U.S.-China Trade

The reemergence of China as a great power is arguably the single most important development in the post-Cold War world. The rapid economic growth of the People's Republic of China (PRC) over the past decade, coupled with its high level of defense spending, have stimulated much interest as well as trepidation among policy-makers and analysts across the world. Although the continued augmentation of Chinese power is not predetermined, the profound effects of China's growing process cannot be underestimated.When analyzing a state's trade expectations one must also take into account the effects of diplomacy and bargaining, as Copeland suggests. A state can make some economic, political and military concessions to induce its trading partners to relax trade restrictions, thus raising its expectations for future trade. If the price for a higher level of trade is seen to be reasonable, the state would be willing to pay it, but if the price is unacceptable because it would undermine the state' s `internal stability or its external power position', there would be very little that the state could do to improve its trade expectations.If Chinese decision-makers' expectations for future trade are high, they will be less likely to use force to deal with unresolved disputes with neighboring countries. If, however, they have a negative view of their future trading environment, they will be likely to take measures, including military actions, to remove any obstacles that might forestall the pursuit of great-power status (Segal, 70). For the moment, China's expectations of future trade are by and large optimistic, but there is evidence of growing Chinese suspicion of a Western `conspiracy' to contain China which may alter Beijing's future perceptions.To ensure that the rise of China will not cause regional and global instability, the outside world should seek to integrate China into the international community by pursuing policies that will have a positive influence on China's expe cted value of trade. Since the late 1970s China has gradually emerged as a major trading nation in the world, and its economic and trade relations with most countries have broadened considerably. Indeed, China has been actively involved in global economic activities, and is fully integrated into the Asia-Pacific economy.The PRC is now a member of most major international and regional economic organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and APEC. (Segal, 70) From 1980 to 1997 the Chinese government approved 162 foreign financial institutions to develop business in China. (Segal, 70) Over 200 of the world's top 500 companies have now invested in the country. (Segal, 70) As a result, there has been a huge growth in China's foreign trade over the past two decades. From 1978 to 1997 China's export grew from US$9. 8 billion to US$182. 7 billion, and its imports grew from US$10.9 billion to US$142. 4 billion. Between 1983 and 1997 a ctual foreign direct investment in China increased from US$916 million to US$45. 3 billion(Segal, 70) In 1997, according to the World Trade Organization, China became one of the top 10 trading countries in the world. (Segal, 70) China has also benefited from its involvement in a regional division of labor and economic cooperation in East Asia. It is integrated into a number of sub-regional economic groupings or ‘growth triangles' such as the Hong Kong-Guangdong-Shenzhen triangle and the Northeast China-Korea-Japan triangle.In addition, China is closely involved in the development of two new sub-regional groupings: the Yellow Sea Economic Zone that includes Liaoning and Shandong provinces, Japan and South Korea; and the Tumen River project that seeks to promote economic cooperation between China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Russia. (Rachman, 129) No doubt, China's integration into the world economy has brought about much benefit to the country, but it has also increased Chinese vulnerability in a world of growing interdependence. Indeed, foreign direct investment has become the single most important source of foreign capital for the PRC.(Rachman, 132)It is estimated that ‘foreign investment may now account for one-quarter of all Chinese exports'. (Rachman, 132)In 1996 the total value of foreign-funded firms' import and export trade reached US$137. 1 billion accounting for 47% of the national total of foreign trade. (Rachman, 136)According to a Beijing Review report, 18 million people, about 10% of China's non-farming population, are employed by foreign-funded firms. The investment by these firms covers a whole range of areas that are vital to Chinese economic modernization, including infrastructure, energy, communication and high-tech projects.(Rachman, 143)The Chinese government has also relied heavily on foreign investment to develop the central and western regions of China that are still very poor. In 1996, for example, a total amount of USS 1. 