To identify the challenges faced by the RCBs under the RFSP. ii. To assess the impact of the project on the growth and performance of the selected RCBs in terms of profitability, shareholders funds, total assets and deposits. iii. To determine the access of rural poor to financial services. 1.5 Significance of the Study The findings of this research may inform stakeholders: Government officials, policy makers, donor agencies, the World Bank and IMF of the importance of improving and strengthening the operational efficiency of the RCBs as an important intermediary in the provision of financial services to the rural areas to aid poverty alleviation. The recommendations, it is hoped, may encourage the formulation of appropriate policies and programmes to further develop these institutions with technical and financial assistance to lead the role of improving the quality of life of the rural dwellers. Results will contribute to a better understanding of the evolving structure of rural financial services and provide an input to the financial policy made by policy makers especially Bank of Ghana. 1.6 Scope of the Study The sampling area of the study covers 127 Rural and Community Banks in Ghana out of which five selected Rural and Community Banks in the Eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions under the Rural Financial Service Project were considered as the sample size. These RCBs include Bosomtwe Rural Bank, Upper Manya Krobo Rural Bank, Ga Rural Bank, Nwabiagya Rural Bank and Dangme Rural Bank. The study looked at the financial performance of the Rural and Community Banks in Ghana between the period of 2002 and 2006 and also the impact of the RFSP on the selected RCBs. Impact was measured by growth in Profitability, Total deposits, Shareholders funds and access of rural poor to financial services. 1.7 Organization of the Study In order to present a systematic and consistent research, chapter one introduces the background of the study, the problem statement, the research questions, the objectives, significance of the study, and the scope of the study. Chapter two which is the literature review which will throw more light on related studies and concepts of rural financial service project, financial intermediations in the rural areas, challenges of rural financial intermediation and traditional approach to rural finance. Chapter three deals with the methodology adopted in the collection data for the research, description of the field instrument, procedure and data analysis. Chapter four is the presentation of results, interpretation and discussion of the results. Chapter five provides a summary of the study, the conclusions, limitations and recommendations of the study. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction Financial intermediation is a pervasive feature of all of the worlds economies. As Franklin Allen (2001) observed in his AFA Presidential Address, there is a widespread view that financial intermediaries can be ignored because they have no real effects. They are a veil. They do not affect asset prices or the allocation of resources. As evidence of this view, Allen pointed out that the millennium issue of the Journal of Finance contained surveys of asset pricing, continuous time finance, and corporate finance, but did not survey financial intermediation. Here we take the view that the savings-investment process, the workings of capital markets, corporate finance decisions, and consumer portfolio choices cannot be understood without studying financial intermediaries. 2.2 Importance of Financial Intermediaries Why are financial intermediaries important? One reason is that the overwhelming proportion of every dollar financed externally comes from banks. In the United States for example, 24.4% of firm investment was financed with bank loans during the 1970 1985 periods. Bank loans are the predominant source of external funding in all the countries. In none of the countries are capital markets a significant source of financing. Equity markets are insignificant. In other words, if finance department staffing reflected how firms actually finance themselves, roughly 25 percent of the faculty would be researchers in financial intermediation and the rest would study internal capital markets. As the main source of external funding, banks play important roles in corporate governance, especially during periods of firm distress and bankruptcy. The idea that banks monitor firms is one of the central explanations for the role of bank loans in corporate finance. Bank loan covenants can act as trip wires signaling to the bank that it can and should intervene into the affairs of the firm. Unlike bonds, bank loans tend not to be dispersed across many investors. This facilitates intervention and renegotiation of capital structures. Bankers are often on company boards of directors. Banks are also important in providing liquidity by, for example, backing commercial paper with loan commitments or standby letters of credit. Banking systems seem fragile. Between 1980 and 1995, thirty-five countries experienced banking crises, periods in which their banking systems essentially stopped functioning and these economies entered recessions. (See Demirg-Kunt, Detragiache, and Gupta (2000), and Caprio and Klingebiel (1996). Because bank loans are the main source of external financing for firms, if the banking system is weakened, there appear to be significant real effects (e.g., see Bernanke (1983), Gibson (1995), Peek and Rosengren (1997, 2000)). Basically, financial intermediation is the root institution in the savings-investment process. Ignoring it would seem to be done at the risk of irrelevance. So, the viewpoint of this paper is that financial intermediaries are not a veil, but rather the contrary. In this paper, we survey the results of recent academic research on financial intermediation (Gorton and Winton, 2000). 2.3 The Existence of Financial Intermediaries The most basic question with regard to financial intermediaries is: why do they exist? This question is related to the theory of the firm because a financial intermediary is a firm, perhaps a special kind of firm, but nevertheless a firm. Organization of economic activity within a firm occurs when that organizational form dominates trade in a market. In the case of the savings-investment process, households with resources to invest could go to capital markets and buy securities issued directly by firms, in which case there is no intermediation. To say the same thing in a different way, non-financial firms need not borrow from banks; they can approach investors directly in capital markets. Nevertheless, most new external finance to firms does not occur this way. Instead it occurs through bank-like intermediation, in which households buy securities issued by intermediaries who in turn invest the money by lending it to borrowers. Again the obligations of firms and the claims ultimately owned by investors are not the same securities; intermediaries transform claims. The existence of such intermediaries implies that direct contact in capital markets between households and firms is dominated. Why is this? is the central question for the theory of intermediation (Gorton and Winton, 2000). Bank-like intermediaries are pervasive, but this may not require much explanation. On the liability side, demand deposits appear to be a unique kind of security, but originally this may have been due to regulation. Today, money market mutual funds may be good substitutes for demand deposits. On the asset side, intermediaries may simply be passive portfolio managers, that is, there may be nothing special about bank loans relative to corporate bonds. This is the view articulated by Fama (1980). Similarly, Black (1975) sees nothing special about bank loans. Therefore, we begin with an overview of the empirical evidence, which suggests that there is indeed something that needs explanation. 