The Impacts of Economics Crisis in Indonesia

The monetary emergency, which hit Indonesia, started in Thailand in June 1997. It quickly spread, making stocks tumble and numerous Asian monetary forms to fall, the most exceedingly terrible of all the Indonesian Rupiah. Indonesia†s exacerbating financial circumstance is fundamentally because of the sharp devaluation of Rupiah against the US dollar. Being out of our government†s control, the Rupiah continues sliding further and at its absolute bottom contacted a degree of Rp. 17,000 against the US dollar. Understanding that the economy won't recoup for the time being, it requires significant investment and genuine exertion to bring back the economy in good shape. So as to cover the spending deficiency, the Indonesian government asked the help from the International Monetary Fund. With respect to the restoration of the financial emergency, Indonesia needs monstrous guide. The emergency has made the financial part breakdown drastically. The huge number of banks in my nation may be one of the fundamental issues as there are in excess of 265 units. The ongoing financial emergency has put more weights on the financial segment so the administration chose to shut down 16 weak private banks without a full assurance on the arrival of their store reserves. This has constrained investors to draw their reserve funds and moved to remote and government banks which brought about a major scramble for a few private banks. Because of this, The Central Bank needs to print new cash for infusion and rescuing the bankrupt banks brought about by the hurry. By printing cash, the administration unexpectedly provoked the flare-up of hyperinflation. Froze by this, the Central Bank chose to raise loan fees. Subsequently, organizations that were profoundly reliant on credits are compelled to shut down. Numerous Indonesian industrial facilities are confronting monetary challenges due to the immense and broad abroad obligations and a huge reliance on bringing in crude material and supplies. We realize that most industrial facilities have been excessively reliant on imports and their proprietors far and away also pulled in to remote capital without supporting. They are confronting issues with credit reimbursement because of the radical devaluation of the Rupiah. Indeed, even medium and little endeavors are confronting a similar issue. They experience issues in maintaining their organizations since they couldn't stand to pay the high loan fee. Then, the economy keeps on falling apart with the yearly swelling rate once increasing over 100%. A great deal of production lines are shutting down and the quantity of jobless individuals increment. The expanding quantities of organizations that failed and the industrial facilities, which are shutting down, have increased the amount of jobless individuals and joblessness. To foresee the long emergency, most organizations need to rebuild their administration frameworks. It is significant in the emergency period for organizations to accomplish productivity and stick to showcase arranged activity. For effectiveness, organizations can't stay away from however lessening the activity cost and working hours. This brought about the immense number of lay-off and chopping down number of workers. As per forecast, this emergency has caused at any rate 20 million individuals to get jobless, 20% of the younger students are at genuine danger of dropping out of school because of contracting family earnings, taking off joblessness, and hyperinflation. Alongside the serious dry spell, which took steps to push upwards of 50 million individuals into destitution, expanding joblessness, yearning and neediness has likewise been made. This significant issue has affected wrongdoing, disarray, and social turmoil. Needy individuals can no longer stand to purchase staple food and fundamental thing items. Indeed, even sponsorships could no longer help with the individuals getting all the more handily enticed and impelled to carry out wrongdoing. Taking, burglarizing, plundering, devastating, and consuming could never again be maintained a strategic distance from. The catastrophe was on May 14, 1998, when the mass mobs began in Jakarta. The furious hordes began to plunder, pulverize and torch shops, markets, vehicles, lodging buildings and even the Chinese minority turned into the objective by being truly ambushed and manhandled. The explanation is on the grounds that most Chinese rule the business factor. Direct misfortunes are roughly US$ 909 million. This brought about a stagnation of the business, transportation and circulation segment since most Chinese have fled the nation. This mid-May revolt has left a horrible impact on me. I am profoundly lamented that these things ought to happen to my own nation and individuals. Propelled by this disaster, I guarantee that I will contribute with my insight to help my nation in troublesome time like at this point. My solid responsibility is to attempt to limit the effect of the financial emergency.

A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida Essay Example for Free

A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida Essay ? English Reflective Essay Florida is depicted as a dream land where Mickey Mouse welcomes you everywhere and where Cinderella really lives, where days pass by without a solitary drop of downpour and the sky is reliably consummately blue. Anyway this was the most remote thing from my psyche as I sat in a monstrous carbon-emmiting beast whose cooling has spluttered and kicked the bucket and keeping in mind that the sky poured the air was so thick and dirty that flies were adhering to the windshield as we drove, just to be washed away by the suffocating precipitation. As this was going on, my father who was at this point to make sense of his left from his privilege had the close supernatural occurrence errand of finding our inn. Which was practically outlandish on the grounds that perceivability was restricted to about a yard and that requires extraordinary focus, which was elusive after the disaster at the airport†¦. Day 2 To my extraordinary energy, â€Å"Animal Kingdom† was our first amusement park, rather frustrating however what was advertised up to be a magnificence of creature based fervor ended up being a zoo with the odd rush. Anyway my memory of the main day was generally damaged by Dad; with his new and gleaming American muscle vehicle; overlooked that when every one of the four entryways were closed the lock framework was initiated. All hellfire broke lose! With my mum mumbling and meandering apathetically and discreetly with the odd discernable, â€Å"God.. men† and my father, the man of the family and the â€Å"decisive† being, who was rambling a wide range of obscenities and was hitting the car,lightly so no harm was done yet gave the feeling that some way or another it was the vehicles issue, it was up to me (appearing the main reasonable individual from the family) to aqcuire the essential endurance needs, for example, food and water. With out park tickets being utilized for the day there was no chance to get of purchasing new water. Abandoning the errand of endurance and surrending to the destiny of the extraordinary over-fueling Florida daylight that was eating up each ounce of fluid, I went to a little edge at the most distant side of the vehicle leave and with unexpected planning the edge of my eye got a quick look at a little pool. Furthermore, much the same as a desert spring in the Sahara desert the impulse to drink from this minor supernatural occurrence was extraordinary. As I hunched down and gazed while intensely slobbering with my mouth parched there was a contention of heart obvious in my mind. The great side was discussing the verifiable truth that one of local people had expressed, â€Å"In each pool of water in Florida there is a gator. † The other â€Å"evil† side joined by my sailva and most significant organs, was happy to take a risk yet my great still, small voice guaranteed respectable triumph and I was left to dessicate. Also, thinking back on it, it was presumably a savvy choice, anyway the excursion back to the condo resembled a fantastic view between Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson. A Visit to the Animal Kingdom in Florida. (2018, Oct 27).

