Capital Structure Change

What should a firm do when it finds that its desired capital structure differs significantly from its current capital structure? There are two basic choices: change its capital structure slowly or change it more quickly. A firm can alter its capital structure slowly by adjusting its future financing mix appropriately. For example, suppose a firm’s target capital structure consists of 35% long-term debt and 65% common equity, and its current capital structure consists 25% long-term debt and 75% common equity. The firm could cure the under leveraged condition by using long-term debt for all new external financing until the long-term debt ratio reached 35%. However, this means that the firm’s capital structure would continue to be “suboptimal” while the firm changed it over time. Alternatively, the firm can change its capital structure quickly through an exchange offer, recapitalization offer, debt or share repurchase, or stock-for-debt swap. Of course, such a Continue reading

The Concept of Business Growth

Meaning of  Business Growth Business growth is a natural process of adaptation and development that occurs under favorable conditions. The growth of a business firm is similar to that of a human being who passes through the stages of infancy, childhood, adulthood and maturity. Many business firms started small and have become big through continuous growth. However, business growth is not a  homogeneous process. The rate and pattern of growth varies from firm to firm. Some firms grow at a fast rate while others grow slowly. Also, not all enterprises survive to grow big. This may be due either to the nature of the firm or the entrepreneur. Some entrepreneurs do not want to grow their ventures, choosing instead to pursue other interest, spend more time with family or develop other business activities. Generally, the term ‘business growth’ is used to refer to various things such as increase in the Continue reading

Relationship between Strategic Management and Human Resource Management

Every organisation is trying to become more efficient and more productive. The key to an organisations success is to become more global and advance from a technological prospective. In order to become more efficient and to make its goals achievable, an organization should focus the most important assets of all other resources, which is the human capital or the intellectual assets. After all, none other than a person or an employee executes every achievement or any activity in an organization. Thus keeping this particular asset in good terms and managing it up to a standard is quite a challenge in terms of time and similarly finance. However, having a well organized and a well-managed human resource brings more significance to an organizations well being. This article will investigate how Strategic Management (SM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) are related, and then evaluated the role they play in providing organisations with Continue reading

Income Statement or Profit and Loss Account – Meaning, Format and Explanation

The earning capacity and potential of the firm are reflected by the Income Statement or the Profit and Loss Account.   The profit and loss account is the “scoreboard” of the firm’s performance during a particular period of time (usually one year). Since it reflects the results of operations for a period of time, it is a flow statement.   In contrast, the balance sheet is a stock, or status statement as it shows assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a point of time. The profit and loss account presents the summary of revenues, expenses and net income (or net loss) of a firm for a period of time. Net income is the amount by which the revenues earned during a period exceed the expenses incurred during that period.   If the firm’s operations prove to be unprofitable, total expenses will exceed total revenues and the difference is referred to Continue reading

Core Banking Solutions or Centralised Banking Solutions (CBS)

Core Banking Solutions (CBS) or Centralized Banking Solutions is the process which is completed in a centralized environment i.e. under which the information relating to the customer’s account (i.e. financial dealings, profession, income, family members etc.) is stored in the Central Server of the bank (that is available to all the networked branches) instead of the branch server. Depending upon the size and needs of a bank, it could be for the all the operations or for limited operations. This task is carried through advanced software by making use of the services provided by specialized agencies. Due to its benefits, a no. of banks in India in recent years have taken steps to implement the Core Banking Solutions with a view to build relationship with the customer based on the information captured and offering to the customer, the customized financial products according to their need. Advantages for Customer: Transaction of Continue reading

Inputs in Training and Development Programmes

Training and development refers to the imparting of specific skills, abilities and knowledge to an employee. A formal definition of training & development is… it is any attempt to improve current or future employee performance by increasing an employee’s ability to perform through learning, usually by changing the employee’s attitude or increasing his or her skills and knowledge. The fundamental aim of training is to help the organization achieve its purpose by adding value to its key resource — the people it employs. Training means investing in the people to enable them to perform better and to empower them to make the best use of their natural abilities. The particular objectives of training are to: Develop the competences of employees and improve their performance; Help people to grow within the organization in order that, as far as possible, its future needs for human resource can be met from within; Reduce Continue reading