Abstract:

This task carried out is a review of the article titled ‘Impact of Logistics Outsourcing Strategy in Oil and Gas Industry in Uganda’.

The oil and gas industry globally has logistics cost as a vital component of its total cost that varies with the various level of economic activities, depending on level and nature of their production function. In an effort to achieve overall objective and attain targeted performance level of firms leads to outsourcing as an option for firms. The uniqueness of   logistic is not only that is a cost element that can affect profitability, competitiveness and strategic position of individual firms, but creating obligation for contract with prospective suppliers to maintain continuous production. As a result of contractual and price uncertainties, a major technical issue in outsourcing is risk taking and depending  on the level of risk a firm can take.  The role of the producing segment of the economy; firms, is to allocate scare resources that have alternative uses efficiently but the complexity of modern day businesses has made firms to resort to devising means of optimization through maximization of profit and minimization of cost.

The Ugandan oil and gas industry like any other oil and gas industry is compelled to take decision on outsourcing which depends on certain economic parameters which in turn affect the competiveness,  profitability of the firm as well as sustenance of supply chain

The review will start with a brief summary of the article, followed by a review of related literature after which an insight into the research design and survey results are considered.  Thereafter investigate how effectiveness of the article’s structure in inquiring outsourcing puts an oil firm in strategic position and its accessibility efficiency from readers’ perspective.  The review will further make a critique of the article, evaluating its authority, currency, accuracy, objectivity and coverage. The review finally judged the article’s accessibility and credibility. 

References:

1.      Augustine, M., Jian, Z., Maureen, K. M., 2013, ‘Impact of Logistics Outsourcing Strategy in Oil and Gas Industry in Uganda’, International Journal of Business and Management, May, 9 (6), pp.187-198, viewed 20 November 2014 at http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/view/35279

2.      George, N.K., Mary, J., Success factors and cost management strategies for logistics outsourcing Journal of Management and Marketing Research pg 1-17 viewed on 1 December 2014 at http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/10684.pdf

3.      James, S. K., David, A. D., Logistics Performance Measurement and the 3PL Value Proposition viewed on 1 December 2014 at http://www.logisticsquarterly.com/issues/7-2/article1.html

4.      Measuring logistics cost and performance viewed on 1 December 2014 at http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/0273681761/samplechapter/0273681761_ch03.PDF

5.      Measuring transport logistic chain performance and the importance of efficiency: why corridors should lead to open doors viewed on 1 December 2014 at http://www.oas.org/cip/docs%5Cdocumentos_importantes%5CPresentacionesIxtapa%5CKent.pdf

6.      Measuring Logistic Performance: The Effectiveness of MMOG/LE As Perceived by the Suppliers in Automotive Industry viewed online on 1 December, 2014 at http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/10684.pdf

7.      Sudi, A., Mikail, E., İsmail, E., Metin, A., 2012 ‘The Use of Contemporary Developments in Cost Accounting in Strategic Cost Management’ Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 41, pg 528 – 534 viewed on 24 November 2014 at www.sciecedirect.com

8.      Xiaofeng, Z., & Qi, T., 2009, Analysis and Strategy of the Chinese Logistics Cost Reduction, International Journal of Business Management, April, 4(4), pg188-191 viewed on 27 November, 2014 at www.ccsent.org.journal.html.

Abstract:

This paper is a review of the article “Determinants of employee retention in telecom sector of Pakistan”, presented at the second COMSATS International Business Research Conference which is a conference for Business, Economics and Behavioral Sciences held in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, November 14 2009. The review will begin with a presentation of a summary of the article. A brief analysis of the structure of the article will be presented in an effort to demonstrate the article’s success at presenting an objective reportage of the investigation into the determinants of employee retention in the telecom industry in Pakistan. The article will be critiqued along the following lines: the backgrounds of the authors to establish their authority, how relevant the content of the article relates to its title, the accuracy of the reportage and how current the article is, evidence of objectivity in the development of the article. A brief conclusion will summarize general impressions about the article and the way forward.