34 billion of foreign government loans was utilized for 69 projects in these underdeveloped regions. In addition, 125 key projects in the PRC are supported by foreign government loans that include the construction of metropolitan underground railways, power plants, airports, telephone networks, and other large-scale development plans. (Rachman, 171)In the past decade China has increased its foreign borrowings substantially. Its total external debt is believed to have risen from US$24,000 million in 1987 to US$116,280 million in 1996. (Rachman, 183)Besides, many of China's reform projects, such as enterprise restructuring, infrastructure improvement, financial reform, poverty reduction, human development and environmental protection, are currently supported by the World Bank. (Lieberthal, 36) Of all the major sectors of the Chinese economy, energy is probably the most critical one in terms of sustaining the PRC's modernization program.In this sector the role of forei gn capital is becoming more significant. For example, a joint venture has been established at the Pingshao coal mine, and the construction of a power station in Guangxi Zhuang is financed entirely by foreign investment. In the areas of petroleum and natural gas, a greater effort has also been made to attract foreign capital. By 1997, China had signed 126 contracts with 65 foreign oil companies. (Lieberthal, 36) Moreover, the progress of Chinese reform is dependent on the availability of advanced foreign technology and equipment.The contract value of Chinese technology imports amounted to US$159. 23 million in 1997. Indeed, imported technologies play an important part in major Chinese industries ranging from energy, electronics, computer software to telecommunications, information and other high-tech industries. (Lieberthal, 36) Clearly, Chinese leaders are aware that the success of China's economic modernization rests ultimately with its access to the global market and with inflows of external funding.If, for political or security reasons, the world were to reduce the level of economic interactions with or apply trade sanctions against China, it would have a devastating effect on Chinese economic development. For the moment, China's expectations of future trade with both its Asian neighbors and Western nations are by and large positive. In a speech to an academic symposium in Beijing, Chen Jian, a senior official of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that ‘the international situation has moved at a speed faster than expected in a direction favorable to China †¦.The ongoing reform and opening up policies and the economic development in China†¦ are based on the judgement that world peace can be maintained and a new world war will not erupt for the near future'. (Yahuda, 22) Similarly, Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, has noted: ‘We are immersed in the irreversible general trend toward worldwide economic integration†¦ economic cooperation with various countries makes it easier than any time in the past to reach a common view, and can be carded out in a wider area and at a higher starting point.This in turn portends that possibility for successful cooperation is much greater in the future'. (Yahuda, 22) This type of optimistic assessment of the future trading environment is echoed by many Chinese leaders, officials and scholars. (Yahuda, 56) Despite the recent financial turmoil in East and South East Asia, they believe that the economic dynamism in the Asia-Pacific will continue into the twenty-first century and that China will benefit from further economic growth and cooperation in the region.â€Å"For example, citing the view of a Chicago professor and Nobel Prize winner, a Chinese commentator maintains that ‘the prospects of most rapidly growing economic entities of East Asia are still bright. † ‘Even if the economy of these countries stops growing in the c oming five years', it is argued, ‘their average speed of economic increase in the next 25 years will surpass that of the world'. (Yahuda, 101) In any case, Chinese leaders know that the potential market and business opportunities that the PRC can offer to the outside world are so attractive that no country would like to miss them.