Youve got questions; Ive got (some) answers

You’ve got questions; I’ve got (some) answers In response to this blog entry: (As a reminder) Dont hesitate to ask me questions any time; you dont just have to wait for a blog entry that asks you to ask me questions. I can always be reached via email at bryanblogs [at] mit [dot] edu. (Take that spambot!) Nam wrote: Hi, Im Vietnamese, would you tell me about how to get a scholarship from MIT? Hi Nam, I will admit that Im not completely familiar with how international student aid works, but maybe try asking MoneyMan, Dan Barkowitz. Adam wrote: Hmm Could you possibly pick a random, normal day at MIT, record what happened to you at what time, and then post the information? Not just classes you attend, Im interested in what you do between classes, any interesting things you happen to do, etc. Im not sure if someone has already done this at some point, so if you know of a blogger who already has, could you give me a link? Hey Adam, Mollie 06 posted an entry like this some time ago here, and tomorrow, Ill be chronicling my day, and will post once I see a logical end to my day. Brendan asked, What do most MIT students want to do once they graduate? Do they generally want to go directly into industry? Research? Education? Is there any difference in lecture with students wanting to do different things? Hey Brendan, MIT students go off to do a lot of different things when they graduate. A lot of students pursue 5th year masters, some go on to industry, etc. Theres a more detailed breakdown about the Class of 2005 here. As far as lecture goes, I dont see much of a difference because I generally feel as though were being prepared to solve problems, and in anything most MIT students do in their future, theyll be solving problems. Alia wrote: Hi! I am trying to decide if I should apply to MIT. I have been reading the blogs (and they are wonderful,) but I am still in a state of doubt. I dont know what I want to do with my life ( I like everything,) and neuroscience is a definite possibility but English is just as likely a potential major. Ive never been a science kid, and I havent done much within the field, but it is something that interests me. Based on what Ive read, it seems like everyone maintains a balance in what they do, but they also all seem to be prodigies in science and already I have a me-them mentality If MIT was a nice match for me, wouldnt I feel more united with what everyone is saying? I dont know! I want to be happy and successful but I am a little insecure with the high potency of high-logic thought here. I think Id probably be really happy at a strong Liberal Arts programdoes that already nix me from being a good candidate? Hey Alia, Thanks for your support of the blogs =) As far as your question goes, this is a toughie. I dont really like to make claims as to whether or not someone is a good candidate because in my opinion being an MIT student is more than just liking math and science, its about wanting to make a difference in the world. Im also just a student and not an admissions officer. If you like what you see of MIT and you think youd like to explore the opportunity, Id say apply. I am very much a supporter of taking chances and increasing the number of options when I need to make a decision. Sean wrote: Hi, I am a high school junior and I have been aiming for MIT since I could remember. I have read countless times that MIT wants you, the applicant, to be yourself. Is this true? I cant shake the feeling that I need to solve the meaning of life in order to be considered an eligible applicant. I know I can go far in MIT, its getting in that has me going bonkers. Hi Sean, I think MIT definitely wants you to be yourself. I was myself when I wrote my application, and I got in :). As far as solving the meaning of life, philosophically speaking, I think the meaning of life is to seek meaning in life :^). Just be yourself and let what motivates you and excites you speak to who you are and what you want to do. John wrote: I have a question about athletics at MIT. I know that MIT is Division III, and therefore recruiting is very different than DI; however, if a strong academic candidate is also wanted by a coach, can this really help? John, to be honest, I have no idea. I played soccer in high school, and I never once communicated with the soccer coach here at MIT. To be sure though, Id ask Matt, Ben, or Nance. Mohamed wrote: Hello. I am a sophomore at Boston Latin Academy. I have a few questions for you: -Will MIT consider applicants who start up as average (3.0 GPA) in high school and then improve as a (3.8-3.9 GPA) during the last three years of high school? -Which school would you recommend to a student who would like to be an top level expert in the medical field: MIT or Harvard Medical? Hey Mohamed, MIT gives everyone a fair chance I think. Things happen, and they understand that. As far as what school I recommend, Im clearly biased. I think MIT will prepare you just as well for medical school and tackling the complex problems involved therein as well as any other school if not better given the way MIT frames problems. anonymous asked, Whats the actual party life like at MIT? Im going to assume its no animal house, but contrary to what apparently half my town thinks, the people who attend here seem to be pretty normal just exceptionally smart. Hey anonymous, One person once told it to me this way with respect to MIT students social lives. They work hard and they play hard. Ill actually dedicate a longer entry to this in the near future as I think it warrants one. Bianca asked: Is there anything from your MIT experience that you wish that you could keep with you forever? How easy is it to meet all the different types of people at MIT? Bianca, From my MIT experience, I think some of the most important things that Id like to keep forever is the memories of time spent with truly interesting people who have some of the most brilliant minds to ever be encountered. I will also cherish the value put on hard work and dedication that is the nuts and bolts of what MIT is. As far as how easy it is to meet different types of people, I think its really easy. There are so many events etc where you can meet people. People here dont bite, and I think its just an accepted social norm that in college people