Critical Research Essay Paper

Critical Research
Critical Research

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Critical Research

The aspect that was to me was the approaches that are applied in communication research. These approaches are divided into quantitative research, qualitative research, critical research, and rhetoric research. Of the four, the model that I found to be quite interesting is the critical research model. According to Wood, critical research is not interested much with understanding and explaining organizational communication (Wood, 2014). However, I learned that this model lays more emphasis on analyzing, judging, and criticizing values.

Additionally, critical research just as the word “critical” suggests, focuses more on seeing how the society or an organization exists in a world full of power imbalances. In ideal societies and institutions, there are those individuals that have power and those that lack. Researchers who conduct critical analysis strongly believe that those without power are purposefully prevented by the powerful from attaining ultimate quality. Therefore, critical scholarship tends to be inclined towards the side of weaker individuals when commenting or studying relations of dominance (Wood, 2014).

I also noted that critical theory aids us to question institutions, ideologies, identities, and interests that seem to be dominant and challenging. For instance, critical research helps us to examine whether or not ideologies that have been established within an institution are fundamentally dangerous particularly to the workers. Moreover, with critical research we are in a better position to question certain ideologies on where they came from and the effectiveness of their applicability.

Usually, managers come up with certain ideologies that tend to be inherently problematic for the employees. Therefore, it is the duty of workers to put their best foot forward and challenge such ideologies lest they become implemented for several years without being challenged. Critical is also significant since it aids in examining different institutions to identify which ones are dominant in the society and which ones are not safe for the general worker.

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References

Wood, J. (2014). Communication mosaics: An introduction to the field of communication. Cengage Learning.

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Project Management: Annotated Bibliography

Project Management
Project Management

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Project Management: Annotated Bibliography

Paul Newton (2015). Principles of Project Management: Project Skills. www.free-management-ebooks.com. ISBN 9778-1-62620-958-9

Location/Source: Online. Retrieved from http://www.free-management-ebooks.com/dldebk-pdf/fme-project-principles.pdf

Duration: N/A

Type of Delivery: Downloading

Cost: Free

This free e-book is useful as it teaches about project-management techniques in organization. The book highlights the definition of projects, some of the project management roles and responsibilities and the way projects are mapped to the same basic life structure. Similarly, the paper provides rich insights on how project-management can be organized into functional areas.

Saylor Foundation. Project management in a complex world. (2012)

Location/source: Online Retrieved from http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Project%20Management%20-%20From%20Simple%20to%20Complex.pdf

Duration: N/A

Type of Delivery: Downloading

Cost: Free e-book

The book looks at the challenges managers and consultants face when managing complex project. To achieve this, the book provide case studies and discussing the implications of the case to project-management. This overview and complexity profile is important for students as it helps in learning a lot about specific areas of project-management knowledge.

Project management handbook https://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Baars_book_project_management.pdf

Wouter Baars: Project Management. 2009. Print

Location/ source: DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services),

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2509 AB, The Hague

  • Duration: 6-7 days
  • Type of Delivery: Post Office
  • Cost: $ 16
  • This handbook is valuable in project-management because it provide rich content about project-management. The first section of the handbook describes working methods that can be adopted for ‘traditional Projects.’ Section two provides working methods for IT projects. The book provide practical knowledge that will enable student to understand different roles of individuals participating in a project-management.
  • Introduction to project management: Principles, Techniques and Tools.
  • UCDAVIS: Introduction to project management: principles, Techniques and Tools.
  • Location/source: Free resource retrieved from http://oe.ucdavis.edu/local_resources/docs/projectmanagementtraining.pdf
  • Duration: N/A
  • Type of Delivery: Downloading
  • Cost: Free Resource
  • This project-management book is important for training. The text contain different concepts of project-management such as introduction, project scope, and activity planning. The paper also provides resourceful information about project monitoring and control as well as team exercise.
  • 5.      Fast Forward MBA in Project Management
  • Eric Verzuh. Fast Forward MBA in Project Management (2015). Wiley & Sons Canada, Limited.
  • Location/Source: Barns & Noble
  • Duration: 3-5 business days
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping
  • Cost: $16.51
  • This book is comprehensive guide that help students and project managers to learn the different real-world project-management methods, tools, and techniques. The book provides enough theoretical foundation and practical information to guide you in project-management.
  • Gower Handbook of project-management.
  • J Rodney Turner (2014). Gower handbook of project management. Surrey, England; Burlington, VT
  • Location/ Source: Amazon
  • Duration: 3-5 Business Days.
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping.
  • $24
  • The Gower handbook provides an overview of vital information requisite for managing projects. The handbook is created by experienced international writers and practitioners to introduce the reader to valuable knowledge and skills that are necessary to manage projects.
  • Project Management Maturity Model, Third Edition.
  • J. Kent Crawford (2014). Project Management Maturity Model, Third Edition. CRC Press.
  • Location/ Source: Barns & Noble
  • Duration: 3-5 business Days
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping
  • Cost: $ 42
  • This book by Kent Crawford provides valuable information that can help in improving the success of a project and boosting performance of the organization. The book comprehensively describes the Project Management Maturity Model (PMMMSM) to provide the reader with a comprehensive knowledge vital for improving organization’s project-management practices.

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  • Successful Project Management
  • Trevor L. Young (2013). Successful Project Management. Kogan Page Publishers. Business and Economics. 232 pages.
  • Location/ Source: Barns & Noble
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping
  • Duration: 3-5 Business days
  • Cost $ 39
  • This book covers the technical aspects of a project from the beginning to the end with practiced and tested techniques, ways to manage stakeholders, project planning, launch and execution as well as effective risk management techniques. The book is important because it assist managers to keep a balance between client’s demands, the project, the team as well as the organization.
  • Fundamentals of Project Management
  • Joseph Heagney (2012). Fundamentals of project-management. New York: American Management Association, Print book: 4th ed.
  • Location: Amazon
  • Duration: 3-5 business days
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping
  • Cost: $ 15.13
  • The book uses a simple step-by-step approach when providing information about project-management concepts, tools, and techniques. The book provide resourceful information on how to plan a project, using earned value analysis, management of project-management team and the control and evaluation process of the project. The book has been of value over the years because of its assistance to project managers on how to manage the complex process of project-management.
  • Construction project Management
  • S Keoki Sears (2015). Construction project management: a practical guide to field construction management. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
  • Location: Amazon
  • Type of Delivery: Shipping
  • Duration: 3-5 Business Days
  • Cost $ 107.31
  • This book provides guide in construction project-management. The book has been vouched for to be the preeminent guide to all aspects in the construction project-management process. The book extensively explains the critical path method (CPM) of scheduling a project among other vital information that provides solid foundation for field construction management.

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Operation Management Research Paper

Operation Management
Operation Management

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Operation Management

Introduction

Many companies emphasizes mostly in operation management. They are mainly alarmed with the company’s planning, organizing, supervising as far as manufacturing, production and other service are concerned. The operation management departments ensures that the company inputs are been transformed to outputs at an efficient and effective manner. Operation management runs across two fields of operations.

That is the supply chain management and the logistics. It helps the operations mangers to have the knowledge of comprehending the current supply chain management so that they can meet the clients demand in a timely manner. As far as logistics is concerned, the operation managers are very keen when using the resources available on a cost effective basis.

An operation manager is mandated to know all the process of a company. Comprehending them make it easier for the operation manager to run them swiftly. Also, the operation manager must have the supply chain skills to run this operations and the skills related to logistics in order to integrate both the coordination and know-how of the organization work. This will make the operation manager to be successful when running company’s processes, (Gunasekaran, and Ngai, 2012).

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Kolak snack food limited is known to be the leading manufacturing company for snacks and crisps based products. Been the leading company, Kolak understands the interests of the company working in food services, retail, catering, cash and carry and specialty food sector to work with their trusted suppliers. For this reason, they have committed themselves by give their customer’s quality services from the sales of innovated crisps and snacks.

Putting the customers at their heart of operation, Kolak has been to grow and develop rapidly since 1984 and it is well known for its quality and flexible services and products for been the largest crisps and snack producers in Europe. The company has invested heavily in thee infrastructure with manufacturing machines and in people to. They aim at considering the finest inputs, flavors and ingredients and also restructure their supply chain so that they when they purchase their input, they do it at a cost effective way.

They consider their customers taste and preferences and when their customers select the brand of products they want, the company assure them of what they need since they have the experts, resources and they aim to deliver at a cost effective manner.

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With such a reputation, Kolak Company need to have a competent operation manager to ensure that the company brand name is maintained. Operations managers have a vital role in a company. They are meant to put everything in equilibrium according to the company policies and processes that run along all the company department.

Also they are meant to foresee the company’s plans on its onsite operations, (Burke, 2013) When launching a new product in the market, the operation manager should be flexible to coup up with challenges that will come with the product development and market development.  Some of the challenges the operation manager will have to deal with include the following, (Dekker, Bloemhof, and Mallidis 2012)

Competing practices- a new operation manager will find it difficult to manage a business that is highly competing in the global market and also that have competing activities within the company.  Various business procedures of the firm can have disadvantageous results on the company’s actions when they challenge the efficiency of the company distributing quality products and services. However, using the Kolak Company brand name, it will be easier for the operation manager to win the market since the company is well established.

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Sustainability-the operations manager have a task of coming up with long term customers and maintaining them, formulating a long term strategies employees that help them coup up with the company political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological environment. The strategies formulated is meant to minimize the negatives effects by eliminating wastes which aims to reduce the wellbeing of the clients.

The operation managers may face this challenge because the environment work are seemed to be more insular, (Teittinen, Pellinen, and Järvenpää, 2013). By doing so, the company can secure an opportunity that they should implement to the fullest and be in a position to meet the client’s needs.

Corporate reporting-in many organizations, the operation managers are accountable for issuing corporates reports to the top management. The reports given includes performance and financial data and they are involved to communicate this information to the shareholders. The challenges they face is when the company has not kept up to date and accurate reports for the business.

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Social responsibility-the operation managers oversee on how the organization is interacting with the community at large beyond the fact that they want them to buy the products. It becomes a problem to the operation manager to be able to organize projects that aims at involving the community to show them that the firm recognizes them and they are concerned about them and their customers beyond making profits and create awareness of their business and keep its brand name, (Tano, and, Data Tec, 2013)

 A new manager is be able to accomplish a fast fluctuating commercial and technological environment. To do so, the new manger should be able to address to the human side in a systematic way. It will involve the manager emphasizing on the transformation of peoples issues. The managers will have to step out of their cocoon, develop new skills and abilities and convince the employees on their tasks to handle.

The manager should be able coup up with the change and involve all the stakeholders, integrate all the changes and formulate a strategy that will help them to make an informed decisions. The strategic direction taken by the manager should be realistic and must be congruent to the company history and must be flexible enough to a capacity of a change, (Pérez-Feijoo, Martínez-López,  and García-Ordaz, 2015). For example the Kolak Company operation manager should try to use the product’s strength in order to overcome this changes and make their brand name to be well recognized and keep their reputation.

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Also, the manger should start at the top since change in an organization is unsettling for staff. The manager should come up with a new approach that will motivate the employees and at the same time challenge them. The approach should limit the employees from looking upon the top management team for direction, support and strength. 

The manager should be able to work with other people so that they analyze vividly on the direction they have to take for change, be able to comprehend the behaviors and the culture the change is inducing to the organization, and be able to find a solution to those changes, (Lunenburg, 2012). The new operation manager at Kolak Company should be able to communicate the dynamic changes that are facing the company operations. With a flow of communication, it will become easier for the company to know how they will deal with the internal or external environmental issues affecting the business.

In addition, the manager should involve every department of the company. The changes in the company running involve the changes in the company’s reengineering their plans and coming up with new targets that are to be implemented. The transformation of company activities must be part of the strategies that identify the management in the company and be able to roll the change down to the staffs so that they can help implement the changes throughout the organization, (Cameron, and Green, 2015.).

The changes that may be facing the Kolak Company may be outside their reach. The operation manager should involve every member of staff in order to come up with a plan that will help the company to adopt and coup up with the changes but keeps the company’s vision alive.

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The manager should make the change process as a formal case. To avoid questioning by the staff, the manager have to formalize the changes and write a new vision statement that will help create team work, (Scarbrough, and Corbett, 2013.)

The manager will to operate in a changing environment, should be willing to overwork during the time of change and be a fanatics who is willing to launch a serious figure amongst the work force in the kindness of change. The leader must be willing to own the company responsibility for overseeing change and coping with it in all the company’s department. The ownership by the manager will involve people who will help recognize problems and come up informed solutions.

The manager must be willing to motivate the so that they can work effectively and efficiently. Failing to coup up with the changes, the Kolak Company will face a bigger threat from any political, economic, social, technological, and ecological conditions that will hit the company unexpectedly causing a change in their operations.

The mangers who operates in a changing environment of commercial and technological change, should be able to communicate the message to the entire stakeholders. A good flow of communication from the top management to the junior staffs is aimed to communicate and pass the right information to the employees about the changes at the right time through communication from multiple and terminated networks, (Hayes, 2014).

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Lastly the manager is expected to prepare and plan for the unexpected. The manager should always review the company operations on their impact on a day to day activities. This will help the management to fully adopt to any unpredictable transformation.

Kolak Company have to formulate a strategy that’s abide to its marketing operation. The strategy may be as follows, (Bettis, Gambardella, Helfat, and Mitchell, 2015)

Operating location– The Company should come up with a strategic place where it is aiming to develop a market for its product. The decision about the market should be independent and should make sense regarding the company operations.

Customer analysis-the company through the marketing department should carry out analysis for developing their target market and gets the know-how on what their customers really needs. When a bigger number of customers are happy with the product offered, then the demand will vary as per the needs of them, (Lee, Chiu, Y.L, Wu, and Liu, 2014)

Competition analysis-the company should be able to analysis and understand the competition in the market.  This will help to create a distinction with their competitors operations.

