Determinants of Borrowing Behaviour of Farmers – A Comparative Study of Commercial and Co-operative Banks

The preference of farmers between commercial and co-operative banks for borrowing has been studied with the objectives of finding (a) distribution of institutional credit across various categories of farmers and to assess the coverage and quantum of credit, and (b) socio-economic factors which affect the borrowing behaviour of farmers towards commercial and co-operative banks. In the study, based on 100 farmer borrowers, the discriminant analysis has been carried out. The study has offered some suggestions also for a better access of farmers to institutional credit.Agricultural and Food Policy,

An Economic Analysis of MGNREG Programme in Mysore District of Karnataka

An economic analysis of MGNREG programme has been made in the Mysore district of Karnataka during the year 2009-10. The women participation among total registered workers in MGNREGS has been found significant at 47.8 per cent. Among the total number of works executed under MGNREGS in the sample villages, 96.8 per cent have been natural resource management works and 74.2 per cent community works. More number of natural resource management works are needed to be taken up on individual farmers’ fields to make MGNREGS complementary to agriculture. Among the total participants and non-participants of MGNREGS, 70 per cent in each case were agricultural labourers. In the total income earned by participants and non participants, a major proportion was from agricultural labour work (60.55% and 52.59%, respectively), followed by crop cultivation (24.95% and 47.41%, respectively) and MGNREGS (14.50% in case of participants). Average annual person-days of employment generated from MGNREGS works was 57. About 68 per cent of landless participants derived 28 per cent of their household income from MGNREGS compared to only 6 per cent in case of participants with land. The study has found that, there has been reduction in the supply of labour to agriculture to the extent of 40.67 person-days per year on an average after the implementation of MGNREGS. Hence, MGNREGS works need to be executed only during offseason.MGNREGA, Economic analysis, Women in MGNREGS, Economics of MGNREGS, Agricultural and Food Policy, I38, H53,

An Exploratory Study on the Level of Trust towards Online Retailers among Consumers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia

This study aims to investigate the extant level of trust towards online retailers among consumers in two different geographical and cultural locations – UK and Malaysia based on Michell’s et al. trust model. The objectives of this study are: 1. To identify the predictive variables of customers’ trust towards online retailers 2. To ascertain the extent of the consumer trust variable as being the essential element of online shopping 3. To analyse the differences in perception of online trust between consumers in the United Kingdom and Malaysia The study showed that online retailers are comparatively more trusted in UK than in Malaysia indicative by the higher average levels of trust from consumers in the UK. Additionally, the UK had a higher age group in the 25 – 34 category contributing the highest average trust value compared to Malaysia’s highest average trust value found in the lower 18 – 24 age group. There were a relatively higher percentage of male users; 66 per cent and 78 per cent in the UK and Malaysia respectively. Multiple stepwise regressions were used to analyse the level of trust against the selected trust correlates

The role of corporate social responsibility and soft law options in the protection of migrant workers' interests in host countries: the case of Malaysia

This article examines the potential for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other soft law initiatives in generating change for blue-collar migrant workers in the Malaysian workplace. We explain the absence thus far of adequate protection for blue-collar migrant labour in formal law and corporate governance from a 'path-dependence' perspective and examine the potential of soft law options and government policies on labour migration as possible catalysts of change. The impact of the 1997 Asian fijinancial crisis in creating new corporate governance rules and government support for the development of CSR is discussed along with international initiatives, such as the United Nations Global Compact, whereby Malaysian companies have committed to playing a positive role in creating favourable outcomes for labour and human rights. Avenues of development vis-a-vis CSR and other soft law mechanisms for blue-collar migrant workers are offered. We conclude with a comment on the trajectory for CSR, soft law options and blue-collar migrant employee relations in Malaysia by highlighting the potential for hybrid labour regulation, whereby soft law may be hardened through creative methods of interpretation by the courts

So You Want To Buy A Brand?