2.4 Empirical Evidence on Bank Uniqueness What do banks do that cannot be accomplished in the capital markets through direct contracting between investors and firms? There is empirical evidence that banks are special. Some of this evidence also attempt to discriminate between some of the explanations for the existence of financial intermediaries discussed below. To determine whether bank assets or liabilities are special relative to alternatives, Fama (1985) and James (1987) examine the incidence of the implicit tax due to reserve requirements. Their argument is as follows: Over time, U.S. banks have been required to hold reserves against various kinds of liabilities. In particular, if banks must hold reserves against the issuance of certificates of deposit (CDs), then for each dollar of CDs issued, the bank can invest less than a dollar. The reserve requirement acts like a tax. Therefore in the absence of any special service provided by bank assets or bank liabilities, bank CDs should be eliminated by non-bank alternatives. This is because either bank borrowers or bank depositors must bear the tax. Since CDs have not been eliminated, some party involved with the bank is willing to bear the tax. Who is this party? Fama finds no significant difference between the yields on CDs and the yields on commercial paper and bankers acceptances. CD holders do not bear the reserve requirement tax and he therefore concludes that bank loans are special. James revisits the issue and looks at yield changes around changes in reserve requirements and reaches the same conclusion as Fama. Another kind of evidence comes from event studies of the announcement of loan agreements between firms and banks. Studying a sample of 207 announcements of new agreements and renewals of existing agreements, James (1987) finds a significantly positive announcement effect. These contrasts with non-positive responses to the announcements of other types of securities being issued in capital markets (see James 1987) for the references to the other studies). Mikkelson and Partch (1986) also look at the abnormal returns around the announcements of different type of security offerings and also find a positive respons e to bank loans. Tables 12 provide a summary of the basic set of results. There are two main conclusions to be drawn. First, bank loans are the only instance where there is a significant positive abnormal return upon announcement. Second, equity and equity-related instruments have significantly negative abnormal returns. James (1987) concludes, banks provide some special service not available from other lenders (p. 234). 2.5 Mechanisms to Improve Financial Intermediation Recent developments in growth theory have stimulated renewed interest in the interactions of financial intermediation and growth. While most of the existing literature analyses the risk- sharing function of financial intermediaries, Raju Jan Singh, 1997 focused on the asset-valuation activity of banks. Following the early contributions of Goldsmith (1969), McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973), a general equilibrium endogenous growth model is presented, in which financial intermediaries increase the amount of accumulated capital, improve the mobilization of savings and enhance the efficiency of resource allocation. As in Greenwood and Jovanovic (1990) and King and Levine (1993b), banks are shown to be able to improve their lending efficiency by evaluating projects. Unlike the models presented by these authors, the banks evaluation capacity is not assumed to be exogenous. The ability of banks to gather the information needed to undertake this evaluation is linked to proximity, and the notion of geography may thereby be introduced. A link between proximity and faster growth rates can thus be shown, consistent with the observations of historians such as Cameron (1967). Furthermore, Singh, 1997 showed that a bank can improve the efficiency of its lending by opening branches. A poor branch network would thus affect negatively the economic growth rate, as Cameron (1967) suggests in the case of France in the 19th century. By contrast, relaxing regulations limiting the setting up of branches would promote faster growth, as Jayaratne and Strahan (1996) observe in the case of the United States. The size of the financial sector is therefore not the only important variable; its structure and the distribution of its deposits matter likewise. The model presented by Raju Jan Singh, 1997 could be extended in various ways. The contract offered by the bank to its potential borrowers could be enriched by the inclusion of other variables besides the interest rate. For instance, collateral requirements might be considered. Cash-flow or corporate net wealth could also be introduced as additional sources of information for banks. In this context, the proportion of entrepreneurs being evaluated might appear to be dependent on the size of the latter only, and not only on the proximity of a bank branch. 