really want to get to know new people and explore new things. leah wrote: im just curious, but what the heck is recitation? Hey leah, Classes at MIT are normally broken down into different components. There are lectures where the entire class attends and the main professor lectures. Recitations are smaller mini-lectures or reviews where there are about 20 students with a TA or professor and they go over the main concepts covered in lecture, homework problems, etc. Vinita asked: Hmmhow about the music/arts section? I feel music a good way to lighten up the mood. Erpeople do call me a geek, but ironically I sing too, you can find my proficiencies in the homepage I linked up here. So I was wondering about the opportunities for potential singers apart from the regular science courses they pursue. Vinita, If you asked Michael Borohovski and the Seksi Borskis, theyd tell you its really easy to participate in arts-related activities. If you look here, youll get an idea about the musical groups here on campus. Josh V wrote: How did you decide to go into course 2 and BE? I have been looking into biomedical engineering myself. As it is offered as a minor, do you have any advice as to what other majors to look into at MIT that would be closest to biomedical engineering? Can you describe course 2 and BE in more detail in terms of what kinds of classes do you take, what are they like, etc? Hey Josh, Since this is an important question, Ill actually write an entry about this seperately. But for now, Ill say that I picked it because I really thought the material was really interesting, and I also misspelled the word prosthetics in the 6th grade spelling bee. kamal deep asked: i am a high school student. i want to know that what tests i have to give to get admission in b.tech in computers. As far as admission goes, you need to take either the SAT I with the writing component or the ACT with the writing test and two SAT 2 subject tests. Rachel W wrote: Ive never had a chance to visit MIT, so I was wondering what the environment is like. Are the people happy? Does everyone get along? How much work is there? Is there enough time during the day to do what you want (aka non-homework or non-class time)? One more question, as a freshman or sophomore, are you limited to the classes you have to take? For example, can you engage in research or independent studies? Hey Rachel, Im happy! Theres a significant amount of work but with practice, you can achieve a good balance. (Ill write a longer entry about this question as well.) As far as the number of classes you can take, you are on a credit limit your first two terms if you dont take Sophomore Standing, but this does not mean you cannot engage in research or independent studies because these activities dont have to contribute to the number of units you take. Robin wrote: Hi, I was wondering if I could get ur opinion on something. Ok, here are the statistics: first in my class, a woman, potential engineering major, diabetes disability, active in community and school, talented in music, 1200 on the SAT, and highly motivated. There. So, what do u think? Do I even have a chance at being accepted based on the people you know there? If so, what is the estimated percent range in your opinion? I know this is opinion, but still, it means something to me. Hey Robin, Im really sorry but I dont really give my opinions on admissions chances. The two reasons are 1) Im not an admissions officer and 2) I really think MIT considers so much about a person when admitting them that its really hard to say yes or no with just a few facts about you. I will say this, if you think you want MIT to consider you and you are considering MIT, then apply. Like I said above earlier, Im pro-options, and if you get in, youre giving yourself another option. Tina asked: Hello, Right, I have a bit of a tricky question/scenario. Basically I am a US citizen, but for the last 8 years I have been in the UK at boarding school. I have acquired A Levels, but due to the difference in system when I took the SATs I only did really well in the subjects I was taking (which seems fair right?) and now Im in a bit of a pickle because I want to come to university in the states and MIT is one Im looking at. Well, basically I was wondering what I counted as and what I should do, I try and phone and I never get through and blah blah. Help please, but if you cant then thanks for your time. Hey Tina, Im not sure what the right answer is, but Im sure you can explain this situation to the admissions office, and they should be able to give you a better idea. Josh wrote: Hey Bryan, Im fully convinced MIT is an awesome place, but theres one thing that keeps me worried about it: how will I possibly be accepted after my shameful high school performance? How many people get in with a relatively low GPA? (Lets say, no greater than 3.5) Hey Josh, I know people who got in with non-perfect GPAs and people who got in with perfect GPAs, but like I try to tell everyone, numbers arent the only thing MIT looks at. anonymous wrote: do you have any idea how GPA is calculated? i could get 4.0 if i include my electives , but lower if i use my academic subjects instead? youll probably tell me MIT isnt about the numbers though =) anonymous, I think MIT takes whatever your high school calculated your GPA as, but I could be wrong. If you really want to know, I would consult with Matt, Ben, or Nance. Adriano asked, Hi Bryan Im brazilian and I wish to know how much you used to spend there in one mounth, and how much I could reduce my spends there if I had financinal adds Hey Adriano, My monthly spending is so erratic its hard to say, and I think spending really depends on your living situation. For example, by living in a fraternity, I dont pay for my meals as frequently as someone who might not live in a fraternity or living group. Marcelo wrote: Hi, Well, I ¬?m brazilian academical and want discover if it ¬?s possible study at MIT for six mounth or one year, like a kind of exchange, and how can I do it. Anybody can help me in the MIT site. Hi Marcelo, MIT does have some summer research programs such as REUs and other on campus internships. I suggest you check out the departments youre interested in and see if they offer such summer programs. Hope this helps everyone. Keep the questions coming!