A company’s brand portfolio serves as its link to customers and markets, protects it from competitors, and provides it with a degree of channel power. Historically, brand portfolios were built, brand by brand. But in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace, companies cannot afford to rely solely on brands built from scratch. Consumer preferences change, yesterday’s star brands are today’s dogs, new segments emerge, and established competitors and nimble start-ups are quick to spot and respond to new opportunities. A brand portfolio that does not continually evolve to meet the changing strategic needs of the market risks becoming obsolete. At the same time, building brands has never been more costly, nor more fraught with risk. In response to these challenges, firms are increasingly choosing to acquire brands from other companies. Acquisitions of brands allow firms to respond far more quickly to the needs of an emerging market segment or to a competitive move. Furthermore, buying an established brand is considerably less risky than undertaking the launch of an entirely new brand. But acquiring brands presents its own set of challenges. Not only must the purchased brand have the potential to fulfill the strategic objectives for which it is purchased, but it must also be integrated into the existing portfolio of brands and brand management structures of the acquiring company, and be properly deployed to capture market opportunities. Strategic match, portfolio fit, and effective deployment can mean the difference between success and failure of a brand acquisition. Yet managers tend to underestimate the effort and risk associated with brand acquisition. Brand acquisitions may have a lower rate of failure than new products, but they are not risk- free. We develop a framework to guide managers in assessing potential acquisitions against key success factors. To develop the framework, we have assembled and examined a comprehensive set of brand acquisitions in the food and health and beauty sectors that took place over the past 25 years. We studied key variables that helped us understand how and why brands change hands, as well as the financial consequences of acquisitions that were ultimately deemed to be either successes or failures. We supplement the statistical results with in-depth case studies of brand acquisitions that help illustrate the key lessons.marketing ;

A Study to Understand and Compare Evidence Based Practice Among Health Professionals Involved in Pain Management

Pain management is a common concern of multiple health professionals. Evidence-based practice (EBP) in pain management is a recognized approach used to improve health outcomes. EBP tools can facilitate its implementation. PAIN+ is a tool that provides access to pre-appraised current best research evidence on pain to support clinical decisions. It is important to understand the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of professionals towards EBP and more specifically how they access research about pain management. The overarching purpose of this thesis is to better understand how clinicians from different professions involved in pain management view EBP and implement specific strategies to find pain related research evidence. We conducted a series of studies incorporating various methods to address these questions. Data was collected supplementary to a large randomized control trial to compare “Push” vs. “Pull” strategies for uptake of pain research. In the first study, we compared the knowledge, attitudes, outcomes expectations and behaviors of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists towards EBP in pain management using a validated knowledge attitude and behavior (KABQ) questionnaire. In the second study, we used a mixed methods approach to understand the competencies of clinicians accessing electronic databases to search for evidence on pain management. In the third study, we performed a structured classification of the abstracts that were viewed by clinicians to understand their access behaviors. In the last part of the thesis, we compared the usefulness of PAIN+ with PubMed using a randomized crossover trial approach. The results of this thesis indicate that the professionals involved in pain management have good knowledge of and attitudes towards EBP, but behavior i.e. implementation of EBP in practice and perception of outcomes of implementing EBP were low. In the second study, we found that professionals had acceptable levels of basic literature searching skills but had low levels of use of more advanced skills, and were not aware of using clinical queries in their search. In the third study, we found that all professionals accessed research evidence when provided alerts about pain research and some variations in the types of studies accessed were observed. Differences in access behaviors might reflect differences in professional approach to pain management. In our fourth study the crossover randomized controlled trial; we found PAIN+ and PubMed were both rated useful in retrieving pain evidence for clinicians. Professionals showed an interest in evidence-based pain management, but their skills for finding evidence were limited, they appeared to need training in locating and appraising pain related research evidence, and may benefit from tools that reduce this burden

The principal as instructional leader in the facilitation of curriculum changes : implications for the provision of quality education