2.6 Effect of Financial Intermediaries The finance-growth nexus can be theoretically postulated only within the endogenous growth framework. Financial intermediation, by reducing information and transaction costs, can affect economic growth through two channels; productivity and capital formation. With regard to the first channel, it is generally argued that financial intermediaries by facilitating risk management, identifying promising projects, monitoring management, and facilitating the exchange of goods and services, can promote efficient capital allocation leading to a total factor productivity improvement (Levine, 1997). For example, Greenwood and Jovanovic (1990) shows that financial intermediation provides a vehicle for diversifying and sharing risks, inducing capital allocation shift toward risky but high expected return projects. This shift then spurs productivity improvement and economic growth. Diamond and Dybvig (1983) argues that households facing liquidity risks prefer liquid but low-yield projects to illiquid but high-yield ones, while financial intermediaries, through pooling the idiosyncratic liquidity risks, would like to invest a generous portion of their funds into illiquid but more profitable projects. Bencivenga and Smith (1991) argue that financial inte rmediaries by eliminating liquidity risks, channel households financial savings into illiquid but high-return projects and avoid the premature liquidation of profitable investments which favours efficient use of capital and promotes economic growth. The impact of financial intermediation on growth through the second channel-capital formation-is ambiguous. Tsuru (2000) argues that financial intermediation could affect the savings rate, and then capital formation and growth, through its impact on four different factors: idiosyncratic risks, rate-of-return risks, interest rates and liquidity constraints. By reducing idiosyncratic risks and relaxing liquidity constraints, financial intermediation might lower the savings rate and negatively affect growth. By reducing the rate-of-return risks through portfolio diversification, financial intermediation might negatively or positively influence the savings rate, depending on the risk aversion coefficient (Levhari and Srinivasan, 1969). Finally, the development of financial intermediation might raise the rate of return for households savings, which also has an ambiguous effect on the savings rate due to well-known income and substitution effects. In addition, financial intermediaries effi ciency amelioration could cut the financial resources absorbed by themselves, and raise the portion of households savings converted into productive investment which favors capital formation and growth. In conclusion, the theoretical literature shows that the development of financial intermediation affects economic growth mainly through its impact on the efficiency of capital use and the improvement of total factor productivity, while its growth effect through the savings rate and capital formation is theoretically ambiguous. 2.7 Introduction to Rural Financial Services Rural financial services refer to all financial services extended to agricultural and non-agricultural activities in rural areas; these services include money deposit/savings, loans, money transfer, safe deposit and insurance. Demanders/beneficiaries of rural financial services are mainly households, producers, input stockists/suppliers, traders, agro-processors and service providers. Rural financial services help the poor and low income households increase their incomes and build the assets that allow them to mitigate risk, smoothen consumption, plan for future, increase food consumption, invest in education and other lifecycle needs. These needs can be broadly categorized into working capital, fixed asset financing, income smoothing and life cycle events. Access to credit and financial services have the potential to make a difference between grinding poverty and economically secure life. Inspite of the importance of a savings account, 77 percent of Kenyan households have no access to a bank account (Kodhek, 2003). In the late 1990s, most mainstream commercial banks closed down some rural branches in order to cut costs and improve profits. The non-traditional financial institutions have emerged to fill the gap created by the mainstream banks which locked out low income and irregular earners. 2.8 Financial Intermediation in Rural Areas Financial intermediation is crucial for the development of rural villages. If these intermediations are used properly, they can help the rural residents increase their income. Likewise, banks and financial intermediaries may be able to recover expenses and make a profit by attracting deposits and granting rural loans. Several reasons are given in favour of financial intermediation. It is argued that rural financial markets (RFMs) reduce the cost of exchanging real resources. Financial intermediations also enhance a more efficient resource allocation. Firms and individuals may have different investment and consumption alternatives. Thus, some of them want to save at the time others plan to invest. Banks satisfy both desires. In addition, financial intermediation causes gains in risk management. Rural producers are typically subject to large variations in income and expenditure. Rural production heavily depends on the weather and price fluctuations. For example, expenditures may be hea vy at planting periods while income is realized with harvest. Therefore loans and savings are important and inexpensive ways to manage at least part of households risks. Moreover, financial intermediation may allow a farmer to undertake larger investments. For instance, a loan may permit a rural producer to buy a tractor before being able to save enough money to buy one with cash. Likewise financial intermediaries can benefit large number of households by accepting their short term deposits and providing a fewer borrowers with longer-term loans. In fact, savers, borrowers and intermediaries gain from this transformation of term structures that take place through intermediation. In addition financial intermediaries that deal with borrowers as savers reduce the information asymmetry characteristic of RFMs. By observing the savings patterns of customers, they obtain information about the income and wealth of clients. By that banks are better able to assess the quality of borrowers and reduce default risk. The drawback is that there is a general tendency for governments in less developed countries (LDCs) to interfere in RFMs. Thus few observers of formal RFMs in LDCs are satisfied with their recent performance. Markets are highly fragmented; they provide little services to rural residents; political interest interferes with RFMs operations; and official lenders are frequently on the edge of bankruptcy. RFMs in LDCs do not work like the classic competitive markets. On the contrary, some imperfections are characteristic of rural banks. These imperfections lead to a variety of problems. For example, the available information is imperfect or asymmetric. These are classic problems of RFMs. Borrowers differ in the likelihood of default. However, it is costly to determine the risk of default of each borrower. This problem is conventionally known as the screening problem or sometimes it is called the adverse selection problem (see Srinivasan, 1994, p. 15). Moreover, it is also costly to ensure that borrowers take actions that facilitate repayment. This situation is known in the related literature as the incentive problem or moral hazard problem. This problem turns out to be particularly severe when rural banks lend money at concessionary interest rates. That is the way most governments run credit programmes. If a farmer receives cheap money he will not display enough effort to ensure repayment. For instance, in the presence of high interest rates, borrowers may select