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Analysis of capability and system of one’s own company– it will be of necessity when the company will have to achieve a continuous and a continuous abilities and also be able to come up with a stable system in order to offer a endless value to their client and show a different approach as compared to what the competitor is offering, (De Mooij, 2013)

Setting Quantitative targets– the company will set up a target they are aiming to achieve by the end of a certain period. The target will go hand in hand with the customers’ needs and if there is any change, the operations should be evaluated amicably, (Jain, 2014)

Aiming in context with the divisional strategies– each department in the organization should come up with their own plans that will help push the project onward.

Performance analysis-this will involve analyzing the gap between the desired performance and planned performance. It will encompasses on analyzing of the company historical performance that will help to forecast on future performance.

Choice of strategy– after a careful assessment of company goals, strengths, potential and limitations operations, the best alternative and strategy that will be congruent to the vision of the company will be implemented, (Gunasekaran, and Ngai, 2012)

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SWOT analysis

Kolak Company is best known for its snacks products. Producing another health product to the market will be a significant role to play since the company is well known by its brand name and the quality products it offers to its clients that come with efficient and effective services.

In the new market, the target market are the young populations who goes for snacks products. The company must be willing to meet the clients taste and preferences and fulfil they request when they order a special type of snack.

The company beliefs that the customers are the heart of the business. It means that the new product established will be according to the customers’ needs and it will be health so that it does not affect customer’s health issues.

The new product should be launched into a market where there is demand for a particular product. The company should be able to analyze the market gap in all its global markets and see an opportunity that will make them fulfill their target.

After establishing the customers’ needs and seizing an opportunity, the company will have to employ a competent person who will manage to administer quality services to the customers and be creative enough to know what the taste of the customer is. Also, the location of the business should be strategically placed such that it becomes easier to produce product with the new technology and also easier to distribute the products. With this, it will be easier to make profits due to better know how of the market, (Hollensen, 2015.)

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PESTEL Analysis

The Kolak Company should set up the market for the new product where there is political stability. This will ensure that the business is running swiftly and there is customers for the product.

Establishing a business in a political stable market, the Kolak Company is well assured that the economy of the market is stable and they make sales for their products.

The company should be socially responsible. They should interact with the community beyond the aspect of making profit. This will make the company to be well established and in return will be able to make maximum sales

Due to advanced technology, the company should set up the market for the new product where there is availability and accessibility of latest technology that will help them with ease of production, (Rachet, 2014)

The Kolak Company should develop a market in an environment that best suit its products and will be convenient for its customer’s hygiene.

To come up with a market, the company will have to adhere the government rules and regulations and it should have proper documentation before it starts operating.

It can be summarized that operation management in a company is well concerned with control, redesigning, the organization operation in the productions of goods and services. The operation manger should be competent in a way that he or she is very keen to ensure that the operations are handled in an effective way and at cost effective when meeting the customer’s needs.

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It can be concluded that the operation manager is the key person who is at the higher notch of maintaining the company operations. Any misinformation by the operation manger will eventually leads to unpredicted changes and this will alter with the company progress because of dynamic unexpected changes that may lead to the company incurring various cost when trying to control redesign, and oversee the company operations running swiftly. , (Belleflamme, and Peitz, 2015).

Having a competent operations manager, Kolak Company will be able to launch its new product in the market. Following the operation strategy and the operations manager has the skills of supply chain management and logistics, the company will develop the new product and develop a new market which it will be able to meet the customer’s requirements effectively and efficiently at a minimum hurdle rate.

It can be recommended that Kolak Company can launch the new product into the market. Having analyzed the market fully and the customers at the same time, the company through the operation management team can spear head the launch of the product that will be of high quality and will satisfy the customer taste and preferences.

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References

Belleflamme, P. and Peitz, M., 2015. Industrial organization: markets and strategies. Cambridge University Press.

Bettis, R.A., Gambardella, A., Helfat, C. and Mitchell, W., 2015. Qualitative empirical research in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 36(5), pp.637-639.

Burke, R., 2013. Project management: planning and control techniques. New Jersey, USA.

Cameron, E. and Green, M., 2015. Making sense of change management: a complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers.

De Mooij, M., 2013. Global Marketing and Advertising: Understanding Cultural Paradoxes: Understanding Cultural Paradoxes. Sage Publications.

Dekker, R., Bloemhof, J. and Mallidis, I., 2012. Operations Research for green logistics–An overview of aspects, issues, contributions and challenges. European Journal of Operational Research, 219(3), pp.671-679.

Gunasekaran, A. and Ngai, E.W., 2012. The future of operations management: an outlook and analysis. International Journal of Production Economics, 135(2), pp.687-701.

Hayes, J., 2014. The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan.

Hollensen, S., 2015. Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education.

Jain, S.K., 2014. Impact of advertisement on the consumer behaviour a case study of some selected fmcg products in union territory of chandigarh.

Lee, T.W., Chiu, Y.L., Wu, Y.S. and Liu, H.S., 2014, September. An intelligent image-based customer analysis service. In Network Operations and Management Symposium (APNOMS), 2014 16th Asia-Pacific (pp. 1-4). IEEE.

Lunenburg, F.C., 2012. Organizational structure: Mintzberg’s framework. International journal of scholarly, academic, intellectual diversity, 14(1), pp.1-8.

Patel, S.R., Hayes, A.L., Blackwell, T., Evans, D.S., Ancoli-Israel, S., Wing, Y.K. and Stone, K.L., 2014. The association between sleep patterns and obesity in older adults. International Journal of Obesity, 38(9), pp.1159-1164.

Pérez-Feijoo, H.M., Martínez-López, F.J. and García-Ordaz, M., 2015. Potential benefits of employee portals in public administrations: implementation and proactive behaviour towards the organization. Atlantic Review of Economics, 1, p.1.

Rachet, B., 2014. PESTEL analysis and Porters Five Forces For Innocent Drinks Company. Docs. school Publications.

Scarbrough, H. and Corbett, J.M., 2013. Technology and Organization (RLE: Organizations): Power, Meaning and Deisgn. Routledge.

Tano, M., Data Tec Co., Ltd., 2013. Operation management device to be mounted to a moving object, portable information terminal, operation management server, and computer program. U.S. Patent 8,421,864.

Teittinen, H., Pellinen, J. and Järvenpää, M., 2013. ERP in action—Challenges and benefits for management control in SME context. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 14(4), pp.278-296.

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Impacts of FDI on Employment in China

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

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Impacts of FDI on Employment in China

Introduction

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been defined by different scholars, with the common definition referring to an investment where a firm gets acquisition and control over another foreign firm or such a firm set up its subsidiary in another foreign country. Taking many different forms, such investments could include mergers and acquisitions, intercompany loaning facilities, reinvestment of profits in foreign countries and development of new facilities overseas.

A clear distinction is drawn between FDI and portfolio investment, which involves the investments in the security of another country, either equity or debt securities (Sornarajah, 2011).

Due to the rapid changes resulting from globalization, better opportunities arise in the FDI arena. Foreign investments have flowed to different countries and had great impact on these countries’ economy. Developing countries, for instance, have endeavored to set policies that are competent and able to attract foreign investors. China, in its developing stages, managed to conceptualize the Reform and Opening Policy as early as 1978, a move that started revolutionary policy guidance for Foreign Direct Investment in China (Hale & Long, 2011, p. 16).

Since its beginning, FDI in China has undergone rapid developments.  Within 1979 and 1986, a total amount of about $8.304 Billion was transacted as a result of FDI with the main players being Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao (Chen, 2011, p. 93). This good trend was distorted from 1987 through 1991, when China’s legal system was unsound and incapable of attracting foreign investments

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Mainly referred to as the Rapid Development Stage, happened between 1992 and 1997 after China embarked on their socialist market economic system, hence improving tremendously the opportunities for investments. During this time, China’s FDI hit the highest at $196.7 Billion.

Though the following years witnessed a dwindling trend in FDI, this changed in 2001 to the present, due to China’s involvement in the World Trade Organization and its conducive environment that attracts investments internationally. Mostly, the main sectors which China concentrated on to stabilize their FDI included technology and telecommunications, banking, retail and wholesale growth.

Other than this, China promulgated new government policies that were business friendly. By the year 2011, the country had invested in over 400,000 enterprises that were internationally funded (Deng, 2013, p. 213). Apart from the inflow on FDI, there was massive effect of such investment to the indigenous firms in China. Such effects are referred to as spillover effects, which are usually divided into monetary and demonstration effects.

Due to their technological advancements, multi-national firms are competent compared to the local companies hence giving excessive competition grounds. As a result, local companies seek better managerial skills, technological equipment and production efficiency to meet the standards of the multinational companies (Zhang, et. al., 2016, p. 180). Despite being advantageous, this kind of competition between firms can be detrimental on the local firms, where multinational companies using technological advancements and productivity snatch market shares from local firms.

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There are various forms of FDI in China, including; equity joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprise, joint exploration, FDI shareholding and contractual joint ventures. As its name may suggest, equity joint ventures are owned jointly by foreign and Chinese companies, individuals or other governmental organizations. Both companies manage the company together, hence sharing profits and risks together on determined scales as per capital contributions.

Contractual joint ventures, on the other hand, are somewhat similar to the equity joint venture, only that obligations and duties arising on the parties are laid off in a contract. Wholly foreign owned refer to foreign companies, individual and enterprise investments who establish themselves in China. In this scenario, all capital derives from such foreign firms. FDI shareholding involves the purchase of equity by foreign investors, hence leading to foreign invested enterprise.

Joint explorations, on the other hand, refer to various economic cooperation on the international arena, usually divided into exploration, exploitation then production. In many instances, joint explorations venture into exploitation of natural resources (OECD, 2013, p. 53).

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As earlier mentioned, FDI has a spillover effect. Particularly, FDI ensures creation of jobs, explained through the greenfield and brownfield analogies. Greenfield analogy can be explained as an investment that creates new production lines in host countries, through starting of a new company. Brownfield investment, in contrast, involves overseas mergers and acquisition. Due to its nature, brownfield investments cannot be certainly denoted as job openers, considering no new companies are created.

Another effect of FDI experienced in China is the crowding-effect, considering many multinationals are investing in the country. Local firms are overly pressurized to exhibit good performance, or risk winding up. This leads to severe pressure on employees. The inter-dependency between FDI and employment is usually affected by diverse variables, including population, exports and growth of domestic economy (Michael, 2013, p. 24).

Literature review

In the recent years, China has been trying to support the foreign direct investment to enhance its purchasing power via wages and to create job opportunities. Through understanding factors that impacts on employment, particularly those associated with FDI, China can realize its potential expansion of its productive sector and the required production innovation techniques to improve its economy.

It is because FDI can create jobs through the direct hiring of individuals for the new industries. Moreover, the enhanced aggregate domestic employment via various types of jobs created, income distribution, wages levels, and skills transfer will result in indirect effects. The increased FDI inflow to China has led to the creation of many job opportunities, and as a result, many people have been employed (Hu, 2011).

Therefore, FDI has positively impacted on employment in the long-term since individuals who could have been unemployed, now can have jobs. However, since FDI bring new business culture and technology, its influence relies on the interaction between the growth of the productivity, labor specialization, and output growth.

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FDI has led to the improvement of technology, skills, and trade in the long-term in China. Moreover, it has facilitated adverse effects on jobs and wages as realized in China in the short-term. The findings in China in both secondary and tertiary firms for the period 1985-2008 indicated that FDI growth led to the creation of employment, enhanced skills and technology, and trade for the period.

FDI needed high-skilled personnel to work in their organizations that had sophisticated technologies, hence, necessitated an individual to acquire skills that matched FDI requirements, making one to have improved skills in the end. However, in situations where there was a bidirectional linkage between employment and FDI, in the short-term, FDI led to the loss of jobs because of displacements of workers, according to Liu (2012).

Furthermore, on one hand, new technology made industries more competitive that allowed them to employ more employees and to grow. On the other hand, new technology led to decrease in demand because of substitution of many low-skilled workers by fewer high skilled employees. Therefore, new technology had both merits and demerits attributed to job creation and employment.

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Recent empirical evidence studies show that China should not expect to have any job opportunities despite the benefits she gets from FDI (Zia & Rizvi,2011). It is because elasticity growth associated with employment in China is extremely low, which makes employment enhancing policies be priorities. Initially, when foreign investors and their companies came, many people were employed, but over time the rate of absorption became low. T

he new companies were able to attain the required number of employees in their organizations with time, meaning new people could not be employed leading to low elasticity growth associated jobs.

When China is studied using the two-sector dual economy model to show the influence of foreign investment on domestic capital accumulation and underemployment, it shows that foreign investment lower manufacturing sectors in the long-term. The manufacturing sector decline because some of the local companies were not able to compete adequately with foreign organizations associated with FDI as they had a lower level of technology and skills.

FDI also had a large effect in the high-wage manufacturing firms than on a one-for-one basis and crowds out domestic capital. The study of FDI effect using analysis of panel information to find labor demands roles for white and blue collar employees showed that FDI had significantly positive outcomes. However, the positive effect, especially with the blue-collar jobs, declined with the rise of the skilled intensity of manufacturing companies (Liu, 2012).

According to Duan (2011), labor market, market size and market potential, clustering and cluster, macroeconomic policies, openness, and scientific research level account for the reason of determining the FDI location. Labor productivity and labor costs also influence FDI location, which indicates that improved workforce skills level attracts FDI. Thus, FDI favors high-skill workers because they are the ones mostly likely to get employed in the new job markets, and makes low-skill workers liable to lose their employments due to replacement.

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Ownership that is so crucial in the creation of the jobs affects employment in China. Research indicates that the major reason for inadequate employment creation is because the state own enterprises absorb employees quickly than the private sector. The low absorption rate is attributed to the fact that both joint ventures and foreign-owned multinationals that are supposed to employ many people belong to the private sector.

