Battle of Coronel in World War I

Battle of Coronel in World War I Battle of Coronel - Conflict: The Battle of Coronel was fought off central Chile in the early months of World War I (1914-1918). Battle of Coronel - Date: Graf Maximilian von Spee won his victory on November 1, 1914. Fleets Commanders: Royal Navy Rear Admiral Sir Christopher CradockArmored Cruisers HMS Good Hope HMS Monmouth Light Cruiser HMS Glasgow Converted Liner HMS Otranto Kaiserliche Marine Admiral Graf Maximilian von SpeeArmored Cruisers SMS Scharnhorst SMS Gneisenau Light Cruisers SMS Nurnberg, SMS Leipzig, SMS Dresden Battle of Coronel - Background: Based at Tsingtao, China, the German East Asiatic Squadron was the only German naval squadron overseas at the outbreak of World War I. Composed of the armored cruisers SMS Scharnhorst and SMS Gneisenau, as well as two light cruisers, the fleet was commanded by Admiral Maximilian von Spee. An elite unit of modern ships, von Spee had personally selected the officers and crews. With the wars start in August 1914, von Spee began making plans to abandon his base at Tsingtao before he was trapped by British, Australian, and Japanese forces. Charting a course across the Pacific, the squadron commenced a campaign of commerce raiding and frequented British and French islands seeking targets. While at Pagan, Captain Karl von Muller asked if he could take his ship, the light cruiser Emden on a solo cruise through the Indian Ocean. This request was granted and von Spee continued on with three ships. After sailing to Easter Island, his squadron was reinforced in mid-October 1914, by the light cruisers Leipzig and Dresden. With this force, von Spee intended to prey upon British and French shipping on the west coast of South America. Battle of Coronel - British Response: Alerted to von Spees presence, the British Royal Navy began making plans to intercept and destroy his squadron. The closest force in the area was Rear Admiral Christopher Cradocks West Indies Squadron, consisting of the older armored cruisers HMS Good Hope (flagship) and HMS Monmouth, as well as the modern light cruiser HMS Glasgow and the converted liner HMS Otranto. Aware that Cradocks force was badly outgunned, the Admiralty dispatched the elderly battleship HMS Canopus and the armored cruiser HMS Defence. From his base in the Falklands, Cradock sent Glasgow ahead into the Pacific to scout for von Spee. By late October, Cradock decided that he could not wait any longer for Canopus and Defence to arrive and sailed for the Pacific unreinforced. Rendezvousing with Glasgow off Coronel, Chile, Cradock prepared to search for von Spee. On October 28, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill issued orders to Cradock to avoid a confrontation as reinforcements might be available from the Japanese. It is not clear whether Cradock received this message. Three days later, the British commander learned via a radio intercept that one of von Spees light cruisers, SMS Leipzig was in the area. Battle of Coronel - Cradock Crushed: Moving to cut off the German ship, Cradock steamed north and ordered his squadron into battle formation. At 4:30 PM, Leipzig was sighted, however it was accompanied by von Spees entire squadron. Rather than turn and run south towards Canopus, which was 300 miles away, Cradock opted to stay and fight, though he did direct Otranto to flee. Maneuvering his faster, larger ships out of range of the British, von Spee opened fire around 7:00 PM, when Cradocks force was clearly silhouetted by the setting sun. Hitting the British with accurate fire, Scharnhorst crippled Good Hope with its third salvo. Fifty-seven minutes later, Good Hope sank with all hands, including Cradock. Monmouth was hit badly as well, with its green crew of recruits and reservists fighting valiantly though ineffectively. With his ship burning and disabled, Monmouths captain ordered Glasgow to flee and warn Canopus, rather than attempt to tow his ship to safety. Monmouth was finished off by the light cruiser SMS Nurnberg and sank at 9:18 PM with no survivors. Though pursued by Leipzig and Dresden, both Glasgow and Otranto were able to make good their escape. Battle of Coronel - Aftermath: The defeat off Coronel was the first suffered by a British fleet at sea in a century and unleashed a wave of outrage across Britain. In order to deal with the threat posed by von Spee, the Admiralty assembled a large task force centered on the battlecruisers HMS Invincible and HMS Inflexible. Commanded by Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee, this force sunk all but the light cruiser Dresden at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on December 8, 1914. Admiral von Spee was killed when his flagship, Scharnhorst sank. Casualties at Coronel were one-sided. Cradock lost 1,654 killed and both of his armored cruisers. The Germans escaped with only three wounded. Selected Sources Massie, Robert K., Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. New York: Random House, 2003.Battle of CoronelBattles, 1914: Battle of Coronel

Free Essays on Hamlet 2 Minor Characters

Two Minor characters that greatly affect Hamlet in this play are Laertes and ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’. Hamlet acts different when he is around them and develops into the ruthless person he has to be if he wishes to kill Claudius and take the crown that is rightfully his. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern begin the process of making him more ruthless by causing him to begin lying to people and start to deceive people into thinking he is crazy. When he fights Laertes he is at last ready to take charge of the situation. First Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they help start Hamlet on the path to revenge for his fathers death. They are some of the first people he really gets mad at and actually goes off on. He says to them, â€Å"Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out of the heart of mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass†¦ (Act3 Scene2 Lines 393-397)† In this scene he lets them know he was on to them the whole time and that he was using them to play with his uncle/stepfather and not the other way around. In this scene he is finally confronting someone instead of just planning and scheming. This is a necessary step in order for him to be able to kill Claudius. Second, Laertes, at the point when he and Hamlet fight, Hamlet has finally gathered up the courage to act on what he feels. He has stopped hiding in the background and is even willing to fight Laertes in a wager. Here the play will come to an end. Hamlet fights well, and after he has scored a couple of points against Laertes, they begin to fight for real after Hamlet is cut on the shoulder by Laertes’ sword. He then proceeds to kill Claudius. At this point Laertes has brought out the fighter in Hamlet. Before now he had not stood up to anyone in a physical manner aside from the death of Polonius which was an accident to begin with. By the end of the... Free Essays on Hamlet 2 Minor Characters Free Essays on Hamlet 2 Minor Characters Two Minor characters that greatly affect Hamlet in this play are Laertes and ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’. Hamlet acts different when he is around them and develops into the ruthless person he has to be if he wishes to kill Claudius and take the crown that is rightfully his. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern begin the process of making him more ruthless by causing him to begin lying to people and start to deceive people into thinking he is crazy. When he fights Laertes he is at last ready to take charge of the situation. First Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they help start Hamlet on the path to revenge for his fathers death. They are some of the first people he really gets mad at and actually goes off on. He says to them, â€Å"Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out of the heart of mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass†¦ (Act3 Scene2 Lines 393-397)† In this scene he lets them know he was on to them the whole time and that he was using them to play with his uncle/stepfather and not the other way around. In this scene he is finally confronting someone instead of just planning and scheming. This is a necessary step in order for him to be able to kill Claudius. Second, Laertes, at the point when he and Hamlet fight, Hamlet has finally gathered up the courage to act on what he feels. He has stopped hiding in the background and is even willing to fight Laertes in a wager. Here the play will come to an end. Hamlet fights well, and after he has scored a couple of points against Laertes, they begin to fight for real after Hamlet is cut on the shoulder by Laertes’ sword. He then proceeds to kill Claudius. At this point Laertes has brought out the fighter in Hamlet. Before now he had not stood up to anyone in a physical manner aside from the death of Polonius which was an accident to begin with. By the end of the...

