Essay on India and Pakistan- Conflict over Kashmir

Introduction In late 1947, the newly created states of India and Pakistan went to war over the valley of Kashmir. A United Nations brokered ceasefire divided the state into Indian and Pakistani controlled territories, and resolved that a referendum would be held in which the people of Kashmir would be able to choose to join either country. The referendum has not been held to this day. India granted its portion of Kashmir a special status within its constitution, allowing for a great degree of self-autonomy. However, successive Kashmiri governments have been dissolved by the government of India, and elections have only been held in the presence of its armed forces. In 1965, Pakistan and India waged a second indecisive war over Kashmir. In†¦show more content†¦Within a few days of the partition of the Indian subcontinent in August 1947 nearly all of the 560 odd Princely States joined either India or Pakistan. The case of the Princely State of Kashmir, however, is one that remains unresolve d after more than fifty years of conflict. The U.N. mandated plebiscite has never taken place, and the history of the various regions of Kashmir has proceeded in a divergent manner since the division of the state along what is now known as the Line of Control. India granted the part of Kashmir that it controlled a special autonomous status under Article 370 of its constitution. The Maharaja was removed, and a new government was formed under the populist leader of the National Conference, Sheikh Abdullah known as the Lion of Kashmir‟, Sheikh Abdullah was to become the most important politician in the history of the province. Upon becoming Prime Minister he pursued a program of land reform in Kashmir, measures that were desperately needed by the Muslim peasantry, the majority of whom had been discriminated against during the years of Dogra rule. In 1964, there were brief hopes for peace. In July 1965, the Pakistan army launched â€Å"Operation Gibraltar†, a plan which aim ed to send infiltrators into Indian-occupied Kashmir to bring about a popular rebellion. The plan was a resounding failure. Few if any Kashmiris were interested in taking militant action against India, and the war that followed merely resulted in a stalemate. It wasShow MoreRelatedThe Struggle Over Kashmir, By Mohandas Gandhi1096 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The name Kashmir has become synonymous with slaying, destruction and religious massacre in South Asia. Ever since the partition of India in 1947, when Britain dismantled its Indian empire, India and Pakistan have been archrivals. What makes this conflict interesting, conversely, is how much they hate one another. The hostility between these two has been rooted not only in religion and history, but is exemplified by the long-running battle over the control of Jammu and Kashmir. 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Country: Sudan Delegate: Divya Shetty, Manipal University The Kashmir dispute dates from 1947. The partition of the Indian sub-continent along religious lines led to the formation of India and Pakistan.   Because of its location, Kashmir could choose to join either India or Pakistan. Pakistan fails to recognize the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947 ceding Kashmir to India as they believe it was signed forRead MoreEssay about Indo Pakistan Conflict Topic 1168 Words   |  5 PagesIndo Pakistan Conflict Topic Background: As World War II drew to a close, many new nations began to emerge. In the Middle East of course, the State of Israel was established; in South East Asia, two nascent countries were born, India and Pakistan. In 1947, Great Britain drafted a partition plan, separating British India into the two countries we now know as India and Pakistan. 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Since their emergence as independent states from the British Indian Empire in 1947, India and Pakistan have sacrificed considerable blood battling each other. As part of the independence, India was divided into two separate nations—India and Pakistan. The Hindu states of British India formed the new country of India, while those states with a Muslim majority became part of Pakistan. The violent partition of India and PakistanRead MoreThe Kargil War : A Conflict Between India And Pakistan1536 Words   |  7 PagesThe Kargil war was a conflict between India and Pakistan. The two countries’ Armies were greatly involved in this conflict, with Pakistan having a bigger role to play in the war. It is important to note that Pakistan begun preparing for this war as early as February 1999 by selecting, training and deploying troops into the Kargil region. It is also imperative to understand the main intention behind all these preparations. The main aims of this grand plan were to isolate Siachen, to cause disruptionsRead MoreSouth Asian region is considered the heartland of present times owing to its geo-strategic1200 Words   |  5 Pagestotal there are seven countries in south Asia and the major countries of this region are India and Pakistan due to three major reasons: Firstly, huge land size, second population size, Third economic size and fourthly both are Nuclear powers. The added point is that both India and Pakistan both are neighbors and share a long boundary of 1600 KM between them. In the past Bangladesh was the part of West Pakistan. There are two aspects of water dispute; first Water dispute originated in 1947 due to Boundary

Consolidative Therapeutic Sessions Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Consolidative Therapeutic Sessions. Answer: Introduction In counseling, grief can be considered as a notable element within any given modality or consolidative therapeutic sessions. However, the elderly people experiences grief in a different way than the adults. Older people think more about death than living as life is all about the reflection than about looking at the future. Grief counseling to the elderly people mainly focuses on guiding those individuals to overcome their feelings of sadness as well as depression. Counseling can be done in professional one to one setting as well as it can take place in-group situations (Supiano and Luptak 2013). In this report the first two sessions of the client Maya Angelous grief counseling therapy is stimulated. Presentingissuesfortheclient The client in the session was by profession an American poet named Mary Angelou. She had an untold story, which she unfolded in her autobiography as an American Negro, a writer, a single mother, performer and a poet. From her autobiography it is known that she was raped in her childhood and after the victim was sentenced to death she did not speak for five years because she though as she confessed his name so her own voice killed that man. She became a single mother and has hardly being inactive. However, now that she has reached her old age, she has been suffering from health issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and one of her lungs being collapsed. However, recently, there was fake news of her death in the media and this incident where she had to hear her own death news made her become very upset. Her grandchild as well as other family members from Europe and Africa ringed her in tears just to confirm the news if she is alive. Thus, at the age of 81 years after leading a life that she considers full of daring acts, she still hopes to work as much as she can. Thus, for this client her grief is surrounding the fear of her health as well as because of the slowly approaching death. Engaging andconnectingtothe client In the 1st session engaging and connecting to the client is important and this can be done if during the initial therapeutic session the older clients are responded appropriately. At the very beginning, forming a respectful relationship with the client is important which means that the client should be treated as an important person, which is followed by acknowledging their physical reaction to grief. They can further be educated about the other emotions as well as reactions other than grief like helplessness, guilt, sadness and yearning. To be connected with the client as a counselor it is important to make her feel that yes, there is someone to assist her as thus, the gift of presence is important making her feel that you are listening. Then trust is build for which more focus should be on the clients body language as well as non-verbal communication which will show that how much the client wants to share in the first session. Client should be provided with helpful feedbacks as wel l as encouragement. Counselor should be alert and grasp the communication style of the client and being competent while dealing handling the client in the first session. Thus, following these a connection can be built with the client in the very first session (Waller et al. 2016). Caseplanning Goal and Objectives- The main goal of this grief therapy is that to identify as well as solve the issue that the client is having which is for this client the grief of approaching death. However, getting the death news of her own at the age of 81years, it is natural that anyone in her place will come up with strong emotional reactions like her. Thus, the main objective of grief therapy is to bring a notable improvement in the client. Idea and plan of the sessions- However, as per the case planning is concerned in these two sessions mainly in the first one the preparations will be done for assessment along with the beginning of the assessment process. In the next session, which will be the follow up session, it will be the closure of the assessment. During the session the as a skilled counselor the therapeutic interventions that can be