investment projects that have higher potential pay-offs but a greater risk. These sort of economic activities (investments) require more effort from the borrower to be successful. Finally, it is also costly to enforce the credit contracts. This factor gives rise to the enforcement problem of rural financial markets. There is very little or no penalty in default cases in rural areas of LDCs. Therefore, seldom are the borrowers expected to be sanctioned for loan delinquency. Often it is found that some rural borrowers may be able but unwilling to repay. In addition, in many LDCs property rights are poorly defined so that actions against collateralized assets are ineffective. Governments of many LDCs often, for political reasons, engage in credit relaxation programmes, which diminish borrowers incentive to make their projects successful. Therefore, it is not surprising that government-run credit suffers from a tremendous default problem. The final result is that RFMs have not developed as real and effective capital markets. In the absence of capital markets, individuals turn to moneylenders. The common belief is that moneylenders charge monopoly interest rates, which capture borrowers returns from credit. To overcome those problems innovative credit policy interventions are required. Some few new financial institutions are now being successful to combat market imperfections. Among such institutions are the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and some of its replications. For instance, group lending allows the financial institutions to transfer risk and transactions costs to credit recipients. It also permits some banking firms to monitor borrowers with other borrowers. 2.9 Current evidence: what we know 2.9.1 Challenges to Rural Financial Intermediation Hoff and Stiglitz (1990) and Besley (1994) have identified three major constraints to financial market development: information asymmetries between market participants; lack of suitable collateral; and high transaction costs. Risk related to agriculture, and to government and donor policies towards agriculture, should be added as a fourth major constraint to rural finance counting for the poor. Demirguc-Kunt and Levine (2004) noted that efficient contract enforcement, related to a supportive legal framework and robust internal operating systems in formal financial intermediaries (FFIs) is very important in the development of the financial sector and the economy as a whole. Constraints to the development of rural financial markets are discussed in more detail below. 2.9.1.1 Information Asymmetry This occurs when borrowers have more information about the out-turn of their investment and greater capacity to repay loans than lenders (Stiglitz and Weiss, 1981). FFIs usually attempt to reduce this problem by screening out high-risk borrowers from their track record (including credit performance, transactions on deposit accounts, cash flow statements and other accounts). However, in the case of most rural customers, this is not possible, because many keep no record of their transactions and/or do not use payment facilities of banks. In addition, access to borrower information is impeded by a lack of efficient transport, communications infrastructure and well-functioning asset registries and databases. 2.9.1.2 Risk High, and often covariant, risks in the rural economy are related to the dominance of agriculture, which accounts for a high percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (one third in the case of Africa) and employment (two-thirds in Africa) (UNDP Human Development Report, 2000). The long gestation period for many agricultural investments and the seasonality of output usually lead to uneven cash flow and variable demand for savings and credit. Agricultural production is largely dependent on the weather and the use of productivity-enhancing inputs is very low (both leading to yield or production risk), especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the average consumption of fertilizer is only 1015 kg per hectare, compared to about four times that on the Indian sub-continent (Pinstrup- Andersen et al., 1999). African yields are therefore very low and have risen only slightly since the 1980s (Badiane et al., 1997). Lack of credit is a major factor limiting the ability of smallholders to procure a

Essay on Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Amanda in Glass Menage

The Characters of Willy in Death of a Salesman and Amanda in Glass Menagerie    In "Death of a Salesman", Willy Loman believes the ticket to success is likeability. He tells his sons,   "The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead." In "The Glass Menagerie", Amanda Wingfield has the same belief. Girls are meant to be attractive and they are meant to be attractive in order to entertain gentlemen callers. As she tells Laura, "All pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be" (1048). It is this very belief that both Amanda and Willy try to ingrain in their children and it is this emphasis on likeability that makes the characters of Amanda Wingfield and Willy Loman so unlikable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A major part of the reader's animosity towards Willy stems from his responsibility for the ruin of his sons. Willy's affair ends up being the reason that Biff ends up a high-school failure and a football has-been. This blunder both disheartens and destroys his eldest son. It becomes the reason Biff refuses to go to summer school; it becomes the reason that Biff leaves home. Yet, this is all a result of Willy's need to be likeable. He cheats on his doting wife simply because it makes him feel special, because it gives him proof that women other that Linda are interested in him, because it makes him feel well liked. A woman "picked [him]"; a woman laughs when he makes jokes about keeping pores open; a woman pays him some attention (38). In fact, it is Willy's emphasis on likeability that leads Biff to brush aside his education in the first place. Bernard, the friend next-door who begs Biff to study for the Reagents, is described by Willy as a... ...something she discovered was useless. They both put emphasis on something that had brought them nothing but pain and suffering and it is this entrapment that makes Amanda and Willy most unlikable. Rather than learning from their mistakes and teaching their children to avoid making the same ones, Amanda and Willy lead their children down the same path to failure, a path that Amanda found to have a dead end, a path to which Willy found no end at all. Works Cited: Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Seventh Edition. X.J. Kennedy, and Dana Gioia. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1999. 1636-1707. Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. In Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 4th ed. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995. 1519-1568.