Strategic management (structural industry analysis) Essay

Strategic management (structural industry analysis) - Essay Example 1). Using a model such as Porter's Five Forces goes well beyond simply searching for trends within an industry in that it can help one to develop marketing strategies that are quite effective. "In the Five Forces Model, Porter explains that in any industry there are five forces that influence what happens within the industry: 1. Existing companies, 2. potential new companies, 3. substitutes for products offered, 4. the suppliers, and 5. the customers" (Website Marketing Plan, 2007, p. 1). The overall business environment is constructed from the combination of these five forces. Improvement's to a company's marketing strategies can be made when management studies these five forces and how they relate to each other within their particular industry or even a specific niche within their industry (Website Marketing Plan 2007). One example of a company who may utilize this model includes EBay, which lies within the online auction industry. Their competitive force would include competitors such as UBid and WeBidz, as they offer the same services as EBay. There are a wide variety of potential new entrants, but they hold a great deal of market share due to their vast popularity, so it would take quite a sharp company to overtake EBay in this particular market. EBay's customers would include those who visit the website, whether they partake in auctioning and, therefore, pay fees or merely contribute to the income of EBay through visiting its sponsors' advertisement banners. The supplier's in this market are unique in that they are actually other consumers, as it is a consumer-to-consumer environment. Substitutes for EBay could include things such as variety and thrift stores, yard sales, discount stores, and classified ads. Another popular company that can analyze its marketing strategies using Porter's Five Forces Model would be Wal-Mart, whose main competitors include companies such as Target and Kmart. Their competitors can exist either on ground or online, such as Target.com. Potential new entrants to the market include up-and-coming discount stores of other varieties that carry a wide range of products at low prices. Customers include those who visit Wal-Mart's physical stores, as well as those who visit their website. Wal-Mart has a wide array of suppliers. Whereas they used to proudly sell products that were made in America, marketplace pressures pushed them to find cheaper suppliers, such as companies located in China. Due to recent conflict with imports from China, this could be a large problem for them in the future if they do not adjust that particular strategy to suit the desires of their customers. People can visit a variety of other stores to obtain the same types of products that they cou ld obtain from Wal-Mart, such as mom and pop stores, but the downside would be that they may have to visit several of these types of stores to get what they could get in one trip to Wal-Mart. Competitiveness, Generic Strategy, Effectiveness, and Profit Consumers have many choices today when they go to

Discuss using an extended example how annual report and accounts can Essay

Discuss using an extended example how annual report and accounts can be used to analyse and - Essay Example Other than the three key statements the annual reports include- Analysis and discussion by the company management; report relating to internal control and report stating the fairness and transparency of the financial statements. Under the management discussion and analysis section there is an explanation with regard to any significant changes in the current year’s performance over the previous years (Warren, et al., 2008, p.785). In the financial statements published by Sony Corporation for the financial year ending 2010 the Sales and operating revenue of the company for the last three financial years has been shown in a comparative way. The operating income of the company for the last three years has also been compared in the form of a bar chart. This shows how this income had dipped in 2009 but recovered, albeit marginally, in the 2010 fiscal. The marginal rise in the revenue is a positive sign for the investors as it signifies that the company has managed to overcome the losses of the previous years. Various other charts relating to Free Cash flow, Capital expenditure and R&D investment have also been shown by the company. These give an idea about the investment practices of the company. Financial ratios can be computed using the financial data of the company relating to net income, sales, financial expenses, debt, equity, assets etc. Using these one can get an idea about the liquidity strength, profitability, debt position, earnings capacity of the company. This is considered to be the most effective tool in assessing the financial soundness of the company (Gibson, 2008, p.452). For the financial year 2010 Sony has prepared a Consolidated Statement of Income where it has depicted the financial data for three years- 2010, 2009 and 2008. Using the sales and net income for this three year period one can prepare the net profit margin

Puffin Parcel Group Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Puffin Parcel Group - Case Study Example Andre’s vision for Puffin Parcel Group (PPG) will herald a number of changes on the previous business processes in order for the people and structure to be suited to the new business strategies. Given that PPG has over the past decade operated a reliable service to local businesses in Manchester, the processes must be transformed to accommodate the expansion to other platforms. Expansion to the home delivery and returns market increases the complexity of business processes in PPG. Whereas the employees were used to working in a system that only supported collection and delivery to and from local businesses, they will now incorporate home delivery and collection to the business processes. This might also translate into a need for PPG to absorb some of the drivers on casual contract into its network of permanent full-time drivers. Having an online presence will have significant impact on PPG due to the impact of e-commerce on sales and marketing efforts. Liang (2010) notes the internet performs a number of significant functions, which improves efficiency in areas of operations such as information acquisition, organization, processing, storage and transfer. However, for the business to enjoy success brought about by these changes, the management should introduce changes targeting payment systems and logistic, which promotes innovations. These platforms means that although PPG does not open physical offices in other regions, its presence will expand to reach to national and also adds to potential exploitation of international customers. Among the areas that will change  is time of business operation. Online business will make it necessary for PPG to adopt a 24/7 business operation to fully capitalize on existing markets.  