used for this client can be psychodynamic, CBT/ REBT therapeutic interventions. Theoreticalideas supportingthe therapeuticprocess There are certain therapeutic models, which further informs about the therapies that needs to be applied for the client. However, the models are discussed below- Posttraumatic growth model Posttraumatic growth outcomes Machins narrative process model Along with the above models, there are other therapeutic interventions like psychodynamic, CBT/ REBT, Rubin et al (2012)s comprehensive therapy and Wordens model of counseling. According, to Rubin who integrated the model of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Rational Behavior Therapy (CBT), Strategic Meta-therapeutic Interventions and Systemic Family grief Therapy actually supplies with valuable combination as well as comprehensive analysis of counseling interventions (Rubin, Witztum and Malkinson 2017). REBT however is a humanistic and existential model of CBT, which is mainly concerned with the individual as a whole along with the experiences that exist including the sufferings (MacLaren, Doyle and DiGiuseppe 2016). Angelou who is having difficulty with the transition of aging and her ill health can be benefited and will be able to manage her emotions, find new places of joy as well as meaning and new support systems. As applied for Angelou in this Case study, is mainly psychodynamic an d REBT/CBT therapy and their aims are as follows- The aim of psychodynamic therapy in this case is to bring the unconscious mind of the client into consciousness so that it can help her to unravel experiences as well as understand her true, deep-rooted feelings so that it can be resolved. On the other hand, CBT-REBT therapy will mainly focus on the solutions so that the client gets the encouragement to challenge her twisted cognitions and modify her destructive pattern of behavior. REBT mainly is a part of CBT therapy, which will help the client to understand her unhealthy thoughts and beliefs, which are creating emotional distress in her. Interventions Interventions have been distinguished between primary, secondary and tertiary by Schut and his colleagues in (2001). Primary intervention mainly focuses in all the bereaved people, the secondary interventions focuses on those individual who are at a higher risk of developing problems and lastly, the tertiary intervention, which focuses on those who have developed problems (Burke and Neimeyer 2013). Therefore, for this client tertiary intervention would be appropriate. Counselor will maintain a compassionate and informed approach throughout the session. The demonstrations are mainly that the counselor is here to help the client rather than just being sorry for her grief. Interventions which reach out to the client are mainly shows them a desire from the counselors side to engage the client in a meaningful way. Spending time with the client as well as listening to their story can be helpful at this age. The majority of the elderly people who are suffering from grief often require sound information along with someone who can willingly listen to their issues and supply them with valuable advice and help. As indicated by Jacobs and Prigerson (2000) that there are a wide range of therapies which are affective as well as appropriate elderly suffering from grief (Shah and Meeks 2012). Nevertheless, for this client CBT and psychodynamic therapies are applied. CBT is viewed as an ideal therapy for elderly individuals suffering from grief. In general, it is very much effective in treating anxiety and mood disorders. Obstacles anticipated Therapies are a unique and ongoing relationship, which is created in a safe atmosphere, which can lessen the pain of the client, empower her, and further direct the client towards inner peace and happiness (Bond 2015). However, the basic obstacles in these two sessions that might arise are as follows- Client not working in between the sessions- many a times it is found that clients have wrong assumptions that only showing up in the sessions with bring significant improvement in their lives. However, the actual scenario is that improvement will take place if the work is continued both in and after the therapy. The client may resist change- maximum of the times client want their feelings, circumstances, relationships as well as their thoughts in their life to get modified but obstacles takes place when they want to continue the same things like engaging in the same thoughts and feelings and yet expect a change to happen without in actually modifying anything. Stigma and discrimination- another important obstacle can be the stigma of mental illness. Research has found that there is stigma towards mental illness, which is evident in Unites States and many other nations. Because the client is aboriginal thus, there are changes of discrimination from the counselors part, which can act as an obstacle. Potential techniques to overcome the obstacles As a therapist, the homework must be assigned to the client or the client may herself practice what is done during the session on his or her own. If the therapist is not assigning work then the client can ask for homework. The client must pick up someone whom she trusts and can process the session and can ask for feedbacks. This way the obstacles of the client not working in between the sessions can be minimized. Another obstacle identified is the resistant to change in the client thus; the client should start believing that they are worth bringing the change in their life. Therefore, the client needs to be honest to them, taking the information in as well as guidance that are provided to him and applying them properly. They should practice as well as apply what they are learning in the sessions. Therefore, the counselor must keep in check if the client is showing any changes or is the same as she was in the very first session and accordingly must take further steps. Lastly, the last obstacles can come from the side of the counselor that when he should neither disseminate among their clients not show any kind of perceived stigma towards any kind of mental illnesses. A good counselor should never have stigmatizing beliefs because it can act as an obstacle during the therapy. Therefore, before the session the counselor should leave all such negative thoughts outside (Sue and Sue 2012). Strategies for self-care Self-care is anything that can help the client to maintain her physical, mental or emotional health. Therefore, self-care is important for the client because it can help keep up the healthy habits by doing something she enjoys for instance reading books. This will distract the clients mind as well as body from the stressful life events. It can further recharge the client if she can meditate for some time (Stephen, Wilcock and Wimpenny 2013). Another importance of self-care is that for many people it can help manage health issues, as it is very much effecting for coping with mental as well as physical problems. Thus, self-care helps people to live their lives as fully as possible. However, for this particular the strategies of self-care that can be applied are as follows- She must not give up her usual daily routine They should talk to those whom they can trust Find herself some time so that she can relax by meditating or by reading books Regularly eat her meals Develop appropriate sleeping habits Caffeine containing drinks she must avoid because it can affect her sleep cycle (Alexander and Klein 2012). Conclusion To conclude this report, it can be said that the chosen character Mary Angelou who is herself an American Poet is suffering from grief after hearing her dead news being alive. At the age of 81years when her health is already not permitting many activities that she still want to continue, meanwhile this sudden news has actually affected her mentally. However, in the initial two sessions the client need to be engaged with the counselor then based on the presenting complaints her interventions are selected to be CBT-REBT and psychodynamic therapeutic interventions, which can be attempted from the next sessions. References Alexander, D.A. and Klein, S., 2012. Mental health, trauma and bereavement.Grief, Loss and Bereavement: Evidence and Practice for Health and Social Care Practitioners. Bond, T., 2015.Standards and ethics for counselling in action. Sage. Burke, L.A. and Neimeyer, R.A., 2013. 11 Prospective risk factors for complicated grief.Complicated grief: Scientific foundations for health care professionals, p.145. MacLaren, C., Doyle, K.A. and DiGiuseppe, R., 2016. Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT): Theory and practice.Contemporary theory and practice in counseling and psychotherapy, pp.233-263. Rubin, S.S., Witztum, E. and Malkinson, R., 2017. Bereavement and Traumatic Bereavement: Working with the Two-Track Model of Bereavement.Journal of Rational-Emotive Cognitive-Behavior Therapy,35(1), pp.78-87. Shah, S.N. and Meeks, S., 2012. Late-life bereavement and complicated grief: A proposed comprehensive framework.Aging mental health,16(1), pp.39-56. Stephen, A.I., Wilcock, S.E. and Wimpenny, P., 2013. Bereavement care for older people in healthcare settings: qualitative study of experiences.International journal of older people nursing,8(4), pp.279-289. Sue, D.W. and Sue, D., 2012.Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley Sons. Supiano, K.P. and Luptak, M., 2013. Complicated grief in older adults: A randomized controlled trial of complicated grief group therapy.The Gerontologist,54(5), pp.840-856. Waller, A., Turon, H., Mansfield, E., Clark, K., Hobden, B. and Sanson-Fisher, R., 2016. Assisting the bereaved: A systematic review of the evidence for grief counselling.Palliative medicine,30(2), pp.132-148.