Mis in Microfinance

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR MICROFINANCE| ABSTRACT ICT can be a strategic tool in making Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) more efficient and effective. MFIs can reach more people in a more economic way by implementing the right Management Information System (MIS). While a few MFIs are making good use of technology, the majority are facing difficulties in getting the right solution. Reasons for this include: * Insufficient organizational and human capacity * Unavailability of suitable MIS applications for microfinance * Diversity in business processes and frequent changes in procedures * Risk of failure of the MIS Diversity of geography and language * Unavailability of vendors and their capacity to implement and support IT solutions * High cost of IT solutions for MFIs * Lack of commitment of management and key decision-makers within an MFI * Lack of awareness about the importance of IT The back-office MIS is the backbone of any Information System solution and yet it has not rec eived much attention. MFIs, whether large or small, need to have a strong back-office MIS before attempting to deploy any advanced front-end applications or delivery channels.These would be worthless without having a strong and flexible back-office MIS in place. INTRODUCTION Management information systems (MIS)  have played a key role in the traditional banking sector for years, but microfinance institutions have been much slower to utilize this technology, primarily due to budgeting shortfalls. A  2009 CGAP survey   found that many microfinance institutions lack well-functioning information systems that would enable them to grow into vigorous institutions. Technology was consistently cited as one of the greatest challenges facing MFIs.Over the last several years, however, more and more MFIs have begun implementing information systems, which has the potential to provide several benefits to the industry as a whole and to MFIs in particular; ranging from loan tracking to greater transparency and risk management. Management information systems are essentially applications which enable an institution to better organize its data for the purposes of decision-making, efficiency, and external reporting. Rather than hidden within a pile of manila folders, the data is crisp, up to date, and presented in a compelling and practical form.Benefits include easier cash-flow management and forecasting, timely information regarding portfolio risk, real time performance updates, more efficient accounting procedures, and simplified external reporting. In sum, a good MIS can increase an organization’s efficiency and decrease its operating costs. The biggest hurdle to the utilization of such technologies among MFIs has been the prohibitively high cost of purchase and implementation. The CGAP survey found that a majority of MFIs use either custom-built or off-the-shelf systems to track their portfolios.But a new innovation,  SaaS  (Software as a Service), has been c hanging that. Typically the SaaS software vendor hosts the application on its web servers, which the customer can download on his mobile device or computer terminal on an on-demand basis. This system provides MFIs 24/7 access from anywhere in the world, real time information, data security and automatic backup. With an SaaS system an organization pays monthly â€Å"rent†, or in some cases a variable fee based on usage levels, for access to the software provider’s application.Instead of â€Å"buying† the software and using it in isolation, the purchaser gains access to the provider’s online cloud, and utilize the internet to deposit, organize, and access their information. With this changed cost structure, more and more MFIs have been able to integrate MIS into their organizational structure. SaaS technology is designed to serve international microfinance networks, such as Opportunity International, as well as national MFI branches, such as  Cresa Financ ial Services in India. Accordingly, SaaS services are emerging as the MIS model of choice for microfinance institutions.Difficulties in Adopting MIS A number of MIS solutions are emerging. Currently, there are 56 MIS applications listed on the CGAP website, although more are being used by various organizations that are not publicized. Despite the advances in MIS, practical experience shows that the acquisition of a suitable MIS is not simple. Many MFIs are struggling with their MIS. Some of the reasons for these difficulties are: * Microfinance operations are unique and complex, compared to commercial, retail banking. The Microfinance sector is still evolving and lacks standardization in its procedures, methodologies, customer characteristics, type of transactions and reporting. * There is no of-the-shelf software available that can address the requirements of every MFI. * Those MIS that are available are complex and costly for adoption by MFIs. * MFIs lack human and organizational capacity to develop or select an appropriate MIS. * MFIs operate in remote and difficult areas where communication and power infrastructure do not exist and are therefore constrained from using IT equipment required to run MIS applications.Outlook of MFIs It is evident that the MFIs around the world are diverse in their structure and practices. Following are some of the factors that differentiate MFIs from each other: 1. Type of organization: * NGO * MFI (non-regulate) * Regulated MF Institution * Microfinance banks 2. Type of Products and Services: * Minimalists (those who offer only credit services) * Loans as well as savings services * Full range of products (including loans, deposits, remittance, insurance, leasing and social services) 3. Organizational Structure: * Branch setup (small, medium and large) Staff structure * Departments (cost centre and profit centre) 4. Geography: * Area specific (operations are limited to a small area) * Country specific (operations are spread ov er an entire country) * Global operations (operating in multiple countries) 5. Operational Environment: * Rural areas * Urban areas * Other 6. Processes and procedures: * Models (associations, cooperatives, credit unions, Grameen, etc. ) 7. Regulatory environment 8. Reporting: * Management reporting * Stakeholder reporting * Microfinance networks and peer group reporting Information Systems used by MFIsThe microfinance sector is also quite diverse in its use of information systems. Generally there are the following three types: 1. Manual System Some MFIs still rely on manual systems, which involve maintenance of records in forms and ledgers. Organizations having manual systems are either small micro-credit programs or NGOs. 2. Semi-automated System More than 50% of MFIs are operating in a semi-automated mode. Within this category, the spreadsheet is the common tool being used either in conjunction with a manual system or with an MIS application that does not fulfill the information requirements of the MFI.The majority of non-regulated MFIs have semi-automated systems. 