Human Capital Development and Productivity Relationship

Human Capital Development and Productivity Relationship ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between human capital development and productivity. Productivity is the dependent variable while human capital development indicators and gross capital formation are the explanatory variables. Recurrent and capital expenditures on health and education are used as human development indicators. The scope of the study is from1977 to 2003. The Ordinary Least Square method was used to determine this relationship. It has revealed a negative relationship between gross capital formation and productivity. However, human capital development was found to affect productivity significantly. It is therefore advocated to adopt policies that will improve the expenditure on health and education. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The issue of human capital development is of great importance in any economy particularly developing economy such as Nigeria. The twentieth century has become the human capital century. People and skills matter, the wealth of a nation is embodied in its people, that is, the working class. Although advanced countries but the poor countries are becoming more aware of the importance of people the advantage countries but the poor countries are becoming more aware of the importance of people the advancement of the economy. This study is therefore of great significance to the world at large. Labor is one of the four factors of production. The others are capital, land and entrepreneur. In the nineteenth century, people were of little importance to industrial giants such as Britain, Germany, France and the United States. However, in the early 1900 attention began to shift to education of people at secondary and higher levels and provision of welfare services such as health services. The Nigerian economy has however failed to move at the pace of other countries in the world. Although effort have been made in the area of human development in the part, there has not been a substantial improvement in the human capital development in the past, there has not been a substantial improvement in the human capital indicators such as education and health. Productivity can be perceived as the output per unit or the efficiency with which resources are utilized. Therefore productivity with respect to human capital development refers to the development of human capital which will lead to efficiency with which resources are utilized and this will increase output. The trend of productivity in Nigeria is one that fluctuates. Productivity in Nigeria compared to that of other countries is very low. Sustained productivity depends on the economys human capital. Human capital can be defined as the skills, knowledge, competencies, and attributes that reside in a worker. Human capital development involves the improvement of a nations human capital through better healthcare, nutrition, accommodation, working environment, education and training. The economies of nations and the world at large is dynamic in nature, it follows that the human resources of these nations should be constantly improved on. That is, training of manpower should be a continuous process in order to meet up with the demands of the world market. Here, the emphasis is placed on education and health. These can also be referred to as indicators of human capital development on productivity. ducation in Nigeria has improved over the years with increased interest in the tertiary institution. However, a closer attention has to be paid to the needs of the educational sector because the quality and level of educational attainment on the productivity of a country. Certain measures have been put in place to improve the quality of education in Nigeria by the Federal government and other agencies. However, these efforts have not brought about the much desired change in the standard of the education in Nigeria. Failure in the educational sector has been accounted for due to some problems. They include; inadequate allocation by the government to education, lack of dedicated teachers, poor political environment, poor implementation of policies and several others. Private organizations have sprung up to resuscitate the educational sector. This is evident through the increase in private schools in the primary, secondary and even the tertiary level. Nigerians have lost confidence in t he ability of the government to provide good education and this has resulted in high patronage of these private institutions by Nigerians who can afford it. This leaves the bulk of Nigerians that cannot afford private education at the mercy of the government funded schools. The government has failed to realize the gravity of what an underdeveloped human capital can do to an economy. The need for more attention to be centered on this aspect is very necessary. The health sector is also faced with similar problems as that of education. Health is a very important factor in human capital development. The state of health of labor affects the level of performance thereby affecting the level of productivity. Government has tried in improving health services by reducing the number of population per doctor, providing more health facilities, hospitals and other required health personnel. However, there is still room for improvement in this aspect. The rural areas of the country have been neglected while the urban areas have been focused on, there is still need to reduce the population per doctor, provide preventive healthcare and take drastic measures to reduce the infant maternal mortality. These discrepancies in education and health of the country have a very significant effect on productivity and hence economic growth. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The Nigerian economy has solved several problems facing it. There has been prolonged economic recession followed by the collapse of the world oil market from the early 1980 and fall in the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Other problems include overdependence on imports for consumption and capital goods, lack of adequate social and economic infrastructure and neglect of the agricultural sector. Nigeria is rated to be one of the poorest countries in the world. Putting the countrys economy back on track requires a lot of activities that will advance the economy such as rebuilding the economy and making goods and services available and affordable for every one. This is where the issue of productivity comes in since productivity refers to the level of output of a country. The problem therefore deals with increase in productivity through human capital development so as to increase growth. This study raises questions on how the indicators of human capital development affect productivity. 1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study covers all sectors of the economy and all countries in the world as the issue of human capital and productivity affects everyone. However, the study is based on the Nigerian economy and all considerations and analysis refers to the Nigerian economy. This study covers the period from 1977 to 2004. 1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The major objective of the study is to determine the relationship between human capital development and productivity in the Nigerian economy through the use of two human capital development indicators; education and health. The specific objectives include: To ascertain the relationship between human capital development and productivity To examine the impact of health on the productivity in the Nigerian economy. To examine the impact of education on productivity in the Nigerian economy. To determine the indicators of human capital development. 1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY This study is relevant to every sector of the economy. This is because every sector of the economy has labor as its most important factor of production. It is therefore of great importance to the industrial, agricultural, mining sector and so on. It gives them more incentive to invest more in their human resources. It is also of great importance to the government who have in their hands the authority and responsibility over important indicators of human capital development. This study will encourage government to increase expenditure on education, health and other areas of the economy that affect productivity. It provides a basis for which investment in health and education will be measured against productivity. This study is therefore of great importance to all sectors of the economy, the government and other stakeholders such as consumers, shareholders and so on. 1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following questions arise in the course of this study and will subsequently be answered. They include the following; What is the relationship between human capital development and productivity? What is the effect of health on productivity? What is the impact of education on productivity? What are the other factors that lead to the development of human capital? 1.7 HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY The following hypotheses hold for this study; H0 : Education has the lowest impact on productivity H1: Education has the greatest impact on productivity. H0: Health has no significant impact on productivity. H1: Health has a significant impact on productivity. H0: There is no significant relationship between human capital development and productivity. H1: There is a significant relationship between human capital development and productivity. 1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The issues to be raised in this research work are both empirical and theoretical. The Ordinary least square method of analyzing data will be used and the results will be interpreted. 1.9 DATA SOURCES Data was obtained from the Central Bank Statistical Bulletin, 2004. 1.1.0 OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS In order to achieve the stated objectives, the project work has been subdivided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction which consists of the background, statement of the problem, objectives, justification, hypotheses, scope, research methodology, organization and limitation of the study. Chapter two is devoted to past literature written on the subject matter. Chapter three is the methodological framework and the model specification. Chapter four is presentation, interpretation and empirical analysis of regression results. Chapter five boarders on the summary, recommendation and conclusion of the study. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 CONCEPT OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT Human resources make up the standard or the basis for the wealth of a country. Human resources are the summation of efforts, skills, knowledge and experience available in a country. It is the managerial, scientific, engineering, technical, craftsmen and other skills which are employed in creating, designing, developing organizations, managing and operating productive and service enterprises and economic institutions (Yesufu, 1962). They are a nations most valuable resources. They constitute a nations human capital. Human capital refers to the skills, education, health, and training of individuals. It is capital because these skills or education are an integral part of us that is long-lasting, in the way a machine, plant, or factory lasts ( Gary Becker, 1992). Before the nineteenth century, investment in human capital was not important in any country. Expenditures on schooling, health and other forms of investment were quite small. This began to change during that century with the application of science to the development of new goods and more efficient methods of production, first in Britain, and then gradually spreading to other countries. During this century, education, skills, and other knowledge have become crucial determinants of a persons and a nations productivity. One can even call the twentieth century the Age of Human Capital in the sense that the primary determinant of a countrys standard of living is how well it succeeds in developing and utilizing the skills, knowledge, health, and habits of its population. It has been estimated that human capital-education, on-the-job and other training, and health-comprises about 80 percent of the capital or wealth in the United States and other advanced countries. (Gary Becker 1992). Therefore a country without effective human capital development skills will be lagging behind in the issue of development. The concept of human capital refers to the abilities and skills of human resources of a country, while human capital formation refers to the process of acquiring and increasing the number of persons who have the skills, education and experience that are critical for economic growth and development of a country (Okojie 1995:44). Human capital is so important that in the Khartoum Declaration of 1988, it was asserted that: .the human dimension is the sine qua non of economic recovery .no SAP or economic recovery programme should be formulated or can be implemented without having at its heart detailed social and human priorities. There can be no real structural adjustment or economic recovery in the absence of the human imperative (Adedeji 1990:390). In other words, there cannot be meaningful economic growth without adequate human resources. Human resources development involves the improvement and the transformation of a nations human resources by better medicare, nutrition, accommodation, environment, education and training (Yesufu, 1962) Human capital development can be described as a deliberate effort by Government and people to provide the right number of workers, at the right areas of need and at the right time in an economy that is incentives that will increase the morale of the workers. For example, in Japan, training of human resources is seen as very important in development of the economy. They also provide incentives that boost the morale of the workers. The government is expected to provide policies or programmes that provide the labour needs and a requirement in all sectors of the economy. The existence of a large population does not translate to a productive resource. Human resources can only be productive due to effort made by the government and the private organisations in developing human resources. Human beings become productive resource or human capital only when they are able and in a position to contribute meaningfully to productive economic activities. They have to be trained to become agents of p roduction and economic activities. Without training they remain passive, potential and inactive as other factors of production. Human beings can be fashioned to lead useful and happy lives and contribute to societal development by the development of their characters and potential abilities through education, training, health services and so on conducted over a long period of years. The enterprise of human capital development therefore is the impartibility of knowledge and skills to human beings through education and training for productive as well as consumptive ends (U.O Anyanwu). Education is only one form of investment in human beings. Others include expenditure on medical care, migration to more prosperous regions, information about job opportunities and career prospects and choice of jobs with higher training contents. Human capital development is a form of investment with expected economic as well as social returns not only to the individual investor and his family but also the society at large. The