Marketing Methods Of Marketing Techniques - 1341 Words

P1: How marketing techniques are used in 2 organisations Definition of marketing – Marketing is the action of promoting a service or product including market research and advertising. This includes the 4P’s which are: Product – The item you are selling Place – Where the product is going to be sold Price – How much the product is going to cost Promotion – Publicising a product and increasing people’s awareness of the product Companies main objectives when advertising are to make profit and expand the company. The bigger the company, and the more well known, the higher the gain on the market share. Definition of market segmentation - Market segmentation is the process of dividing the population of possible customers into different†¦show more content†¦Ansoff Matrix Strategy Market penetration - Maintain or increase the market share of current products Market development - Growth strategy where the business looks to sell its existing products into new markets. Product development - Suitable for a business where the product needs to be unique in order to remain competitive Diversification - Growth strategy where a business markets new products in a new market Sports Direct uses the market development strategy from the Ansoff mix strategy. This is where Sports Direct looks into other countries and their markets to see if they would have a chance opening a store there. Sports Direct is now expanding rapidly and now in 19 countries in europe including Poland, Belgium and France. On the other had Apple uses three of the four strategies. It uses market penetration, market development and product development. Apple try to increase the market share of current products of iPhone 5’s and 4’s by lowering their prices and doing sales promotions which will attract new customers. Apple could also increase their market share by doing special promotions for families such as selling a Mac and 2 iPhones at a discounted price which will attract a wider range of target market. Apple’s market development uses different marketing techniques such as advertising on TV and social media. They do this to make as much profit as possible as well as to be very well known and recognised. An an example of this is that when

Creativity Self Test - Business Improvement Strategies Essay

Essays on Creativity Self Test - Business Improvement Strategies Essay The paper â€Å"Creativity Self Test - Business Improvement Strategies" is a breathtaking variant of an essay on management. The creativity aspect is a salient feature in my talent pool. I strongly concur that it is a consistent part of how I undertake my daily duties and responsibilities. I have since mastered a set of creativity skills since I was in middle school which I apply constantly. This has been made possible through learning and implementing advanced creativity techniques with time. With creativity, I have gained in-depth knowledge of areas of my work that demands creativity. I am receptive to team creativity and challenges influencing my way of thinking and equal sharing of rewards. I also like seeing my creative idea from conception to application stage and being aware of my creative uniqueness I apply on a constant basis. However, I am not sure whether time constraints impede creativity at my workplace. My position and role in the organization influence my participatio n and implementation of these ideas since our functional structure limits the inception of ideas by middle-level staff.According to the rating in the appendix section, the score is 85 which means that I am very creative. It is true that highly creative in response to the challenges I encounter, as opposed to it being a skill naturally used in every part of my life. I work at a stock exchange requiring creativity and flexibility in harnessing gains from stocks. I have employed creative skills in my previous assignments like developing a pork breakfast gadget that tells the owner that it is time to wake up. Waking up is a challenge to many people especially in a chilly morning or after a strenuous day. The solution to that problem was developing a gadget that is less costly, reliable and beneficial to many people. The idea was initially thought but brainstorming with colleagues became a broad concept worth trying. Since I have developed many ideas before but failed to take to the impl ementation level, I grew restless in ensuring this excellent idea succeeds. The skills have been part of me and this has made it possible to persuade financiers to fund the project.Brainstorming as an idea creation technique has also assisted in determining whether the given idea was new and feasible. I believe in coming up with incremental and radical concepts. For instance, two years ago, while on an assignment to reduce losses as the stocks department, came up with speculation software that detects levels of risk and turbulence of shares and stocks. Being a junior employee in the company, I was constrained from ensuring the idea materialized. I was able to convince the section head to consider this idea as it would reduce administration costs and increase profits. My mastery of creativity was not hindered by time limitations as I took about six months to convince the manager on the importance of integrating creative works to innovativeness in business. I think I am naturally crea tive and responsive. I admire innovative ideas that have been developed and implemented. I always communicate my ideas effectively by letting others know the wider need and solutions to common problems. I am open to diverse and new dimensions. In the case of Stocks Speculation software, I incorporated my team and was happy to learn of their positive feedback.

