Importance of Innovation Strategies in Organizations

Modern Management Concepts

Becoming a Better You: A Guide to Self-Learning While Working Full-Time

General Business Articles

Concept of National Innovation Systems

International Business

Case Study: Henry Ford’s Contributions to Organizational Behavior and Leadership

Management Case Studies

De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats: A Creative and Critical Thinking Model

Human Resource Management

ABC System of Inventory Control

Inventories include raw material inventory, work-in process inventory and finished goods inventory. The goal of effective inventory management is to minimize the total costs – direct and indirect – that are associated with holding inventories. However, the importance of inventory management to the company depends upon the extent of investment in inventory. It is industry-specific.

In the case of a manufacturing company of reasonable size the number of items of inventory runs into hundreds, if not more. From the point of view of monitoring information for inventory control, it becomes extremely difficult to consider each one of these items. The ABC analysis comes in quite handy and enables the management to concentrate attention and keep a close watch on a relatively less number of items which account for a high percentage of the value of annual usage of all items of inventory.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Organisation Structure – Meaning and Types

An organisation structure is a set of planned relationships between groups of related functions and between physical factors and personnel required for the performance of the functions. The organisation structure is generally shown on the organisation chart. It shows authority and responsibility between various positions in the enterprises by showing who reports to whom. Organisation structure lays down the pattern of communication and coordination in the enterprises.

Though organisation structure is very important, it is not an end in itself. According to Peter F. Drucker, “Organisation is not an end itself, but a means to end of business performances and business results.

… Read the rest
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Types of Motivation Theories

Motivation is defined as a general term for any part of the hypothetical psychological process which involves the experiencing of needs and drives and the behavior that leads to the goal which satisfies them. In essence, the motivational theories provide explanations as to why people behave the way they do.  These diverse motivation theories helped identify and determine the myriad of factors that drive people to behave in particular ways. There are numerous motivation theories with more than one may of grouping or classifying them. However, the most common one is to classify them according to four general types, namely: need theory; expectancy theory; equity theory; and goal setting theory.… Read the rest

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How Interest Rates Can Influence Financial Decisions?

Interest rates exert the following economic influences.

  • Interest rates in a country influence the foreign exchange value of the country’s currency.
  • Interest rates act as a guide to the return that a company’s shareholders might want, and changes in market interest rates will affect share prices.

A positive real rate of interest enhances an investor’s real wealth to the income he earns from his investments. However, when interest rates go up or down, perhaps due to a rise or fall in the rate of inflation, there will also be a potential capital loss or gain for the investor. In other words, the market value of interest-bearing securities will alter.… Read the rest

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Concept of Goal Congruence

Goal congruence is the term which describes the situation when the goals of different interest groups coincide. A way of helping to achieve goal congruence between shareholders and managers is by the introduction of carefully designed remuneration packages for managers which would motivate managers to take decisions which were consistent with the objectives of the shareholders. Agency theory sees employees of businesses, including managers, as individuals, each with his or her own objectives. Within a department of a business, there are departmental objectives. If achieving these various objectives also leads to the achievement of the objectives of the organization as a whole, there is said to be goal congruence.… Read the rest

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Activity Based Costing (ABC) – Definition, Benefits and Weakness

Traditional or Absorption Costing System reflects full cost pertaining to a product. It is easy to use and, therefore, is practiced widely. The allocation of overhead costs under the system is based on a rate determined by either a percentage of direct labor cost or number of labor hours worked or another. Therefore, the reported allocation of overheads for a given product may be incorrect. It is the main defect of absorption costing.

During 1980’s, the limitations of absorption costing system were felt with severity. Companies were looking for a system that could reflect true product cost in order to fight competition.… Read the rest

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