(Yahuda, 193) It is therefore unlikely that any countries would want to sever trade relations with China in the near future. To raise its expectations for future trade China has been and will be willing to make economic and political concessions when negotiating contracts and trade agreements with its trading partners. Thus, the outside world will have some leverage to steer China in a certain direction, and it should take the opportunity to encourage further economic reform, openness and trade liberalization in the country.As liberals rightly argue, economic liberalization will gradually lead to greater political liberalization and democratization in China that will, in turn, help preserve peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the international community must be patient with the pace of change in China and more sensitive to Chinese security perceptions. This is not to say that the outside world should accede to any Chinese demands or policies.On the contrary, it should be prepared to raise its concern over particular Chinese policies, debate with China on issues of fundamental disagreement, and stand firm on matters of principle. For example, the outside world must not ignore human rights issues in China for the sake of short-term commercial benefits. Western countries should try to persuade the Chinese government to improve its human rights record through dialogue and diplomatic channels rather than by economic coercion.They must recognize that the process of democratization in China will be a lengthy and thorny one, given the lack of democratic tradition in Chinese history. An evolutionary path toward democ racy is preferable to a violent change of regime in China that will be likely to produce an unstable and ineffective government which would be incapable of handling the crises and upheavals associated with rapid political transformation in such a vast country. A chaotic China could not possibly pursue a rational and coherent policy toward other countries.In this regard, the warning of some liberal scholars of the linkages between democratic transition and war should be heeded. Whether the reemergence of China as a great power in the post-Cold War international system is caused by structural factors (as the realist argues) or by unit-level decisions (as the liberal suggests), the challenge that China presents to the rest of world is formidable. The best way of abating the likelihood of military conflict between the great powers, as Copeland suggests, is to `alter leaders' perceptions of the future trading environment in which they operate'.(Harris, 151) China's current expectations o f future trade are, on the whole, positive, but there are growing suspicions among Chinese leaders and intellectuals of external forces seeking to `contain' China. Such a fear could magnify at a time when nationalistic sentiment is rising in Chinese society (Harris, 151) that might lead to low expectations of future trade. To ensure that China's rise will not cause regional and global instability, the outside world should pursue policies that would enhance Chinese decision-makers' confidence in their future trading environment.This will not be a simple task due to China's innate distrust of other great powers as a result of its unpleasant encounters with Japan and Western powers in the nineteenth century. Given the complexity of Chinese domestic politics and enormous ideological and institutional constraints, China may not always respond to external efforts positively, (Harris, 151) but if China's trading partners hope to integrate the country into the international community peacef ully, they must do what they can to raise PRC leaders' expectations for future trade.In the case of China, it has made some economic and political concessions to induce the outside world to trade with and invest in China. On most issues, Chinese leaders find the price of higher trade level reasonable and are willing to make compromise. The concept of `one country, two systems', for example, was basically formulated to assure the Western world that China's priority was economic development. In order to retain the confidence of foreign investors in Hong Kong, Chinese leaders have promised that the territory's capitalist system will remain unchanged for at least 50 years from 1997.(Harris, 151) China's decision to shelve temporarily the issue of sovereignty in the South China Sea also reflects its desire to maintain harmonious relations with the United States of America that are propitious for China's trading environment. Works Cited Gerald Segal, `Tying China into the international sy stem', Survival 37(2), (Summer 2004), p. 70. Gideon Rachman, `Containing China', The Washington Quarterly 19(1), (Winter 1995), p. 132. Hans J. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, revised 5th edition (New York: Alfred A.Knopf, 1978), p. 29. Kenneth Lieberthal, `A new China strategy', Foreign Affairs 74(6), (November/December 1995), p. 36. Michael Yahuda, ‘How much has China learned about interdependence? ‘, in David S. G. Goodman and Gerald Segal, eds. , China Rising: Nationalism and Interdependence (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 22. `Stay back, China', The Economist, (16 March 1996), p. 15. Stuart Harris, ‘China's role in the WTO and APEC', in Goodman and Segal, eds. , China Rising, p. 151.