3. Fully Automated System Few MFIs are fortunate enough to have a fully automated and integrated MIS, fulfilling the whole information requirements of the organization. Such systems are existent with banks or regulated MFIs. Disadvantage of manual systems: Some of the disadvantages of manual Information Systems are: * Too laborious and time consuming. * Prone to Errors. * Data manipulation and analysis is very difficult. * Maintenance of large amount of data is almost impossible. * Data and information is not secured. Loosely controlled. * Highly inflexible (addition of new products and change in business processes). Benefits of computerized MIS to Microfinance There is no doubt that â€Å"the right information† at â€Å"the right time† at â€Å"the right place†, is crucial in decision making. Therefore, information and data is considered among the most valuable assets fundam ental to the success of an organization. The primary roles of the MIS are to capture information, create new information, store information, and convey information to the user. The two major objectives of MFIs are Outreach and Sustainability.MIS can add substantial value in achieving both the objectives: * A major advantage of MIS is that it provides easy access to accurate and up-to-date information. For example, loan officers get information on loans that need follow-up, branch managers can monitor daily progress of the branch, and senior management can get a full picture of the portfolio performance and quality. Customers also get quick information on their accounts, payments and balances. * Detailed information is captured on customers and their activities that can then be used to assess client business to assess impact.It is also useful in tracking historical information of clients. * Activities, such as disbursements, repayments, deposits, withdrawals and money transfers are c ompleted faster, better controlled and with minimum opportunity for errors. * Information is produced in user-required formats, which facilitates better understanding, setting priorities, objectives and strategy. * Key performance indicators provide an overview of the organization’s performance, efficiency and effectiveness of business procedures so that timely adjustments can be made. * Use of ICT helps make MFI services more interactive, accessible and transparent. In terms of innovation, ICT provides full flexibility to structure products and services to the needs of its target group. * Efficiency and productivity of staff is increased, as they are able to manage more products, customers, and transactions in less time. Integration and Consolidation With the growth and advancement of the microfinance industry, new innovations are being witnessed. Among these innovations, technology-based delivery channels and mechanisms are creating opportunities as well as intensifying the competitive environment for MFIs.These channels are not only targeted at lowering transaction costs and extending the reach of MFIs to large populations, but are also focused around customer convenience. These technology-based mechanisms enhance efficiency of the MFIs, while posing substantial challenges in managing such technologies. One of the main challenges is that of integration and consolidation. It is essential that the back office MIS has the flexibility to integrate with such systems. The back-office MIS has received little attention within the sector.The general perception is that new technology based delivery systems would easily integrate with the core MIS, whereas in reality it is not that simple. Examples show that MFIs that have adopted such systems without assessment of their core MIS are struggling to integrate these. Because of non-integration, MFIs fall back on electronic spreadsheets or manual procedures to prepare consolidated information. Integration and conso lidation are very important for MFIs and inability to integrate new technological innovations holds them back, making them less rather than more efficient.Back-office MIS â€Å"Starting Point for MFIs† The backbone of any Information System (IS) is the core MIS as it holds the critical data, and manages the information. All other systems are add-ons. A simple core MIS comprises of two parts: I. Database – data structure; an organized set of tables designed to the needs of the business. All data of the organization resides in these tables. ii. Application Software – comprises of the user interface, business processes, procedures, reports and queries. Fig 1: Core MISAdopting an MIS is strategically important for MFIs. They need to undertake a careful and detailed assessment of current and future needs before committing to a particular solution. Much of the system’s flexibility, expandability, and robustness depend on the strength of the backend components. Strong core MIS can deliver cost-effective integration of data, channels and processes, facilitating a single consolidated view of the whole portfolio. Core MIS can provide easy data entry for the backend database, making consolidation easy to achieve.Various studies reveal that a large number of MFIs operate manual systems despite having some kind of MIS in place. One of the reasons the MIS does not cope with the changing needs of the organization is that the backend does not have the right structure. It is important for both the MFIs