The Weary Blues free essay sample

The reader can feel the slow and steady beat of the music: â€Å"He did a lazy sway†¦/ He did a lazy sway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (4-5). The flow of the two lines mimics the beat of the music. The reader can hear the pain in the voice of the musician: â€Å"In a deep voice with a melancholy tone† (17). By using the word ‘melancholy’ the reader can understand there is sadness in his bass voice. One can see his hands working the piano in the dim light: â€Å"By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light/†¦/With his ebony hands on each ivory key† (5, 9). Due to the detailed description the reader can see the musician’s dark hand in contrast to the pale keys of the piano. Through the use of imagery Hughes has allowed the reader to empathize with the musician’s pain and relate to his suffering. Hughes uses syntax as a language device in â€Å"The Weary Blues† to show the singer is not just singing about his feeling, but of Harlem as a whole: â€Å"Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, /Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, /I heard a Negro play,† (1-3). We will write a custom essay sample on The Weary Blues or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the opening lines Hughes places the subject and the verb of the sentence at the end. He uses this sentence structure show the relationship between the singer and his audience and the dual effect the music has on the performer and anyone listening. The singer is droning and swaying as he performs, but so is his audience as they listen, thus they become merged in the sentence because it describes their interaction. Hughes suggests that the blues is a shared experience and that it can express the feelings of not only the artist, but of Harlem as a whole. Hughes uses a somber tone in â€Å"The Weary Blues† to communicate his feelings about the situation of Harlem during the middle of the 1900’s. This is best seen within the song lyrics: Got the Weary Blues And cant be satisfied- I aint happy no mo And I wish that I had died. (27-30) The musician is singing about how he thinks he has no hope left and wishes for death. This same hopeless feeling can be translated as Hughes’ feelings as well, because he is the poet. Hughes’ hopeless feelings, expressed in the poem, could indicate his thoughts on oppression and the strict racial social codes in place in Harlem and all over the United States during the mid-1900’s. The somber tone of â€Å"The Weary Blues† primarily comes from the reader’s ability to empathize with the emotions that are expressed in the poem. The blues are a universal feeling and are something everyone has experienced at one point. The musician sing the lines: â€Å"Aint got nobody but ma self. / Is gwine to quit ma frownin/ And put ma troubles on the shelf. (20-22). Here, a reader can identify with his gloomy outlook and understand the need to continue. This ability to empathize makes the reader feel similarly depressed, hopeless and dismal. These feelings allow the reader to comprehend the suffering that is in the poem and in Harlem during the middle of the twentieth century. There are two characters in â€Å"The Weary Blues†, the unnamed narrator and the musician, but one shares a depressed voice within the poem. The voice of the unnamed narrator is neutral as he reminisces about that evening; except for when he cries aloud: I heard a Negro Play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night †¦ O Blues! †¦ Sweet Blues! (3-4,11,14) When the narrator says this, it tells the reader that he has a strong attachment to this memory and may be empathizing with what the musician is singing. The rest of the poem is simply an account of the events that take place that evening. Due to the lack of emotion from the narrator, the reader must look towards the second character, the musician, for emotion that is behind the depressed voice. While the musician’s voice is only seen in the song lyrics, his voice plays the largest role communicating emotions to the reader: â€Å"I aint happy no mo/And I wish that I had died† (29-30). From this lyric the reader understands that the musician is sad and appears to be depressed. At the end of the poem the narrator describes what he believes the musician does: And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the weary blues echoed through his head. (31-34) Due to the fact that the narrator could not actually know what the piano player is thinking, the reader can say that the narrator is actually describing his own actions after hearing the musician sing. Based on the lack of emotion given from the narrator and the blending of the narrator and the musician’s actions at the end of the poem, the speaker, has a common voice with the piano player, both of whom are depressed. Hughes uses imagery and syntax to allow the reader to empathize with the suffering that is seen in the poem through the musician and within the community of Harlem. Through empathy the reader can understand the somber tone and depressed voice of the characters Hughes uses to effectively communicate the suffering that occurs in Harlem during the mid-1900’s.

Analysing Abuse Of Migrant Domestic Worker Social Work Essay Essays

Analysing Abuse Of Migrant Domestic Worker Social Work Essay Essays Analysing Abuse Of Migrant Domestic Worker Social Work Essay Essay Analysing Abuse Of Migrant Domestic Worker Social Work Essay Essay In twelvemonth 2004, the first of all time recorded of the state worst abused and tortured of migratory worker, Nirmala Bonat. The intelligence has brought to illume the sad and painful incidents as a 19th twelvemonth old Indonesian amah told a disking narrative of how she was repeatedly burnt with an Fe and scalded with boiling H2O by her Malayan employer. The Malayan image of a lovingness state has been tarnished when images of abused Indonesian domestic workers were featured in major newspapers. The studies made great impact as it drew series of reaction from disgusted and angry Malaysians who could non believe the fact that members of our really ain community could perpetrate such barbarous Acts of the Apostless. I merely could non bear by looking at the images of Nirmala Bonat being brutalized by her employer. What has she done to merit such terrible penalty from her employer? If so, Nirmala Bonat is unqualified in her day-to-day modus operandis work, she should hold been returned to her agent for replacing. Manhandling a human being or psyche, who is here to gain a better life and life is like perpetrating a merciless offense. Five old ages subsequently in 2009, another similar Nirmala Bonat instance doing the headlines one time once more. An Indonesian amah by the name, Siti Hajar was tortured by an old Malayan lady without any sense of humanity at all towards her. Mistreating migratory domestic worker or assistant is no longer something new in the society. Siti Hajar s predicament made the Malayan and Indonesian media a headlines one time more. News says that she being allegedly scalded with boiling H2O, tortured and starved. The worst still she is merely fed with field rice and on occasion her employer have asked the amah who is a Muslim to digest porc meat is simply inexcusable at all. One after another, Siti Hajar instances has led to an alleged colza, physical maltreatment, denial of wages and basic rights of three Indonesian adult females by their employer in Sungai Siput, Perak. Such Acts of the Apostless are merely inhumane. Up to dated, statistics shows more than hundred of thousand Indonesian adult females are believed to work in Malayan places as trusting to gain a better life. Malaysia as the 2nd largest finish for Indonesian amah after Saudi Arabia besides Kuwait, Jordan, Hong Kong and some other states including amah working in the United States of America. There are few inquiry that I would wish to raise up here ; are the Indonesian amahs working aboard under a good status? Do they have the right for their wages or even acquiring a freedom of human right? Never, I do understand why the Philippines amahs were non abused or even being tortured physically. Is it due to the communicating dislocation between the amah and the employer? By holding a amah or migratory domestic assistant, would it do things much easier or hard for us? Not to bury, most amah from Indonesia which are brought into the state, simply are from a lower class. This is because a much more skilled and choice 1s would be sent to other states which offer a greater moneymaking amount of money, states like Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. This would take to Malaysian employer felt that they are being cheated as they have to be prepared to accept those lower classs migratory domestic worker. While the agents are allowed to capitalise on a moneymaking concern as they frequently wash their custodies off every bit shortly as the workers are delivered to the employers. Such state of affairs left no option for the employer as they would necessitate to develop the lower classs domestic worker in family direction from basic ; How to acquire the wash done? Cleaning up the bathrooms? Geting the rubbish out of the house? Baby-sitting? Helping our married womans in the kitchen or even thought of assisting you and your household with cookery? With all this state of affairss, the employer would stop up with tonss of load and wretchedness. Before I go any farther in discoursing the possible steps that can be taken as to control these issues efficaciously, allow us take a glimpse at the Malayan jurisprudence and policies on migratory workers. The system that is being pattern in Malaysia has put migratory domestic workers at complete disadvantage every bit far as seeking for justness is concerned. This is because the migratory domestic workers are at a bigger disadvantage as they are non even considered workers and as such do non fall under the commissariats of the Employment Act. Laws and policies are enforced with great velocity and efficiency when migratory workers violate these Torahs and the state of affairs is different when the employer does the same offenses. Even tough, migratory workers make ailments against their employers, they will be subjected to assorted signifier of maltreatments including verbal and physical menaces. This once more causes them to populate under terrible emphasis and fright. I have seen and heard many instances where workers are instantly got