economy, with time, begins to experience growth, while the beneficiary acquires the opportunity to contribute to and secure qualitative live by being able to make the right choices and command higher earnings profile. Consequently human capital development has been seen as the ultimate concern of all types of development-economic, social, cultural, political, etc. Capacity building or human capital development responds to a wide-range of questions such as what people are able to be or do, the issues longevity, health and mind development, their inalienable fundamental human rights to freedom of choice, speech, association, political, economic, social and other needs and ability to escape from avoidable diseases, malnourishment and illiteracy (HDR Nigeria 1996). Human Development Report (1996) maintains that sustainability of human capacity building is the essential component of the ethics of universalism of life, stressing that it is a matter of sharing development opportunities between all classes and groups of people between the rich and the poor, between the present and future generations. It is of the view that sustainability demands what it calls intra-generational and inter-generational equity (HRD Nigeria 1996). Capacity building or HRD has other associated benefits and returns. (Umo 1995) has itemized other crucial contributions of human capital to development in general to include; the generalized capacity to absorb economic shocks as well as cope with the complexities of modern development; creating a corps of well informed citizenry with positive attitude to national development, providing persons for technology base needed for industrialization; 2.2 CONCEPT OF PRODUCTIVITY The most widely accepted definition of productivity is that it is the ratio of inputs to output. This definition enjoys general acceptability because of two related considerations. One, the definition what productivity is thought of to be in the context of an enterprise, an industry or an economy as a whole. Two, regardless of the type of production, economic or political system, this definition of productivity remains the same as long as the basic concept is the relationship between the quantity and quality of goods and services produced and the quality of resources used to produce them. Eatwell and Newman (1991) defined productivity as a ratio of some measure of output to some index of input use. Put differently, productivity is nothing more than the arithmetic ratio between the amount produced and the amount of any resources used to produce them. This conception of productivity goes to imply that it can indeed be perceived as the output per unit input or the efficiency with which resources are used. Olaoye (1985) observed that productivity as a concept can assume two dimensions: namely total factor productivity (TFP) and partial productivity. The former relates to productivity that is defined as the relationship between outputs Growth in productivity provides a significant basis for adequate supply of goods and services thereby improving the welfare of the people and enhancing social progress (Mike Obadan). Demburg (1985) said without productivity there would be no growth in per capita income and inflation control would be more difficult. A country with high productivity is often known for high capacity utilization (optimal use of resources), high standard of living, low rate of unemployment and social progress. Productivity measures the relationship between quantitative and qualitative value of goods and services produced and the quantity of resources needed to produce them (that is, factor inputs such as labour, capital, technology) (Sumbeye, 1992; Okojie 1995; Roberts and Tybout 1997). Mali (1978) defines it as the measure of how resources are brought together in organisations and utilized for accomplishing a set of results. It is reaching the highest level of performance with the least use of resources. In this definition, the issue of efficiency is being referred to. Increased productivity will involve the use of less resources and an outcome of more output. Roberts and Tybout (1997) and Tybout (1992), assuming a neoclassical production function at the sectoral or industry , define total factor output to be a concave of inputs and time (a proxy for technological innovation). To them, the elasticity of output with respect to time is the total factor productivity. TFP = Total output / Weighted average of all inputs..1 The factor inputs include labour, capital, raw material and purchase of spare parts and so on. In a particular sense, these factors are reduced to the weighted average of labour and capital (Okojie, 1995; Roberts and Tybout, 1997). Partial productivity (PP) is defined as: PP = Total output / partial input.2 According to T. M.Yesufu, labour productivity refers to the output result of workers organised within a given economic unit or enterprise. Yesufu outlined the three basic deficiencies associated with the use of labour productivity. They include the following; the term labour as generally conceived , is ambiguous and far from inclusive. It excludes some very important categories of human inputs, especially management, marketing, accounting and the white collar workers generally, who are not directly on the production line. even the acknowledged workforce generally used for labour productivity measurement(the blue coated production line- skilled and unskilled labour) as far from homogenous, which complicates the allocation of output between the constituent classes; for example , adult and child labour; male-female, artisan, technician, etc. the output of an enterprise itself usually varies in terms of type , material inputs, labour mixes, sizes of unit products, etc., that are not easily dis-aggregated. Due to these shortcomings of the use of labour productivity some economists prefer to use total factor productivity as it is said to be superior and more acceptable for purposes of determining enterprise or macroeconomic performance. Partial productivity is particularly used for analytical purposes, to test the relative efficiency of, or returns to, various forms of inputs, and to check, for example, the effect on marginal productivity an increase or reduction of a particular type of input. 2.2.1 The Traditional Concept of Productivity The traditional concept of productivity focuses on the efficiency in the production or delivery process. In this wise, the focus is merely on the ratio of output to inputs. Thus, productivity is measured as the amount of output per unit of inputs. Since the emphasis was more generally on labour productivity, the measure was often the amount of output per worker working for one hour. This traditional approach implies a simple Mathematical relationship so that productivity improvement means producing more with less or the same amount of inputs; or sustaining the same level of output with less input. This traditional view derives from the economic logic of cost minimisation. One implication of this approach is that traditional productivity improvement schemes tend to focus on how to reduce inputs employed and improve the skills of the workers they retain. Workers lay-offs, while seeking to maintain the same levels of output with the reduced work force became popular at enterprise levels. The present policy of the Federal Government to reduce the work force in the public service is as a result of this traditional logic. 2.2.2 New Emerging Concept of Productivity Globalisation and the new forms of competition which it has brought about, however, today require us to focus on a much broader concept of productivity. Likewise, we need to appreciate more fully the changing dynamics of the factors involved in the process of productivity improvement. As a recent analysis points out, increased competitiveness, the increased complexity of markets, the globalisation of manufacturing and the increased concern about social and ecological issues make productivity improvement more important at the same time that the need for a broader meaning of productivity is required. Thus, the focus today is increasingly on total factor productivity and the process of its improvement involves improving the overall business environment. This involves the promotion of better labour-management relations, continuous improvement in products and processes, enhancement of the quality of work life and continuous development of the human resource. In this new conception, the emphasis of the direction to productivity improvement is on increased added value creation, rather than the minimisation of labour inputs. Emphasis has also been brought to bear on the distribution of the benefits of productivity improvement among all stakeholders (workers, employers, consumers). Productivity is not seen any more just as the physical increase in output, but also as the improvement in the quality and value or acceptability of the product or service. Thus, productivity is not just an efficiency concept any more, but equally an effectiveness concept. In an increasingly globalized world, productivity improvement does not just involve the efficient production of products or services, but of products and services that are needed and demanded and bought by very discerning customers. Customer orientation is increasingly in the fore and quality is now an important index of performance. Productivity is becoming identical with quality. 2.3 DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTIVITY A number of factors affect productivity. Major among these are the complementing factors of production as well as technology/innovation, institutional backup, worker motivation, the quality of labour, environment, etc( U.O. Anyanwu). To discover the effect of each of the cooperating factors on productivity, we have to go into a theoretical world where we can hold other things constant while varying each of these factors one after the other. Here, we are still relying on the theory of diminishing marginal productivity which states that if increasing amounts of a variable factor, say labour, is applied to a fixed amount of other factors (e.g. land, capital, materials etc.), given the level of technology then beyond a certain number the extra or marginal product of the variable factor begins to fall down or diminish (Todaro 1985) However, in a real world all the factors impact productivity simultaneously. (a) Land, A Factor of Labour Productivity Growth Land can affect productivity both quantitatively and qualitatively. If land is identified as the limiting factor of labour productivity more arable land can be brought under cultivation to relax the land constraint. In this regard a number of forest reserves have, for this purpose, to be deforested. The quality of land can be improved through the application of manure and fertilizer, which also increases the yield per hectare. Other methods of farming that make for more yields per hectare of land such as improved seed and grain varieties have been adopted by modern farmers. New land policies that alter tenure ship and ownership are devices for relaxing land constraints and improving productivity. (b) Capital Accumulation and Labour Productivity. If identified low labour productivity is attributable to lack of capital, capital can be raised through the mobilization of domestic and foreign investment. Acquisition of new factories, equipment, and machinery will lead to increases in productivity and output per capita of the nation. The Nigerian Governments are committed to the attraction of foreign investments to, among others; improve the capital base of the country. However, while the efforts are being made to cover the need for further capital, installed capital such as the Liquefied Natural Gas Project, Petrochemical plants, Refineries and Iron and Steel factories, among others need revitalization if our productivity is to increase. Investment in social and economic infrastructure gives a significant effect to productivity such as roads, electricity, water, sanitation, communication for the facilitation of economic activities. Road networks are needed to bring the additional product to areas of need, while electricity, water, communication, all play very dominant roles in bringing about the additional product and service arising from the new investment. Dams, irrigation facilities, bridges and road extensions to interior areas all raise product per hectares of cultivated land. Use of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. is part of the capital needed enhanced productivity because by raising value of the farm land, productivity is also being improved. (c)Technology/Innovation and Productivity Most economists regard technology/innovation as the most important source of growth. Technology is being seen as a new and improved ways of achieving or performing traditional tasks. Technology can be neutral, labour or capital intensive. Technology is said to be labour and capital neutral when higher output levels are achievable using the same quantity and combinations of factor inputs in a production process. Simple innovations such as re-distribution of labour can result in higher output levels, too. On the other hand, technology may be capital intensive or labour intensive if higher levels of output are possible, with more capital or more labour. Use of simple implements such as those of cottage and small scale industries are said to be labour intensive while those such as electronic computers, automated textile looms, mechanical ploughs, tractors display capital intensity (Todaro 1985). In industrialized countries where unit cost of labour is very high and expensive technology choice favors one that is capital intensive or labour saving, while in developing countries such as Nigeria where there is abundance of labour and scarcity of capital, choice of technology gravitates towards those that are labour intensive, and capital saving. There is the fourth aspect of technology called labour or capital augmentation technology. The quality or skill of labour can be augmented by the use of, for example, videotapes, televisions and other electronic communication devices while capital augmentation is said to occur when productivity can be enhanced by the use of existing capital goods for instance iron types etc can replace wooden hoes. Today hybrid products such as cassava, rice, etc that give higher yield per hectare are being developed through technological augmentation. (d) Labour Force Growth and Labour Productivity. Labour Force growth an important part of the population growth stimulates economic growth and productivity growth particularly when growth has not attained its optimum level. A large labour force, all things being equal, means a large population and the latter is potentially a large domestic market, and if well endowed, empowered and developed, a great international market, too. However, much depends obviously on the capacity of the economic system to productively employ the additional workers arising from the population/labour force growth. Again this will equally depend on the rate and kinds of capital accumulation and the availability of related factors such as managerial and administrative skills and competence the level of commitment of the political administration. 