Thus, it means that the private sector has a higher capacity of creating more employment opportunities when compared to the state-owned enterprises (Sjoholm, 2011). In a similar analysis of employment, Hale & Long (2012) found out that FDI indirectly and directly impacts jobs. According to them, FDI can directly increase jobs and indirectly lower jobs by improving productivity levels indirectly and supplanting domestic investment. However, when the effects of the two are combined, FDI has significant positive influence in China.

Liu (2012) analyzed the effect FDI has on employment creation in China as far as manufacturing companies are concerned. Liu relied on the industry-level data in the Chinese manufacturing industry for the period 2000-2009. Also, Liu presented an analysis of direct and indirect job impacts. The findings indicated that both the private domestic industries and FDI have higher employment growth than the non-private domestic companies in China.

Furthermore, firms with other types of ownerships had less advantageous features than the FDI, in particular, their access to the export market, when the cross-ownership comparison is done. The conclusion was that FDI had led to employment creation in the Chinese manufacturing sector.

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The impact of FDI on employment may not be beneficial to China. Hu (2011) illustrates that when crowding-out is taken into consideration, the crowding-out only becomes significant when foreign multinational enterprises focus on the recipient nation’ market. It is because the FDI influx may bring in more pressure on domestic firms. Moreover, the external investment requires higher efficiency and better technology, which implies that it will only need fewer employees than before, making the crowding-out effect of FDI lead to more workers being laid off as a result of more of the domestic companies going bankrupt.

Zia & Rizvi (2011) indicate that FDI has more favorable when China faces economic crises. It is because FDI has an advantage over other investments programs such as loans or portfolio as it often prove to be more resilient in times of economic crisis. The other types of investment are subject to large reversal when there is a financial crisis. Thus, economic crisis presents a major challenge to employees and employment.

Workers who are employed in other types of investment are more likely to be laid off because their organizations may go bankrupt, which is unlikely of FDI that is more resilient and stable in an economic crisis. In this scenario, FDI positively impacts on employment in China because workers are not likely to lose their jobs due to the economic crisis.

FDI has also led to the loss of employment among people in China, according to Zia & Rizvi (2011). The increased competition associated with FDI’s international corporations has pushed out some of the more productive local business enterprises as they are not able to compete. It is because the local business enterprises have lower technology and skills in most cases than the FDI’s companies making them less favorable to compete in the market.

Therefore, the increased competition brought in FDI has led to the loss of jobs, rather than creating. Moreover, it illustrates that FDI does not contribute to local economy development because the increased competition associated with FDI leads to people being laid off in local business ventures.

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The amount of FDI in China increased by 225.20 USD HML between December and February 2016. This is according to data the ministry of commerce of the people’s republic of china. The country averaged 416.01 USD HML between 1997 and 2016 hitting an ultimate high of 1262.7 HML in December 2015.

Labor is affected by a variety of factor in an economy both from either side of the border of the economic space of a country or an economy.  Empirical research has given much more attention to the effects of trade on labor markets than to the impacts of FDI on employments. Analysis on the effect of FDI on employment is thus more complicated.

A large number of studies have been conducted that try to establish whether OFDI substitutes or complements domestic jobs and this is split into two. In the home employment effect of foreign direct investment: from empirical results, China’s OFDI contribution to the employment of the country is a noticeable difference in the studies conducted over time. It was found that FDI  can stimulate exports thus, in turn, achieving more employment.

These multinationals,  in the process of processing trade of foreign investments, source most of their materials from the domestic markets. This are raw materials, spare parts and other half finished products.  This increases the demand for these goods in the domestic market hence raising the employment in the different industries producing them and those related to them.

However, with the surplus of china’s labor being serious and FDI still being at a start stage, many investments belong to the defensive industry. These investments cause an increase in the demand of domestic capital and goods thus edging out domestic investments from the market.

Research also shows that china’s FDI  does not influence employment in the primary industries but gives a significant effect in secondary and tertiary industries. With the composition of capital in the tertiary industries being comparatively small,  labor is higher compared to other industries at similar investment levels thus FDI  achieving more influence in tertiary sectors.

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Research done on the effect of FDI on the home country have elicited mixed results. Research dealing in detail with the employment effect of FDI found a substitution effect between a foreign subsidiary’s activity and its parent’s employment. These studies have majorly concluded that change mainly occurs between countries with comparable endowments. This thus implies that low-wage countries make better substitute among themselves than.

Studies indicate that American multinationals are employing vertical FDI seem to be reducing employment back home compared to production by transferring labor intensive stages of their production processes to their affiliates in developing countries. Other studies have concluded that labor substitution is more likely to take place when factor proportions are different in various locations and vertical FDI prevails. The second group of research has found that the complementary effect prevails, this noted a positive effect on employment due to an affiliate activity in the host country.

The main reason behind this is that the opportunity to invest in a low-cost host country could increase the firm’s competitiveness, promote its use of economies of scale, and reduce its costs, which may lead to an increase in home-country employment.

This brings the picture of a scale effect dominating over a substitution effect for the parent country’s firms and the parent country’s employment. In the North American car industry, studies have found that jobs in Japan were growing as a consequence of investing abroad. This is explained as the result of allocating labor intensive production to developing countries thus increasing supervisory and ancillary employment to mainly service foreign operations.

According to Hu (2011), the two factors affecting employment are economic development and capital stock, with capital stock encompassing both domestic and foreign FDI.

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The third group of studies shows that outward investments can increase the demand and wages for skilled labor in both the parent and host countries. This is attributed to the differences in labor demand in both countries

Nunnenkamp, Bremont and Waldrich (2011) posed the question on whether foreign direct Investment contributed to employment creation in Mexico. An analysis of FDI and employment data covering manufacturing firms in Mexico were used. From this, they estimated the dynamic labor demand functions for blue and white collar workers, including both FDI and its interaction with major industry characteristics.

Using the GMM estimator proposed by Nunnenkamp, Bremont and Waldrich (2011) they accounted for the relatively short time dimension of the panel data (1994-2006). It showed that FDI had a positive though the quantitatively modest impact on manufacturing employment in Mexico. This was in contrast to a widely held view applying to both white collar and blue collar jobs.

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Hu (2011) found that it is very difficult to assess the outcome of FDI on employment in European nations mainly due to the different stages of economic development in the countries. According to him, the first stage of FDI  is characterized by elimination unproductive jobs giving way to new productive jobs.

This is mainly due to the restructuring of jobs by extensive mechanization and automation leading to loss employment while the organisations became better and more profitable. From these, the multinationals create a better and more productive labor force.  This process of creatively destroying labor ends up creating a more positive effect on employment. Finally, it is found that the research shows that FDI is not a golden wand to the creation of jobs.

 Liu (2012) using data collected between 1986-2010, concludes that that the effect of FDI on employment was positive before 1996, but the effect was not noticeable after 1996.

According to established theory, the activities of affiliates can be related to the motives of FDI, namely efficiency seeking, market seeking and strategic-asset-seeking flows. The impact of these types of FDI on trade patterns are explained by distinguishing four kinds of trade linkages between the parent firm and her affiliates:

  • The substitution of former exports through FDI
  • Growing (re-)imports of goods and services produced abroad
  • FDI associated exports of goods and services
  • FDI induced exports of other product lines neither generated by the foreign affiliates nor exported earlier by the parent 

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The overall impact of FDI on domestic employment is the sum of negative (export substitution, re-imports) and positive effects (associated and induced exports) and can be tested only empirically. Any distinction between direct and indirect FDI is justified only if their trade linkages differ. In a broad view, the literature reviewed shows that MNE (Multinational Enterprises) employment can promote growth and poverty reduction in host countries in four ways.

(i) Multinational Enterprises job has a direct and indirect impact on domestic employment: this is through direct employment and indirect employment through forward and backward linkages in the local firms.

(ii) Multinational Enterprises employment boosts wages in host countries:

A number of studies have shown that Multinational Enterprises pay higher wages than local firms even after controlling for firm and worker characteristics. The presence of multinationals will also at times cause wages to be higher in industries and in provinces that have a higher foreign direct investment

(iii) Multinational Enterprises employment fosters technological transfers:

Through labor turnover, technology gets diffuse into the host countries as domestic employees move from foreign firms to local companies.

(iv) Multinational enterprises employment enhances labor force productivity in host country:

Several studies have shown that workers in foreign-owned enterprises are more productive than workers in domestically owned enterprises.

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Methods

Time series and AUTOREG process in SAS were used to access historical association between the inflows of FDI and employment in China. Since, dependent and independent variables are time series data, model error has a significant probability of not being independent based on time   The AUTOREG procedure measures and predicts linear regression for time series in the event that errors are Autocorrelated.

Dependent and independent Variables

As indicated early, FDI has led to crowding-out influence on employment, as such an essential indicator of job opportunities. Besides FDI, various variables may impact employment including GDP, interest rates and wages. Some of the components of GDP include government expenditure, consumption, value of net exports and investment (Mankiw, 2012). The thesis uses China’s Statistical Yearbook that has FDI as an investment element.

For that reason, the assessment was performed using GDP values from this Statistical yearbook and provided values of GDP subtracted with FDI.  The results were then utilized in testing the association between GDP and employment. For easier understanding, model outcomes of GDP are obtained from Statistical Yearbook of China. The estimates of the model are similar, with same independent variables under the requirements of alternative model. The model outcome of GDP with no adjusted FDI is demonstrated in analysis section.       

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Moreover, since China’s FDI information from World Bank beginning in 2005 demonstrate considerably amounts in comparison to Statistical Yearbook, however, employment and GDP are similar in these sources, models were evaluated using FDI and other variables from World Bank and Statistical Yearbook respectively. The results are demonstrated in table 1.

Table 1: Chinese National Economy Data

    YearEmplo yment (100mi llion)    FDI  FDI ˄World Bank˅    GDP  GDP- FDI  total wageintere st rate for depos itsintere st rate for loans  Exchan ge rate
19854.987319.5616.592943.0 72923.5 1430.9 18.287.923.2095
19865.128222.4418.752816.2 32793.7 9444.7 99.367.923.7314
19875.278323.1423.143290.2 93267.1 5504.1 39.367.923.7314
19885.433431.9431.944124.0 94092.1 5620.7 310.8013.323.7314
19895.532933.9233.934113.1 14079.1 9622.1 514.9419.264.2088
19906.474934.8734.873695.7 13660.8 4563.7 011.5211.165.2352
19916.549143.6643.664162.9 64119.3612.8 89.009.725.4234
19926.6152110.0 8111.564739.0 54628.9 7677.2 39.009.725.8166
19936.6808275.1 5275.156345.6 66070.5 1844.5 612.0612.245.8210
19946.7455337.6 7337.875906.2 75568.6782.8 813.8614.048.5024
19956.8065375.2 1358.4927584.4 27209.2 1966.4 913.8614.048.3351
19966.8950417.2 6401.88904.2 78487.0 11076. 2912.0615.128.3290
19976.9820452.5 7442.379874.0 69421.4 91161. 116.6610.538.2700
19987.0637454.6 3437.5110463. 3210008. 691228. 046.668.018.2700
19997.1394403.1 9387.5311018. 7410615. 551324. 662.886.218.2700
20007.2085407.1 5383.99311940. 6311533. 481324. 632.886.218.2700
20017.3025468.7 8442.4113183. 5612714. 781475. 862.886.218.2700
20027.3740527.4 3493.079 76614567. 7914040. 361649. 112.795.768.2700
20037.4432535.0 5494.568 47116519. 1615984. 111853. 642.795.768.2700
20047.5220606.3 0621.080 4319462. 718856. 42129. 993.606.128.2700
20057.5825603.2 51041.08 69423208. 3322605. 082554. 223.606.128.0757
20067.4978630.2 11240.82 03628471. 1327840. 923101. 644.146.397.8224
20077.5321747.6 81562.49 33536166. 735419. 023998. 094.416.397.3714
20087.5564923.9 51715.34 6546083. 95451605147. 095.587.476.8565
20097.5828900.3 31310.57 05351082. 3850182. 055900. 705.587.476.8227
20107.61051057. 352437.03 43560602. 1559544. 87111. 574.206.146.6469
20117.64201160. 112800.72 21973453. 3972293. 289455. 835.006.606.3405

Table 2 Chinese National Economy GDP Disaggregated Data

Unit (100 million US$)

  YearGross Domestic Product
household expendituregovernment expenditureGross capital formationNet export
19851460.48404.701077.270.62
19861420.94407.271056.41-68.39
19871641.77449.831195.802.89
19882108.62528.331527.63-40.49
19892093.85558.731504.63-44.10
19901805.26504.201288.7897.47
19911978.57619.781450.75113.86
19922235.00722.621734.0547.38
19932819.46942.762700.17-116.73
19942569.18870.112392.4074.58
19953403.641005.213055.76119.81
19964076.831196.253455.99175.20
19974464.511356.603623.70429.25
19984743.571494.433786.48438.84
19995068.971658.593984.46306.72
20005544.691893.764213.16289.02
20015977.742115.844808.88281.10
20026415.552268.435509.67374.14
20036970.962422.706766.99358.51
20047886.152700.628363.77512.16
20059034.353268.929640.881264.18
200610556.293902.6911883.062129.09
200713068.414870.2315050.503177.56
200816286.796089.4220174.333533.41
200918100.476691.8924087.652202.37
201021176.588027.2529126.952271.37
201126014.5410033.2935487.211918.35

Data Source: China statistical yearbook.