Impact Of Entertainment To The Atmosphere Environmental Sciences Essay

Entertainment has been an of import component in this universe. Peoples seek all sort of amusement such as athleticss and music to pass their clip either entirely or with household and friends. Some people may be willing to travel through a great length, spend monolithic sum of money or even digest some physical challenges every bit long as they get the amusement from the activities that they loved. However, some people might non recognize that some of their activities might be harmful to the ambiance, which in the long-run will finally impact themselves and their households. A individual or an organisation might non recognize how they are damaging the ambiance because largely their activities does non demo any immediate seeable impact, but scientific discipline has shown us how a simple action that seems so harmless might lend to a annihilating impact to the ambiance. One illustration of a popular amusement presents is the music festivals. Music doubtless is one of the biggest beginnings of amusement and is enjoyed by people irrespective of age, profession or cultural difference. Music festivals are the topographic point that could garner 1000s of music lovers to portion their love and compulsions towards music. Festivals such as the Woodstock Festival ( 1969 ) in United States and Glastonbury Festival in United Kingdom can pull more than 100,000 people at a clip. In Australia, some festivals such as the Big Day Out and Soundwave Festival has been organized in about every province of the state and becomes one-year tradition among the music lovers. These are one of the biggest amusement events in the state but without deep consideration to the environment, they can be one of the major grounds of atmospheric pollution. Despite many positive parts of the music festival, there are besides the parts where music festival can be harmful to the environment. Music festivals use immense sum of energy which may comes from non-sustainable beginnings. Two major beginnings of electricity during music festivals came from fuel-burning generators or the electricity grid, in which in Australia they largely came from the combustion of coal ( Solar Point, n.d. ) . These power beginnings release immense sum of C dioxide ( CO2 ) and air pollutants which might lend to the long-run impact to the ambiance such as the planetary heating and acerb rain. Besides that, diesel-powered generators normally used in festivals might besides supply immediate wellness fright as they may let go of really little but risky solid particulate affair which could transport harmful chemicals to peopleis lungs while they breathe. It might non be a common calamity but it is better to fix for the worst and seek to extinguish air pollutants and inordinate nursery gasses from the ambiance. Alternatively, music festivals might besides hold high C footmark that came indirectly from the events. For case, the crowd came to music festival from all across the province and release immense sums of nursery gasses to the ambiance by going in their autos, coachs or any other agencies of transit that require combustion of fossil fuel. This will be worst if the events cause monolithic traffic jams as it will impact even those who are non traveling to the festivals and more fuel burning will takes topographic point on the route. On the other manus, non everyone in the crowd during the event will utilize the proper manner of disposing or recycling their waste, which means more pollutants will be provided to the environment. Furthermore, the corporal energy from the life rhythm of the phases, equipments, vehicles and other stuffs used during the festival might besides add to the C footmark of the event. All these beginnings of pollutants and nursery gasses will so impact the ambiance and lead to lay waste toing environmental jobs. It will be absurd to propose that music festivals should be banned to protect the environment. A more effectual manner to manage this job is by retracing the event to be more environmentally friendly and to cut down the C footmark of the event to the lower limit. The most critical measure towards this solution must get down from the eventis direction squad. The organiser for such event must alter their system and include environmental concern in their policy. Each event must hold a designated environmental coordinator who will be responsible to the degree of environmental sustainability of the event. The coordinator must supply some sustainable guidelines and ensures that the processs are implemented in every facet. In add-on, the attendants of the event should be offered the option to countervail their C footmark in the attempt to cut down nursery consequence. In Queensland, Splendour in the Grass Festival offers Carbon Offset Ticket which will countervail the buyeris travel emanati on for around 350km ( Splendour in the Grass, 2010 ) . Redesigning the whole power supply system to be more environmentally friendly can hold a important consequence to the sustainability of the music festival. Organizers should do certain that their phase uses efficient power supply and utilize energy salvaging equipment. Precious energy demands to be conserved as more electricity generated will do more harmful substances to be released to the ambiance. However, a more reasonable manner of significantly cut downing the emanation is by taking the right beginning for the electricity. Presently, most of the festivals in Australia or any other state in the universe run by trusting on fossil fuels, which burning is a major menace to the ambiance. Therefore, if we want to forestall the inordinate emanation of C dioxide, sulfur dioxide and azotic oxide to the ambiance, so bring forthing electricity from harmless resources should be the precedence. In Australia, there are several companies that have developed the safe engineering and made them portable and simple to be used. Some practical options that may be a good replacing for the dodo fuel based electricity are biodiesel generator and solar photovoltaic ( PV ) system. Unlike petrofuel generator, biodiesel generator used Diesel made from vegetable oils or carnal fats. Biodiesel