their contract terminated and being repatriated back to their place state where they are loaded with immense debts and poorness. Therefore, domestic workers particularly would set up with the maltreatments and anguish instead than returning to their states empty handed. The following point that I would wish to include in this essay is the signifiers of maltreatments endured by migratory domestic workers in Malaysia. Press studies simply stated that the rewards to workers are non paid as per the contract even after they have fulfilled all the contract footings. Nevertheless, migratory domestic workers spend a batch of money to come to this state and most of the rewards earned are frequently used to pay up loans and debts, which they have secured and as to feed their households back place. When employers do non pay the rewards, the workers suffer the most. Beside that, migratory domestic workers are frequently forced to populate in cramped, dirty and severely equipped hovels or crowded into houses meant for a little household. Some even sleep on the kitchen floor with merely a piece of thin mattress. To be exact, domestic workers are non given a proper suites of their ain and such lodging installations that are non fit for populating would take to adv ance unhealthy conditions. The state of affairs, which I have pointed out, brought an environment where employers feel they have the immunity power . Hence migratory domestic workers are virtually at the clemency of their employers who are confident that they would be able to acquire away with about anything. Some employers are to the full cognizant that even if the affair is brought to the attending of the governments such as the civil tribunals or industrial tribunal, the immigrant policies in Malaysia would do it about impossible for the migratory worker to successfully seek justness or damages without first either running out of money or clip both which is wholly controlled the policies stipulated by the Immigration Department. It is non until the exclusive ground of Nirmala Bonat s instance received so much attending and speedy damages was given because the badness of her hurts doing the headlines of every local newspaper forepart page. Public call on her instance has prompted the Malayan governments to swing into immediate action. The responds show that Malayan can administrate justness fleetly and efficaciously when it chooses to make so. It is pertinent to observe that many instances go unreported in the media. High profile instances that drew attending has forced Malaysia taking up the steps to look into on amah maltreatments by inspecting on places, interviews of amahs and employers and besides by presenting a helpline. Therefore, as to control the jobs efficaciously, I call on the authorities to allow fleet action to migratory workers in seeking justness and protection. Employers who break the jurisprudence must be made accountable. The authorities should enforce heavier penalty to maid maltreaters. Law and policies that impede or detaining the justness system must be either amended or removed together. The Malayan authorities demand to guarantee that enforcement bureaus such as the Immigration Department, Civil or Industrial Court and the Police Force to implement the jurisprudence without prejudice and bias. Whereby there are instances been brought to my attending that migratory workers have frequently been subjected to extortion by enforcement forces. Enforcement forces have besides been known to take the employers side in haling workers to follow with unjust footings of employment. These allegations of extortion and gross misconduct by enforcement forces must be investigated. Enforcement must be carried out fleetly and impartially against employers who do non obey the jurisprudence. The governments must non wait boulder clay there is a public indignation as to acquire into action. In other words, all relevant governments are to halt all type of torment on migratory domestic workers instantly. I personally think that the authorities should put minimal work and life environment criterions that employers must adhere to. These can be achieved efficaciously as the authorities must sign the International Convention on Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1990 and guarantee its full execution. The cultural differences in Malaysia as for a domestic worker to work 24 hours, seven yearss a hebdomad with no off twenty-four hours while being paid rewards below the national poorness line. I would wish to press all migratory domestic workers who have been abused to courageously step frontward and expose their employers as to set a halt of maltreating them. The agents excessively should be accountable for their sloppiness and irresponsibleness as most Muslims amahs who work in non-Muslim places were required to bath Canis familiariss and handled porc. Such act would absolutely insensitive on the portion of the employers and the agents. The solution would be that non-Muslim employers should be allowed merely to engage non-Muslim amahs while Muslim employers to convey in Muslim amahs. The phrase Learn to populate without amahs struck my head as I was watching Nanny 911, a telecasting series of a Nanny assigned to places as to assist out American twosomes in managing and pull offing their households. I would wish to province that work forces and kids should besides make housekeeping. House jobs are non every bit easy as you think it would be. We Malayan are a lucky batch as we can afford to hold amahs with low-cost rates and yet there are ailments of Indonesian amahs now are inquiring for a small more. Therefore, I would state we should make the day-to-day jobs, place and outside ourselves. I have seen how typical it can be as merely the adult females do everything at place as the work forces and kids merely laze about. Mind you there are tones of work to be done in the house besides caring for the kids. There is the sweeping and swabbing, cleaning the lavatories, rinsing dishes, the wash, the ironing, the cookery, dusting the Windowss and cabinets and the list go es on. This is non just to adult females particularly, we should hold a balance and as for the work forces and kids should impart a assisting custodies in helping with the family jobs. I think it is about clip for us to larn to make something ourselves as this is something that we should chew over over. I would wish to propose that we should non entirely depend on amahs from aboard. We could develop our local adult females particularly the individual female parents or strictly a fulltime homemaker. We could hold them to come over on day-to-day footing or even by the hours as another option in controling the jobs. This will take to a cost effectual and less hazard of domestic assistant or amah being abuse as they are non necessitate to remain with the employer. Career adult females with households to take attention of should alter their mentality as puting the whole duty of the family works entirely to the amah as their retainer. Therefore to ease their concerns particularly those holding kids could direct them to a nursing or a child care centre during the yearss and pick them up after work. The facets of pull offing clip with work and family responsibilities are truly difficult to pull off. I would state, why non we do it ourselves as life has become much more easy with new innovations with the latest engineering of electrical contraptions in making family plants. Childs are really much a fast gait scholar in everything if they were taught on how to make manage family jobs. We should develop our kids to be more subject and independent from a younger age as to acquire rid off the exclusive hope on amahs. Parents can get down by stating them how to maintain their infinite clean and tidy, like make up their beds as they got up from slumber, wash their ain home bases or even acquire the rubbish out of the house. I would love to Live a life without the amah , the married woman should inquire the male partner for aid, cooperation and portions the duty in pull offing the house and their kids. In most develop states particularly the westerner, we could see that the male gender does non experience ashamed when semen to household plants. The hubby and married woman would take bends and portion equal duties in raising and taking attention of the household. It is approximately clip as the long-standing issue on the supply of amahs is eventually approaching a decision between Malaysia and Indonesia with the sign language of the Letter of Intent ( Lol ) on amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) on the Recruitment and Placement of Maids from Indonesia on the 18th May 2010. The Indonesian authorities is expected to raise its prohibition since June last twelvemonth as to let its citizen to work in Malaysia once more. Both authorities functionaries have been keeping meetings to decide issues in relation to the amahs issue. Among the issues agreed to is that amahs in Malaysia will be given one twenty-four hours off hebdomadal and their right to keep on to their passports. However, employer and the amah concern could hold to predate the twenty-four hours off in stead of compensation and an employer could besides keep onto a amah s passport if both parties agreed. The lone issue that is still pending is the pay paid to migrant dom estic workers as it requires more treatments. Finally, I hope the authorities would acknowledge Migrant Domestic Workers as workers and allow them all the rights that come with the position. This hopefully will decide the job. Possibly the employers should besides be required to subscribe an project non to physically mistreat the amah and if they are unhappy, the amahs are to be returned to the bureau for farther preparation or acquiring a new replacing. BIBLIOGRAFI 1. Prof Datuk Dr. Nik Safiah Karim, Head of PERTIWI ( 2009 ) . The Maids: Ease V Burden. Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam ( PERTIWI ) . 2. Prof Madya Dr. Rusinah Siron, Social Analysis. ( 2009 ) . Get the better of your life without Indonesian amah. Universiti Tenaga Malaysia ( UNITEN ) , Kuala Lumpur. 3. Article Maid trade shortly , The Star, 19th May 2010. 4. Article Learn to populate without amahs , The Star, 24th May 2010. 5. Immigration Department of Malaysia. 6. Malayan Employment Act. 7. hypertext transfer protocol: //thestar.com.my/news/story/ Nirmala Bonat instance: Housewife found guilty, 18 old ages gaol.