2.4 IMPACT OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT ON LABOUR PRODUCTIVTY Human Capital Development enhances labour productivity and the productive capacity of the economy. Employers regard the qualification arising from capacity building, as a reliable indication of personal ability, achievement drive reasoning for instance that, a graduate must make a better salesman than a man who had never met the Human Capital Development and Productivity Relationship Human Capital Development and Productivity Relationship ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between human capital development and productivity. Productivity is the dependent variable while human capital development indicators and gross capital formation are the explanatory variables. Recurrent and capital expenditures on health and education are used as human development indicators. The scope of the study is from1977 to 2003. The Ordinary Least Square method was used to determine this relationship. It has revealed a negative relationship between gross capital formation and productivity. However, human capital development was found to affect productivity significantly. It is therefore advocated to adopt policies that will improve the expenditure on health and education. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The issue of human capital development is of great importance in any economy particularly developing economy such as Nigeria. The twentieth century has become the human capital century. People and skills matter, the wealth of a nation is embodied in its people, that is, the working class. Although advanced countries but the poor countries are becoming more aware of the importance of people the advantage countries but the poor countries are becoming more aware of the importance of people the advancement of the economy. This study is therefore of great significance to the world at large. Labor is one of the four factors of production. The others are capital, land and entrepreneur. In the nineteenth century, people were of little importance to industrial giants such as Britain, Germany, France and the United States. However, in the early 1900 attention began to shift to education of people at secondary and higher levels and provision of welfare services such as health services. The Nigerian economy has however failed to move at the pace of other countries in the world. Although effort have been made in the area of human development in the part, there has not been a substantial improvement in the human capital development in the past, there has not been a substantial improvement in the human capital indicators such as education and health. Productivity can be perceived as the output per unit or the efficiency with which resources are utilized. Therefore productivity with respect to human capital development refers to the development of human capital which will lead to efficiency with which resources are utilized and this will increase output. The trend of productivity in Nigeria is one that fluctuates. Productivity in Nigeria compared to that of other countries is very low. Sustained productivity depends on the economys human capital. Human capital can be defined as the skills, knowledge, competencies, and attributes that reside in a worker. Human capital development involves the improvement of a nations human capital through better healthcare, nutrition, accommodation, working environment, education and training. The economies of nations and the world at large is dynamic in nature, it follows that the human resources of these nations should be constantly improved on. That is, training of manpower should be a continuous process in order to meet up with the demands of the world market. Here, the emphasis is placed on education and health. These can also be referred to as indicators of human capital development on productivity. ducation in Nigeria has improved over the years with increased interest in the tertiary institution. However, a closer attention has to be paid to the needs of the educational sector because the quality and level of educational attainment on the productivity of a country. Certain measures have been put in place to improve the quality of education in Nigeria by the Federal government and other agencies. However, these efforts have not brought about the much desired change in the standard of the education in Nigeria. Failure in the educational sector has been accounted for due to some problems. They include; inadequate allocation by the government to education, lack of dedicated teachers, poor political environment, poor implementation of policies and several others. Private organizations have sprung up to resuscitate the educational sector. This is evident through the increase in private schools in the primary, secondary and even the tertiary level. Nigerians have lost confidence in t he ability of the government to provide good education and this has resulted in high patronage of these private institutions by Nigerians who can afford it. This leaves the bulk of Nigerians that cannot afford private education at the mercy of the government funded schools. The government has failed to realize the gravity of what an underdeveloped human capital can do to an economy. The need for more attention to be centered on this aspect is very necessary. The health sector is also faced with similar problems as that of education. Health is a very important factor in human capital development. The state of health of labor affects the level of performance thereby affecting the level of productivity. Government has tried in improving health services by reducing the number of population per doctor, providing more health facilities, hospitals and other required health personnel. However, there is still room for improvement in this aspect. The rural areas of the country have been neglected while the urban areas have been focused on, there is still need to reduce the population per doctor, provide preventive healthcare and take drastic measures to reduce the infant maternal mortality. These discrepancies in education and health of the country have a very significant effect on productivity and hence economic growth. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The Nigerian economy has solved several problems facing it. There has been prolonged economic recession followed by the collapse of the world oil market from the early 1980 and fall in the foreign exchange earnings of the country. Other problems include overdependence on imports for consumption and capital goods, lack of adequate social and economic infrastructure and neglect of the agricultural sector. Nigeria is rated to be one of the poorest countries in the world. Putting the countrys economy back on track requires a lot of activities that will advance the economy such as rebuilding the economy and making goods and services available and affordable for every one. This is where the issue of productivity comes in since productivity refers to the level of output of a country. The problem therefore deals with increase in productivity through human capital development so as to increase growth. This study raises questions on how the indicators of human capital development affect productivity. 1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study covers all sectors of the economy and all countries in the world as the issue of human capital and productivity affects everyone. However, the study is based on the Nigerian economy and all considerations and analysis refers to the Nigerian economy. This study covers the period from 1977 to 2004. 1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The major objective of the study is to determine the relationship between human capital development and productivity in the Nigerian economy through the use of two human capital development indicators; education and health. The specific objectives include: To ascertain the relationship between human capital development and productivity To examine the impact of health on the productivity in the Nigerian economy. To examine the impact of education on productivity in the Nigerian economy. To determine the indicators of human capital development. 1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY This study is relevant to every sector of the economy. This is because every sector of the economy has labor as its most important factor of production. It is therefore of great importance to the industrial, agricultural, mining sector and so on. It gives them more incentive to invest more in their human resources. It is also of great importance to the government who have in their hands the authority and responsibility over important indicators of human capital development. This study will encourage government to increase expenditure on education, health and other areas of the economy that affect productivity. It provides a basis for which investment in health and education will be measured against productivity. This study is therefore of great importance to all sectors of the economy, the government and other stakeholders such as consumers, shareholders and so on. 1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following questions arise in the course of this study and will subsequently be answered. They include the following; What is the relationship between human capital development and productivity? What is the effect of health on productivity? What is the impact of education on productivity? What are the other factors that lead to the development of human capital? 1.7 HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY The following hypotheses hold for this study; H0 : Education has the lowest impact on productivity H1: Education has the greatest impact on productivity. H0: Health has no significant impact on productivity. H1: Health has a significant impact on productivity. H0: There is no significant relationship between human capital development and productivity. H1: There is a significant relationship between human capital development and productivity. 1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The issues to be raised in this research work are both empirical and theoretical. The Ordinary least square method of analyzing data will be used and the results will be interpreted. 1.9 DATA SOURCES Data was obtained from the Central Bank Statistical Bulletin, 2004. 1.1.0 OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS In order to achieve the stated objectives, the project work has been subdivided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction which consists of the background, statement of the problem, objectives, justification, hypotheses, scope, research methodology, organization and limitation of the study. Chapter two is devoted to past literature written on the subject matter. Chapter three is the methodological framework and the model specification. Chapter four is presentation, interpretation and empirical analysis of regression results. Chapter five boarders on the summary, recommendation and conclusion of the study. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 CONCEPT OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT Human resources make up the standard or the basis for the wealth of a country. Human resources are the summation of efforts, skills, knowledge and experience available in a country. It is the managerial, scientific, engineering, technical, craftsmen and other skills which are employed in creating, designing, developing organizations, managing and operating productive and service enterprises and economic institutions (Yesufu, 1962). They are a nations most valuable resources. They constitute a nations human capital. Human capital refers to the skills, education, health, and training of individuals. It is capital because these skills or education are an integral part of us that is long-lasting, in the way a machine, plant, or factory lasts ( Gary Becker, 1992). Before the nineteenth century, investment in human capital was not important in any country. Expenditures on schooling, health and other forms of investment were quite small. This began to change during that century with the application of science to the development of new goods and more efficient methods of production, first in Britain, and then gradually spreading to other countries. During this century, education, skills, and other knowledge have become crucial determinants of a persons and a nations productivity. One can even call the twentieth century the Age of Human Capital in the sense that the primary determinant of a countrys standard of living is how well it succeeds in developing and utilizing the skills, knowledge, health, and habits of its population. It has been estimated that human capital-education, on-the-job and other training, and health-comprises about 80 percent of the capital or wealth in the United States and other advanced countries. (Gary Becker 1992). Therefore a country without effective human capital development skills will be lagging behind in the issue of development. The concept of human capital refers to the abilities and skills of human resources of a country, while human capital formation refers to the process of acquiring and increasing the number of persons who have the skills, education and experience that are critical for economic growth and development of a country (Okojie 1995:44). Human capital is so important that in the Khartoum Declaration of 1988, it was asserted that: .the human dimension is the sine qua non of economic recovery .no SAP or economic recovery programme should be formulated or can be implemented without having at its heart detailed social and human priorities. There can be no real structural adjustment or economic recovery in the absence of the human imperative (Adedeji 1990:390). In other words, there cannot be meaningful economic growth without adequate human resources. Human resources development involves the improvement and the transformation of a nations human resources by better medicare, nutrition, accommodation, environment, education and training (Yesufu, 1962) Human capital development can be described as a deliberate effort by Government and people to provide the right number of workers, at the right areas of need and at the right time in an economy that is incentives that will increase the morale of the workers. For example, in Japan, training of human resources is seen as very important in development of the economy. They also provide incentives that boost the morale of the workers. The government is expected to provide policies or programmes that provide the labour needs and a requirement in all sectors of the economy. The existence of a large population does not translate to a productive resource. Human resources can only be productive due to effort made by the government and the private organisations in developing human resources. Human beings become productive resource or human capital only when they are able and in a position to contribute meaningfully to productive economic activities. They have to be trained to become agents of p roduction and economic activities. Without training they remain passive, potential and inactive as other factors of production. Human beings can be fashioned to lead useful and happy lives and contribute to societal development by the development of their characters and potential abilities through education, training, health services and so on conducted over a long period of years. The enterprise of human capital development therefore is the impartibility of knowledge and skills to human beings through education and training for productive as well as consumptive ends (U.O Anyanwu). Education is only one form of investment in human beings. Others include expenditure on medical care, migration to more prosperous regions, information about job opportunities and career prospects and choice of jobs with higher training contents. Human capital development is a form of investment with expected economic as well as social returns not only to the individual investor and his family but also the society at large. The