and microfinance software vendors to concentrate and strengthen the Core MIS. Figure 2 shows a basic structure for the Core MIS for microfinance: Fig2: Core MIS for Microfinance Other Key Deciding Factors for IT SystemsWhile the MIS needs to fulfill the business requirements of the organization, but other factors including appropriate infrastructure and hardware are also important in the success and optimal utilization of information systems. We can c ategorize the components of an information system solution into five areas: 1. Physical Architecture (Electricity/Power & communication infrastructure) Physical architecture consists of basic wires or cables to gateways and powerhouses.Together with buildings, offices, and computers, the architecture provides services of voice, data, image and video transmission while the consistent power supply keeps everything live and running. Every system needs electric power, and if systems are required to communicate, then there must be an appropriate communication infrastructure. Usually MFIs operate in remote and underdeveloped areas where this is lacking. 2. Network Three types of environment setups could be made. i. Standalone Environment; MIS is run on individual PCs and data is stored locally. ii.Local Area Network (LAN); PCs are connected together to create a LAN. The network can be either peer-to-peer or client/server. Desirable is the Client/server network where data is stored and sha red through a server in a secure way. iii. Wide Area Network (WAN); Branch offices and operation units can be connected through a WAN. It requires proper communication infrastructure and involves high cost to establishing a WAN. For online systems WAN is critical. 3. Hardware Type of hardware depends on the network environment. A client-server environment requires server and switch for connecting the workstations / PCs. . Database Generally databases can be categorized as local and client-server. Each category has its own strengths and weaknesses. These details can help MFIs in selecting the appropriate database: i. Local databases there are a number of local databases but the most widely used databases are Microsoft Access, FoxPro, Paradox, and file maker. ii. Client/Server databases iii. Most popular client/server databases also called enterprise databases include; Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Myself, Sybase, and Informix are some of the commonly used client/server databases: 5. Appli cationA combination of business processes and procedures, user interface, reports and controls operate on top of the backend system. A large variety of software development and report generation tools are available and used to write software applications. Getting the Right Fit MFIs face great challenges in choosing the right system solution that can best fit their business needs. An MIS for microfinance must have the following characteristics: 1. Cost effectiveness: Total ownership and lifetime system operations costs, including hardware, software, network, infrastructure and human resource. . Functionality & flexibility: Fulfill maximum of the current business requirement and flexible enough to incorporate future changes. Capture and generate relevant information on an individual, group, and at a consolidated level. 3. Reliability: Incomplete and unreliable systems are dangerously risky and can hamper the business. Such systems do not produce the right results and are unable to com plete processes to the desired level. Users could be misguided by such systems. 4. Simple to use: Should be user friendly and easy to setup and operate.Activities can be performed in a systematic way and flow. 5. Scalability: System should accommodate changes to products, services and delivery channels. It should grow as the business grows. For example, if the system design is scalable, it can be run on an individual PC, Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN). 6. Integration: Combining data from multiple sources is of great importance to microfinance. Integration of branches to get single consolidated picture should be a priority. Challenges faced by MFIs * Microfinance is a rapidly changing industry. Due to the ongoing volution of the industry, MFIs face difficulty in defining business objectives, needs, priorities and limitations for acquisition of an MIS solution. There is lack of standardization within the microfinance sector, and business practices of MFIs differ f rom each other. Consequently, software developers face problems in coming-up with an MIS that can be used by most of the MFIs. Common failures are due to ill defined business process and procedures. * There is a shortage of skilled professionals who can understand technology as well as the microfinance industry, and be able to suggest the right solution.Such professionals can act as a bridge in filling the gap between use of ICT and microfinance operations * Majority of the MFIs do not have the technical capacity and required resources to understand, adopt and implement MIS solutions. * Most MIS solutions are not affordable to the majority of MFIs. * In some cases there is a lack of vision and commitment from the management towards use of technology * Integration is becoming one of the big challenges, as most of the MIS solutions for microfinance are built on weak platforms, thus not being flexible and scalable enough to integrate with emerging technologies and delivery channels.Rec ommendations: * FMFB’s experience of adopting technology suggests that MFIs should invest in relevant technologies after thorough and careful assessment of their requirements. The requirement should be addressed in perspective of current needs and future plans. * So far the core MIS of MFIs has been neglected. MFIs should get their core MIS right before opting for any kind of delivery system. * The software industry needs to do more in developing quality software for microfinance sector. * Capacity within institutions to manage technology is key to successful implementation and operation of its MIS.MFIs should employ skilled IT professionals on their staff. * MFIs must adopt MIS solutions that not only meet their needs but are also manageable by