British Petroleum (BP) SWOT and BP Porter Five Forces Analysis †Essay Free Essays

SWOT and Porter Five Forces Analysis of British Petroleum (BP) our site Sample Essay – Need Help Writing an Essay Contact us Today. Student Submitted Essays! our site Sample Essay – Abstract BP Porter Five Forces – BP Plc is one of the leading oil and gas companies in the world operating in more than 80 countries and serving close to 13 million customers. The company was ranked third in the FTSE 100 all share index ranking as at the close of 31st August, 2014 with a market capitalization of 82,093. We will write a custom essay sample on British Petroleum (BP): SWOT and BP Porter Five Forces Analysis – Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2, million US Dollars. BP’s major strengths include strong brand recognition, massive financial capability, excellent corporate strategy, and the ability to innovate. Global reduction in the production of crude oil and natural gas, poor disaster management and inability to implement long-term regulatory mechanisms are the company’s key weaknesses. The company has the opportunity to invest in alternative energy even though it faces significant competition from key rivals such as Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Chevron. BP Porters Five Forces Analysis of BP reveal low threat of new entrants and substitutes, medium bargaining power of both buyers and suppliers, and high rivalry among existing competitors. To remain competitive, the company should increase strategic investment in RD, negotiate with governments and other firms to exploit emerging markets, rebuild its brand value and streamline its production and business operation. our site Sample Essay – Introduction Founded in 1908, British Petroleum (BP) is one of the leading oil and gas companies in the world. The company operations in more than 80 countries, has over 83,900 employees and serves over 13 million customers globally (BP Plc, 2014). The company provides customers with oil and gas products, fuel for transportation, petrochemical products and energy for light and heat. With a market capitalization of 82,093.2, million US Dollars, BP was ranked third in the FTSE 100 all share index ranking as at the close of 31st August, 2014 (Stock Challenge, 2012). BP’s interests and activities can be categorised into two core business segments: Refining and Marketing and Exploration and Production. The Exploration and Production segments cover upstream and midstream activities which include exploration, production, pipelining, and processing. Refining and Marketing segments cover downstream activities such as crude oil transportation, manufacturing, marketing and supply of both petrochemical and petroleum products and services (BP Plc. 2014). our site Sample Essay – BP SWOT Analysis BP’s key strengths are its strong brand recognition and massive financial capability. Being the third largest energy company in the world, it is globally acknowledged for high quality petroleum products. Additionally, with an expected total operating cash flow of 2014 at $30 billion, the company’s strong financial position gives it the opportunity to introduce new products, develop alternative energy, and expand to new markets (Reuters, 2014). Regarded as one of the best in the world, the company’s corporate strategy is also a notable strength. This, coupled with its strong brand loyalty, enabled it to emerge from the devastating deepwater horizon oil spill of 2010 (Reuters, 2014). The company’s ability to innovate and enter into strategic ventures with other governments and corporations in new markets is another key strength. In 2013, BP entered into a strategic alliance with both China and the US to provide alternative solar energy to a number of governm ent agencies. A global reduction in the production of crude oil and natural gas is a key weakness of the company. Poor public image as a result of the North Alaska and deep-water oil spills also led to serious challenges for the company. Not only did it face criminal charges, it spent an estimated $42.2 billion in cleanup and compensation (Reuters, 2014). Another key weakness is its non-competitiveness in the alternative energy sector. Despite being a major player in the oil industry, majority of consumers are still unaware of the company’s involvement in alternative energy (Bamberg, 2000). The inability to implement long-term regulatory mechanism to cushion it from the highly volatile petroleum prices is also a key weakness of the company. BP’s profits and its current strong financial position present an opportunity for the company to initiate new projects. The company’s biggest opportunity is investing in alternative energy. The BP Solar Home Solutions initially introduced in New York can be expanded into other regions especially within the American and European markets. This will guarantee the company more customers who prefer the less costly solar energy. The company also has an opportunity to expand its export markets to Asia and South America. Discoveries of more oil wells and increasing prices of oil and gas are additional opportunities that the company can take advantage of (Smith, 2011). Major players in the oil and gas industry especially the Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, and Chevron pose the greatest threat to BP. The implementation of environmentally unsound policy and poor management of natural disasters such as the toxic spills often disrupt the company’s operation (Bruland, 2003). Other threats include, corrosion in BP’s pipeline network, occasional refinery explosions, multiple lawsuits emanating from ecological disasters and the continued sale of BP’s corporate owned stations. Declining operations in several potential locations and the tensions associated with operating in the oil business are also potential threats (Black, 2011). our site Sample Essay – BP Porter Five Forces – Analysis Porter (1980, p. 80) outlines the five forces model to analyze an organization’s competitiveness. These include threats of entrants, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threats of substitutes and rivalry among existing competitors. The oil and gas industry in which BP operates traditionally require massive financial investments in very expensive infrastructure. Huge capital investment is necessary to cover expenses such as building pipelines, drilling wells, building access roads and acquiring land. BP has an asset value of $236.0 billion (Honnungar, 2011). Considering the cost of market entry and economies of scale in the industry, the threat of new entrance is low. There are a number of substitute products such as hydroelectricity, nuclear energy, coal, wind power and solar energy. However, most are still in the developmental phase, besides, the cost of production of substitute products is often extremely high. The importance of oil in fuelling cars, running industries and generating electricity makes it essential and useful to sectors of the economy (Ferrier, 2009). Threats of substitutes are therefore, low since alternative products are less competitive. The oil and gas industry have considerable number of suppliers ranging from private corporations to governments. There are also a number of potential buyers similar to BP. Besides, BP’s vertical integration in its operations is similar to that of its key competitors (Stiel, 2003). The bargaining power of suppliers is consequently rated as medium. The products offered by players in the oil and gas industry are often not much different from those offered by their competitors. As a result, buyers tend to choose products with either lower prices or that have better terms. On the flipside, buyers are many; hence even if a cross