References:

1.      Ayesha Noor – The Islamic Monthly. Retrieved from http://www.theislamicmonthly.com/author/ayeshanoor/

2.      Paper critique sample – thinking made easy. Retrieved from http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2008/06/paper-critique...

3.      Proceedings of the 2nd COMSATS International Business Research Conference (CBRC). Retrieved from http://www.ciitlahore.edu.pk/pl/abrc/Proceedings/proceedings.htm

4.      Shoaib, M., Noor, Ayesha, Tirmizi, Syed Raza, Bashir, Sajid (2009). “Determinants of employee retention in telecom sector of Pakistan” Proceedings 2nd CBRC, Lahore, Pakistan, November 14, 2009. ISSN No: 2078-8444

Abstract:

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how black market exchange premium affect Foreign Direct Investment. The results of the study will shed light on whether black markets served to impede or enhance FDI inflows, and hence whether their disappearance since the 1990s should be of importance to developing countries keen to attract FDI.

Design/methodology/approach – In studying the effect of the black market premium the author used historical study for 28 developing countries with high, low and moderate black market premiums for the years 1982-1993. The author used several models to support his hypothesis which include econometric model and regression analysis. Data on the black market exchange rate was obtained from the Pick’s Currency Yearbook for the years 1983-1988 and from Global Financial Statistics for the years 1989-1993. The premium iscalculated as the percentage difference between the official exchange rate, obtained from the IMF, and the black market exchange rate.

Findings –Contrary to hypothesis, the results show that the black market exchange premium does not affect net FDI inflows. The author asserts that, if this result is in fact accurate, then liberalization of currency regimes in developing countries, which leads to the disappearance of black markets, should not be expected to bring in more or less foreign investment, the reason being that the black market premium did not in the past impede nor enhance foreign investment.

References:

1.      Aizenman, Joshua. 1994. “Monetary and Real Shocks, Productive Capacity and Exchange Rate Regimes.” Economica61:407-34.

2.      Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina and Susan Pozo. 2001. “Foreign Exchange Rates and Foreign Direct Investment in the United States.” International Trade Journal 15:323-43.

3.      Asiedu, Elizabeth. 2002. “On the Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment to Developing Countries: Is Africa Different?” World Development 30:107-19.

4.      Barrell, Ray and Nigel Pain. 1996. “An Econometric Model of U.S. Foreign Direct Investment.” The Review of Economics and Statistics 78:200-7.

5.      Biswas, Ro mita. 2002. “Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment.” Review of Development Economics 6:492-504.

6.      Blonigen, Bruce A. 1997. “Firm Specific Assets and the Link Between Exchange Rates and Foreign Direct Investment.” American Economic Review 87:447-65.

7.      Calvo, G.A., L. Leiderman and C.M. Reinhart. 1993. “Capital Inflows and Real Exchange Rate Appreciation in Latin America.” IMF Staff Papers 40:108-115.

8.      Campa, J.M. 1993. “Entry by Foreign Firms in the United States under Exchange Rate Uncertainty.”Review of Economics and Statistics 75:614-22.

9.      Cushman, D.O. 1987. “The Effects of Real Wages and Labor Productivity on Foreign Direct Investment.”Southern Economic Journal 54:175-85.

10.  Cushman, D.O. 1985. “Real Exchange Rate Risk, Expectations and the Level of Direct Investment.”Review of Economics and Statistics 67:297-308.

11.  Dornbusch, Rudiger, Daniel V. Dantas, Clarice Pechman, Roberto de Rezende Rocha and Demetrio Simoes. 1983. “The Black Market for Dollars in Brazil.” NBER Reprint 364, 25-40.

12.  Edwards, Sebastian. 1989. Real Exchange Rates, Devaluation and Adjustment: Exchange Rate Policy in Developing Countries. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

13.  Froot, K and J. Stein. 1991. “Exchange Rates and Foreign Direct Investment: An Imperfect Capital Markets Approach.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 196:1191-218.