Discussion ch2 and ch4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion ch2 and ch4 - Essay Example Through this example, Barbara Bush gets her message through and entices good-natured laugh from her audience. She mentions a â€Å"new best friend† who is a supposedly a member of the class, and identifies in many ways with the audience. She speaks of Wellesley ten years ago, establishing a common experience and familiarity; also, she establishes a link to the class of 1990 with her story of the class color – the color purple – and takes off from this to the prospects of the future. Mrs. Bush’s tone is natural and conversational. While she duly acknowledges Mrs. Gorbachev as a guest, she does not put on airs about the important celebrities. Also, the simplicity of her message, to find joy for instance, is punctuated with her warm reference to her husband – a reference to family. She also gave the important points of her message in the form of her three most important choices in life. Her message on family is both natural and emphatic. The story of â€Å"Giants, wizards and dwarfs† drives home the point that everyone in the audience is relevant, though they are diverse and â€Å"do not fit the boxes and the pigeonholes†, in a speech of the graduating class of the previous year. Part 2: Discuss/explain the five methods of organizing content discussed in Chapter 4 AND how you plan to use AT LEAST TWO of these most effectively in your own speech: attention-getter, thesis/preview, transitions, closing statement. 1. Develop the body of your speech first – It is best to begin first by writing the body and leave the introduction for later. In this way, the speech is sure to revolve around the main message and not get carried away by the flowery introduction. 2. Clearly state your central idea – The central idea holds the speech to one focal point and creates a stronger impression on the audience. By concisely stating the central idea, the audience more effectively retains the

Warehousing and Inventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Warehousing and Inventory Management - Essay Example Traditional warehousing and inventory management processes need to be replaced with modern automated electronic systems to remain competitive. The process of warehouse and inventory management involves recording and tracking of materials on a quantity and value basis (Tompkins, J.A. and Smith, J.D., 1998). Warehousing and inventory management includes all the process for planning, entry, and documentation of goods movements. Warehouse Management Processes cover warehouse-internal movements and storage of materials. Planning a new warehouse requires some basic decisions. Before starting planning you need to increase available space to its optimum level by using some basic common sense such as getting rid of any junk equipment or goods that is not required to be stored, using JIT deliveries and shorter runs to reduce inventories and use of racks (Tompkins, J.A. and Smith, J.D., 1998, David E. Mulcahy, 1993). All successful warehouse layouts must accomplish the following objectives, regardless of material being stored: Warehouse space planning should be done keeping in mind the nature of inventory. For example you have to design deep rows if your warehouse is intended to store large quantities of few SKUs and you need to plan shallow rows with many faces if you are going to store small quantities of many SKUs. Planning aisle width depends on your decisions such as the type of trucks you will be using and priority among time and space. Aisle width should be according to width of lift trucks used, it should allow free movements of truck. Planning Rows: Planning rows also depends upon the size of lift trucks used. Space between rows should allow a free movement while saving space. Planning Docks: You should take extra care for planning docks as these are busiest part of warehouse operation. Number and placing of the docks depends upon the estimation of how many lift trailers will be handled and of what sizes. Following figure (source: Askin and Standridge) shows a basic ideal lay out: Systematic Layout Planning It is a manual design methodology developed by Muther (Richard Muther, 2004). Following diagram shows various steps of a systematic layout planning: The basic steps of this method are: Data collection (type of goods, Quantity of each product to be produced, Routing for each product, and the Schedule of delivery) and Flow Analysis to identify in and out of goods. It considers quantity of material flow, as well as overall flow lines that could be better in the implementation of departments. Quantitative analysis: analysis of quantifiable factors such as flow costs. Quantitative analysis is done using relationship diagrams. Relationship Diagram: these diagrams are used to quantify relation between source and various destination of delivery. It combines quantitative and qualitative analysis. Relationship diagrams are used for efficient layout planning (Maida Napolitano, 2003). Relationship diagram is the quantitative matrix containing the level of interaction

Challenges Faced by Companies Entering Foriegn Markets Essay Example for Free

Challenges Faced by Companies Entering Foriegn Markets Essay 1. INTRODUCTION Companies move into foreign markets for various reasons. In certain cases, it is towards achieving a required sales volume. In other instances, it might be a bid to increase brand awareness. Other companies go into foreign markets to re-invigorate sales after their products have gone through their life cycle from inception to decline in home markets. Regardless of reason, moving into a foreign market tends to portend great opportunities for companies, particularly if it entails serving products in an emerging economy that has recently become wealthy enough to afford such products; or selling a new but needed product or service to a developed and wealthy market. However, in foreign markets, challenges are as numerous as opportunities. Some sources of challenges are discussed below. a) Socio-Cultural Differences Companies tend to adopt practices that were successful in home markets without adapting these models to fit the cultural inclinations of markets entered. When large cultural differences exist between the home country and that entered, such practices may result in ineffective business development and partnerships. An example is the now well known Chinese practice of longer meetings in the bid to become acquainted with potential partners, compared to the Anglo-American practice of brief to-the-point meetings. Adopting either approach in a market more inclined to the other, will no doubt hinder business development. Language differences are other examples of socio-cultural differences that posit challenges to companies entering a foreign market. Language differences make effective and efficient communication difficult between companies and local stakeholders. A light example is the Chevrolet Nova which was selling far below expectation in Latin America. Executives of General Motors could not understand why this was so until it was brought to their attention that, in Spanish â€Å"no va† means â€Å"it doesn’t go†. b) Differences in Levels of Bureaucracy – Efficiency of Procedures and Processes Company registration, the opening of a bank account, getting import permits, obtaining required licenses, etc, all reflect the ease of doing business in a country as well as the levels of bureaucracy that exist in that country. For companies used to relatively low levels of bureaucracy, entering a market with significantly higher levels of bureaucracy may result in unrealistic project plans translated into unachieved implementation. c) Differences in Availability of Skilled Human Resources Availability of a particular skill in a company’s home market may result in presumptions about the availability of the same skill in the market entered. 