Frequency Analysis And Evaluation Of Short Duration Storms For Peninsular Malaysia

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) published the Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM) in year 2000. The Manual requires Intensity-Duration- Frequency (IDF) values of low average recurrence interval (ARI) ranging from 1 month to 12 months for the design of water quantity and quality control facilities. However, these IDF values are currently not available because past analysis using annual maximum series (AMS) of rainfall depths could only derive the IDF values for ARls of 2 years and above. The SWMM has recommended as an interim solution to use simple coefficients to convert 2 year ARI rainfall intensity to obtain the 1,3,6 and 12 months ARls rainfall intensity for short durations. The coefficients were derived by fitting Gumbel distribution to the I hour duration rainfall depths obtained for the city of Ipoh and extrapolating the distribution to obtain the low ARIs . The coefficients need to be verified as they have been recommended for use in any location of Malaysia for any duration of rainfall. Twenty six rainfall stations distributed throughout Peninsular Malaysia were chosen and monthly maximum series (MMS) rainfall depth for 1 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours and 1 2 hours durations were extracted from rainfall records obtained from DID Hydrological Databank. For every station, frequency analysis was performed using the Gumbel distribution and method of moments with Gringorten Plotting Position formula to obtain rainfall intensity for 2, 3 , 6, 9, 1 2 , 1 5 and 1 8 months ARI. Concurrently, the same frequency analysis was performed using the same durations and length of data but by using AMS to obtain 2 years ARI rainfall intensities. The coefficients obtained from this analysis differed significantly from those recommended by the SWMM. As such, IDF curves were developed for the 26 rainfall stations, and are suggested for use in SWMM. Further analysis was performed on the MMS to determine the better method of estimate between the method of moment and the method of L-moment by computing the standard error of estimation based on Random Number Generation method. The findings were that the method of L-moment is a better method of estimation generally. Identification of appropriate families/parent distribution for various durations was determined from L-Moment Ratio Diagram. The study showed that Pearson Type 3 was best fit for 1 5 minutes, and 30 minutes durations, Generalised Normal curve for 1 hour duration and Generalised Extreme Value curve for 3 hours, 6 hours and 1 2 hours durations

Risk Mitigation Of Outsourcing Manufacturing Process: A Study On The Semiconductor Manufacturing Organizations In Malaysia

Penggunaan perkhidmatan pihak ketiga daripada proses pembuatan semikonduktor menjadi sebahagian daripada strategi korporat sebuah organisasi yang didorong oleh kelebihan kos dan fleksibiliti dalam ketidakpastian. Outsourcing of semiconductor manufacturing process is becoming integral part of the corporate strategy of an organization which is driven by cost advantage and flexibility during uncertainty

Sanjaya Lall: The Scholar and the Policy Advisor

This paper presents Sanjaya Lall’s biography with a focus on his major scholarly and policy works. It identifies Lall’s globally recognized contributions in the fields of multinationals and development, industrial policy, technological capabilities and methodologies on international competitiveness. Dissatisfied with mainstream neoclassical theory Lall used empirical evidence to build the evolutionary alternative to construct theory and provide policy advice to governments.(Please Puchase For Further Reading)Sanjaya Lall, multinationals, industrial policy, technology, competitiveness

Ownership and Technological Capabilities: Evidence from Automotive Firms in Brazil, India and South Africa

This paper examines the strength of embedding systemic and institutional support,firm-level technological capabilities and the relationship between the two in Brazil, India and South Africa. Despite Brazil and South Africa enjoying stronger exposure to external markets, firms in these countries enjoyed slightly lower technological capabilities than those in India. Stronger human capital endowments and network cohesion have helped firms in India to offset a lack of integration in external markets to drive higher technological capabilities compared to firms in Brazil and South Africa. The systemic pillars are positively correlated with firm-level technological capabilities. Foreign ownership was positively correlated with human resource practices and R&D, demonstrating the potential for strong technological spillovers from foreign to local firms. Export-intensity was positively correlated with R&D,demonstrating that the latter is critical for firms to compete in foreign markets.- automotives, Brazil, clusters, India, institutions, South Africa, technology