the MFI from all aspects. In some cases small and medium size MFIs go beyond their needs in adopting an MIS that ultimately becomes a drain on their resources. Such systems reduce the organizations overall efficiency and ultimately th eir sustainability. * MFIs can get maximum benefit by investing in technology, and putting in a better MIS solution that works for them. MIS is a strategic investment for MFIs. *Progressive policies that make ICT accessible and affordable to the majority of the population are important for encouraging the use of ICT within microfinance and for the development of the microfinance sector. Conclusion The use of ICT can rightfully be to the strategic advantage of MFIs. Innovations in ICT have transformed traditional approaches to microfinance, facilitating growth and reducing cost. Some of the players have already started getting the benefit by using MIS and similar IT solutions, while the majority of the MFIs have yet to realize the importance of its use to achieve outreach and sustainability.The implementation of the right MIS still remains a big challenge faced by MFIs. Efforts are also made from various corners of the world in overcoming these challenges. CGAP’s Information S ystem Support is a prudent initiative to assist MFIs in getting access to ICT, aligning their MIS and using the appropriate IT solution. One of the realizations is â€Å"first things first† i. e. having an appropriate core MIS first before other systems: keeping in mind the strategic importance of ICT to the microfinance industry, renewed efforts are required from all the stakeholders to overcome the challenges faced by the microfinance industry in taking on IT.References: – Cheryl Frankiewicz and published by CALMEADOW (2003). IT as a Strategic Tool for Microfinance in Africa – ADB Releases (2005). Pakistan Economic Update – Rao, M (2004), Microfinance & ICTs: Exploring Mutual Benefits and Synergy, Orbicom – Firpo, J. (2005), Championing Scale in Microfinance: Technology’s Role in Delivering Accessible Financial Services to the Poor

Development of Curleys wife throughout the novel Essay

In the novel Steinbeck’s uses social class, to separate the characters from one another especially Curley’s wife from crooks â€Å"you keep your place then nigger†, indicates to us that the social structure was different in America around 1937, a white women was above a black man. The writer showed this and showed peoples attitude of time. In addition it also gives us an insight on how it will feel like to be black.  Furthermore Steinbeck’s also describes Curley’s wife in a desperate and worried way â€Å"married two weeks†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦?† this is shown by the writer creating a tone to the quote, ending the quote with a question mark could mean that the other characters are confused to whether it would last or not, in addition it could also signify that they are doubting their relationship. Steinbeck’s use of language starts to develop more, when he goes on to describe Curley’s wife on page 53. The writer describes her in a sexual dangerous way; we know this by the writer repeating the word â€Å"red†. This indicates to us that danger awaits her; additionally it could also mean that she is seen as a â€Å"sex image†, by the other men on the ranch. This is shown by the writer using the term â€Å"fascinated†, which describes how the other men felt when they saw her. Furthermore, her body languages links to how she’s speaks, â€Å"her voice had a nasal, brittle quality† this indicates to us that she had a fragile slow voice that hypnotized men which made her sound innocent â€Å"Lennie watched her†. This quote enhances that men couldn’t keep their eyes off her, the writer makes Curley’s wife out to be a advert, says things slowly in a tempting way, portraying her as an object. In addition the writer describes Curley’s wife as a desperate insecure women that feels the need to seek attention from other men, â€Å"her body was thrown forward†, specifies to us that she is pushing herself to the situation. In the novel, Steinbeck makes the role of women in the book all to do with sex, some providing sex for the men, portraying them as sexual objects. However, some female characters are seen as either mother figures. This is in contrast to Curley’s wife which is seen as a women who keeps degrading herself â€Å"Curley’s married a tart† this enhances to us that the men on the ranch have no respect for her, this is shown by referring to her as a â€Å"tart† which could also include how the way she dresses in a sexual seductive way to cover up her insecurities. However Curley’s wife may want to dress up because it makes her feel good about herself and she does have the time since her husband is quite wealthy. Moreover, in the novel Of Mice and Men, the writer John Steinbeck makes it out to be women are inferior to men, this is shown by making Curley’s wife the only women on the ranch. Furthermore, the writer also describes Curley’s wife in a detailed sympathy way and this makes the writer feel sorry for her â€Å"you better go home now†, indicates to us that Curley’s wife is in a place that she is not meant to be, it also shows how isolated she is, this is shown by using the term â€Å"quietly† which shows to us that she is being sneaky about the situation, furthermore it also shows us that she isn’t allowed to communicate with other men which gives us an insight about her, that she doesn’t have any friends on the ranch, she has to do it discretely, this shows that Curley doesn’t trust her and she feels protected in the hands of the other men on the ranch, this creates a sense of security. Furthermore, the writer John Steinbeck’s in a way describes Curley’s wife as a dog, metaphorically speaking â€Å"bitch please†, which shows to us that she is described as female dog, rather than a human being which implies to us that she is not an important person, which links with Candy’s dog, which both have something in common, they both died. In addition when they are described or mentioned in the book John Steinbeck’s makes it sound like they are the subject or object in the sentence. It also shows the insignificant in both characters.