The Economists View of Environmental Pollution

Why do people use resources like the environment? This is because, pollution is a byproduct of activities that add to their welfare. These activities bring economic gain to producers and utility gain to consumers. We do not pollute the planet just for fun; we do it as part of activities that improve our welfare. The economists view of  environmental pollution  is that pollution creates another trade-off of cost and benefit that must be weighed on a case by case basis. Many of our streams and lakes have historically served as depositories of chemical waste generated by industrial plants and mines. Some are cleaner now, but many still suffer damage form earlier discharges of chemicals, like PCBs whose “half-lives” are measured in hundreds of years. Many pesticides, fertilizers, and detergents used by farms and homes find their way into our lakes and waterways, where they have damaged commercial and recreational fishing. Continue reading

Importance of Marketing Research in Marketing Process

Marketing consists of the strategies and tactics used to identify, create and maintain satisfying relationships with customers that result in value for both the customer and the marketer. Marketing is a  social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. The marketing management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customers’ requirements profitably. Market research is about understanding the broader marketplace in which we intend to compete. Marketing research, on the other hand, is about understanding what ‘package’ of marketing elements (i.e. the product, price, promotion and distribution factors) the country will need to put together in order to meet customer needs and to succeed in the marketplace. Market research is the more encompassing/broader concept of understanding the market environment in which you will be competing, while marketing research is the more specific/focused view of Continue reading

Why Does a Company Go Global?

There are a number of objectives of international business but the primary and the basic of them being; 1. Learning and Product Development: Today every organization is a learning organization. Also it has to continuously be in touch with the competition in the market. Hence it has to do the up gradation of the existing products eventually whenever required. When one enters international markets, one comes across other competitors from other countries. One is therefore exposed to competition from other countries. Domestic goods have to match international standards to remain in competition, not only with respect to product, cost and quality but services as well. Therefore, one gets an opportunity to learn and develop or improvise new products. 2. Brand building for other products In international markets, if the company is competent enough to beat the rivals in the field, it not only creates a goodwill and image of the Continue reading

Steps in Demand Forecasting

Demand or sales forecasting is a scientific exercise. It has to go through a number of steps. At each step, you have to make critical considerations. Such considerations are categorically listed below: 1) Nature of forecast: To begin with, you should be clear about the uses of forecast data- how it is related to forward planning and corporate planning by the firm. Depending upon its use, you have to choose the type of forecasts: short-run or long-run, active or passive, conditional or non-conditional etc. 2) Nature of product: The next important consideration is the nature of product for which you are attempting a demand forecast. You have to examine carefully whether the product is consumer goods or producer goods, perishable or durable, final or intermediate demand, new demand or replacement demand type etc. A couple of examples may illustrate the importance of this factor. The demand for intermediate goods like Continue reading

Conflict in Organizations

Conflict occurs at various levels within the individuals, between the individuals in a group and between the groups in an organisation. An issue between two or more parties who have (or think they have) incompatible goals or ideas. Conflicts may involve deep-rooted moral or value differences, high stakes distributional questions, or can be about who dominates whom. Conflict is a perpetual given of life, although varying views of it may be held. Some may view conflict as being a negative situation which must be avoided at any cost. Others may see conflict as being a phenomenon which necessitates management. Still others may consider conflict as being an exciting opportunity for personal growth and so try to use it to his or her best advantage. Definitions of  Organizational Conflict “Working together is not always easy”, it is because of conflict. Conflict is a part of everyday life of an individual and Continue reading

Demand and Supply of Capital for Investments

Demand for Capital The demand schedule for capital refers to the arrangement of the various proposed projects in a descending order according to their estimated rates of return together with required amounts of capital needed by the respective projects. Before analyzing the investments, the management must understand the nature of opportunities. Some investments are complimentary i.e. making one investment implies that another investment will be necessary. Some investments are mutually exclusive i.e. acceptance of one, implies rejection of others and some investments are independent. It is therefore necessary to identify the various opportunities of investments. Alternative investments can be ranked according to their relative profitability. It is also important to distinguish between cost reducing investment and revenue increasing investment. According to W.W. Haynes “any investment decision is profitable if it adds more to revenue than to cost or if it reduces cost more than the revenue.” An important element in Continue reading