4This occurred in Nigeria in 2001 when the first set of GSM licenses were given to foreign companies MTN and Econet (both from South Africa). At the time, neither entrant foresaw a dearth of local skilled manpower. This ended up costing both companies an unprecedented increase in salaries and other expenses associated with bringing in expatriate workers. The challenge of sourcing skilled labour in foreign markets is further exacerbated when quotas exist on the number expatriates allowed into the country entered despite the dearth of local skill. d) Differences in Infrastructure Prevailing infrastructure affects how companies operate. Prevailing transportation infrastructure affect how companies move goods and personnel for service delivery; market infrastructure affect how players on a given value chain relate with one another; and the level of basic infrastructure such as power and water affect cost allocations and management. For companies entering a foreign market, failure to take into account the infrastructural base of the market entered may result in ineffective and or inefficient operating plans and processes. e) Legislation Favouring Local Companies Unsupportive legislation is another major source of challenges to companies entering foreign markets. Countries tend to enact laws intended to protect or enable local industries. These legislations take many forms. They could be outright levies on foreign businesses; or banning of the activities or management structure of foreign companies; or may be through more indirect means such as required licenses or permits to operate; cumbersome registration processes or permit procedures. 4 David Ogah, â€Å"Expatriates, some semi-skilled, take over even menial jobs from Nigerians†, The Guardian Newspaper Nigeria, December 21 2011, http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=71436:expatriates-some-semi-skilled-take-over-even-menial-jobs-from-nigerians-catid=72:focusItemid=598, accessed August 2012. 3. NIGERIAN E-COMMERCE E-commerce is the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. E-commerce uses the World Wide Web at one point in the transactions life-cycle, although it may include a wider range of technologies such as e-mail, mobile devices and telephones. - The major customers of e-commerce businesses are individuals living in major urban centres in Nigeria, notably Lagos, the commercial capital; Abuja, the political capital; and Port Harcourt, an oil rich city in Southern Nigeria; as these cities tend to house the highest number of internet users in Nigeria. 5Nigeria has over 47 million internet users, with a majority of them living in the urban cities. In the mid 2000s, a couple of e-commerce companies were launched in Nigeria. They barely survived. The reason for their demise, or in other cases, stagnant growth, was the difficulty of getting customers to embrace the e-payment options available in Nigeria at that time. This difficulty was due to known cases of fraud that occurred over the insecurity of Interswitch, the only e-payment platform available in Nigeria at that time. However, with the entrance of major card payment solutions like Master card and Visa card in 2006, coupled with the improved security features of Interswitch, the industry experienced an increase in the number of Nigerians executing online payments.6(online transactions grew by 25% in 2011) Prior to the end of the first quarter of 2012, the Nigerian e-commerce scene had been somewhat lukewarm as the only vibrant players were Dealdey.com and Wakanow.com. At the beginning of the second quarter, the sector experienced an increase in the number of e-commerce company in Nigeria, amongst which were Rocket Internet’s Sabunta.com and Kasuwa.com. The long-term outlook for the e-commerce industry in Nigeria is positive, with analysts predicting a significant increase in new entrants. The implementation of the use of mobile money in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria is expected to accelerate the development of the e-commerce industry in Nigeria, as mobile money allows a greater number of individuals engage in electronic transactions. Currently, the Nigerian e-commerce industry has slightly over 70 companies, though the industry is yet to have an estimated dollar value. Companies in the sector are categorized into: a. Fashion Retailers These are online fashion shops that primarily sell shoes, clothes and other fashion accessories. Major players in this category are Sabunta.com, Kamdora.com, Taafoo.com and 3stitches.com. The clear leader among them is Sabunta, despite the fact that the platform was launched less than 3 months ago while most other players have been in the scene for significantly longer. Sabunta offers a wider range of international brands and possesses a more integrated logistic supply chain. This makes them more capable of serving customers all around Nigeria than competitors. b. Travel and Tourism These are primarily online companies that sell travel and tour packages. The clear market leader is Wakanow.com with a current turnover of thirty-five million naira (N35 million) per month. Other players in this sector belong to private airline operators e.g. www.fly.arikair.com, www.myairnigeria.com, etc c. Electronic Gadgets and Books These are companies that sell electronic gadgets and books online. The major players in this category are Kasuwa.com and Konga.com. It is however difficult to tell who the bigger player is. Both players are less than 3 months old. Apart from electronics, Konga.com also retails baby and female make-up products. d. Broad Product Retailers Players in this category include group-buying deal sites such as Dealdey.com, Buynownow.com and Buyright.biz. The major player with the largest market share is Dealdey.com. It was launched in 2011 and possesses the most robust group-buying deal site in Nigeria. 2. SABUNTA.COM Sabunta.com is a fashion online retailer that offers a wide range of International and Nigerian fashion brands for sale in Nigeria. Sabunta.com is an e-commerce company owned by Jolali Global Resources Limited, a privately held company in Nigeria, set up and owned by the German Company, Rocket Internet. Rocket’s headquarters is the vibrant centre of Berlin, Europes Silicon Valley, home to a network of 25 international Rocket offices that cover the operations of the company’s subsidiaries in developed and emerging markets. Rocket Internet is the largest, fastest and the most successful international online venture builder. It currently has over 50 online ventures in 7 continents where they are all playing in the top segments of the market. The primary focus of Rocket is building proven, transaction-based business models in the online and mobile space. The company has been executing this model since 2007 and have created over 100 market leading companies in over forty (40) countries, dozens of which have been exited successfully. The Rocket Internet Company is best known for cloning successful online business in the US in other countries where they play at the top of the market. In Europe, Rocket’s Zalando is currently the largest online fashion retailer. Other well known companies owned and operated by Rocket include; Wimdu in France, Zidora in Azerbaijan, Dafiti in Brazil, Mizado in Egypt, Locondo in Japan, The Iconic in Australia and Zando in South Africa. Sabunta.com and Kasuwa.com are Rocket’s operations in Nigeria. Both operate from their headquarters in Lagos, Nigerian’s commercial capital, home to over 10% of the country’s $413 billion GDP. Sabunta.com and Kasuwa.com serve customers around using warehouses in major urban cities. However, Kasuwa.com sells electronic gadgets and books, while Sabunta.com sells fashion items. Sabunta.com provides customers with flexible online platforms to shop for fashion items from the convenience of their homes, and delivers these items at the doorsteps of shoppers. The company provides flexible payment options including bank deposits, online payment, and its innovative payment-on-delivery option, actually first introduced in Nigeria by Sabunta.com. Sabunta.com is young. The company started operations on the 8th of June, 2012 and is currently only three (3) months. Yet it has already become the largest and the fastest growing online fashion retailer in Nigeria, with over a 100 orders per day, The company aims to maintain its positions as the largest and fastest growing in Nigeria, as is being achieved in other countries by other Rocket Internet ventures worldwide. Sabunta.com currently has 71 staff, 24% of whom are foreign nationals. The workforce at Sabunta.com consists of graduates from Ivy league universities in the US and Europe, as well as top talent from Nigeria. Its management team consists of two foreign nationals and a Nigerian. 4. SABUNTA.COM TARGET MARKET The target market for Sabunta.com is Nigeria’s upper and emerging middle-class living in major urban cities in Nigeria. The age bracket of the typical Sabunta.com customer is between 18 and 65. This age range constitutes individuals who are capable of buying or making purchasing decisions with regards to fashion items. The company’s targeted customers are however less than 10% of the mentioned age range, as the company targets individuals with an annual income of not less than N2million ($12,500). Sabunta’s target market constitutes of individuals who live and work in major urban cities of Nigeria such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Aba, Warri and Benin. These individuals frequently utilize the internet and various social media platforms to interact with friends, family and colleagues. They are fashion conscious, trendy looking and want to express their personalities with the kind of outfits they wear. They also recognize and wear popular international brands and shop for these brands whenever they or friends and family travel abroad. 