is a type of renewable energy and is presently emerging as one of the most dependable options to fossil fuel. One advantage of this renewable fuel is that C dioxide will be used during the production of the biodiesel, which is from the photosynthesis of the works. However, although the C ratio of biodiesel is significantly lower than the normal Diesel, the burning of biodiesel besides releases nitrogen oxides every bit good as little sum of sulfur dioxides and methane. Azotic oxide ( NOx ) is the inevitable consequence of any burning procedure, in which the high temperature at the furnaces or engines will change over N from the ambiance to azotic oxide ( Boyle, 2004 ) . Therefore, it might be a more simple solution, but biodiesel generators might non be the smartest pick for power supply. A better pick for power supply could be the solar PV system. Australia is one of the states that receive sufficient sum of sunshine ( Solar Point, n.d. ) so there will be no job of limited resource. Solar PV does non necessitate any burning and is a really clean renewable energy. In add-on, solar faculties do non hold any moving parts which mean it is safe to run and will non necessitate frequent care. PV system can be build at the festivalis site as a base entirely system or grid-connected system. A grid connected system can let the excess power to be fed back to the grid and can utilize some energy from the grid in instance of power deficit. However, it might non hold the portability and flexibleness that the base entirely system will hold. In Australia, there are tonss of companies that specialize in PV panels and plentifulness of picks are available in the market. The lone job will be that the capital cost of the system will be rather high but on the contrary, the running cost wi ll be really low as it does non necessitate intensive care, have long lifetime and it can be recycled. The best portion of utilizing solar PV system is the ifueli is clean, safe and free. One simple but interesting suggestion to better the sustainability of music festival is to revise the catering and menu choice of the events. It might non look as a really notable thought but making so might besides cut down the impact of music festival to the ambiance. Festivals irrespective of their continuances or sizes normally present caterer or peddler who provide or sell nutrients and drinks during the event. Foods and drinks are the biggest beginning of rubbish as can be seen in every festival site after everyone has left the locale. Therefore, it might be a good thought to inquire the caterer, peddler or any parties who are responsible for the nutrient to cut down or wholly extinguish any nutrient or drinks that come in non-biodegradable or non-recyclable wrapper if possible. In add-on, they should besides be reminded to pull off their H2O and energy use expeditiously and cut down their waste. Unnecessary energy use is non merely uneconomical, but some electrical contraption s might besides lend to atmospheric pollution. For case, CFC ( CFC ) from icebox is a immense menace to the ambiance as it is the major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. Therefore, it will be a great thought to inquire the caterer to hold their ain environmental policy in order to better the sustainability of the event. Besides concentrating on the manner to cut down the emanation of nursery gasses and other atmospheric pollutants by music festivals, organisers should besides take the chance to utilize the events as a medium to advance environmental concerns among the populace. Organizers should show that their events are back uping the attempt to protect the ambiance and involved in the battle to conserve the environment. It will be better if the event will merely accept sponsorship from organisations that besides support the environmental cause and non peculiarly involved in any major environmental job. During the event, environmental messages should besides be displayed or announced several times to stress the importance of a sustainable hereafter. In add-on, well-known eco-friendly sets and instrumentalists should besides be invited to execute to demo that everyone has the duty to protect the planet. Internationally celebrated sets such as Radiohead ( United Kingdom ) and Pearl Jam ( United Stat es ) have publically shown their concern to the environment and these function theoretical accounts have the ability to present the message successfully to the crowd. Another of import component that besides needs to be introduced in a music festival is a sustainability audit. It is really of import to reexamine every facet of the festival and happen a manner to better the event in the hereafter. The event can be assessed by internal member of the festival or with the aid of professional judge. The audit should measure the direct and indirect emanations of nursery gasses, energy efficiency for all electrical devices and systems, physical impact of the event to the environment and the effectivity of the eventis environmental policy. The informations collected could be really utile in bettering the sustainability of the event and can besides be a guideline for any other related event in the hereafter. There might be some other enterprises that could be put into pattern in the attempt to alter music festival to be a greenish event. These attempts will non hold any major impact on the enjoyment and exhilaration that are seek on the event because the satisfaction of the attendants will besides be a precedence. In fact, an environmentally friendly music festival could perchance pull even more support from the music lovers as more people in the universe has started to care for the environment and opt for more green activities. We can see in every province in Australia people have shown their involvement for more sustainable hereafter and the communities took assorted attempts to better the vicinities. In the sustainable music festival, everyone can bask the great music without worrying about how they may harm the ambiance. The Earth is traveling to be a more beautiful planet if we can let go of the love of music into the atmosphere alternatively of the soiled burning fume of the dodo f uel.