section chooses to use the products of their competitors, BP’s operations would not be greatly impacted. The bargaining power of buyers can therefore be regarded as medium. Finally, the oil and gas industry is dominated by huge corporations that produce a number of low differentiated products (Stiel, 2003). Key competitors such as Chevron, Total and Royal Dutch Shell have established well recognized brands with significant client base. This implies that BP and its competitors have all adapted a vertical integration of similar range of products. These factors coupled with low threats of both substitutes and new entrants make competitive rivalry high (Uph, 2010). our site Sample Essay – Conclusion and Recommendations BP is as a major corporation with significant financial backing that can be used to venture into alternative energy research to boost its manufacturing capacity and increase its global presence. The SWOT and Porter’s five forces analyses indicates that, the oil and gas industry’s major players are well established conglomerates with massive financial resources hence high level of competitive rivalry. The attractiveness of the industry makes both the powers of buyers and that of suppliers’ medium while the threat of substitute and new entrance low. BP should increase its strategic investment in RD in order to maximize production and exploit new markets. It should also negotiate with governments and other firms in order to exploit emerging markets such as China. The company should also consider rebuilding its brand value thereby regaining its image adversely affected by the recent oil spill crisis (Honnungar, 2011). Finally, the company should streamline its business operations and production to gain competitive advantage over major rivals. References Bamberg, J. H. (2000). British Petroleum and Global Oil: 1950-1975: The Challenge Of Nationalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bruland, K. (2003). British technology and European industrialization: the Norwegian textile Industry in the mid-nineteenth century. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. BP Plc. (2014). BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2014. BP Plc. (2014). BP at a Glance. [Online] 3 September, 2017. Available From http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/bp-at-a-glance.html Black, E. (2011). British petroleum and the redline agreement. Washington, DC: Dialog Press. Ferrier, R. W. (2009). The history of the British Petroleum Company. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Honnungar, V. (2011). British Petroleum Oil Spill Crisis and Aftermath Corporate Governance and Communication at BP during the disaster. Munich: GRIN Verlag Porter, M.E. (1980) Competitive Strategy, New York: Free Press. Stiel, P. (2003). British Petroleum: A Global Company in a Global World. [Online] 3 September, 2017. Available From: http://www.pstiel.de/fileadmin/pstiel.de/Download/english_globalisation.pdf Smith, N. J. (2011).The Sea of Lost Opportunity: North Sea Oil and Gas, British Industry and The Offshore Supplies Office. New York: Elsevier. Stock Challenge, (2012). FTSE All-Share Index Ranking as at Close on Fri, 31 October 2014. [Online] 3 September, 2017. Available From http://www.stockchallenge.co.uk/ftse.php Uph, C. (2010). PR Analysis of British Petroleum. New York: GRIN Verlag. Also, checkout related Essays: BHP Billiton SWOT Analysis and Porter Five Force Analysis SWOT analysis of Sainsbury’s Plc Strategic Analysis (SWOT, PESTEL, Porter) of Premier Inn (Whitbread Plc) Summary Reviewer John Review Date 2017-09-06 Reviewed Item Essay – BP SWOT and Porter Five Forces Author Rating 5 How to cite British Petroleum (BP): SWOT and BP Porter Five Forces Analysis – Essay, Essay examples

Institutions and Politics

Introduction Politics is an integral aspect of every community in the contemporary world. It helps communities to determine the system of governance that suits their needs. Additionally, it helps communities to regulate their governments in order to achieve social, political, and economic objectives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Institutions and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Generally, engaging in politics involves articulating the governance issues that a country is grappling with (Crick, 2005, pp. 5-11). In this regard, the citizens and their leaders must actively participate in politics. This participation normally occurs through various institutions of politics. The focus of this paper will be the institutions that facilitate politics. In particular, it will answer the question: what sorts of institutions make politics successful? The answer to this question will be based on the premise that th e efficacy of governance and politics depends on the quality of political institutions. The first part of the paper will define political institutions and various concepts of governance. The second part will discuss the roles of the institutions that facilitate politics. This discussion will lead to a conclusion concerning the influence of institutions on the success of politics. Definition of Key Terms Institutions of politics refer to the organizations whose roles include, but not limited to creation and implementation of laws; conflict resolution; formulation and implementation of governmental policies; and representation of the public (Hague Harrop, 2010, pp. 45-67). The main political institutions include the executive, legislature, bureaucracy, experts, political parties, and various types of regimes (governments). The executive is the organ of the government that has the authority and responsibility of executing the administrative functions of the state. The legislature refe rs to a deliberative assembly that normally consists of elected members whose constitutional mandate includes making, amending, and repealing a country’s laws. Concisely, the parliament or the congress is the legislature. Bureaucracy refers to a professional body of skilled officials who serve in the public sector in a non-political capacity. Unlike politicians, bureaucrats are fulltime employees with permanent contracts. Experts are independent intellectuals with vast knowledge in specific fields such as law, political science, and development. These intellectuals are normally the main source of expert opinion. Political parties refer to organizations whose members have the same political ideologies or objectives, and strive to shape public policy by sponsoring the election of a candidate to a public office. The members of these parties include politicians and their followers or supporters. Finally, government or regime refers to the administrative organization that has been empowered to regulate the public affairs of a country. The aforementioned institutions normally collaborate in order to achieve the socio-political objectives of a country.