economy, with time, begins to experience growth, while the beneficiary acquires the opportunity to contribute to and secure qualitative live by being able to make the right choices and command higher earnings profile. Consequently human capital development has been seen as the ultimate concern of all types of development-economic, social, cultural, political, etc. Capacity building or human capital development responds to a wide-range of questions such as what people are able to be or do, the issues longevity, health and mind development, their inalienable fundamental human rights to freedom of choice, speech, association, political, economic, social and other needs and ability to escape from avoidable diseases, malnourishment and illiteracy (HDR Nigeria 1996). Human Development Report (1996) maintains that sustainability of human capacity building is the essential component of the ethics of universalism of life, stressing that it is a matter of sharing development opportunities between all classes and groups of people between the rich and the poor, between the present and future generations. It is of the view that sustainability demands what it calls intra-generational and inter-generational equity (HRD Nigeria 1996). Capacity building or HRD has other associated benefits and returns. (Umo 1995) has itemized other crucial contributions of human capital to development in general to include; the generalized capacity to absorb economic shocks as well as cope with the complexities of modern development; creating a corps of well informed citizenry with positive attitude to national development, providing persons for technology base needed for industrialization; 2.2 CONCEPT OF PRODUCTIVITY The most widely accepted definition of productivity is that it is the ratio of inputs to output. This definition enjoys general acceptability because of two related considerations. One, the definition what productivity is thought of to be in the context of an enterprise, an industry or an economy as a whole. Two, regardless of the type of production, economic or political system, this definition of productivity remains the same as long as the basic concept is the relationship between the quantity and quality of goods and services produced and the quality of resources used to produce them. Eatwell and Newman (1991) defined productivity as a ratio of some measure of output to some index of input use. Put differently, productivity is nothing more than the arithmetic ratio between the amount produced and the amount of any resources used to produce them. This conception of productivity goes to imply that it can indeed be perceived as the output per unit input or the efficiency with which resources are used. Olaoye (1985) observed that productivity as a concept can assume two dimensions: namely total factor productivity (TFP) and partial productivity. The former relates to productivity that is defined as the relationship between outputs Growth in productivity provides a significant basis for adequate supply of goods and services thereby improving the welfare of the people and enhancing social progress (Mike Obadan). Demburg (1985) said without productivity there would be no growth in per capita income and inflation control would be more difficult. A country with high productivity is often known for high capacity utilization (optimal use of resources), high standard of living, low rate of unemployment and social progress. Productivity measures the relationship between quantitative and qualitative value of goods and services produced and the quantity of resources needed to produce them (that is, factor inputs such as labour, capital, technology) (Sumbeye, 1992; Okojie 1995; Roberts and Tybout 1997). Mali (1978) defines it as the measure of how resources are brought together in organisations and utilized for accomplishing a set of results. It is reaching the highest level of performance with the least use of resources. In this definition, the issue of efficiency is being referred to. Increased productivity will involve the use of less resources and an outcome of more output. Roberts and Tybout (1997) and Tybout (1992), assuming a neoclassical production function at the sectoral or industry , define total factor output to be a concave of inputs and time (a proxy for technological innovation). To them, the elasticity of output with respect to time is the total factor productivity. TFP = Total output / Weighted average of all inputs..1 The factor inputs include labour, capital, raw material and purchase of spare parts and so on. In a particular sense, these factors are reduced to the weighted average of labour and capital (Okojie, 1995; Roberts and Tybout, 1997). Partial productivity (PP) is defined as: PP = Total output / partial input.2 According to T. M.Yesufu, labour productivity refers to the output result of workers organised within a given economic unit or enterprise. Yesufu outlined the three basic deficiencies associated with the use of labour productivity. They include the following; the term labour as generally conceived , is ambiguous and far from inclusive. It excludes some very important categories of human inputs, especially management, marketing, accounting and the white collar workers generally, who are not directly on the production line. even the acknowledged workforce generally used for labour productivity measurement(the blue coated production line- skilled and unskilled labour) as far from homogenous, which complicates the allocation of output between the constituent classes; for example , adult and child labour; male-female, artisan, technician, etc. the output of an enterprise itself usually varies in terms of type , material inputs, labour mixes, sizes of unit products, etc., that are not easily dis-aggregated. Due to these shortcomings of the use of labour productivity some economists prefer to use total factor productivity as it is said to be superior and more acceptable for purposes of determining enterprise or macroeconomic performance. Partial productivity is particularly used for analytical purposes, to test the relative efficiency of, or returns to, various forms of inputs, and to check, for example, the effect on marginal productivity an increase or reduction of a particular type of input. 2.2.1 The Traditional Concept of Productivity The traditional concept of productivity focuses on the efficiency in the production or delivery process. In this wise, the focus is merely on the ratio of output to inputs. Thus, productivity is measured as the amount of output per unit of inputs. Since the emphasis was more generally on labour productivity, the measure was often the amount of output per worker working for one hour. This traditional approach implies a simple Mathematical relationship so that productivity improvement means producing more with less or the same amount of inputs; or sustaining the same level of output with less input. This traditional view derives from the economic logic of cost minimisation. One implication of this approach is that traditional productivity improvement schemes tend to focus on how to reduce inputs employed and improve the skills of the workers they retain. Workers lay-offs, while seeking to maintain the same levels of output with the reduced work force became popular at enterprise levels. The present policy of the Federal Government to reduce the work force in the public service is as a result of this traditional logic. 2.2.2 New Emerging Concept of Productivity Globalisation and the new forms of competition which it has brought about, however, today require us to focus on a much broader concept of productivity. Likewise, we need to appreciate more fully the changing dynamics of the factors involved in the process of productivity improvement. As a recent analysis points out, increased competitiveness, the increased complexity of markets, the globalisation of manufacturing and the increased concern about social and ecological issues make productivity improvement more important at the same time that the need for a broader meaning of productivity is required. Thus, the focus today is increasingly on total factor productivity and the process of its improvement involves improving the overall business environment. This involves the promotion of better labour-management relations, continuous improvement in products and processes, enhancement of the quality of work life and continuous development of the human resource. In this new conception, the emphasis of the direction to productivity improvement is on increased added value creation, rather than the minimisation of labour inputs. Emphasis has also been brought to bear on the distribution of the benefits of productivity improvement among all stakeholders (workers, employers, consumers). Productivity is not seen any more just as the physical increase in output, but also as the improvement in the quality and value or acceptability of the product or service. Thus, productivity is not just an efficiency concept any more, but equally an effectiveness concept. In an increasingly globalized world, productivity improvement does not just involve the efficient production of products or services, but of products and services that are needed and demanded and bought by very discerning customers. Customer orientation is increasingly in the fore and quality is now an important index of performance. Productivity is becoming identical with quality. 2.3 DETERMINANTS OF PRODUCTIVITY A number of factors affect productivity. Major among these are the complementing factors of production as well as technology/innovation, institutional backup, worker motivation, the quality of labour, environment, etc( U.O. Anyanwu). To discover the effect of each of the cooperating factors on productivity, we have to go into a theoretical world where we can hold other things constant while varying each of these factors one after the other. Here, we are still relying on the theory of diminishing marginal productivity which states that if increasing amounts of a variable factor, say labour, is applied to a fixed amount of other factors (e.g. land, capital, materials etc.), given the level of technology then beyond a certain number the extra or marginal product of the variable factor begins to fall down or diminish (Todaro 1985) However, in a real world all the factors impact productivity simultaneously. (a) Land, A Factor of Labour Productivity Growth Land can affect productivity both quantitatively and qualitatively. If land is identified as the limiting factor of labour productivity more arable land can be brought under cultivation to relax the land constraint. In this regard a number of forest reserves have, for this purpose, to be deforested. The quality of land can be improved through the application of manure and fertilizer, which also increases the yield per hectare. Other methods of farming that make for more yields per hectare of land such as improved seed and grain varieties have been adopted by modern farmers. New land policies that alter tenure ship and ownership are devices for relaxing land constraints and improving productivity. (b) Capital Accumulation and Labour Productivity. If identified low labour productivity is attributable to lack of capital, capital can be raised through the mobilization of domestic and foreign investment. Acquisition of new factories, equipment, and machinery will lead to increases in productivity and output per capita of the nation. The Nigerian Governments are committed to the attraction of foreign investments to, among others; improve the capital base of the country. However, while the efforts are being made to cover the need for further capital, installed capital such as the Liquefied Natural Gas Project, Petrochemical plants, Refineries and Iron and Steel factories, among others need revitalization if our productivity is to increase. Investment in social and economic infrastructure gives a significant effect to productivity such as roads, electricity, water, sanitation, communication for the facilitation of economic activities. Road networks are needed to bring the additional product to areas of need, while electricity, water, communication, all play very dominant roles in bringing about the additional product and service arising from the new investment. Dams, irrigation facilities, bridges and road extensions to interior areas all raise product per hectares of cultivated land. Use of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. is part of the capital needed enhanced productivity because by raising value of the farm land, productivity is also being improved. (c)Technology/Innovation and Productivity Most economists regard technology/innovation as the most important source of growth. Technology is being seen as a new and improved ways of achieving or performing traditional tasks. Technology can be neutral, labour or capital intensive. Technology is said to be labour and capital neutral when higher output levels are achievable using the same quantity and combinations of factor inputs in a production process. Simple innovations such as re-distribution of labour can result in higher output levels, too. On the other hand, technology may be capital intensive or labour intensive if higher levels of output are possible, with more capital or more labour. Use of simple implements such as those of cottage and small scale industries are said to be labour intensive while those such as electronic computers, automated textile looms, mechanical ploughs, tractors display capital intensity (Todaro 1985). In industrialized countries where unit cost of labour is very high and expensive technology choice favors one that is capital intensive or labour saving, while in developing countries such as Nigeria where there is abundance of labour and scarcity of capital, choice of technology gravitates towards those that are labour intensive, and capital saving. There is the fourth aspect of technology called labour or capital augmentation technology. The quality or skill of labour can be augmented by the use of, for example, videotapes, televisions and other electronic communication devices while capital augmentation is said to occur when productivity can be enhanced by the use of existing capital goods for instance iron types etc can replace wooden hoes. Today hybrid products such as cassava, rice, etc that give higher yield per hectare are being developed through technological augmentation. (d) Labour Force Growth and Labour Productivity. Labour Force growth an important part of the population growth stimulates economic growth and productivity growth particularly when growth has not attained its optimum level. A large labour force, all things being equal, means a large population and the latter is potentially a large domestic market, and if well endowed, empowered and developed, a great international market, too. However, much depends obviously on the capacity of the economic system to productively employ the additional workers arising from the population/labour force growth. Again this will equally depend on the rate and kinds of capital accumulation and the availability of related factors such as managerial and administrative skills and competence the level of commitment of the political administration. 2.4 IMPACT OF HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT ON LABOUR PRODUCTIVTY Human Capital Development enhances labour productivity and the productive capacity of the economy. Employers regard the qualification arising from capacity building, as a reliable indication of personal ability, achievement drive reasoning for instance that, a graduate must make a better salesman than a man who had never met the