David Hume’s Necessary Connection Essay

Hume questions why humans always make a necessary connection to events. Hume has always stated that it is impossible for humans to think anything that they have not already experienced. So to find the idea of Necessary Connection we have to look back on our impressions. We have to find where the idea of Necessary Connection came from. Hume argues that we cannot create new ideas for ourselves, which solidifies his position on Necessary Connection. Hume has an explanation for this his stand on Necessary Connection. Hume argues that there is cause instead of Necessary Connection. We cannot show the necessity of cause to every new existence without also showing that something’s existence depends on a productive principal. For example we are unable to explain why we are able to move our thumb. We know we can will it to do so but we do not know the process of the action. We are unable to connect all the biological connections such as nerves and impulses from our brain telling certain muscles and tendons to do the action of moving our thumb. Also, since all distinct ideas can be separated, and cause and effect are distinct ideas, we can conceive any object to be non-existent and then existent without attaching causality. This goes back to the ability, or non-ability, of humans to create an idea. There has to be a cause and effect in our minds when an event happens. Now, we go all the way back to the beginning of existence. The separation of the idea of cause from the beginning of existence is possible in the imagination. Hume says that we do not need to associate a cause with the beginning of existence.

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 17

Management - Essay Example It is to this end that the vital aspect of external validation is crucial, allowing educators to examine the various courses and programs offered. This has been in light of globalization, recent trends and discipline demands, as well as socio-political implications Management education regards the effective administration, utility and coordination of available resources, be it in terms of capital (both human and resources), materials and affiliate auxiliaries. This is towards achieving the defined objectives as found within an institution of learning, with maximum efficiency. Accordingly, this definition of management looks at not only the human resources, but more so the entire arrays of pertinent resources vital towards following a set plan. Thus, it focuses more on efficiency, by way of choosing the best possible path to follow (PewResearchCenter, 2012). Management in education operates primarily within educational organizations, entities involved in one way or the other, in the provision of education services to existing student populations. Accordingly as Harvey (2013) presents, in both theory and practice, it pertains to both the administration and organization of existing systems and establishments of education. As management implies to the presence of an orderly way of thinking and subsequent acting, it hence is descriptive (in operator terms) of what must be done, how it is to be carried out and how to analyze if it has been accomplished. Through external validation, there is present an opportunity through which one is able to distinguish the existing curriculum of a given education setting; from that of other universities and colleges. Through interactive and comprehensive efforts in dealing with prevailing educational practices and standards, there is need for consideration of prevailing dynamics. This is due to the

3 simple auditing questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

3 simple auditing questions - Assignment Example Julia Granger has already completed steps 1 through 4 and has documented the results of her work on audit schedules E-100, E-110, E-111, and E-112. Assume that the client performs the control activities identified in the flowcharts. A solution to the assignment is provided using schedules similar to the schedules provided to students on the pages that follow. Again, due to the subjective nature of some of the judgments alternative solutions could be considered equally acceptable. Note that the solution lists potential audit tests that could be performed. It is very unlikely that an auditor would decide to perform all these audit tests. Additionally, the solution does not indicate whether the audit test should be performed on the entire population or a sample of the population. 9) Transfers are appropriately authorized and the financial statements presentation including the disclosure of all investments conforms to the generally accepted accounting principles that are consistently applied. The company purchases material from the vendors, the purchased material are inspected and counted and the prices compared to the purchase orders and a pre-numbered receiving report is prepared. / After that the receiving report and the purchase order are issued. On the accounting side, the accountants receive the invoices from the vendors for the items purchased. All the materials that are not accounted for in terms of receiving report are transferred to the appropriate department for acknowledgment for the receipt. The vendors document are marched with the appropriate accounted document to allow for documentation in the purchase journal, vendor ledger, general ledger and the inventory files. The files are reviewed by the supervisor. All the reports such as the purchase order, receiving report and vendor invoices are documented by the