Table 3 Chinese Economy Primary Sector Source Data

Unit (100 million US$)

YearEmployment (100 million)FDIGDPGDP-FDITotal Wage
19973.4846.27631746.31740.0231.78
19983.51776.23751791.731785.4930.22
19993.57687.101517861778.930.58
20003.60436.75941807.11800.3431.45
20013.65138.98731908.261899.2732.43
20023.68710.27641999.641989.3633.63
20033.654610.00842101.782091.7740.6
20043.526911.14342589.212578.0742.46
20053.3977.18262776.232769.0545.65
20063.19415.99453073.233067.2451.56
20073.07319.24073883.523874.2863.03
20082.992311.91024915.344903.4375.32
20092.88914.28735159.285144.9978.71
20102.793119.11956098.12607994.34
20112.659420.08887489.357469.26110.03

Data Source: China statistical yearbook.

Table 4 Chinese Economy Secondary Sector Data

Unit (100

millio n US$)

YearEmployment (100 million)FDIGDPGDP-FDITotal Wage
19971.6547325.69894539.664213.96556.41
19981.66313.27494716.354403.08514.97
19991.6421277.84324961.744683.9521.02
20001.6219295.7985508.575212.77546.18
20011.6284348.08445986.985638.9575.7
20021.578394.71856517.146122.42627.26
20031.6077391.96967549.947157.97719.88
20041.692454.63068936.438481.8831.48
20051.8084446.924310847.1210400.21009.74
20061.8894425.06613259.312834.21248.39
20072.0186428.610517070.2116641.61587.29
20082.0553532.562421731.7121199.12018.55
20092.108500.758223088.1222587.42272.02
20102.1842538.603728191.0727652.52789.19
20112.2544557.48734762.6934205.24030.86

Data Source: China statistical yearbook.

Table 5 Chinese Economy Tertiary Industry  Data

YearEmployment (100 million)FDIGDPGDP-FDITotal Wage
19971.8432120.59523263.383142.78549.09
19981.886135.11513697.763562.64578.94
19991.9205118.24244095.943977.7642.53
20001.9823104.59074681.254576.66710.91
20012.0228111.70425361.165249.46822.43
20022.109122.43376033.725911.29930.53
20032.1809133.06876772.036638.961093.16
20042.3011140.52587806.697666.161256.05
20052.3771149.149277.129127.981498.82
20062.4143199.081911320.6811121.61801.7
20072.4404309.827715105.9414796.12347.77
20082.5087379.481219155.5418776.13053
20092.5857385.281721681.9821296.73549.97
20102.6332499.629226116.8325617.24228.04
20112.7282582.534232329.0831746.55314.93
Data Source: China statistical yearbook.    

Unit (100 million US$)

Model outcome of industry with respect to GDP without FDI are indicated in table 6

Table 6: Chinese National Economy Normal Least Squares Results

The AUTOREG Procedure

SSE2.74028586DFE18
MSE0.15224Root MSE0.39018
SBC44.5152978AIC32.852766
MAE0.22047964AICC43.4410013
MAPE3.56510991HQC36.3206481
Durbin-Watson0.7275Regress R-Square0.8492
  Total R-Square0.8492
VariableDFEstimateStandard Errort ValueApprox Pr > |t|
Intercept15.48390.88426.20<.0001
FDI10.0031700.0013552.340.0310
household1-0.0001390.000722-0.190.8497
government10.0014270.0013501.060.3044
GCF1-0.0001820.000230-0.790.4394
export1-0.0001460.000220-0.670.5144
wage1-0.0005880.000951-0.620.5443
deposit10.0066440.12140.050.9569
loan10.01370.08930.150.8795

Additionally, wages influence employment. A number of studies have assessed the connection between wages and employment. Wages cannot affect employment, in other words, reducing real wages in not useful to increase job opportunities. On the contrary increased job opportunities do not affect wages. When job opportunities increase, it implies that increased demand while reducing real wages. Interest rates also affect employment.

For instance, a decrease in interest rate on deposit means that individuals will deposit less hence promote consumption in households while promoting production and recruitment as the market will require additional employees. In contrast, when there is a reduction of interest rate on loans, producers will borrow from banks at reduced costs thus assist in expanding production and a nation will need extra employees.

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Sources of data

In this study, to assess the connection between FDI and employment in China, eight independent variables were used including wages, FDI, government expenditure, consumption, net exports, investment, interest rates for loans and deposit from 1985 to 2011.

In china, the Reform and Opening Policy was introduced in 1978, a period when FDI started to flow. Nonetheless, as a result of inadequate information on FDI, interest rate for deposit and loans, wages while ensuring that independent variable , data was collected from similar source as well as period- 1985to 2011.When it comes to statistical analysis, three major industries in the economy of China, information on four elements of GDP and interest rates for loans and deposit was not available.   

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Additionally, in the analysis of three major sectors; GDP, FDI and wages were used as independent variables. Information on industry analysis was available for 1997 to 201. And for national economy and industry analysis dependent variable was similar – number of employed individuals, which was represented as 100 million employment opportunities.

Consequently, original Chinese information source FDI units, household spending, net exports, wages, government spending and gross capital are represented by 100 million US dollars. On the other hand, household spending, net exports, wages, government spending and gross capital are represented based on Chinese currency RMB. To ensure that there is uniformity in the information, exchange rate for RMB to USD from 1985 to 2011 was employed to convert RMB to 100 million USD. The interest rates units are expressed as a percentage.                           

Owing to the fact that each industry has various units/sectors, the primary, secondary and tertiary data values are the totals of every sector in each industry. The primary sector comprises of forestry, agriculture, fishing and animal husbandry while the secondary industry involves manufacturing, mining, supply of water, gas, and waters. Addition, tertiary industry represents other sectors not in the primary and secondary industries.

Some of these sectors are storage, transport, information dissemination, hotels and catering; realtor, scientific research and so forth (China Statistical Yearbook).For that reason, the useful data for primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, and FDI information and wages were estimated.  GDP information is collected from China’s yearbook. Information for the China’s economy is illustrated in Table 1 and Table 2. Table 3 presents primary sector data and Table 4 and Table 5 represents secondary and tertiary sectors for the economy of china respectively.

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Results

Data analysis was performed using AUTOREG procedure to demonstrate the connection between independent and dependent variables of employment. The modeling approach changes due to inadequate interdependence of data values as well as estimation error through modeling errors as  lag-one autoregressive, or AR(1), framework. According to the model errors in the analysis, it demonstrates cases of moderate level of skewedness for particular model while approximating normality in certain cases.

Much as heteroskedasticity of errors is not directly tackled, AUTOREG process id developed to deal with such issues; based on the fact that there is insufficient volatility in the information to assess the models.

Findings for the national economy of China

Based on the findings from the overall economy of China, it is evident that independent variables including household spending, FDI, gross capital, government spending wages, net capital and interest rates of loans and deposits have a significant relationship with employment- the dependent variable. According to estimations from Ordinary Least Squares, 84.95 percent of changes in employment can be forecasted by independent variables (table 6).

In addition, from Maximum Likelihood that involves adjusted Autocorrelated errors, there were about 95.89 percent changes in employment, which can be estimated by eight predictor variables (Table 7). The association between every independent as well as dependent variable is illustrated in Tables 6 and 7. Since the information is focused on 27 year while standard errors are huge compared to large datasets, estimations demonstrate that particular p-values are more than 5%.

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Using, Ordinary Least Squares, it is clear that there is a strong correlation between FDI and employment- with a p-value of 0.031. There is no evident association between dependent variable and household spending, FDI, gross capital, government spending wages, net capital and interest rates of loans and deposits (Table 6 With respect to Maximum Likelihood that comprises of the impacts of autoregressive lag-1 framework there is a negative correlation between employment and interest rates loans, because the p-value is more than 5% at 0.0616.            

While this is not a strong relationship, it indicates and provides areas fro further studies in future. Again, there is no correlation between employment and other independent variables (Table 7). First-order autoregressive or AR (1) model is utilized to address trends of high serial reliance within data. It is estimated at -0.9779 with a Pearson value of less than 0.0001. This suggests that independent errors associated with data for one time though closely associated. in other words, every year  independent error is closer to the previous year’s error.

Based on Maximum Likelihood and Ordinary Least Squares, the association between independent and dependent variables are not similar. In the Ordinary Least Squares, there is a strong correlation between dependent and independent variables (Table 6), this is because the p-value is at 0.031 while estimate for parameter at 0.00317. On the other hand, for Maximum Likelihood, there is no significant correlation between employment and FDI; however, there is a negative association between employment and interest rates for loans (Table 7), since the Pearson value and parameter estimates at 0.0653 and -0.0653 respectively.                                                                    

This variation is due to Maximum Likelihood put into account First-order autoregressive procedure and also the impact of independent variables that significantly affects parameter estimations of every predictor variable. This result indicates that putting into account autoregressive framework, the impact of FDI weakens while interest rates for loan demonstrate a significant influence on employment. Residual analysis is shown in Figure 6.

Residual analysis is important when it comes to measuring the variation between estimated and observed values for every year employment level. For employment- the individuals employed in China, every year’s residual is at -1 and 1 apart from 1988 to 1990. In other words, the observed and estimated values are closely, other than in 1988 t0 1990.                                                                       

According to lag framework, the probability of white noise reduces as the lag time increases, when the lag period increase, it becomes challenging to forecast employment level. The autocorrelation function is a trend of autocorrelation in a given time series at several lags while the partial autocorrelation function is the trend of incomplete autocorrelation in any given time series at different lags

Findings for primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy of China

In the primary sector it is evident that 3 independent variables including FDI, wages and GDP have a significant correlation with employment. With Ordinary Least Squares estimation, 97.36% of difference in the employment is described by these variables as demonstrated in Table 8while Maximum Likelihood represents 97.39 percent of difference in employment (Table 9).

Since the data used is fifteen year data, it is intricate to achieve a small Pearson value, which demonstrates a positive statistical association. With regards to Ordinary Least Squares, there is a strong connection between employment and FDI as the p-value is at 0.001. In addition, the Maximum Likelihood, there is a strong relationship between employment and FDI because the Pearson value is at 0.005.

When it comes to secondary industry, 3 independent variable such as GDP, FDI and wages have a strong correlation with employment. The Ordinary Least Squares, 96.63 percent and Maximum Likelihood estimations indicate that 97.91percent changes in employment level can be forecasted by wages, FDI and GDP (Table 4.5 and 4.6). Much as the Ordinary Least Squares value indicate that there is a strong connection between employment and FDI since the Pearson value is 0.0007, there is a strong negative association between employment and wages with a p-value of 00187 and -0.000276 parameter estimates.

Again, Maximum Likelihood demonstrates a strong positive association between FDI and employment since the p-value is less than 0.05 at 0.027 and parameter estimates at 0.0000461. While the there is no statistical significance between employment and wages, Maximum Likelihood is similar to Ordinary Least Squares Figure 8).

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In the tertiary industry, there is a strong correlation between 3 independent variables- wages, FDI and GDP. Ordinary Least Squares results shows 95.16 percent of difference in the employment level, which is due to these variables while Maximum Likelihood demonstrates a 98.27 percent of change in employment level, which can be described by wages, FDI and GDP.

In Ordinary Least Squares values, there is a negative association between FDI and employment, because the Pearson value is greater than 0.05 at 0.0251 and parameter value at -0.002095. There is a strong negative connection between wages and employment with Pvalue and parameter estimation at 0.0264 and -0.001326 respectively. However, there is a significant correlation between employment and GDP since Pearson value is at 0.0046 and parameter estimate at 0.00312.

Based on Maximum Likelihood outcome, the parameter estimations demonstrates a negative correlation between employment and FDI because the p value is more than 0.05 at 0.0251 and strong association between GDP and employment with a p value at 0.0604.  The strong negative association between employment and wages in the Ordinary Least Squares results is not significant in Maximum Likelihood results (Figure 9).

To guarantee that these correlations are precise, further estimations were performed by subtracting FDI from GDP, rather than using GDP information from Chinese Statistical Yearbook to establish the reported association between employment and independent variables of primary, secondary and tertiary industries of China’s economy.

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These results are similar to the above results. Nonetheless, the new outcomes will assist in verifying the validity of previous relationships. Furthermore, FDI information collected from Chinese Statistical Yearbook were evaluated against those from World Bank to guarantee that past outcomes are in line with other sources of information. The results of primary industry demonstrate that with careful consideration of autoregressive system, the strong correlation between employment and FDI is still strong.

This confirms that without doubt FDI has a positive influence on employment in the primary industry. In the secondary industry, Ordinary Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood estimates demonstrate a similar correlation between independent and dependent variables, therefore, GDP as well as wages affect level of employment, where GDP has a strong relationship while wages has a negative correlation.

In the tertiary industry, the negative association between wages and level of employment is not statistically significant in Maximum Likelihood; GDP has a strong correlation on the employment in Ordinary Least squares; and GDP is closely a strong independent variable of employment in Maximum Likelihood. Apparently, FDI has a negative impact on employment in the tertiary industry. For the general economy of China, there is no strong correlation between FDI and employment; and there exists a strong negative association between interest rates on loan and employment.

Bibliography

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Liu, L. 2012. FDI and Employment by Industry: A Co-Integration Study, Modern Economy, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 16-22.

Michael, H. (2013). Foreign Direct Investment in China: Theories and Practices. New Jersey State: Routledge Publishers.

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Sjöholm, F. 2011. The Effect of FDI on Employment and Technology in China. Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Örebro University

Sornarajah, M. (2011). The International Law on Foreign Investment. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

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Zhang, L., LeGates, R. & Zhao, M. (2016). Understanding China’s Urbanization: The Great Demographic, Spatial Economic and Social Transformation. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Zia, S., and Rizvi, A. 2011. The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Employment Opportunities: Panel Data Analysis. Institute of Business Management.

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Cultural Change Concept Paper

Cultural Change
Cultural Change

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Cultural Change Concept

Introduction

The society today has turned out to become in full awareness of its status as a multi-cultural unit that is slowly transformed by the cultural change proponents of globalization that has turned the world into a small village. This has seen several cultural change within the society that include the awareness of the community of their rights and freedoms.

