Case Study on Corporate Governance Failures: The Collapse of HIH Insurance

In the past few years, the collapse in large public listed companies has raised stakeholders concern about corporate governance, which is a leading issue area for business worldwide. While numerous definitions of the term corporate governance have been suggested, it is generally defined as the framework of processes and structures to control and manage a corporation with the objective of enhancing company and shareholder wealth, whereas at the same time, protecting the interests of other stakeholders. The failure of many corporations resulting from a corporate governance problem caused counterproductive outcomes to shareholders and also the wider community. One of the most well-known business debacles, particularly in Australia, is the collapse of HIH Insurance Limited (HIH). As a result of over-optimistic valuations of assets and extensive understatement of liabilities, many of HIH’s policyholders and its creditors encountered a substantial loss. Bailouts can cost Australian taxpayer over a billion-Australian dollar but it Continue reading

Underpricing of Initial Public Offering (IPO) – Meaning and Reasons

Initial Public Offering (IPO) Phases In an Initial Public Offering (IPO), the issuer obtains the assistance of an underwriting firm, which helps it determine what type of security to issue (common or preferred), the best offering price and the time to bring it to market. Any IPO process goes through the following stages of transformation: The pre-IPO transformation phase can be considered to be a restructuring phase where a company starts the groundwork toward becoming a publicly-traded company. Furthermore, companies should re-examine their organizational processes and policies and make necessary changes to enhance the company’s corporate governance and transparency. Most importantly, the company needs to develop an effective growth and business strategy that can persuade potential investors the company is profitable and can become even more profitable. The IPO transaction phase usually takes place right before the shares are sold and involves achieving goals that would enhance the optimal initial Continue reading

How to Choose the Best Payment Gateway in 2024

In today’s digital economy, selecting the right payment gateway is crucial for businesses aiming to streamline their payment processes. A payment gateway is a technology that facilitates online transactions by securely transferring payment information between customers and merchants. It ensures that payments are processed quickly and securely, which is vital for maintaining customer trust and satisfaction. How Payment Gateways Work The Payment Process Unveiled Understanding how a payment gateway functions is essential for choosing the best one for your business. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how payment gateways work: Transaction Initiation: The process starts when a customer selects a product or service and enters payment details on the merchant’s website. Data Encryption: The payment gateway encrypts the customer’s payment information to ensure it is transmitted securely over the internet. Authorization Request: The encrypted data is sent to the payment processor or acquiring bank, which forwards it to the customer’s bank Continue reading

Building a Sustainable Supply Chain Through Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

Sustainability is an important aspect of business in modern society where environmental pollution, economics, efficiency, effectiveness, and conservation of energy are issues of concern. As a distribution network that organizations rely on distributing their diverse products, the supply chain has a significant impact on the environment. In this view, the supply chain should be sustainable for it to serve varied organizations optimally and experience growth in the competitive markets. Sustainability is beneficial to the supply chain because it reduces costs, decreases wastage, improves efficiency, saves energy, and enhances competitive advantage. Governments and customers also increase pressure on the supply chain to adopt strategies that are sustainable to protect not only the environment but also encourage prudent use of available resources. Recycle, reuse, reduce, and recover are the four principles, which promote sustainability of operations in the supply chain. In essence, the sustainability of the supply chain is central to improving Continue reading

4 Important Perspectives on Strategy

There are four perspectives or views on strategy, the classical approach to strategy, evolutionary perspective on strategy, processual approach to strategy and systematic perspective on strategy. Their features are described below. 1. Classical Perspective on Strategy In the classical approach to strategy perspective, profit is seen as the ultimate objective of the firm and profit targets can only be attainable through rational planning by the firm’s management. This perspective was designed by a businessman and historian Alfred Chandler, a theorist Igor Ansoff and a businessman Alfred Sloan. The perspective is based on three assumptions and they include; rational analysis, distinguishing conception from execution and the commitment of firms to maximize their profits. The major question is to position a business in markets where profits are likely to be maximized. The aim of the perspective is to ensure that there are returns on capital, and in this case, a focus on the Continue reading

5 Benefits of Payday Loans

Payday loans are a form of short-term borrowing issued based on your earnings. A payday loan provider usually requires you to provide proof of income at the time of application. Upon meeting their minimum requirements, payday lenders will give you a part of the amount you expect to be paid. Since the loans are short-term, you must repay within a short period, usually 30 or less days. Although payday loans are considered predatory, they come in handy when experiencing a financial crunch. Discussed below are five benefits of payday loans. 1. Fast access to cash Payday loans, including instant payday loans from My Canada Payday, come in handy, particularly when in a situation that needs money quickly. The loans are available online, which eliminates the need to visit the lender in person, saving time. Also, payday loans don’t involve a lot of paperwork- you only have to meet the lender’s Continue reading