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Roles of Political Institutions Regime Types There are three main functions of the government. First, the government consolidates the funds that are usually spent on basic needs. In this regard, the government uses the consolidated funds to provide services such as healthcare, education, and security among others. Second, the government collects funds from the public and uses them to provide social insurance services. These services include unemployment benefits, food aid, and old age pension. Finally, the government formulates and enforces the laws that guide the relationships between individuals and institutions (Hague Harrop, 2010, pp. 15-22). The aim of this functi on is to promote fairness, equity, and harmony in the society. Executing these functions is a political process that heavily depends on the type of regime that is in charge of a country’s public affairs. In a totalitarian regime, the government has absolute authority over the populace. It controls nearly all aspects of public affairs and the private lives of the citizens. In this regard, a totalitarian regime is a threat to politics because it limits the participation of the public in decision-making. In most cases, a totalitarian regime influences the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the public in order to avert the tensions and dissent that might arise due to government failure. However, this strategy leads to sameness of opinion and infringement of the right to expression, thereby discouraging progressive politics. In an authoritarian regime, power is concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite. The leaders maintain their authority through political repression and sidel ining potential challengers. This discourages political development and achievement of objectives such as transparency, accountability, and fulfilling the needs of the public (Crick, 2005, pp. 10-18). Election rigging is a common characteristic of an authoritarian regime. Furthermore, authoritarian leaders tend to disregard the law and pay little attention to public concerns. Political competition tends to be low or nonexistent in an authoritarian regime because the ruler has an indefinite political tenure. In a constitutional regime, the country’s laws limit the powers of the governors. Generally, the constitution defines the scope of good governance and politics. In this regard, politics is likely to be successful since the constitution protects the citizens’ right to expression and compels the government to execute its mandate. A democratic regime is associated with widespread participation in public affairs. The citizens have the right to choose their leaders and r epresentatives at regular intervals, thereby promoting competitive politics.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Institutions and Politics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Democracy promotes progressive politics because citizens have the right to question their leaders. Besides, the government is accountable to the parliament, which has the authority to accept or reject proposed laws, decisions, and policies. One element of a democratic regime that promotes good politics is protection of civil rights (Crick, 2005, pp. 40-50). In particular, the leaders must operate within the law by making political decisions that conform to the constitution. The state cannot take away the citizens’ rights such as freedom of association, expression, and access to basic services. The politicians too have a right to express their opinions freely, to criticize the government, and to hold their campaigns without intimidation. Hen ce, democratic governments are likely to be more effective than totalitarian and constitutional regimes. Furthermore, a democratic regime provides the best environment for political development. The Executive The executive organizes the structures of authority that facilitate execution of the functions of the government. In most countries, the executive is responsible for the formation of the government by appointing members of the cabinet and holders of key positions in the public sector. The executive also plays an integral role in decision-making by issuing specific and general instructions concerning an existing or an imminent problem (Crick, 2005, pp. 7-17). Other roles of the executive include commanding the armed forces, representing the country in international functions, and pardoning offenders among others. The quality and the characteristics of the executive determine the success of politics. An authoritative executive is likely to discourage political development by excl uding key stakeholders in the decision-making process. In authoritarian regimes, the executives hardly consult the opposition parties on national issues. Additionally, they use their excessive authority and state machinery to avert any form of political opposition. For example, President Mubarak used the emergency law in Egypt to reduce political competition. This law facilitated the detention and torture of anyone who opposed the government. Similarly, President Mursi has since acquired unlimited powers in order to control every aspect of Egyptians’ lives. Even though his performance as the executive falls short of the expectations of his citizens, he continues to use the police force to discourage expression of dissent. Democratic executives usually strive to ensure political inclusion. Furthermore, they have to serve the interest of the polity in order to be reelected. This implies that a democratic executive is likely to promote progressive politics. Charismatic leaders ( executives) usually have great influence on the nature and evolution of politics. These leaders normally enjoy a lot of support in parliament. Hence, their political decisions are likely to sail through the approval process in parliament without much scrutiny. This leads to the adoption of ineffective policies and enforcement of laws that might serve the interest of the executive at the expense of the public (Hague Harrop, 2010, pp. 100-150).Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some countries, the executives depend on corruption, as well as, divide and rule tactics to perpetuate their political ideologies and leadership. For example, in most African countries the executives normally appoint politicians to cabinet positions in exchange of unconditional support in parliament and during elections. Hence, progressive politics have little or no chance of success in a regime that is led by a corrupt executive. The Bureaucracy The bureaucracy consists of civil servants whose main responsibility is to implement the decisions of the executive or the government. The roles of the bureaucracy include the following. To begin with, the bureaucracy participates in policy formulation. Traditionally, this function was the sole responsibility of the executive (Hague Harrop, 2010, pp. 30-70). However, in the contemporary society the bureaucracy helps in policy formulation due to two reasons. First, most executives are armatures with little or no technical skills. Consequ ently, they cannot design effective policies on their own. In this regard, the executives have to obtain expert advice from the bureaucracy. Second, the executive and politicians normally entrust the bureaucracy with some aspects of the policy formulation process in order to enhance efficiency. Concisely, seeking help from the bureaucracy helps politicians to save time and resources in the process of policy formulation. The bureaucracy also executes some legislative functions. For example, a department of the government can make sub-laws, but within the scope of existing Acts of Parliament. The roles of the bureaucracy have significant impacts on politics. Concisely, the effectiveness of the bureaucracy in policy formulation and implementation determines the success of political processes such as elections. A bureaucracy whose members possess advanced skills is likely to help the executive to make informed political decisions. One factor that usually leads to government failure is p oliticization of the bureaucracy. In developing countries with poor governance systems, civil servants are usually appointed through nepotism and corruption rather than merit. In this case, the bureaucracy tends to lack the expertise that it needs in order to achieve its mandate. A politicized bureaucracy usually serves the political interests of the executive rather than the public. For instance, the bureaucracy can be instructed by the executive to implement a given