Family Relationships in Morrisons The Bluest Eye Essay -- The Bluest

Family Relationships in Morrison's The Bluest Eye â€Å"The Bluest Eye† by Toni Morrison, is a story about the life of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, who is growing up during post World War I. She prays for the bluest eyes, which will â€Å"make her beautiful† and in turn make her accepted by her family and peers. The major issue in the book, the idea of ugliness, was the belief that â€Å"blackness† was not valuable or beautiful. This view, handed down to them at birth, was a cultural hindrance to the black race. A main theme in this novel is the influence of family relationships in the quest for individual identity. Our family or lack thereof, as children, ultimately influences the way we feel as adults, about ourselves and about others. The effects on us mold our personalities and as a result influence our identities. This story shows us the efforts of struggling black families who transmit patterns and problems that have a negative impact on their family relationships. These patterns continue to go unresolved and are eventually inherited by their children who will also accept this way of life as this vicious circle continues. Having inherited the myth of ugliness and unworthiness, the characters throughout the story, with the exception of the MacTeer family, will not only allow this to happen, but will instill this in their children to be passed on to the next generation. Beauty precedes love, the grownups seem to say, and only a few possess beauty, so they remain unloved and unworthy. Throughout the novel, the convictions of sons and daughters are the same as their fathers and mothers. Their failures and accomplishments are transferred to their children and to future generations. It is int... ... son, Louis, Jr. The cat becomes her surrogate child as the blue-eyed Fisher child became the surrogate child to Pauline Breedlove. The cat will die physically as Pecola will die mentally. Soaphead Church was a mixed black and white ancestry from the Caribbean. He inherits the need to be British and to erase all color. His schoolmaster father developed his own legacy of Anglophilia into a narrow intellectual statement of the unworthiness of man. Being a mulatto, he knew the â€Å"non-life he had learned on the flat side of his father’s belt.† Because racism prevents Soaphead from getting the job that his education merits, he gives up, he ends up with a non-life, like his father and his wife, the only person he ever truly loved, abandons him. He uses little Pecola to rid himself of the mangy dog that represents non-white, non-perfect beings whom he despises.

Medical Office Management Final Project Kaplan University Essay

Research and describe the three types of bookkeeping systems. Which of the three systems do you think would be the easiest to work with in the medical office? (Peg Board, Single Entry, Double Entry) Why? Single entry is similar to a checkbook register. It only has one line entered in the journal for each transaction. Each transaction is recorded in the one column of the account. It is either a positive or a negative amount in the order to represent the receipt or disbursement. Single entry is extremely simple and easy to use. The concept of double entry is in every transaction there are two effects. These two effects are known as Debit (Dr) and Credit (Cr). â€Å"Accounting system is based on the principal that for every Debit entry, there will always be an equal Credit entry. This is known as the Duality Principal† (Accounting-Simplified). Debit entries include, increase in assets, Increase in expense, decrease in liability, decrease in equity, and decrease in income. Credit entries include, decrease in assets, decrease in expense, increase in liability, increase in equity, and increase in income. Double entry is recorded in every manner that the account equation is always balanced out evenly. One-Write System or Pegboard provides convenience in check writing that is not available in computer systems. Checks can be written instantly, when needed, either inside or outside the office. â€Å"The One-Write System Check Register provides an accurate copy of every check written for posting to the computer â€Å"after the fact†Ã¢â‚¬  (inkoneverything). Pegboard is very useful in the heathcare/medical world. It is a single form that assures the collect charges and payments are recorded correctly on all other forms. In my opinion, I would like to work with the pegboard system. It may be a little harder to learn but I think it would be worth it. It has everything you need to keep an office or clinic running smoothly financially wise. Everything will be i n the system and it will be easy to look it up. References Accounting-Simplified. Concept of Double Entry. Retrieved from http://accounting-simplified.com/double-entry-accounting.html Southern California. One-Write Systems (Pegboard). Retrieved from http://www.inkoneverything.com/pegboardaccountingsystem.html QuickMBA. Accounting. Single Entry Bookkeeping. Retrieved from http://www.quickmba.com/accounting/fin/single-entry/