This aspect has been considered as a functional dilemma since it has thwarted the ethnic and cultural change appetites of most of the communities that still embrace the element of traditional customs (Delanty, 2011). Habits have been changed and behaviors transformed as a result of the new wave of transformation that has brought with it the aspect of development.

In a small village, South East of Timbuktu, a society is struggling to embrace the element of change. To this society, the aspect of change being a good element likened to rest does not make any sense. This society in other words has chosen to fight the arsenals of globalization that has wrought change in the community. However, their approaches to fighting these changes are as harmless as a toothless woman.

This paper therefore seeks to develop a fictional story that describes a fictitious persona living within a modern community that is inhibited by several challenges. The paper additionally seeks to inclusively incorporate the proponents of sociological concepts that include social construction of gender, the use of social imagination and the theoretical perspectives included within the fictional story.

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The Natives of Kumbaya

Kumbaya is one of the smallest sections of communities in the South Eastern parts of Timbuktu. This village upholds some of its traditional cultures and believes in the fact that the proponents of globalization are just but the Western approach of colonization. This determines the rationale behind their resistance to accept that changes that globalization is bringing within the towns around them.

This community consequently believes in their inherited traditions and cultures that are tied on by different elements such as language, values and beliefs (Delanty, 2011). The only language known to the natives of this community is Kumbayana that is widely spoken by the inhabitants of this community.

One of the village elders known as Kundida is considered as the right man of their god. Kundida is aged 85 years old and believes that before the community interacts in any activity, prior consultation should be done with their god to approve and consent to their activities. This has seen Kundida consulted to make incantations to their god during planting seasons and in allowing the community to even seek health care and education. Any individual within this community who goes against the directives of Kundida is considered a disgrace and in most instances punished for their actions.

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The village of Kumbaya also has a series of developed norms and values that are developed by the elders within the society before approval by Kundida who is considered as the final say in determining what is right for the people of Kumbaya. These values define the manner in which the population needs to act within the society (Delanty, 2011). In consideration of the norms and values in accordance to the views of this community, women are considered as junior to the male individuals within the society.

The manner in which the society views the women in this case is biased. Kundida has over time refuted the claims of the outside world on the development of their community’s norms and values that are against the freedoms and rights of the women. Women in this community are discriminated and treated as tools of trade that can be exchanged for the furtherance of a family’s objective.

Kundida also believes that education is one of the weapons that is developed by the Western World to negatively influence the minds of the communities younger generation, a factor that would lead to the wrought of their cultural values and norms. In an instance, one of the elites who went through the odds of the society to achieve his goal in pursuing education is considered as an outcast and burnished from the society (Ferreira, 2014).

Tumbali has been in the fore front to transform the manner in which the society views women and other social problems, a factor that has bore no fruits since the community has been trained to believe in their own systems and frown upon cultural change.

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It is also essential to consider the fact that Kundida does not believe in the aspect of his community’s prosperity and cultural change, a factor that determines the manner in which the Kumbayan community is socially stratified (Ferreira, 2014). The inhabitant of this population believe that no wealth belongs to a single individual and when there is a need, the community or the individuals have the authority to get whatever they require to meet these needs.

Poverty has in this case evaded the community of Kumbaya while the other communities that boarder this village prosper. According to Kundida, the accumulation of individual wealth is one of the sources and the root of evils within the society.

However, Kundida has ensured that there are traditions and cultural change that need to be adhered to by the community members. The community is required to daily bring food into his store house and ensure that there is enough for him to feed each and every day (Gangas, 2016). The communities even in abject poverty are forced to adhere to these traditions since there is a belief that individuals who fail to adhere to these traditions are likely to be stricken by thunders.

This has therefore developed a social unrest within the community of Kumbaya who are not allowed to even seek for medical help from intuitions of health within Timbuktu. The sick individuals within the society are required to use herbal medicines and if the situation worsens, they are required to seek prayers and meditations from Kundida who is believed to have access to god.

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Over time, Kundida has been sported as vocal about the changes that are developing within the society around him. In his view, he believes that development is evil, and the society is getting into the Western trap of colonization (Gangas, 2016). As a matter of this fact, the children within this society are only allowed to learn their traditional activities that include firming, fishing and hunting. Education in this community is therefore considered as one of the social evils that washes away the brains of the children and the youth and develops vices and immoral actions that consume the community values and morals.

Several organizations have held talks with Kundida to enlighten him of the important issues that would see the prosperity of his people with focus on education, health care and the well being of the community members. However, the people of Kumbaya believe that the final say rests with Kundida who has access to god and knows what is best for the people of Kumbaya.

Women are used to the manner in which they are viewed and discriminated and consider this as a normal act. On the other hand, the girls within this community are also subjected to such harsh treatments and are trained to take up their responsibilities as women as early as they can walk. The village of Kumbaya is still flowing under the annals of darkness even when there seems to be no hope at the end of a tunnel.

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Conclusion

It is essential to consider that the development of this fictional paper inclusively incorporated the elements of sociological concepts in developing the actions of the fictional character within a fictitious community. Some of the sociological concepts used in depicting the nature of this society include the proponents of values, beliefs, cultures and the language of the community.

On the other hand, the element of social construction of gender in this fictional story can be seen in the manner in which the community of Kumbaya views women, a factor that has resulted in discrimination of this gender. Women are in this case treated as junior to any male individual within the society be it their husbands or their male children, thus pointing out to the element of social construction of gender.

In this fictional story, the element of social imagination is employed in the manner in which this community is trained to believe. Kundida in this case has ensured that there are traditions that need to be adhered to by the community members. The community is required to daily bring food into his store house and ensure that there is enough for him to feed each and every day.

The communities even in abject poverty are forced to adhere to these traditions since there is a belief that individuals who fail to adhere to these traditions are likely to be stricken by thunders. This has therefore developed a social unrest within the community of Kumbaya who are not allowed to even seek for medical help from intuitions of health within Timbuktu. The theory of social stratification is additionally included in the paper.

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References

Delanty, G. (2011). Varieties of critique in sociological theory and their methodological implications for social research. Irish Journal Of Sociology, 19(1), 68-92.

Ferreira, S. (2014). Sociological Observations of the Third Sector through Systems Theory: An Analytical Proposal. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary & Nonprofit Organizations, 25(6), 1671-1693. doi:10.1007/s11266-014-9469-7

Gangas, S. (2016). From agency to capabilities: Sen and sociological theory. Current Sociology, 64(1), 22-40. doi:10.1177/0011392115602521

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Retirement Plans Research Study

Retirement Plans
Retirement Plans

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Retirement Plans

Introduction

During the past three decades the retirement plans have shifted from Direct Benefit (DB) to Defined Contribution (DC).The trend is seen in both public and private sectors. The DC plans transfer much of the decisions like the investment and savings from the employer to the employee. The DC plans have attracted the employees in terms of their flexibility and portability.

The mentioned benefits come with the responsibility to choose in a wise manner. The plans have also provided the economists to study the saving behaviors of the individuals. In developed countries like US the plans have expanded themselves to several other factors like health care and time-off arrangements. Due to their wide adoption they have been implemented in different countries including Latin American Nations, Germany, Sweden and Russia.

As the power of decision is given to the individual it is assumed that the employee will behave as an active economic agent acting to maximize its self-interest.  According to this implicit assumption it is assumed that the individual can interpret and judge the information presented as options from employees and governments. The individual is able to evaluate and balance the choices offered to him and can reach an informed decision.

In the recent years it is seemed that the people when trying to maximize the profitability make decisions which have less outcomes as expected. According to the studies the individuals have the right intention but they lack in the abilities to make necessary changes in the behavior. The philosophy of the people making such decisions has developed the rapidly increasing fields of behavioral economics and finance (Utkus et.al, 2003).

b) Purpose

This research will focus on the question of behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions and the reaction of the market towards these decisions. In the research it will be analyzed that how the workers make decisions to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement. The choices of making decisions have some consequences which are planned to be evaluated in this research. The research questions are as follows:

  1. Are the employees well placed and informed about the plans offered by the employers or the governments?
  2. How the DC plans are implemented in the various countries?
  3. How the employees made decisions regarding their retirement plans?

Literature Review

Defined Contribution (DC) Plans in Various Countries

Stakeholders in the employment sector have an obligation of ensuring that retired employees attain the capacity of enjoying lifelong financial security. However, the approach of how and when this can be achieved remains a wide subject of discussion. Different nations across the globe adopt different mechanisms of implementing their policies regarding saving for the future. Defined contribution (DC) is one of the most adopted approaches of enhancing the employee saving concept for future financial security.

Edwards and Webb (2015)defines Defined Contribution as a retirement plan sponsored by the employer, which puts into account several factors like employee salary history and period of services. Under this scheme, the company exercises entire control of the investment risk and management of portfolio. According to Edwards and Webb (2015), the success retirement scheme is dependent on the input of the plan, levels of saving, and performance level of investments provisions relative to particular benchmarks.

However, these metrics do not sufficiently address the plans potential in providing employees with adequate retirement income. Similarly, there are several challenges, which the responsible institutions of implementing retirement schemes face in the line of deciding the most suitable retirement plan to employ (Beshears 2012). As a result, different countries employee employ different schemes suitable for the needs of its employees.

The objective of this paper is a literature review addressing how different countries implement defined contribution policy. This study also presents a discussion on the relevance of the said retirement plans and contribution schemes and some of the areas, which needs to be addressed to meet the needs of the participants.

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 Implementation of Defined Contribution plan

Defined contribution plan is a retirement benefit policy adopted by most countries across the globe. For instance, the most adopted employer-sponsored retirement plan in the US pension system is the use of DC plans with 401(k), 403(b) plans, 457 plans among others (Brown 2016; Weisbenne; 2016). According to the 2010 annual report by then US Department of Labor, approximately 73.4 million citizens are members of the defined contribution plan of which 401(k) plan cohabits 60.5 million participants.

The 401(k) plans consists of various attractive characteristics for long-term participants, which includes deferral of tax, flexibility and portfolio control (Miller2015). The scheme provides for the delay of taxes on income and interests until the contributors start getting distributions from the scheme. Rollovers such as the transfer of 401(k) funds into an alternative competent scheme or a self-employed retirement plan can be done easily under this scheme.

This scheme caters for large participant expenses such as emergency loans and medical expenses. Furthermore, employees can be given a lump sum amount of their contributions when the saving period comes to an end.  In case an employee decides to withdraw from the scheme, the employer is provided for by the law to retain 20 % of the distribution. However, in case of rollover to another scheme, the employer is required to transfer 1005 of the contribution.

Despite having attractive features, 401(k) the idea of increasing the rate of tax when deferring tax using a 401(k) may be considered unfavorable by the employees (Adkins 2016). Besides, participants may be frustrated by restriction to utilize their shares before the end of retirement period. Similarly, the 401(k) scheme limits participants to a particular amount of annual contribution, which stops automatically, in case they are forced out of work as a result of becoming disabled.

Adkins (2014) observes that, while there have been many structural improvements on the features of 401(k) scheme, there are several problems, which needs to be addressed. Adkins argues that the problems concerning structural flaws, horizons of long investment period, high administrative costs, lackluster keeping of records should be addressed. In addition, the providers of the plan should also look into the issue of sub-Par investment plan model and options of Marginal Quality Investment as well as implications of complex tax.

According to the overview of the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), a person or the family is entitled to partial earnings replacement after retirement, disability, or death. Regardless of place of residence, one qualifies for a pension from the country of residence. Almost every working citizen in Canada contributes to the Canada Pension Plan. However, Brown (2016) observes that, most of the employees in current generation are not saving enough towards secure retirement benefits.

Besides, in a define benefit plan, employees are only entitled to income when they die, therefore their claim for further pension assets stops when the contributor dies. Nevertheless, under some provisions, the surviving dependents like a spouse can claim the asset. Therefore, Brown recommends that the scheme be upgraded to a defined contribution plan to address this problem.

Under a defined contribution plan, participants are not promised of any retirement benefit stream. Instead, an employee contributes a certain defined amount towards building a personal fund, which develops a financial asset portfolio for generation of retirement income. The participant decides on the investment approach from a wide range of options. However, according to Kolivakis (2015), the defined contribution approach is associated with various problems.

Among the limitations of this scheme is that, in some cases, the funds offered to  workers is relatively high leading to insufficient returns. Secondly, the employees have picked unsatisfactory weightings of the portfolio particularly regarding the employer’s shares, which may turn disastrous incase the firm fails. Besides, the employees are not well vast with how large their contribution should be.

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Nonetheless, Kolivakis (2015) states that the above problems can be addressed through a well define retirement plan. He suggests that the scheme provider should ensure a reasonable allocation of expenses and portfolio. In addition, the sponsor should also ensure that the amount of contribution is adequate to realize the promised benefits (Jefferson 2011)

However, there has been a massive move-out by the private sector on the basis that there are extremely difficult to sustain in the present employment environment. The government is reluctant to chip in its support citing hidden political risks as the main reason. Compulsory pension benefits provisions

On the other hand, defined contribution is mandatory government requirement for all the citizens. For instance, the Malawian legislature enacted a pension act in 2011 and the 2010 employment amendment act to call for citizens to subscribe to retirement benefit schemes. According to Mhango (2012), the driving force behind these legislations was to ensure every employer provides a retirement plan for its employees by facilitating their membership to the national pension scheme.

In addition, the pension act also provides the minimum subscription amount that each employee should contribute. However, Coleman (2011) argues that the mandatory pension scheme is inconvenient for some people, who are forced to save at the time when it is not within their priority. Besides, participants are limited to invest in some assets, which are not of their preference.

The U.S for instance, is one of the nations that has adopted employer-sponsored retirement plan pension system with the use of DC plans with 401(k). However, some scholars argue that while there have been many structural improvements on the features of 401(k) scheme, there is still a lot to be done to make the scheme a completely inclusive. Adkins argues that the problems concerning structural flaws, horizons of long investment period, high administrative costs, lackluster keeping of records should be addressed.