Country Comparisons Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Country Comparisons - Assignment Example The GDP (purchasing power parity) of U.S.A in Billion $ is 14660 while that of Japan is 4310 in the same currency. These statistics are for the year 2008. Both countries are industrialized; however, Japan’s government seems to have a smaller population to plan for as compared to the U.S.A. The GDP growth rate of Japan is 3.9% and that of U.S.A is 2.8%. This may be due to the smaller population that Japan has to plan for (Indexmundi, 2011). India is one of the most densely populated countries; however, with a population of 1,189,172,864, this is slightly lower than the population of China which stands at 1,336,717,952. India’s population grows at a higher rate 1.34 percent, as compared to China’s 0.49 percent. Still considering the two countries on the aspect of economy, India posts a GDP of 4,060 in Billion $, on the other hand, China has a GDP of 10, 090. However, both countries GDP grows at an almost similar rate with India having a GDP growth rate of 10.4% and China 10.3%. This is probably due to the two countries differences in GDP (Indexmundi, 2011). Another country that is in focus is Saudi Arabia which has a population of 26,131,704 people. This population grows at the rate of 1.54 percent which is the highest compared to that of the United States, Japan, China and India. The GDP of Saudi Arabia in the year 2008 was 622 Billion $, signifying a growth rate of 3.7 percent (Indexmundi, 2011). Mexico, a country neighboring the United States has a population of 113,724,224 which grows at the rate of 1.1 percent. Looking at the economy of the country, it has a Gross Domestic Product of 1,567 in Billion Dollars; the countries’ economy grows at the rate of 5.5 percent, which is the highest of all the countries discussed (Indexmundi, 2011). Despite the fact that Japan has a lower GDP compared to the United States, its economy is growing at a faster rate than the United States, with 3.9

The concepts of supply chains and distribution channels Essay

The concepts of supply chains and distribution channels - Essay Example However, initially, the concepts and practices were not clearly spelt out as it is now. Most of the activities were carried out in an ad hoc manner (Lavassani, Movahedi, & Kumar, 2009, pp. 85–98). Integration of distribution and warehousing (logistics) The concept of supply chain in the company has evolved over time. Most of the segments of supply chain were loosely interconnected. However, as the company developed it had to integrate the logistics, distribution and warehousing together to take advantage of efficiency that supply chains provided. When the company realized that, it had to upgrade its operations due to efficiency brought about by the integration. The company decided to merge the two concepts to form logistics. This made the border between warehousing and distribution became transparent. However, the two ends were still loose, and the management tries to consider making the links stronger and increased the level of resource sharing. This was also coupled with red uced costs and time to market. This was the beginning of evolution in the company (Mentzer, et al, 2001, pp. 1–25) Integration if logistics with production and purchasing The company later decided to optimize the advantages of integration. The company integrated purchasing, distribution, warehousing, and production. The concept worked out right, and the saving was exceedingly. The four functions were integrated, and the core activities under each concept were conducted under the same roof. This was the birth of supply chain in this company. The company managed to align the separate function in the sequence bellow:    Leveraging lean and agile The concept made the company too agile. This is one thing the company has been searching for, the supply chain concept provided the agility required by the company and the company optimized its supply chain concept and leveraged its production to achieve the required competitive age. However, this conceit is long overdue in the company . This has also contributed to the company profitability as the company became more agile. The demanding market and growing competition made the company more profitable due to its agility. The comment managed to increase its product lines and