Basic Principles of Experimental Design

Experimental research designs, which can otherwise be called hypothesis-testing research designs, were originally made by R.A. Fisher in agricultural research in England. Experimental designs are generally used in experimental studies where hypothesis are tested. Experimental designs are now used in almost all the areas of scientific studies. Professor Fisher has enumerated three principles of experimental designs: 1. The principle of replication: The experiment should be reaped more than once. Thus, each treatment is applied in many experimental units instead of one. By doing so, the statistical accuracy of the experiments is increased. For example, suppose we are to examine the effect of two varieties of rice. For this purpose we may divide the field into two parts and grow one variety in one part and the other variety in the other part. We can compare the yield of the two parts and draw conclusion on that basis. But if we Continue reading

The Concept of Occupational Safety and Health

Definition of Occupational Health Since 1950, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have shared a common definition of occupational health. It was adopted by the joint ILO/WHO committee on occupational health at its first session in 1950 and revised at its twelfth session in 1995. The definition reads: “occupational health should aim at: the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities; and, to summarize, the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job.” The Changing Approach to Occupational Health and Safety The traditional approach Continue reading

Organizational Downsizing – Definition and Reasons

Organizational downsizing is the conscious use of permanent personnel reductions in an attempt to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness. Downsizing is being regarded by management as one of the preferred routes to turning around declining organizations, cutting cost and improving organizational performance most often as a cost-cutting measure. Main Reasons for Organizational Downsizing Corporate downsizing has been the biggest fallout of the troubled times, the world is witnessing. As we continue our efforts to fight the global downturn, downsizing has become a stark reality. There are a number of reasons why a company downsizes its employee base. Merging of two or more firms: When a certain firm combines its operations with another firm and operates as a single entity, in order to stay in profit or expand the market reach, it is called a merger. In case of a merger, certain positions become redundant. The same work is done by two Continue reading

Cash Flow Computations in Project Management

Financial appraisal or evaluation is a must for every  project even though the outcome may not be the decision criteria for  establishing the project.  Financial appraisal of a project deals with cash flows. Cash, which goes  out of the firm, is known as cash outflow. Typically an investment in a  project is an out flow. The cash that is received in future from the project  is an inflow. We should remember that cash is different from income.  Cash flow and not income flow is central to project evaluation. The  results of an evaluation of a project are only as good as the accuracy of  our estimation of cash flows. The following illustrates computation of  cash outflow. Cash outflow on installation of a machine includes; Cost of new equipment Labor  and erection costs Maintenance cost While computing such outflows we should not include interest costs on debt employed.  If the cost Continue reading

Market Timing for Investors

persoMarket Timing is a top down view of the stock market and its prospects.  Market Timing is an approach that attempts to determine when to be in the market, when to be out of the market and when to short (bet on a price decline by borrowing stock and selling with the hope to buy it back at a cheaper price and repay at cheaper prices). Market timing includes the following four components. Trends of interest rates: The future behavior of interest rates, i.e., the tightening or easing bias of the Central Bank. Interest rates are critical to market values for three reasons. Stocks are basically the present value of future earnings. An investor invests his money in an expectation of certain rate of return. The higher the general level of risk-free rates, the greater the expected rate of return and the lower the present value of future returns. Additionally, Continue reading

Forms of Business Organisations

A business organization can be formed with certain properties and specific characteristics. Since business organization is an association of persons, the manner of forming and the objectives of the association decide the form of organization. Individuals form an organization because they are unable to achieve their goals individually. An organization provides opportunities to exploit the existing potential of men and materials. It explores the future possibilities of exploiting human and physical resources.   Individuals interested in getting benefits out of the present and potential resources form an association, better known as an organization, to attain the group goals. The dynamics of individuals and the organization are used to gain maximum benefits. They work in a particular manner to obtain the objectives. They can form formal or informal organizations. Formal Organizations A formal organization develops in a well-defined system and has specific properties. It bears definite measures of authority, responsibility, obligation Continue reading