An overview of the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), states that a person or the family is entitled to partial earnings replacement after retirement, disability, or death. However, it is argued that in a define benefit plan, employees are only entitled to income when they die, therefore their claim for further pension assets stops when the contributor dies.

Besides, the limitation of this schemeis that, in some cases, the funds offered to workers are relatively high leading to insufficient returns. In some nations, the working citizens are by law required to subscribe to national pension plan. However, the disadvantage with this initiative is that, it may be inconvenient for some people, who are forced to save at the time when it is not within their priority.

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Employees understanding plans offered by the employers or the government

Employees benefits are the primary tool by which employers use to attract and retain qualified and experienced employees in an organization. Other reasons include; promotion of higher levels of morale among employees, aligning employees’ benefits with competitive offers in the market, providing promotional opportunities as employees move to other positions within the organization or when they retire and so on.

All over the world, employees’ benefits are categorized into two.  The first category is about those that are required by law which aims at providing the most essential and important needs of employees and /or their families. They include; workers compensation, social security, unemployment insurance and others.

The second category is those that the employer offers voluntarily to compensate employees. They include a wide array of programs like; Life Insurance, defined benefit Retirement plan, Health care insurance, paid jury, paid funeral leave, Unpaid family leave, Vocational pay, Holiday pay, Employee assistance programs, Dental care, Flexible compensation, Health care insurance, Paid military leave, Subsidized commuting, Flexible work place, payroll deduction IRA, Wellness programs, dependent Care Reimbursement care account, Long term Disability, Short Disability, Paid family leave, Paid personal leave, Childcare, Stock options and many others. The reasons to why most employers voluntarily offer such benefits range from a desire to be more competitive in the labor market to a genuine concern for their employee’s wellbeing.

Employees benefit plans plays an important role in the lives of employees. As such, the benefits offered by employers can be a deciding factor for a potential employee’s decision to work for a given employer. Most employees seek to know what they will get before they decide whether to accept an offer or not.

Most employees are aware of the plans offered to them by either the employer or the government. For example, most employees prefer medical insurance, paid leave and retirement plan. If you deny them, they will easily head for the door when another opportunity that promises to offer them knocks.

Most of the employees are aware of the government benefits plans. For example, every employee is aware of social security of which every employer pays at the same rate paid by their employees.

Other benefits plans provided by the government. For example, workers compensation, and unemployment insurance are a must and therefore, employers and maybe the government will ensure that all employees are aware of such benefits. The employer will take the first step by not only ensuring that employees are aware but also complying by availing them to employees. A fail to do so may impact their business negatively.

During interviews for a new job, most employers inquire more on the kind of benefits a prospective employee would prefer. Such a question would not be asked by an employer when they know that a prospective employee is not aware of such kind of benefits. 

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Although the law does not require the employer to offer a retirement program to his/her employees, if offered, it must be fully and well disclosed to employees. As such, the employees are made aware since the terms and condition of a retirement program are enforceable in some countries. More specifically, in California courts.

Most employers disclose all kind of benefits they will be offering to a new employee on the contractual letter. At this point in time, the new employee is made to know what kind of benefits her or she will be enjoying and vice versa.

All human beings fall sick at some point in their life time. Although it’s an unfortunate situation, a reasonable employee knows whether he or she like it or not, he or she will once fall sick. As such, an employee will definitely inquire from an employer if they provide a sick leave or not. Some employers will disclose such details during appointment.

Although most of the employees are made aware of the benefits plans they will or are entitled to by their respective employers, some employees who are not keen enough may to some extend not be aware of some benefits they will or are entitled to due to their ignorance.

Other employees simply do not mind some of other benefits their employers may or are offering apart from their normal salary or wages but majority of employees are aware.

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Employee choice of retirement plans

Making decision on when to retire may be one of the greatest decisions an employee makes during his lifetime. The decisions on retirement can significantly affect an individual well-being for many years. Many researches about retirement decision have explored the impact of health NIA (2007) and economic status, Gustman and Steinmeir (2002) on person decision to retire. Research shows that individuals with poor health, or whose family member or loved ones are experiencing negative health conditions, retire earlier than those in better health (McGarry 2002).

The role of the state, local government and private sectors as employers is simply to hire the right kind of employees to provide the best value services to the public or customers. It is not the responsibility of the employers to plan and prepare the employees for retirement. The truth that some individuals will make poor decisions in their retirements planning does not change this.

People still make bad decisions in their marriage and how they raise their children, but no one is suggesting that employers should intervene and make decisions for the employees.  The financial services industry has invested a lot in innovating to provide the services that their clients’ needs. There are reputable financial advisors throughout the country in case an employee requires a financial advisor. If employees require an estimate amount they want to save, there is a calculator tools on internet.

In case they want low cost, diversified investments, there various company that provide this. In case of guaranteed life time income, there multiple insurance firms that offer annuity income. If employees do not use all these services, then they really do not need them. If people want to spend the money today and forget tomorrow, who then is the employer to say their decisions are wrong.

Many employees have a low level on financial knowledge, especially when it comes to retirement planning. Sometimes the employer can provide a valuable guidance and education to its employees on the matter regarding finances and retirement. These services will not only be valuable to employees but also the employers because financial problems are major distraction from work and absenteeism. Through helping employees prepare for retirements, employers enhance smooth transition from order employees to young employees.

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Through education, employees learn financial skills that will help them plan throughout their lives. Through working with an advisor, employees are able to alter the benefits to the certain needs of themselves and their families. Education and guidance have been proven to work and increase the employee’s saving rate. When individual decide to retire, they must have a method to support themselves financially, as their previous income from work will no longer be available.

Hence the question of how to support oneself should be a great consideration in retirement decision. Commonly, income during retirement is thought to come from personal saving, pension and social security benefits. Many employees fail to consider the matter of financial well-being in retirements until retiring become imminent (EBRI 2008).

Creating decision environments that enables people to make the best choices possible is the objective of careful choice architecture which can be used to “nudge” (Thaler and Sustein 2008) retirees toward retirement decisions that are beneficial to them. In such a case, behavioral decision making research can guide the ways policymaker and retirement advisors communicate with potential retirees.

The findings from behavioral decision making research also innovate new ways to approach matters surrounding the retirement’s decision. For instance Featherstonehaugh and Ross (1999) argued that providing retirees with the option to receive a one time, lump sum benefit could encourage delayed retirement. After the survey research, majority of respondent claimed that one-time, lump-sum payment provided a greater incentive to delay the retirement, this compared to Standard Social Security annuity increase.

When deciding when to retire, employees compare what their lives would be like under different scenarios. There also some trade-offs that employees may make when thinking about retirement; more comfortable life now, less money later, working longer now, a good retirements benefits later. An important prerequisite of the retirement decision is the accuracy prediction of one’s future emotions.

There are ways individuals use to help them make accurate predictions of their future well-beings, but sometimes cognitive biases lead to erroneous predictions (Hsee and Hastie 2006). Often errors can be caused by the impact bias (Wilson and Gilbert 2003), it describe people tendency to overestimate the duration and intensity of their emotions in reaction to negative and positive future events.

Understanding the role that affective forecasting can contribute in the retirement decision may be important for recognizing why individuals retire when they do. The same way patients mentally simulate the experience of receiving a mammogram before deciding to make an appointment, just the same employees mentally simulate how retirement would be like before even deciding to retire.

Gilbert and Wilson (2007) discuss four characteristic of affective forecasts and explained why those characteristic mismatch between mental simulations and actual experiences. They argued that the mental simulations are unrepresentative, essentialized, abbreviated, and decontextualized. Unrepresentative, means they are formed from memories of past events that does not display how future events will unfold.

People tend to remember the best and worst of an event, as well as the final part of it, neglecting the instances that were simply average (Kahneman 1997). Therefore when thinking about retirement individuals may form mental simulations of future work experiences using their best and worst work related memories.

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Mental simulations are also essentialized, which means that they only hold the main features of the events but not minor details. This may involve thinking about aspects of one’s job, such as feeling undervalued by a boss, while forgetting details such as interacting with coworkers. Mental simulations are also abbreviated, meaning they are shorter than the actual event being simulated. When thinking how retirement would be, an employee is likely to consider only the early stages of retirement.

Decontextualized, means that the contextual factors present during mental simulation of the future may not be present at the time the event actually occurs. For example when an employee decides to retire, they are earning an income that will not exist once theyretire. At this moment the individuals are not feeling the strain of limited income, and the situation in which they are simulating retirement will not include negative feelings associated with inadequate funds. All of the mentioned features of mental simulations may lead to inaccurate affective forecasts of retirements.

Workers may prefer to retire early both because they think working longer will be worse than it is and life after retirement would be better. Everyday throughout the world employees are preparing or finishing planning their retirement plan. There much to look into when organizing a plan so that you can meets your retirement goals. Most employees focus on what stock and bonds they would wish to invest in and also about 401k. 

Employees find it difficult to determine which kind of stocks they would want to invest in. There are many different stocks in the stock market, therefore making it difficult for people to choose the best. Another problem would be kind of bonds they would also like to invest in. Investing in both stock and bonds does not make the individuals rich but use their money wisely as they near their retirement age.

Old age most of the time brings medical problems and health expenses. Without your own saving, living your younger years in comfort while also minding to cover your medical expenses may be a large burden to bear. To prevent any unforeseen sickness from eating on your retirement savings, you may consider obtaining insurance, such as medical and long term care insurance.

This will finance any health care that may arise. Employees considering retirement could be asked to write down the events that go down in a normal working day. This activity will help the employee paint accurate and complete picture of how it would be to worker much longer and without missing the minor details that somehow make their work more enjoyable.

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Methods

This study aims at assessing behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions and the reaction of the market towards these decisions. Quantitative analysis was used to assess the correlation between dependent as well as independent variables. Understanding behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions is vital when it comes to addressing the research questions of this study.

The study used quantitative technique to assess the gathered information. Different behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions can be estimated by data. Information associated with behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions can provide a detailed understanding regarding how DC plans implemented by various nations; decisions workers make about their retirement plans; and if employees are well placed and informed about the plans offered by the employers or the governments.

Data collection techniques

The purpose of this study is tobehavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions and the reaction of the market towards these decisions. The study also highlights on the how workers make decisions to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement.

Data description

Much as plan-level information is an effective technique to assess the behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions, a number of them are ineffective when it comes to analyzing the effect of how the workers make decisions to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement. As such, survey data can address these challenges, such that it involves defined contribution plans with or without investment decisions.

This study embraces first wave from HRS, which is a household survey that was initiated in 1992. Moreover, detailed demographic information of the participants, supplementary issues, the spouse’s pension eligibility and benefits from present or previous employer or other sources of pension integrated in the questionnaire. Owing to the fact that survey technique is of elderly population, the sample does not represent pen-age group, particularly, the sample of elderly group and hence assessing this data cannot adequately depict behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions.

Some characteristics of contribution degree must be highlighted. For instance, various employers offering plans require a default level of contribution rate for workers, in other words, individuals who choose to use DC plans must automaticallycontribute the default rate of their wages. However, without such data, it becomes challenging to evaluate the actual rate of contribution for individuals desiring to make contribution between 0 and default rate.

Again, employer-funded DC plans impose a maximum level of worker’s contribution. For that reason, if the individual contributes maximum rate, the desired contribution is likely to increase in comparison to the reported rate of contribution. The employer also offers certain percentage to workers’ contribution, however, to a certain proportion of salary.

This is widely known as match threshold. A number of people save in the retirement plans in terms of the amount of match threshold, which is the regarded as initial rate of rate. Nonetheless, HRS does integrate these questions, which can address the default level of contribution, match threshold and maximum amount

Regardless of these limitations imposed on individuals, they have the right to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement. Firstly, individuals can chose to contribute positive rates or any amount between default or maximum rate. Moreover, individuals can contribute a higher figure that what employer or government match threshold.

This research concentrates on the aspect of workers position in terms of making informed choices regarding plans offered by the employers or the governments; implementation of DC plans in different nations; and the way in which employees make decisions regarding their retirement plans.

The decision to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement used in this study is reported data by individuals in HRS. This is the aspect that differentiates limited and unlimited regulation over retirement investments. The study also integrates dummy variable showing that individuals are limited in terms of using their contributions of contribution from governments or employers. In many instance, this is common in profit-sharing and firm stock acquirement plans, whereby contributions from employers or governments are limited in firm stock and workers’ contribution in some circumstances.

When HRS was introduced it has a total of 2277 non-retired people with at least one retirement plan, of these 20.9% individuals indicated that they used DC plans.

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Analysis

The researcher used individuals with DC plans as well as those who provided their views to investment issues, which decreases the sample size to 476 individuals.  Table 1 demonstrates a summary of individuals with DC plans, sub-sample of individuals with positive contributions to personal counts and people with zero contributions accordingly.

On average, these individuals contribute approximately 5.99% of their pay o DC plans, therefore, they contribute roughly 1.84 thousand and how they address their assets in retirement, it is accessible to 60% of individuals and about 16% of them have stock acquirement alternative or profit-sharing, implicitly workers have do  not have power over employers’ contribution to retirement plan. There were about 47% women while 80% of the sample sizes were married. Furthermore, approximately 27% of the individuals have direct benefit plans and also DC plans.

In comparison to the subsample of individuals in this study who had 0 contribution, subsample with a positive demonstrated the capacity to control their savings, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement decision, in other words roughly 71% of the subsample have the ability to make decisions about the retirement plans while 28% have such ability in the sub-sample with 0 contribution.

All individual who had access to positive contributions were less limited in the firm stocks, thus, they had additional income with less contribution from employers that is described based on the ratio contribution from employer  to the worker’s pay.