14.  Goldberg, L.S. and C.D. Kolstad. 1995. “Foreign Direct Investment, Exchange Rate Variability and Demand Uncertainty.” International Economic Review 36:855-73.

15.  Gorg, Holger and Katherine Wakelin. 2002. “The Impact of Exchange Rate Volatility on US Direct Investment.” Manchester School 70:380-97.

16.  Kiguel, Miguel A, J. Saul Lizondo and Stephen A. O’Connell. 1997. Parallel Exchange Rates in Developing Countries. Ipswich, Great Britain.

17.  Klein, M.W. and E. Rosengren. 1994. “The Real Exchange Rate and Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: Relative Wealth vs. Relative Wage Effects.” Journal of International Economics 36:373-89

18.  Kugler, Maurice. 2001. The Diffusion of Externalities From Foreign Direct Investment: Theory Ahead of Measurement. Cambridge University Press.

19.  Kwan, C.H. 2001. “Deepening Japan-Asia Interdependence.” In Yen Block: Toward Economic Integration in Asia, 38-61. Washington: Brookings Institution Press.

20.  Love, James H. and Francisco Lage-Hidalgo. 2000. “Analyzing the Determinants of US Direct Investment in Mexico.” Applied Economics 32:1259-67.

 

21.  Saca, Nolvia N. 1997. Black Market Exchange Rate, Unification of the Foreign Exchange Markets and Monetary Policy: The Case of El Salvador. Peter Lang.

 

22.  Sercu, P and C. Vanhulle. 1992. “Exchange Rate Volatility, International Trade and the Value of Exporting Firms.” Journal of Banking and Finance 16:55-182.

Abstract:

The basic aim of this study is to explore the impact of core employees on organizational performance with a research conducted on Turkish large firms. Core employees were taken as the personnel, working at the production functions of firms, and their role were examined in frame of the resource-based view. Survey forms were developed by international literature review and sent to top 500 firms of Turkey for 2010, which were determined by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ISO). This study reveals statistically significant relation between value and uniqueness and inimitability levels of core employees and organizational performance, innovation, strategic vision, flexible design, quality orientation, organizational culture, providing employee potential, and product diversity; as a reflection of resource-based view of the firm. Moreover, the analysis of data revealed the value of core employees is more effective than their uniqueness on organizational performances. This research also indicates the valuable and unique human resources of top Turkish firms as one of the basic elements that lead to competitive advantage

References:

[1.] K. Y. Genc, Core Employees’ Impact on the Performances of Turkish Large Firms:A Research in the Frame of the Resource-Based View of the Firm; International Journal of Business and Management; Vol. 9, No. 12; 2014; ISSN 1833-3850 E-ISSN 1833-8119;

[2.] Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education; website,URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v9n12p74;Received on October 9,2014; accepted on October 21, 2014 and Published on November 22, 2014.

Abstract:

The unprecedented rate at which mobile phone is penetrating the socio-fibre of society, especially its ability not only to facilitate communication but also aid in money transfer to loved ones and relations in sub-urban and rural communities makes it crucial for researchers to investigate the relationship between this communication device and administration of financial services. Besides the article being reviewed the reviewer consulted other reputable current publications on the role mobile phone plays in delivery financial services to the poor thereby extending the scope of the literature material. The article itself examined various papers on “how banks can translate the potential of mobile phones into greater financial access for poor people”. It came out unequivocally that the potential of mobile phones to assist in meeting the financial services needs of the poor has been driven by rapid expansion into previously un-served regions and communities of developing countries over the last decade. In most developing economies, governments five-year tax  holiday and favourable regulatory environment for promoting investments in the mobile telecommunications sector all goes a long way to explain why a good number of international companies have thrown in heavy investment to reach a lot more rural and sub-urban communities. The study further revealed that the various governmental interventions such as waving import duty and taxes on mobile handsets and accessories all help in rendering the prices of handsets very affordable thereby enabling the masses to procure these devices at very reasonable prices to enhance the mobile banking business. It is doubtless to assert that the mobile phone technology has really revolutionized the socio-economic set-up of mankind. Despite its ability to stimulate effective and timely communication it also facilitate the administration of financial services to alleviate poverty in developing economies. It is therefore essential for stakeholders especially developing partners and manufacturer to join forces and make the device much cheaper for the poor so as help reduce poverty. 