development project in order to please the public. However, the project might not be beneficial to the public. A malpractice of this nature normally prompts political activism and debate among opposition leaders in a democratic regime (Crick, 2005, pp. 40-52). However, the opposition leaders in a totalitarian regime might not question such malpractices for fear of political repressions. One of the major strengths of the bureaucracy is that its members have permanent employment contracts. This ensures continuity in the implementation of policies. For example, the bureaucracy often continues to run the government after the dissolution of the parliament and the cabinet, thereby sustaining on-going political processes. In this regard, it ensures that newly elected regimes adopt the policies of their predecessors. Nonetheless, the bureaucracy cannot succeed without the support of the politicians. This is because its members are not elected. Thus, they are hardly aware of the needs and aspirations of the public. The legislature The legislature is one of the most important institutions since it facilitates politics at the grassroots and the national level. The first role of the legislature is to represent the public. Hence, the public channels its complaints and concerns to the government through this institution. The legislature is the best political institution for articulating the concerns of the public because of its diverse membership. The second role of the legislature is making laws. This role is important because it facilitates adoption of laws that encourage healthy politics and fulfillment of the citizens’ needs (Hague Harrop, 2010, pp. 160-200). Finally, the legislature provides oversight on the operations of the government. This involves monitoring the operations of the executive for efficiency, integrity, and commitment. The ability of the legislature to promote political development depends on the following factors. First, the formal powers of the legislature determine the extent to which it can facilitate politics. A legislature with an absolute authority to enact laws directly is likely to facilitate progressive politics. On the contrary, the success of politics is limited in a regime whose legislature is controlled by the executive. In this case, the legislature will merely act as a rubber stamp whose responsibility is to endorse decisions or choices made by various arms of the government. Second, the capacity of the legislature to use its formal powers de termines its contribution to politics. The legislature is likely to promote political development if its members have the capacity to manage parliamentary activities such as scheduling debates and drafting laws. The effectiveness of parliamentary committees, availability of expertise and members’ ability to make decisions also determine the extent to which the legislature contributes to politics. In weak democracies, parliamentary committees tend to be ineffective since the members lack the technical skills that are necessary in decision-making. In some cases, the committee members accept bribes in order to support or reject certain policies and recommendations. Third, the available political space determines the effectiveness of the legislature. Authoritarian regimes provide little political space, thereby jeopardizing the legislature’s efforts to perform its oversight and lawmaking functions. A democratic system usually provides adequate political space (Crick, 2005, pp. 41-50). This enables the legislature to be very assertive and independent. The resulting improvement in the effectiveness of the legislature facilitates political processes such as policy formulation, lawmaking, and articulation of the citizens’ problems. The Experts In modern democracies, experts operate as independent political actors. They work in collaboration with civil societies, interest groups, and social movements among others. Experts are think tanks whose main role is to help the government to make sound decisions (Crick, 2005, pp. 19-36). They participate in policy formulation by providing expert advice on technical issues. For example, most countries usually hire independent consultants to spearhead the process of drafting new constitutions. Experts also play an important role in the provision of civic education and articulation of social and political problems. In this regard, they discuss the issues that the country is grappling with and present policy rec ommendations to the government for action. The quality of the experts in terms of their skills and knowledge determines the extent to which they can influence politics. Possession of adequate skills and knowledge enables the experts to make positive contributions to political development. The capacity of the experts to utilize their skills and knowledge is also important. Experts who are empowered to express their opinions without fear of political repression normally improve the politics of their country. Concisely, they generate new political ideas and empower their fellow citizens to focus on progressive politics. Political Parties A well functioning political system must have effective parties. In the contemporary society, availability of adequate political parties is a necessary requirement for the formation of a democratic system of governance (Crick, 2005, pp. 40-50). The parties mobilize the citizens and facilitate their participation in political processes. In this regard, they socialize and educate the electorate on issues such as the functioning of the electoral system. They also obtain opinions from the public and channel it to the government. In most cases, the political parties aggregate and articulate the concerns of their members before contacting the government for help. Finally, political parties recruit and train candidates who compete for elective positions in general elections. A political party can only perform these functions if it has effective organizational structures. The party must have different levels of management that are responsible for the execution of various tasks. The party can only make meaningful contributions to politics if its leaders are able to create and implement effective manifestos. It is apparent that parties with corrupt leaders cannot encourage progressive politics. The party must have adequate funds in order to make positive contributions in politics. For example, parties cannot sponsor political campaigns and voter education if they have inadequate funds. Conclusion Politics is facilitated by various institutions, which include the executive, legislature, bureaucracy, experts, and political parties among others (Crick, 2005, pp. 5-16). Each of these institutions focuses on specific aspects of various political processes. For example, the executive formulates policies, whereas the legislature provides oversight on the implementation process. The effectiveness of these institutions is determined by their qualities. These qualities include the integrity of the members, the capacity of the institution to execute its mandate, availability of resources, and the vision of the institution among others. The existence of these qualities enables an institution to make positive contributions to political development. This leads to the conclusion that the efficacy of governance and politics depends on the quality of political institutions. References Crick, B. (2005). In Defence of Politics. London: Continuum. Hague, R., Harrop, M. (2010). Political Science: A Comparative Introduction. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. This essay on Institutions and Politics was written and submitted by user Gavyn Meadows to help you with your own studies. 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