Free Essays on A Letter

of love. And as I stand here with the paper in my hand, wet from my tears I can’t help myself from picturing you holding the bottle in your hand before you throw it into the water. Did you look back before you followed it into the waves? Did you picture my face as you jumped? Were your last thoughts alive about my hurtful ways? I’ve lived with the uncertainty of your fate since the day I saw you laying lifeless on the beach, though I knew it was a possibility I never let myself believe that you had wanted it that way. But now I know, and the restless nights of wondering and worrying are over. The certainty of your fate leaves me calm and I know what I want to do. I no longer feel the coolness of the autumn wind as it blows through my hair; to me it’s your gentle touch as you caress it. And the drops of water that once felt so cold and unfriendly as they reached up to me, feels now like your caring kisses. So forgive me for driving you away, and welcome me as I follow the sun and surrender to the darkness of the ocean in this my final step.... Free Essays on A Letter Free Essays on A Letter A letter. The sun is about to surrender to the darkness of the ocean as I stand here watching the waves slowly caress the seashore. With my eyes glued to the view I’ve been standing here for hours feeling at one with the ocean and all that surrounds it. And for the first time in months I’m allowing myself to recognize the feelings that are coming to me. I no longer wipe away the wet signs of sadness as they leave my eyes, like rivers of emotion I let them run down my face. Though it’s been almost a year since they carried you out of the water, cold and frozen from days amongst the waves, it’s only been a day since I got your message. In a bottle sealed with a cork, on your finest paper, you left me your final words of love. And as I stand here with the paper in my hand, wet from my tears I can’t help myself from picturing you holding the bottle in your hand before you throw it into the water. Did you look back before you followed it into the waves? Did you picture my face as you jumped? Were your last thoughts alive about my hurtful ways? I’ve lived with the uncertainty of your fate since the day I saw you laying lifeless on the beach, though I knew it was a possibility I never let myself believe that you had wanted it that way. But now I know, and the restless nights of wondering and worrying are over. The certainty of your fate leaves me calm and I know what I want to do. I no longer feel the coolness of the autumn wind as it blows through my hair; to me it’s your gentle touch as you caress it. And the drops of water that once felt so cold and unfriendly as they reached up to me, feels now like your caring kisses. So forgive me for driving you away, and welcome me as I follow the sun and surrender to the darkness of the ocean in this my final step....

Red Badg of Courage Essay essays

Red Badg of Courage Essay essays Henry Fleming was just a child when he entered the army. Even though his journey into manhood took a while, he finally got where he was headed . This journey included many people and things, that help Henry along the way. At first Henrys mother gave him some advice. She told him that there are many men in the army who are bad and that he should stay away from them. She also told him that he should remember his father. He never drunk a drop of licker in his life, and seldom swore a cross oath. This was said in the beginning of the book. It may have not sunk in at first, but he would remember bits and pieces of what she said to help him along the way. Wilson, the loud soldier, helped Henry also. One way that he helped him was by showing him that he was trusted. When Wilson gave Henry the yellow envelope, it showed Henry that he was trusted enough and was thought highly enough of for Wilson to trust Henry with something he valued. Together, they mourn a little for their lost comrade, Jim Conklin. Jim, too, helped Henry along on his journey into manhood. When Jim suffered in his long, agonizing death, it brought a lot of courage into the Young soldiers eyes. Did Henry really want to fight in a battle? Was Henry really brave enough to fight in a battle? The most important influence on Henrys journey into manhood was himself. All of the things that were said to him though out the book would not have sunk into Henrys brain if he wasnt trying to think. The way he argued with himself, during the course of the book, was the main way that he grew into a man. He began to question everything he had believed in. In a way, Henry did most of the work to help himself along his journey into manhood. ...

Legal Aspects of Business Decisions individual 1(introduction to Essay - 1

Legal Aspects of Business Decisions individual 1(introduction to International law) - Essay Example The court concluded that Hong Kong is not a â€Å"foreign state† under the diversity statute, and, consequently, Matimak is not a â€Å"citizen or subject† of a â€Å"foreign state.† Issue(s): (1) whether Hong Kong is a â€Å"foreign state,† such that Matimak is a â€Å"citizen or subject† of a â€Å"foreign state†; (2) whether Matimak is a â€Å"citizen or subject† of the United Kingdom, by virtue of Hong Kong’s relationship with the United Kingdom when it brought suit; and (3) whether any and all non- citizens of the United States may ipso facto invoke alienage jurisdiction against a United States citizen. Reasoning: The fact that the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance may be â€Å"ultimately traceable† to the British Crown is too attenuated a connection. Matimak was incorporated under Hong Kong law, the Companies Ordinance 1984 of Hong Kong, and is entitled to the protections of Hong Kong law only. Cf. Cedec Trading Ltd. v. United Am. Coal Sales, Inc., 556 F.Supp. 722, 723-24 & n. 2 (S.D.N.Y.1983) (holding that corporations of the Channel Islands, a province which is part of the United Kingdom proper, governed by British law, and whose foreign affairs are entirely controlled by the United Kingdom, is a citizen or subject of the United Kingdom); Compare St. Germain v. West Bay Leasing, Ltd., No. 81-CV-3945, at 6 (E.D.N.Y. Sep. 30, 1982) (holding that a corporation of the Cayman Islands, whose corporate law is clearly independent from the United Kingdoms, is not a citizen or subject of the United Kingdom). Matimak is not a â€Å"citizen or subject† of a foreign state. It is th us stateless. And a stateless person—the proverbial man without a country—cannot sue a United States citizen under alienage jurisdiction. Kantor v. Wellesley Galleries, Ltd., 704 F.2d 1088, 1092 (9th Cir.1983); Sadat v. Mertes, 615 F.2d 1176, 1183 (7th

Death how should we think of death and dying Essay

Death how should we think of death and dying - Essay Example He is especially interested in the dark side of life: guilt, death struggling and suffering. So I will argue in favor of Jasper and believe that death should be faced with courage by human as his inner nature is eternal. Death sets a limit on our time in this life, urging us on to do something productive with that time as long as it is ours to use. If one begins to see death as an invisible, but friendly companion on one’s life journey – gently reminding not to wait until tomorrow to do what one mean to do - then one can learn to live life than passing through it. To rejoice at the opportunity of experiencing each new day is to prepare for one’s ultimate acceptance of death. We must allow death to provide a context of our lives, for in it lays the meaning of life and key to our growth. Jasper mentions death should be faced with courage Death is an integral part of life and is a process which cannot be avoided by any creature on earth. If one is born then he is de stined to die. This is an endless cycle a never ending process. Jasper is right in saying that death should be faced with utmost courage. Death is a hard truth of our life and one who sees death as a suffering or evil indeed is a coward. It is a transitional phase of man and this should be understood by human beings, in order to face it with courage. Everything ordained by our creator should be accepted by us with wholeheartedness. Just like life, death is a reality and should be faced with full acceptance. Generally, it is the misconception and ignorance of people that lead them to think of death as a suffering or evil. It should be understood by human that they are not just a physical being but an entity with transcendence quality. The journey of a human being is not short lived but an endless cycle of birth and death. Jasper does not believe in surrendering to death but embracing it with joy. It should be regarded as an entrance to new phase of life as life is an unending journey . Japer believed that human beings have an inner nature which is eternal. Since his soul is eternal, he should not be feared of death as nothing can kill him. Every man is feared of death Although Jasper is right in suggesting death should be faced with courage, every man on the face of earth fear death. It is a fact that, human being by the very name of death fears and it can be termed as instinctive .It could be his urge to survive and protect himself which has led to the generation of a fearful feeling of death. Many a time’s practical life is different from theoretical and philosophical life. It might seem easy to articulate theories about death, but in reality when once face death then he is feared utmost. In so far, death means not only a termination, an end but a consummation as well. Death is absolutely universal in human life. Everyone accepts it as natural and obvious that he must die. At the same time, a secret protest and an undistinguishable horror before this en d abides him. In every means, metaphysical anthropology cannot explain this fact. If a man is an immortal being, then why he should be afraid of death. May be it could be the feeling of pain and abandoning his body is the reason for the fear. One could say that death is punishment given to man by God to which make man understand that this material life in not eternal.A man who does not have a spiritual understanding can consider death as evil and unwelcoming. And a fear of death is also a warning to man about