References:

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7.      Anyasi, F.I. and Otubu, P.A. (2009) “Mobile phone technology in banking system: its economic effect”. Research journal of Information Technology, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-5.

8.      Balachandher, K.G., S. Vaithilingam, N. Ismail and R. Prasad, (2001) “Electronic banking in Malaysia: A note on evolution of services and consumer reactions”. Journal Internet Banking. Commercial., 5 (1).

9.      Barnes, S.J. and Corbitt, B. (2003) “Mobile banking: concept and potential”. International Journal of Mobile Communications, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 273-288.

10.  Batchelor, S., Scott, N., and Hearn, S. (2007) “Senegal household survey: M-payment analysis”. Reading, UK

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12.  Beshouri, C.; Chaia, A.; Cober, B.; & Gravråk, J. (2010) “Banking on mobile to deliver financial services to the poor. Global Financial Inclusion”. McKinsey & Company’s Social Sector office.

13.  Blake, M. (2004) “Growing mobile market in Africa”, The electronic library, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 370.

14.  Boadi, R.A., Boateng, R., Hinson, R. and Opoku, R.A. (2007) “Preliminary Insights into M-commerce Adoption in Ghana”, Information Development, 23, 4, 253-265.

15.  Booth, W.C, Colomb, G.G. & Williams, J.M, (2008). The craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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18.  Buellingen, F. and Woerter, M. (2002) “Development perspectives, firm strategies and applications in mobile commerce”. Journal of business research, vol. 57, no.12, pp. 1402-1408.

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Abstract:

This review critically reviews the article ‘E-Business and Management Science: Mutual Impacts (Part 1 of 2)’ Journal (Management Science), Vol. 49, No. 10, Special Issue on E-Business and Management Science (Oct., 2003), pp. 1275-1286

The review will first summarise the article. Secondly, it will briefly analyse the effectiveness of the article’s structure, investigating how the information is set out and whether the reader can access it efficiently. Thirdly, the review will critique the article, evaluating its authority, currency, accuracy, objectivity and coverage. The review will also analyse the graph before finally judging the article’s accessibility and credibility. Overall the article was well written, clear and relevant.

References:

1.      Anad, K. S. and Aron, R. (2003). Group-buying on the Web: A com- parison of price discovery mechanisms. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

2.      Beil, D. R. and Wein,L.M. (2003). An inverse-optimization-based auction mechanism to support a multi-attribute RFQ process. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

3.      Boyd, E. A. and Bilegan, I.(2003). Revenue management and e- commerce. Management Sci. 49(10) 1363-1386.

4.      Brynjolfsson, E.,Hu, Y.,and Smith M.D.  (2003). Consumer surplus in the digital economy: Estimating the value of increased product variety at online booksellers. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

5.      Carr, S. M. (2003). Note on online auctions with costly bid evaluation. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

6.      Cohen, M., Kelly, C. B., and Medaglia, A.L. (2001). Decision support with Web-enabled software. Interfaces 31(2) 109-129.*

7.      Datta, A., Dutta, K., Thomas, H., and VanderMeer, D. (2003). World wide wait: A study of Internet scalability and cache-based approaches to alleviate it. Management Sci. 49(10) 1425-1444.

8.      Dellarocas, C. (2003). The digitization of word of mouth: Promise and challenges of online feedback mechanisms. Management Sci. 49(10) 1407-1424.