Figure 1 demonstrates the distribution of levels of contribution in defined contribution plans and decision to invest and with no decision individually. In fact, individuals with the capacity to direct investment make more savings, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement in DC plans, than those with no decisions to save or manage their retirement investment. However, there is a significant reduction among individuals that contribute 0 amounts and a considerable rise in those that save more than 15 % of their wages. The graph below shows that investment decision encourages the amount to save in defined contribution plans.

Results

This part provides results about how workers make decisions to save, manage the retirement investments and how they address their assets in retirement influence their level of contribution in defined contribution plans. There were about 476 individuals in the DC with roughly 22 different plans with 498 observations. Average contribution is 5.99% of their pay and standard deviation of 7.82. The mean of individual’s contribution is 8.9 while 123 individuals indicated 0 contributions.

According to the basic regression, there is asset decisions financial information, and demographic characteristics of participants. The contribution of employer in the defined contribution plans is demonstrated in Column 2, and column 3 shows other plans. Investment coefficient is not only positive but also significant, demonstrating that individuals with ability to select an investment and not limited by the design of retirement plan contribute about 3.25% more of their pay in DC plan compared to other respondents.

On the other hand, the coefficient is limited decisions is negative as well as significant, providing 3.53% less of workers contribution limited by firm stock of workers as well as employer’s contribution, indicating that individuals would not invest in the retirement plans  if they do not completely  self-direct their retirement plans.

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For instance, if contribution from employer is made in firm stock in defined contribution plans, such a system encourages workers to maintain risky portfolios. For that reason, workers with complete authority over their contributions, have to alternatives to balance such risks. On one hand is investing in less risky assets in the defined contribution plans and on the other hand is going for other risky retirement plans like direct benefit. Nevertheless, for workers with partial or no power over their contribution, the effective strategy is reducing DC plan contribution while selecting risk free retirement plans.

Interestingly, to speculate the technique of an individual decision convinces respondents to pay more to their retirement plans. People have conflicting expectations. Variation in retirement plans can tip internal balance while increasing the amount of saving. Such estimates demonstrate that with an investment decision increase salary percentage as such, the effect of employer rate- the initial rate of contribution.

It can be assumed that selecting some or even all investment decisions makes individuals to maximize the contribution level, because asset decisions partially determine the return. This contrasts passive behaviors in retirement plans, particularly, where employers are in charge of managing investment. This formulation suggests that influence of asset similar across genders. With a gender variation, significant impact of asset decision for men is about 4.01 and 0.76 as the standard error while the impact for female is 1.89 and 1.11 standard error, though not correlated to 95% confidence interval.

This shows that women investment decision is determined by investment choices to save in defined contribution plans and they are careful in risky ventures. This is guided by two reasons, for instance women have higher expectations to save maybe they have a longer life expectancy compared to men. Additionally, decision unit is household and in most scenarios women secondary income earners and their revenue supplement their spouses. In such conditions, women reported revenues are considerably lower compared to household revenue and their behavior demonstrates their level of household earnings.

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Conclusion

The paper has discussed behavior adopted by the individuals while making economic decisions and the reaction of the market towards these decisions. there are different extension that emerge. Firstly, individuals with DC plans cannot adequately control the exact amount of contribution from their salaries. Second the study offers econometric impact of investment decision , however, it does not examine the  decision variable will be a constraint on the budget of the individuals.

Bibliography

Adkins, T. 2014. 6 Problems With 401k Plans Retrevied on April 2, 2016 from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/retirement/11/6-problems-with-401k-plans.asp

Beshears, J. 2011. Defined Contribution Savings Plans in the Public Sector: Lessons from Behavioral Economics. Stanford University and NBER

Brown, R 2016.The Pros and Cons of an Expanded Canada Pension Plan. Retrieved on April 2, 2016 from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rob-brown/expanded-canada-pension-plan_b_7571148.htm l

Brown,J.&  Weisbenne, S. 2013. Building Retirement Security through Defined Contribution Plans on April 2, 2016 from http://www.usretirementfacts.com/wpcontent/uploads/file/BrownWeisbenner_FullPaper.pdf

Coleman, A. 2011. Mandatory retirement income schemes, saving incentives, and KiwiSaver. Retrieved on April 2, 2016 from http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/reviewsconsultation/savingsworkinggroup/pdfs/ swg-b-m-mris-24dec10.pdf

Edwards, P. & Webb, C. 2015.Defined Contribution Plan Success Factors Framework for Plans with an Objective of Retirement Income Adequacy. Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association

Jefferson,R. 2011. Rethinking the Risk of Defined Contribution Plans.

Kolivakis, L. 2015. Advantages and Disadvantages Of Defined Contribution Pensions. Bond economics. Retrieved on April 2, 2016 form http://www.bondeconomics.com/2015/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-defined.html

Mhango, M. 2012. Pension regulation in Malawi: Defined benefit fund or defined contribution Fund? Pensions (17, 270–282)

Miller, M. 2015. Pushing Aside 401(k)’s for Mandatory Savings Plans. New York Times the Catholic University of America. Columbus School of Law

Martocchio, J.J 2012. Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach, 7th Edition.

Employees Benefit Research Institute (ENBRI). 2006.”How Many Retire Earlier than Planned? Why?” Fast Facts from EBRI No. 21.

Fetherstonhaugh, David, and Lee Ross.199 “Framing Effects and income Flow Preferences in Decisions about Social Security.”In Bahavioural Dimensions of Retirements Economics.

Gilbert, Daniel T, and Timothy D. Wilson. 2007. “Prospection: Experiencing the Future.”

Hsee, Christopher K, and Reid Hastie. 2006. “Decision and Experience: Why Don’t we Choose what makes Us Happy?”

McGarry , Kathleen. 2002. “ Health and Retirement: Do Changes in Health affect Retirements Expectation?”

Nuttman-Shwartz, Orit. 2007. “Is There Life Without Work?”

Theler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. 2008. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness.

401(K) PLANS. Retrieved on April 2, 2016 from                                                                                         http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/small/Eq-Inc/401-K-Plans.html

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Type 2 Diabetes Patients’ Lack of Proper Education

Lack of Proper Education on Patient with Type 2 Diabetes
Lack of Proper Education on Patient with Type 2 Diabetes

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Lack of proper education on patient with type 2 diabetes

Locating the Best Evidence

            Often, type 2 diabetes patients lack proper education mainly because of the different barriers that they face as well as the receiving education that lacks a proper algorithm. Therefore, there is a great need for these measures to be acted upon so that the patients can realize more positive outcomes. Mshunqane, Stewart and Rothberg (2012) indicated that diabetes type 2 is associated with numerous complications, many of which can cause death if not managed appropriately.

In addition to this, at the worldwide level, the disease is acknowledge as a main challenge that nags the policymakers each day. There is presently some staggering statistics of the increasing prevalence as well as the linked economic and health impact.

            Further, the World Economic Forum, World Health Organization, as well as the United Nations recognize the challenge. All these bodies suggest for collective dedication to improve the life quality of the patients as well as prevent the disease. They are clear that the challenge is universal, urgent, and critical. There is also the acknowledgment that the disease is serious for two main reasons (Stults-Kolehmainen & Sinha, 2014).

First is the health impacts linked to it which are more critical including increased likelihood for lower limb amputations, blindness, heart attacks, kidney failure, as well as stroke. Second, there are indirect and direct costs which are a major drain on the healthcare budgets as well as productivity.

            The issue is very urgent considering that its prevalence is rising. Moreover, managing the complications associated with the disease is very costly, same as incorporating appropriate measures to ensure that the patients lead a high quality and independent life. The mentioned bodies also agree that proper education is one of the strategies through which the disease can be prevented and managed efficiently.

However, there are a number of barriers that prevent this and the education algorithm normally used is inappropriate. Therefore, this systematic review will aim at finding information suggesting the appropriate algorithm as well as the common barriers as well as how they can be addressed.

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Methods

Search strategy

            Peer-reviewed academic journals will be sought from different databases, and these will be used to conduct the systematic review (Lee et al., 2013). The intention will be creating a proper algorithm on diabetes type 2 education, as well as identify some of the barriers to proper education and how they can be addressed. The databases to be used for the systematic review are CENTRAL, Social Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index, PSYCLinfo, Medline, ERIC, and CINAHL.

The references to the articles that were selected were also evaluated for leads. Reading the reviews was necessary as it helped identify if the article was appropriate. In relation to the inclusion criteria, there was selection of articles that were not older than five years. Particularly, there was selection of those discussing the barriers to proper diabetes type 2 education and their solutions, and those discussing proper education standards (Kapoor & Kleinbart, 2012).


Critically Analyzing the Evidence and Synthesis

Proper education algorithm

            Type 2 diabetes education preventive measures will be informed to all the people through local barazas. This would ensure that all people engage in appropriate lifestyles to prevent the disease. Cultural competent educators, and those with proper listening and communication skills will be used to offer the education so that no one can be left behind (Garber, Gross & Slonim, 2010).

It will be necessary to educate the patients on all aspects of the disease including the causes, risk factors, predisposing factors, preventive strategies, available treatments, and management. In addition, awareness on how a patient can ensure self-care should be offered, same as the complications and the direct and indirect costs that a family can suffer because of the disease.

Moreover, the educator should go into details when elaborating on the preventive measures including the diet and physical activity. The more the patients and all people know about the disease and how it is connected to other chronic conditions, the more efficiently they can engage in self-care (Green, 2014).

Barriers and addressing them
            for patients to be able to receive the recommended type 2 diabetes education, they should really be concerned about their healthcare and ready to access or seek quality medical education. However, because of the ignorance some patient have, they prefer using over-the-counter medications or seeking traditional medicine men. They never seek the quality healthcare services because of their ignorance and low socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Therefore, even the use of preventive services among these patients is very minimal. To address this, the local authorities will be given a chance to mobilize people from their living areas, so that education can start at the grassroots level before even being offered at the healthcare institution (Zoepke & Green, 2012).

            In addition, there are many elderly people suffering from type 2 diabetes and with hearing, memory, and vision challenges. These will be offered the education in the presence of caregivers who can assist them around (Chijioke, Adamu &Makusidi, 2010).

Feasibility, Benefits, and Risks

Feasibility

            The project of delivering proper education to the type 2 diabetes, patients is feasible, especially if the most appropriate education is being delivered, with a consideration of the personal factors, and if the barriers that might hinder the education have been considered and measures to address these put in place. Healthcare providers would only need to offer patients attending the institution for medical care services the pamphlets containing all the necessary information.

However, when dealing with type 2 diabetes patients, it would be necessary to find out first what they already know and later creating awareness while dispelling the misconceptions. This would be relatively cheap. It would also be necessary to explore other factors that affect individual patients so that advice can be offered (Rosenstock & Owens, 2008).

Barriers

            After proper education is offered and the barriers to it addressed, some patients might still lack the funds to purchase even the affordable local foods. Considering that some patients might be elderly, there might be issues such as improper vision, hearing loss, and memory loss, which might influence practice of the education.

Benefits

            Ensuring that the patients are receiving proper education and implementing it is essential in that it can go a long way in reducing the high prevalence of the disease, preventing complications, reducing the high costs needed to treat and manage the condition, as well as the losses related to loss of productivity and need for a higher quality of life (Ruffin, 2016).

Risks

            Some of the anticipated risks include limited resources to ensure that adequate and proper education on type 2 diabetes is being delivered to the patients (Valencia &Florez, 2014).  In addition, there might be absence of cultural competence professionals to deal with patients from different backgrounds. In addition, tracking the patients at their homes to ensure that they are implementing the proper education appropriately can be difficult and costly.

References

Chijioke, A., Adamu, A. N., &Makusidi, A. M. (2010). Mortality patterns among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Ilorin, Nigeria : original research. Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes in South Africa, 15, 2, 79-82.

Garber, J. S., Gross, M., & Slonim, A. D. (2010). Avoiding common nursing errors. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Green, B. (June 06, 2014). Diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers : an often hidden problem : review. Sa Pharmacist’s Assistant, 14, 3, 23-26.

Kapoor, B., & Kleinbart, M. (2012). Building an Integrated Patient Information System for a Healthcare Network. Journal of Cases on Information Technology (jcit), 14, 2, 27-41.

Lee YK, Ng CJ, Lee PY, Khoo EM, Abdullah KL, Low WY, Samad AA, Chen WS, & Lee, Yew Kong. (2013). What are the barriers faced by patients using insulin? A qualitative study of Malaysian health care professionals&rsquo; views. Dove Press.

Mshunqane, N., Stewart, A. V., & Rothberg, A. D. (January 01, 2012). Type 2 diabetes management : patient knowledge and health care team perceptions, South Africa : original research. African Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, 4, 1, 1-7.

Rosenstock, J., & Owens, D. (January 01, 2008). Treatment of Type 2 Using Insulin: When to Introduce?.

Ruffin, T. R. (January 01, 2016). Health Information Technology and Change.

Stults-Kolehmainen, M. A., & Sinha, R. (January 01, 2014). The Effects of Stress on Physical Activity and Exercise. Sports Medicine, 44, 1, 81-121.

Valencia, W. M., &Florez, H. (January 01, 2014). Pharmacological treatment of diabetes in older people. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 16, 12, 1192-203.

Zoepke, A., & Green, B. (January 01, 2012). Diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers : an often hidden problem : general review. Wound Healing Southern Africa, 5, 1, 19-22.

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Weight Management for Overweight/Obese Children: Parents Take Charge (PTC)

Weight Management for Overweight/Obese Children: Parents Take Charge (PTC)
Weight Management for Overweight/Obese Children: Parents Take Charge (PTC)

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Weight Management for Overweight/Obese Children: Parents Take Charge (PTC)

Abstract

This proposal is designed to halt the increasing rate of childhood obesity.  Modifications in nutrition, behavior and physical activity are well documented to produce successful outcomes for obesity with the main change agent being the individual.  Due to the complexities of childhood obesity, an intervention that includes proven elements that prevent obesity and addresses the special factors that affect children is needed. 