categories (Larson, &, Halldorsson, 2004, pp. 17-31). According the to Kouvelis, Chambers, &, Wang, (2006, pp. 449–469), the volatile and less predictable market just made competition better, and visibility of the company amidst the masses was achieved through agility and leanness Lean concept The modern SCM in companies must be lean; the concepts of leanness help the company to hold the required stock only and assets that can slow down the response time and increase cost are shed. These concepts offer sufficient service levels that can meet growing demand in companies. As a product portfolio, companies must know how to valance between lean and agile. By fine tuning, this company achieves an optimal product portfolio. The different produ ction, which is in the company portfolio, must be treated accordingly (Movahedi, Lavassani, &, Kumar, 2009, pp. 75–88). characteristics of a contemporary Supply Chain concept Lean: The company aims at forecasting at the generic level Economic order Quantities Maximized efficiencies Agile: Demand driven operations effectively Localized Configuration Maximized effectiveness   Then backbone of stable agile and lean supply chain is operations efficiency that brings about6 sustainable competitive advantage. This is based on the supply chain concept that offers a sufficient service level in the face of growing demand   (2) Identify and describe the supply chain and distribution channels

Risk And Project Management Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Risk And Project Management - Literature review Example Risk management is â€Å"the process of identifying, analyzing, and responding to business and project risk in order to minimize the consequences of adverse risk-based events† (Barkley, 2004, p. 3). According to Silvers (2010), the management of events is complex and replete with responsibilities. The process of preparing plans and executing them requires the participation of a good number of personnel, equipment and expertise, all of which must be gathered at one location in order to accomplish the set of activities that would complete the planned project. Events may be small in scale and limited in their complexity; others would be substantially more challenging, taking a much longer time to complete, and requiring the collaboration of many other talents working in conjunction with each other, the setting (location, time, weather, etc.) and against the constraints of a budget. Because of the multitude of unknown factors, risks abound in the execution of a project, from the p lanning phase until the last clean-up operation. There are financial risks that pertain to the business side, implying the possibility that the expected returns may not be realized. There are also the real risks of physical injury due to fortuitous events that, despite all precautions, occur unexpectedly. The job of events management is to assess and take cognizance of all these risks, so as to allocate for the possibility that they may happen and to allow the project team to address them. The importance of this topic is attested to by a substantial number of articles and researches that have been undertaken on the topic of project. This chapter shall review the available literature on the subject. Below are two diagrams depicting the risk management process, sequentially and then functionally. Project definition and project life cycle The risks attendant to events management are of the same nature of risks to which all projects are subjected to. A project is â€Å"an activity that has a beginning and an end which is carried out to achieve a particular purpose to a set quality within given time constraints and cost limits† (Chartered Management Institute). Essentially, events are projects with a tangible beginning and end and dedicated to attain one result, and therefore follow the project life cycle development. The project life cycle is a representation of â€Å"the linear progression of a project, from defining the project through making a plan, executing the work, and losing out the project† (Verzuh, 2008, p. 23). There are numerous ways of depicting the life cycle of a project, one of which is presented in the following diagram. http://www.maxwideman.com/papers/century21/figure3.gif The risks of doing business There are many types of projects that have different objectives; whether they are philanthropic or for profit, there is certainly a cost factor involved that places a constraint on the manner the business is run. At best, the project s hould earn a decent return for the organizers where the aim is fund raising or the furtherance of a business. At the least, the costs incurred must be within the limits set by the sponsors. In any case, uncertainties in the events surrounding the project’s execution may impact in the form of higher than expected costs or lower than expected revenues. According to Ibrahim (2010), it is possible to introduce some diversification in order for events