9.      Elmaghraby, W. and Keskinocak, P.(2003). Dynamic pricing in the presence of inventory considerations: Research overview, cur- rent practices and future directions. Management Sci. 49(10) 1287-1309.

10.  Fayyad, U. and Uthurusamy, R.(2002). Evolving data mining into solutions for insights. Comm. ACM 45(8) 28-31.

11.  Geoffrion, A. (1992). Forces, trends and opportunities in MS/OR. Oper. Res. 40(3) 423-445.

12.  Hann, I. H. and Terwiesch, .C. (2003). Measuring the frictional costs of online transactions: The case of a name-your-own-price channel. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

13.  Geoffrion A., and Krishnan .R. (2001). E-Business and Management Science: Mutual Impacts (Part 1 of 2) Interfaces. Special issue: OR/MS and e-business. eds. Interfaces 31(2) 1-150.*

14.  Geoffrion, A., and Krishnan, .R. (2003). E-Business and management science: Mutual impacts (Part 2 of 2). eds. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

15.  Keskinocak, P., and Tayur S.(2001). Quantitative analysis for Internet- enabled supply chains. Interfaces 31(2) 70-89.*

16.  Kleindorfer, P. R., and Wu, D.J. (2003). Integrating long-term and short-term contracting via business-to-business exchanges for capital-intensive industries. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

17.  Montgomery, A. L. (2001). Applying quantitative marketing techniques to the Internet. Interfaces 31(2) 90-108.*

18.  Murthi, B. P. and Sarkar, S.S.(2003).The role of the management sciences in research on personalization. Management Sci. 49(10) 1344-1362.

19.  Padmanabhan, B., and Tuzhilin, A. (2003). On the use of optimization for data mining: Theoretical interactions and eCRM opportunities. Management Sci. 49(10) 1327-1343.

20.  Pekei, A., and Rothkopf, M.H. (2003). Combinatorial auction design. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

21.  Pinker, E. J., Seidmann, A., and Vakrat, Y.(2003). Managing online auctions: Current business and research issues. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

22.  Smith, B. C., GUinther,D. P.,Rao, B. V.,and Ratliff, R. M. (2001). E-Commerce and operations research in airline planning, marketing, and distribution. Interfaces 31(2) 37-55.*

23.  Snir E. M., and Hitt, L. M. (2003). Costly bidding in online markets for IT services. Management Sci. 49(11) Forthcoming.

24.  Sodhi, M. S. (2001). Applications and opportunities for operations research in Internet-enabled supply chains and electronic mar- ketplaces. Interfaces 31(2) 56-69.*

25.  Spann, M., andSkiera, B. (2003). Internet-based virtual stock markets for business forecasting. Management Sci. 49(10) 1310-1326.

26.  Swaminathan, J. M., and Tayur, S. R. (2003). Models for supply chains in e-business. Management Sci. 49(10) 1387-1406. 

Abstract:

Given a much broader array of product choices offered in the current financial market and ubiquitous marketing efforts in Ghana, customers often turn to a favorite brand to facilitate their purchase decisions. Brand awareness creation and strategies seem to serve as a roadmap to customer decision facilitator. This study is principally focused on the impact of brand awareness on customer loyalty, a case study of Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Ghana limited.

Data was drawn from both primary and secondary sources and the main instrument for data collection was the questionnaire and interview involving 301 respondents sampled from the customers of Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Ghana Limited across Ghana and a brand manager of Sinapi Aba Savings and loans Limited.

 

Generally, the study revealed that, brand awareness strategies practice is a very prominent feature in the savings and loans industry in Ghana and customers are very much aware of the various brand awareness strategies practiced by Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Ltd. Events influencing actual decision to patronize the services of savings and loans industry which included brand trust, Corporate reputation, peer group opinion, recall of ad’s, service delivery and employee appearance ranked highest.

The study recommends that savings and loans companies in Ghana need to do a continuous follow up to establish long term relationship with new customers when implementing brand awareness strategies.

KEYWORDS

Brand, awareness, strategies, relationship, trust, reputation

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