5. SABUNTA.COM STRATEGY Having carefully studied the Nigerian e-commerce scene, Sabunta.com concluded that the major problem hindering take-off of e-commerce in Nigeria is the sceptical nature of Nigerians towards online payments. The company responded by introducing the cash-payment-on-delivery option for its customers. Though the company offers regular credit card and online payment options for those who want to do so, the cash-payment-on-delivery option was an ice-breaker: it made sceptical Nigerians participate in online shopping. This enlarged the market of online shoppers, with Sabunta.com being the only company to enjoy the patronage of this new surge in online fashion shoppers. Good performance on the part of Sabunta.com further helped to enforce their dominance. On time delivery, even without having received payment, helped to instil confidence in its target market. To reduce problems associated with deceit and theft, usually by hoodlums posing as customers, Sabunta outsourced its delivery to Red Star Express, a leading Nigerian Franchisee of US global courier brand FEDEX a major courier company that has been in operations in Nigeria since 1992, known for its quality of service, Sabunta.com also introduced various practices that, though standard in mature e-commerce markets, were novel and innovative in the growing Nigerian e-commerce market. These innovations include: a. Free Delivery and Return Policy Prior to Sabunta.com entry, no e-commerce company in Nigeria offered free delivery or allowed customers to return purchased goods. Sabunta.com entered the e-commerce scene offering a nationwide free delivery plan as well as a return policy which allowed customers return goods bought within the first 14 days if they were not satisfied with the condition in which it was delivered. To return goods, customers are allowed to drop the purchased items at any of the 158 Red Star Express offices situated in all the states in Nigeria at their convenience. This reduces the cost which customers incur during the return process. The ability to purchase goods at no extra cost of delivery and to return these goods if dissatisfied at minimal costs make Sabunta.com a provider of high quality at low costs – attributes that appeal to the price sensitive and yet quality sensitive Nigerian market. b. International Product Offering Sabunta.com recognizes that its target market constitutes those familiar with and who wear International fashion brands. Consequently, the company partners with sister fashion companies around the world, owned by the parent, Rocket Internet, to offer a large range of international brands over 150 different brands to the Nigerian market. Sabunta.com enhances the display of international products on its site, both those it has in stock as well as those in the stock of its sister companies around the world. This allows the company serve the diverse international tastes of the Nigerian market, and to respond to trends regardless of its current stock. 6. SUCCESS For a company that has been in existence for less than three months in a foreign market, Sabunta.com has been able to achieve a lot of success and has been able to overcome a significant number of envisaged challenges. Sabunta.com successes include: a. Exceeding Projected Revenue Prior to entering the Nigerian market, the management of Sabunta projected revenue of â‚ ¬15,000 from about 150 orders in the first quarter of business. This projection was exceeded after the company’s first month of operations. The company found itself operating in a large market with a greater potential for online products than it had envisaged or planned for. The result was a restructuring of its operations to meet the demand. b. Obtaining Local Supplies Being an online fashion store, the ability to get local suppliers goes a long way in determining the amount of profit made. Local supply eliminates the various cost associated with getting supplies from outside the country – [The average mark-up for goods sold on Sabunta.com is 50%]. The Sabunta.com team was concerned about getting high quality local supplies for their business as the number and industry size of local fashion suppliers were not obtainable from official records or research archives. However, the company was pleasantly surprised at the large number of local fashion suppliers resident in Nigeria. The result has been high mark-ups on locally produced and sold products. This has lead to profitability in less time than projected.[Sabunta.com currently makes an average gross profit of 40% while their operating and net profits are still in the negative]. c. Finding Adequate Logistic Providers To ensure timely and accurate nationwide delivery, Sabunta.com required services from delivery firms who possess best practices as well as offer cost-effectiveness as a value proposition. The firm understood that a weak or inconsistent logistics arm (for example due to different qualities of delivery by several logistic partners) will result in negative customer perception. This challenge was overcome through a partnership with Red Star Express – a Franchisee of the US international courier and logistics service provider, FEDEX, that has been operating in Nigeria since 1992. Red Star Express knowledge of the country’s transportation infrastructure aids in its optimal logistics service delivery. Moreover, Red Star Express provides support with more than just delivery and return of goods. It also collects cash from customers who chose to pay in cash upon delivery, and remits these funds to Sabunta. This saves the company costs associated with cash management. d. Recruitment of Required Personnel Another envisaged challenge was availability of skilled local labor. Given the poor state of Nigeria’s I.T. infrastructure and sophistication, the company was unsure of the availability of I.T related skill sets to carry out Rocket’s model as practiced in various other markets. The company was however relieved to find competent local talent. Sabunta.com operates with a 100% local I.T team, capable of carrying out functions required by the Rocket model. 7. CHALLENGES Despite Sabunta.com successes, the company faces a myriad of challenges, most of which result from differences between Rocket’s countries of operation and the Nigerian market. Some of these challenges include: a. Challenges Resulting from Socio-Cultural and Socio-Economic Differences Unlike successes gained in recruiting and maintaining local personnel, Sabunta.com has not been able to maintain its international staff. Over seventy percent (70%) of Sabunta’s international staff who started out with the company left within two (2) months. The reason? Inability to acclimatize to the Nigerian environment with particular regards to the type of readily available food as well as the lack of or the high costs of, basic amenities such as food, water, regular electricity supply, health services, cooking gas, transportation, internet connectivity, etc. Other reasons for the departure of international staff included health concerns. As at August 2012, over 90 percent of international staff who resumed operations with the company (in June 2012) were diagnosed with malaria, a tropical disease most had never experienced. Unanticipated costs and time associated with replacing and training international staff continues to plague Sabunta.com. b. Challenges Resulting from Unavailability of Infrastructure. Being an e-commerce company, Sabunta.com core operations involve the use of the internet. Consequently, the company requires reliable and (preferably) cheap internet connectivity and power. Yet, neither internet connectivity nor power supply exists cheaply or reliably in Nigeria. Nigeria generates and distributes less than 4,000Megawatts barely enough to serve the nation’s power needs and resulting in frequent power outages. Sabunta.com spends over N640,000 (â‚ ¬3,200) per month on diesel to fuel their stand-by generators, and is constantly plagued with this high cost of power. The company also has high internet connectivity expenses N450,000 (â‚ ¬2,250) per month for a bandwidth size of 