Ownership and Technological Intensities in Ugandan Manufacturing

This paper examines productivity, export-intensity and technological differences between foreign and local firms in metal engineering, food and beverages, and plastics firms in Uganda using an adapted version of the technological capability framework. Although the results were mixed, foreign firms enjoyed higher and statistically significant technological capabilities than local firms, and in its components of human resource, process technology and adaptive engineering. The relationship between labour productivity and export intensity, and technological intensity was stronger in foreign firms than in local firms. The relationship between foreign ownership and adaptive engineering was also positive and significant. Despite 25 per cent of the foreign firms enjoying no cross-border subsidiaries, foreign firms showed higher participation in adaptive engineering activities than local firms.(Please Puchase For Further Reading)Productivity, technological intensity, exports, skills, ownership, Uganda

The Role of Institutions and Linkages in Learning and Innovation

This paper presents the evolutionary meaning, rationale and context of institutions and the linkages that have been necessary to stimulate learning and innovation. Institutions and institutional change are central to driving learning and innovation. The processes of innovation do not end at the point of its creation. Linkages are important in the spread and diffusion of stocks of knowledge, which not only act as building blocks for new stocks of knowledge but also are synergized further through creative duplication and accumulation into new stocks of knowledge. Where linking with multinationals has figured strongly leveraging has had a strong influence on upgrading. Also important has been the role of mesoorganizations that were subject to stringent institutions.- evolutionary, innovation, institutions, learning, leveraging, linkages

Institutions and Public-Private Partnerships: Learning and Innovation in Electronics Firms in Penang, Johor and Batam-Karawang

Using the systemic quad model, this paper seeks to examine the extent to which electronics firms are linked with the critical pillars of basic infrastructure, high tech infrastructure, global integration and network cohesion, and their impact on knowledge depth and technological capabilities in Penang, Johor, and Batam-Karawang. Penang’s superior systemic quad is reflected in higher firm-level knowledge depth and technological capabilities compared to Johor and Batam-Karawang. It is only in HR practices that technological capabilities of electronics firms in the three locations are not very different. The results show that attempts to stimulate technological catch up will require policy efforts to strengthen the four critical systemic pillars. (Please Purchase For Further Reading)Systemic quad, technological capabilities, knowledge, Indonesia, Malaysia

Water regulation: the periodic review

Since the privatisation of the water industry in 1989, issues relating to the pricing of water, charging structures and the conduct of the water regulators have rarely been out of public attention. Water prices have increased ahead of inflation, in some cases by more than 10 per cent per annum, profits have been high, construction costs have fallen dramatically in the recession and the investment requirements to meet EC Directives have been revised upwards. In the first years following privatisation, the Director General (DG) of the Office of Water Services (OFWAT), the economic regulator of the industry, has, in the face of major shocks, used his discretion to intervene in the pricing and investment arrangements repeatedly. Indeed, the shocks have been so large that the DG has brought forward the review of the regulatory formula governing prices from 1999-2000 to 1994-95. It is this review of the price limits (called the Periodic Review) which is the subject of this paper. The review will be far reaching, involving decisions about the appropriate cost of capital for the industry, the valuation of existing assets, the capital expenditures required to meet environmental quality targets, and the level of operating costs and efficiency. To date, the DG has issued a series of consultation papers, culminating in Setting Price Limits for Water and Sewerage Services: The Framework and Approach to the 1994 Periodic Review, published in November 1993, which details his approach to the Periodic Review. The aim of this paper is to examine the economic principles underlying the DG’s approach and to consider the implications for the future of water regulation. The structure of the paper is as follows. Section II provides an overview of the current regulatory regime, which was set up at privatisation. Section III considers how the regulatory framework has developed since 1989, with particular focus on the capital expenditure out-turn, shareholder returns and the revisions to the process instigated by the DG. Section IV analyses the DG’s approach to the Periodic Review and describes the ways in which pressure has been brought to bear on the various components of the capital expenditure, cost of capital, asset valuation and operating expenditure to reduce the rate of increase in prices. Section V provides an assessment of the prospects for the success of the DG’s approach. Finally, in Section VI, we summarise our main conclusions.

Export and Innovation in Cambodian clothing manufacturing firms

Export and Innovation in Cambodian clothing manufacturing firm