Abstract : Change is an on-going process which is deemed necessary and is a significant part of educational practice. Principals are therefore required as instructional leaders to be the driving force in ensuring that change, more especially curriculum changes are successfully facilitated. In the process of facilitating curriculum changes, the principal as the instructional leader is responsible for the provision and management of different curriculum activities associated with strategies, programmes and planning. The South African education system, like some other countries across the world has gone through several curriculum changes over the last two decades and principals now more than ever are expected to play a crucial role in the management of curriculum change programmes along with the overall provision of quality education. It thus becomes imperative for school principals to give prominence to their role as instructional leaders by emphasising best curriculum practices and staying focused on the development and maintenance of quality education. Despite this essential role of principals as instructional leaders, research is limited on how principals understand their role and how these understandings in turn impact on the effective facilitation of curriculum changes. The aim of this study was to research this gap and directly explore how principals perceive and carry out their role as instructional leaders in facilitating curriculum changes. Furthermore, in South Africa, based on numerous reports highlighting poor learner performance in schools, we question whether or not principals are equipped with the necessary instructional leadership skills and expertise required to lead and facilitate curriculum changes in schools. The study was informed by literature related to a theoretical frame of reference on instructional leadership, the features of instructional leadership that impact on the role of the principal in facilitating curriculum changes and selected models of instructional leadership...Ph.D. (Educational Leadership and Management

case study in Batticaloa District

Micro enterprises can help to alleviate poverty and supply the essential goods and services to the people. Small and micro enterprises play a significant part in the economy. Data collection was done using structured pre tested questionnaire and informal interviews. Four divisional secretariats were randomly selected and simple random sampling technique was used to take the sample size of thirty four. Both descriptive and non-parametric techniques were used as analytical tool. Findings reveal that most of micro enterprise operators (MEOs) are market oriented while few MEOs practice production orientation. However, market oriented MEOs show higher sustainability while production oriented MEOs show lower sustainability. Most of sustainable MEOs are decided by integrating the market and production orientation. Sustainable MEOs have given more priority for the customer satisfaction. Moreover, MEOs who showed higher degree of market orientation are sustainable. There is a relationship between degree of market orientation and sustainability of MEOs

Leadership competencies within the context of nursing management, in private healthcare organisations in KwaZulu-Natal.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Background: Leadership forms a critical part of the healthcare management process and works synergistically with the other functions of planning, organising and controlling. Nurse managers do not display all the competencies and behaviours that are essential for effective leadership because there is no leadership competency model available within the healthcare organisations in South Africa. Research aim: The aim of this study was to determine the current state of nurse leader effectiveness from the perspectives of direct line managers as well as the subordinates reporting to them. Research method: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted among 239 nurses and 33 line managers. The nurses were selected using probability proportional to sampling techniques from four private hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Since there was a small group of nurse managers, all were included in the sample. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The subordinates rated their line managers‘ leadership competencies using the NHS 360degree leadership competency tool, which was adapted to the South African healthcare context. The line managers rated their own leadership competencies using the same tool. Results: The findings suggest that although there were more positive responses to the leadership behaviours tested across the nine leadership dimensions, there are certain important leadership competencies that require development. The highest reported nurse manager competency ratings included inspiring a shared purpose (73%), leading with care (69%) and the ability to evaluate information (71.5%). In contrast, the lowest reported nurse manager competencies included the line managers knowledge of what is needed to make well judged decisions (56%); the ability of the line manager to describe future changes in a way that inspires hope, reassures staff, the patients and the public (43%); the line managers ability to explain controversial and complex plans in a way that different groups can hear, understand and accept (43%); the manager‘s ability to shape future plans with the team (40%) ; the manager‘s ability to create a common purpose to unite the team and enable them to work seamlessly together to deliver (55%); the line manager constantly looking for opportunities to celebrate and reward high standards (46%); sharing stories and symbols of success that create pride in achievement (45%); the line manager‘s ability to provide long term mentoring and coaching (46%) ; the line manager‘s ability to spot high potential individuals in the team and focus developmental efforts on them (45%) and the line manager‘s ability to use stories, and other memorable approaches to increase his/her impact (37%). There was a significantly positive correlation found among all the leadership dimensions for both employees and subordinates. Conclusion: Although there were more positive responses to the leadership behaviours tested across the nine leadership dimensions, there are certain important leadership competencies that require development. Interestingly, the line managers have a positive perception of all the leadership competencies across the nine dimensions. Despite the widespread acknowledgement of the importance of leadership, there are barriers to effective leadership