Parents Take Charge (PTC) is a multi-component family-based childhood obesity intervention that includes modification in nutrition, behavior and physical activity, but focuses on the parent(s) being the primary change agent for the child, age 10-13 years.  Addressed in this evidenced-based proposal are the assessment of need, an analysis of best evidence, design aspects, implementation, evaluation, integration and maintenance of the practice change in a primary care setting. 

The focus of the intervention is to teach healthy lifestyle behaviors to the child through parental involvement instead of focusing on weight reduction as the primary outcome. 

Weight Management For Overweight/Obese Children:  Parents Take Charge (PTC)

Quality care can be defined as appropriately identifying, evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients.  The term quality in healthcare is correlated to professional knowledge and desired health outcomes (Institute of Medicine, 2012).  It is also defined as being closely associated with patient safety (Mitchell, 2008).  Clinical excellence is the goal of providing quality care.  The process for achieving clinical excellence includes patient-centered care. 

The patient is the focus and includes their concerns regarding their illness, values, beliefs and support network. Making the patient an active participant in their health care results in informed decision-making by the patient.  Autonomy, nonmalfeasance, beneficence, justice and fidelity are ethical principles that are addressed as definitions of providing quality care and achieving excellence in primary care. 

America Nurses Association, American League of Nursing, and Center for Applied and Professional Ethics are organizations that set guidelines for excellence (Stanley, 2011).  Quality and excellence in a clinical site is achieved through appropriate, comprehensive and timely care. 

Examples of methods of providing clinical excellence include providing evidence-based treatment, the timely manner in which patients are seen from when they sign in, the offer of generics versus brand-name medications, patient education, open dialogue with patients and referrals to specialist as needed.  Ethical considerations taken in account are the patient’s autonomy.   The patient is provided information for full understanding of their illness, evaluation, treatment and alternative treatments so that the capability for informed decision-making is established.

Guidelines for the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children include how to assess whether people are overweight or obese; what should be done to help people lose weight; how to care for people who are at risk due to their weight and how to help people improve their diets and increase their physical activity (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence NHS, 2012).  

The intention of this paper is to present an evidence-based project (EBP) proposal for childhood obesity.  Included in this paper is assessing the need for change in practice, appropriate theoretical models and frameworks, statement of problem, intervention, goals, systematic review of current research and design.  Assessing the need for change in practice consists of identifying stakeholders, collecting internal data about current practice, comparing external data with internal data, identifying the problem and linking the problem with interventions and outcomes (Larrabee, 2012). 

Step 1:  Assessing the Need for Change in Practice

Stakeholders

The first step for the model of evidenced-base change is assessing the need for change in practice.  To facilitate this, identification of stakeholders is needed.  The target population is children, age 10-13 years and their families.  Final decisions to change behaviors lies with the children, but parents have great influences over the young child’s meals, snacks and physical activities. 

Participating parents therefore, will be the change agent, adding them to the list of stakeholders.  Parents make informed decisions regarding the health of their children with the help of a primary healthcare provider (Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, & Blosser, 2013).  Primary healthcare providers or nurse practitioners (NPs) are stakeholders that will assist in facilitating and implementing change.

Barriers to Change

Barriers for children’s outcomes include their maturity level; ability to understand or commit to the program and their parents, if they are reluctant to participate.  The primary barrier to change is participation of the parents.  Physical activity and dietary behaviors will need modification in and out of the home.  Without the participation of the parents the goal for long lasting results will not occur. 

Barriers for the parents include health literacy level; language, if the primary language is not English and attitudes towards modifying foods and physical activity.  Another barrier is the participant’s adherences to the nutritional guidelines provided because diet plans do not include the cultural foods that the family consumes. 

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Facilitators to Change

Facilitators to change include support from their primary care provider or NP that the participants know and trust, educational classes that will be designed to meet their family’s cultural and specific needs and physical activities that can be done as a family that includes utilizing the workout facilities and pool in the local gym.

Internal Data

            Internal data (date retrieved within Porterville Valley PromptCare Medical Center) provides overweight/obesity information that is defined by height, weight, body mass index (BMI), frequency of physical activity and anthropometric measurements of children in rural Tulare County, California. 

External Data

            External data (data retrieved outside of Porterville Valley PromptCare Medical Center) include the following (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2012; California Center for Research on Women & Families, 2011):

a).  Approximately 31.8 percent of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese in the United States

b).  Approximately 1 in 3 (33.2 percent) of children and adolescents age 6 to 19 years are considered to be overweight or obese in the United States

c).   An estimated 30.5% of children and adolescents aged 10-17 years are presently overweight or obese in California

d).   The total percentage of overweight and obesity from 1999 to 2009 rose from 34.0% to 37.6% for 9-11 year olds in California

e).   For teens ages 12-17 years in California, African American youth had the highest percentage of overweight/obesity (39.9%), followed by Latinos (29.4%), Asian/other (18.0%) and white youth (12.0%)

            Internal data presents an estimated 30% of the children seen in Porterville Valley PromptCare Medical Center are overweight or obese.  When comparing Internal data and External data a change in practice is needed to prevent the incidence of childhood obesity from continuing to grow at an alarming rate.  

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Theoretical Model and Framework

            Since this EBP proposal involves changes in physical activity and dietary behaviors understanding the effects of behavioral and social aspect of the child is necessary.  With this in mind, the Transtheoretical Model will be discussed as an integral element in the design of PTC, an overweight/obese child intervention proposal. 

Transtheoretical Model (TM)

The TM integrates clinical psychology and concepts to support a framework to understand the behavior and motivate behavioral change. The concepts of TM are decisional balance, processes of change, self-efficacy and temptation. The five stages of the transtheoretical model are the following:  precontemplation (not intending to change), contemplation (considering a change), planning or preparation (actively planning change), action (actively engaging in a new behavior) and maintenance (taking steps to sustain change and resist temptation to relapse) (Kadowki, 2012).

Decisional balance occurs in each stage and involves the weighing of advantages and disadvantages towards changing behavior.  The processes of change are the steps that facilitate understanding and behavioral change.  Self-efficacy is essential and will vary depending on the TM stage.  Temptation to revert back to previous stages will exist throughout the model.  Support from the individual’s social network will provide the encouragement to continue within the program’s parameters.

Problem

A correlation between obesity and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension has been documented.  Life expectancy for those who are obese is lower than those that maintain a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).  Earlier death rates in adulthood have been linked to excess weight in the younger ages (American Heart Association, 2013). 

The prevalence of obesity has increased three-fold over the past few decades and is reported as a public health problem within the United States (Singh & Kogan, 2010).  The cost of health care for obesity-related diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) has skyrocketed and is predicted to continue to grow. 

In the year 2000 an estimated $117 billion and $61 billion was spent both directly (medical costs) and indirectly (lost work time, disability, premature death and subsequent loss of income, etc) on overweight and obese individuals in the United States (Ward Smith, 2010).  Chronic diseases linked to obesity were once seen mainly in adults, but are now becoming more and more prevalent in children. 

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Division of Adolescent and School Health (2010) reported “the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008…and among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%” (NCCDPHP, Division of Adolescent and School Health, 2010).  Health concerns for obese children are a reality that must be addressed since the effects of early obesity will impact their health for the rest of their lives.

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Problem Statement

The problem addressed in this EBP proposal is the growing rate of childhood obesity and the negative effects on the child, parents, family and community.

Possible Interventions

Intervention of childhood obesity includes early identification and participating in health promotion activities such as eating healthier and becoming more physically active, as early as possible, to reduce the likelihood of chronic diseases and increase the health in those at risk.  Wojcicki and Heyman (2010) stated “studies have shown that early interventions can potentially prevent the development of obesity in school-age children, along with associated health conditions” (Wojcicki & Heyman, 2010, p. 1457). 

Interventions of childhood obesity include promoting a balanced diet and increased frequency of physical activity.  But, with the complexity behind childhood obesity, it requires other interventions as well.  Vos, Wit, Pikl, Kruff and Houdijk (2011) stated their family-based cognitive behavioral multidisciplinary lifestyle treatment “aims to establish long-term weight reduction and stabilization, reduction of obesity related health consequences and improvement of self-image by change of lifestyle and learning cognitive behavioral techniques” (Vos et al., 2011).  

Education and physical activity should be provided to the whole family in order to ensure successful lifestyle change to occur for the child.  It is hoped that by encouraging whole family participation that a lasting positive outcome would result. 

Pender, Murdaugh and Parsons (2011) stated “the significant role the family plays in the development of both health-promotion and health-damaging behaviors, beginning at a very early age is well documented” (p. 243).  Golley, Magarey, Baur, Steinbeck and Daniels (2007) stated “parenting-skills training combined with promoting a health family lifestyle may be an effective approach to weigh management in prepurbertal children, particularly boys” (p. 517).

Critical Outcome Indicators

            Outcome indicators aim to achieve results that matter to the patient (Larrabee, 2012).   Critical outcome indicators include improved BMI, improved laboratory measurements, improved health behavior, improved dietary patterns and increased frequency of physical activity. 

Goals and Purpose

The health goal is to improve outcomes of obese children living in rural Tulare County, California.  Quality goals are to improve access to diagnostics, early treatment and continuity of care with the use of evidence-based practices that include family participation.  Quality measures include the participant’s understanding of the nature of obesity, treatment, the negative impact of obesity on lifestyle and overall health.  These aspects will be measured through documentation of BMI status, weight classification, percent of physical activity and nutritional counseling.

Purpose Statement

            The purpose of the EBP proposal is to promote health and well being in overweight/obese children and their whole family through participation in a nine-week multi-component, family-based community intervention program. 

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Designing a Practice Change: Evidence Based Practice

Designing a Practice Change
Designing a Practice Change

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Designing a Practice Change

Introduction

Trends have indicated an increase in prevalence in diabetes with 42% of the patients with diabetes aged over 65 years (Chen et al., 2012). Projections have been conducted and proved that this ratio will increase to over 60% by 2050. This increase in diabetes prevalence has also impacted related health care costs. 

For instance, the average acute hospital cost for managing diabetic patient with a diabetic foot was estimated to be $9,900 in the USA (Dabelea et al, 2014). According to Wong et al, this rise in the prevalence of diabetes has made it imperious to offer training and practice care for clinicians to manage diabetes (Wong et al., 2015).  

This paper is going to focus on the design of Evidence Based Practice training program for practice change that will be aimed at training healthcare practitioners on diabetes and improving the outcomes of patients with diabetes.

Timeline

The training module will involve one basic 50-minute presentation which will be conducted by a well-trained diabetes educator and a physician. The presentation will be conducted on Monday, Wednesday and from 0800hrs to 0850hrs for a period of two months. The presentation will be divided into two parts.

The first part will concentrate on enlightening the trainees on diabetes for practice change, that is, the causes, risk factors, onset, types, signs and symptoms, treatment, and management of this disease. This part will also highlight the complications associated with diabetes. The second part of the presentation will concentrate more on patient education which is an integral component of comprehensive patient care.

Several long term care facilities will be contacted as potential recruitment sites. Comprehensive training modules and assessment measures will also be developed to aid in the evaluation of immediate and long term impact of the training project.

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Key Personnel

To achieve the educational needs of the clinicians the program will focus on training licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and physical therapists. The module will conduct a follow-up of learning outcomes in one group (RNs). The training will be designed for a small group of between 20-30 trainees in each session. This will ensure that close interaction is maintained between the participants and the instructors, with time set aside for participant comments and questions.

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Supplies Needed

Some of the material that will be required include; PowerPoint presentation, videos, and handouts.

  • PowerPoint Presentation: Will consist of 40 slides. These slides will entail a brief overview of diabetes, and the associated complications such as foot problems, risk of amputation, blurred vision, and kidney problems. It will also offer information on appropriate history taking, keeping of records, conducting physical examination, and appropriate specialist referral.
  • Video: This will demonstrate the proper techniques of carrying out patient examination such as conducting a monofilament examination with the aid of a tuning fork.
  • Handout: Will be issued to the participants for daily patient explaining and for explaining how to conduct physical examination on a patient with diabetes.
  • An official website that will contain all that will have been taught during this period.

Cost

For successful completion of this module, funds will be used in paying two diabetes instructors, paying the IT technicians who will compile the PowerPoint presentation, the video, creation of website and typing of the handout. Funds will also be used in buying enough training materials such as tuning forks for the monofilament examination and glucometers. All this will be allocated a total of $ 2,000.

How do these items tie up to project goals?

These items will help in achieving the set goal of 10-15% increase in diabetes practice change two month post training. Such training promotes clinical judgment and advance patient care quality. The clinicians will understand how to acquire, interpret, and incorporate the best available research evidence with clinical observations and patient data which are important aspects in clinical practice (Wong et al., 2015).  

References

Chen, L., Magliano, D. J., & Zimmet, P. Z. (2012). The worldwide epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus—present and future perspectives. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 8(4), 228-236.

Dabelea, D., Mayer-Davis, E. J., Saydah, S., Imperatore, G., Linder, B., Divers, J., … & Liese, A. D. (2014). Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents from 2001 to 2009. Jama, 311(17), 1778-1786.

Wong, C. K. H., Wong, W. C. W., Wan, Y. F., Chan, A. K. C., Chan, F. W. K., & Lam, C. L. K. (2015). Effect of a Structured Diabetes Education Programme in Primary Care on Hospitalizations and Emergency Department visits among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from the Patient Empowerment Programme. Diabetic Medicine.

Wong, C. K., Wong, W. C., Wan, Y. F., Chan, A. K., Chan, F. W., & Lam, C. L. (2015). Patient Empowerment Programme (PEP) and Risk of Microvascular Diseases Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care: A Population-Based Propensity-Matched Cohort Study. Diabetes care, 38(8), e116-e117

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