4/4Mbps. Even with such huge sums spent on internet connection, Sabunta.com continues to experience less than optimal services from Nigerian internet service providers. c. Challenges Resulting from Legislation A key component of Sabunta’s strategy is offering a wide range of international brands in Nigeria, using stock held by sister companies around the world. Research and studies of Nigerian importation laws suggested that importation of fashion stock into Nigeria would be relatively easy. This left the company vulnerable to the shock it received when the first set of drop-shipment was seized at the airport by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). The NCS claimed that the goods contained items that were contraband in Nigeria. Sabunta responded by removing such items from their offerings fragrance and perfumes.. Notwithstanding its response, Sabunta continues to face ever present threats associated with bans on importation of fashion related items including textile, leather, clothing, and shoes. Nigerian history reveals frequent policy changes and inconsistencies with regard importation of goods into the country, long identified as a major cause of failure of businesses in Nigeria. Another challenge faced by Sabunta from the Nigerian legislation is the restriction placed by the CBN on the sale of Foreign Exchange to companies and individual except for special purposes like the importation and exportation of goods and services and also the payment of services abroad. This meant that Sabunta had to buy foreign exchange at a higher price in the black market to settle all its international staff’s salary and other payments which were denominated in US dollars.(Official rate is 1$=159Naira as against the black market rate of 1$=163Naira). d. Challenges Resulting from Corrupt Practices. Despite the absence of contraband, Sabunta’s management continue to experience delays in the release of their consignment by Nigerian Customs officials. Further inquiry revealed that the logistic company they employed (FEDEX) to handle importation of their goods did not have a good relationship with the Customs officials due to the company’s implemented policy of not offering bribes as is the order of the day. Sabunta’s management continue to experience and consequently to remain alert to the constant threat of fraudulent and corrupt practices that plaque business in Nigeria. The company continues to face the challenge of local business partners who try to cut corners and deliver less. Prior to partnering with FEDEX, a Nigerian courier company was chosen and partnered with for local delivery. Similar to FEDEX’s collection and remission of cash, the courier company collected payment from customers on delivery. However, the company frequently fell short of its obligations in terms of timing and amount of cash remitted. The courier company also failed to report accurate figures collected from customers, and till date, owe Sabunta over 40% of payments collected. Sabunta was quick to recognize this problem and swiftly partnered with FEDEX for its logistics services. Nevertheless, other sources of corrupt practices persist especially from small independent service providers. This is particularly so with artisan related services such as plumbing, equipment repairs and office maintenance, and are frequent sources of lost funds or delayed services to Sabunta. 8. SABUNTA’S FUTURE: THE MERGER Plans are currently being made for a merger with Kasuwa, Rocket Internet’s other company in Nigeria, also launched in June 2012, to form Jumia. The merger is expected to result in the biggest e-commerce retailer in Nigeria a one-stop shop for all products related to fashion and electronic items. The new website, Jumia.com, will offer a wider variety of international brands, using strategies currently employed by Sabunta. Jumia is intended to provide benefits associated with scale such as discounts and bargaining power (in relation to suppliers), while addressing current challenges faced by both companies. They include: a. Staffing: The merger is expected to reduce the number of required staff. This will result in the reduction of salary expenses and will result in the need for fewer international staff. In other words, international staff who have acclimatized to Nigeria from both companies may continue to provide required services to Jumia without the need to recruit and retain new staff. b. Office Space: The merger is expected to result in shared office space at a cost smaller than the combined cost of Sabunta and Kasuwa’s current office cost. c. Fueling and Power: Similar to the effect on office space, the merger is expected to result in fueling and power costs that will be smaller than the combined current cost of both companies current fueling and power needs. d. Internet Connectivity: More than just reduction in costs, the merger is expected to result in Jumia’s ability to purchase larger bandwith sizes directly from internet providers in South Africa, Europe, and North America. This will address the unreliability of internet connectivity currently faced by Sabunta and Kasuwa. e. Repair and Maintenance: It is expected that the larger Jumia will be able to partner with large and reliable providers of office and equipment repairs thus eliminating small service providers who have corrupt or unreliable practices. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS 11Doing a proper market research and analysis When entering a foreign market, it is recommended that a firm carry out proper market research and analysis on that market prior to entry. Top on the list is an environmental analysis that needs to be taken also. There are uncontrollable forces which are external forces upon which the management has no direct control, and it can exert an influence. There are also Internal forces which are controllable forces upon which the management to adapt to. 12Form Strategic Alliances When entering a foreign market, it is recommended that a firm forge strategic alliance to enable them get the following * Great synergy with the partnering local company. * Opportunity to access assets that are not readily available in the market. * Access to larger market and technology for small companies. 11 Jusuf Zekiri and Biljana Angelova, Factors that Influence Entry Mode Choice in Foreign Markets, European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 22, Number 4 (2011), http://www.eurojournals.com/EJSS_22_4_12.pdf, accesses August 2012. 12 Mihaela Belu, Strategies of Entering New Markets, The Romanian Economic Journal, http://www.rejournal.eu/Portals/0/Arhiva/JE%2027/JE%2027%20-%20Belu%20Caragin.pdf, accessed August 2012. Appendix 1 Mobile Money In NigeriaMobile money as the name implies is the transfer of monetary value from one person’s mobile phone to another. It has been made waves and affected commerce greatly in certain parts of eastern Africa where it was launched in 2009. In Nigeria, the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria), granted license to 11 mobile money operators in 2011. The CBN rolled out the Mobile money campaign in Lagos State, Nigeria commercial nerve center in January 2012, and planned launching it around the federation by 2013.The CBN also put in place some incentives for using the Mobile money services, by placing charges for Bank cash transactions above 500,000 for individuals and 1million naira for companies.| Appendix 2 Economics of Lagos StateLagos State is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. Located in the western part of Nigeria, it is home to over 18million people and has over 2,000 industries. 65% of the countrys commercial activities are carried out in the state. Two of the nations largest seaports -Apapa and Tin-Can Ports are located in Lagos State.| Appendix 3 Income Distribution of the Nigeria Population in 2010 Nigeria Population in 2010-156,051,000 (Source: International Monetary Fund 2011 World Economic Outlook) This report shows the distribution for seven groups within the Nigerian Population in 2010. Percentage of population in income bracket of 0-500 PPP Dollars –55.68% Percentage of population in income bracket of 500-1000 PPP Dollars-28.22% Percentage of population in income bracket of 1000-2500 PPP Dollars- 14.61% Percentage of population in income bracket of 2500-5000 PPP Dollars- 1.17% Percentage of population in income bracket of 5000-10000 PPP Dollars- 0.17% Percentage of population in income bracket of 10000-20000 PPP Dollars- 0.05% Percentage of population in income bracket of 20000+ PPP Dollars- 0.1% Source-Marketline analysis based on information from National Statistical Organization