...UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES,GHANA CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH (CCEIR), NAVRONGO A PROPOSAL BY MUMUNI ELIASU For A MASTER OF ART DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD CHANGE INTRODUCTION 1.2 Background Since the beginning of civilization of mankind, man found the use of minerals as indispensable material in sustaining life with the “lion cave” being the oldest known mine from Swaziland which proved to be about 43,000 years old. Hungary and the Ancient Egypt also mined flint and malachite respectively for weaponry tools and ornaments. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining) Mining generally is the extraction of valuable mineral deposits or other geological materials from the ground or earth. These deposits could be gold, bauxite, manganese, precious metals, diamond, oil, coal, limestone and many others. Any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes created artificially in a laboratory or factory is normally mined. Mining normally involves prospecting for the mineral and final exploration if found, in the form of surface (strip) or underground mining. Surface mining is when the soil and rocks overlying the mineral deposits are removed. It is used when deposits of commercially useful minerals or rocks are found near the surface; that is, where the overburden(surface material covering the valuable deposit) is relatively thin or the material of interest is structurally unsuitable...
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...| Are diamonds investor’s best friend? | Study on polished diamonds as an alternative investment. | | Presented by:Daria GoldobinaStudent number:080006193Supervised by:Anh L. TranIn partial fulfilment of the:BSc Business Studies, Cass Business SchoolDate:24th March 2011I certify that I have complied with the guidelines on plagiarism outlined in the Course Handbook in the production of this dissertation and that it is my own, unaided work.Signature:__________________________________________ | | This work is dedicated to the memory of my beloved grandfather Ivan Smolin. He was a sweet, kind and sensitive man who devoted his life to studying precious stones and metals. He enriched my life with passion to beauty. If God wanted us to bend over he'd put diamonds on the floor Joan Rivers Contents Acknowledgements 3 Executive summary 7 I Introduction 10 Ground for discussion 10 Objectives 10 Methodology 11 II Literature review and hypothesis development 12 Overview 12 Introduction 12 History of diamonds 12 Industry structure 13 DeBeers cartel 15 Diamond valuation 16 Diamond valuation process 16 Determinants of diamond prices 18 Diamond as an investment 19 Types of investment 19 Problems associated with investing in diamonds 20 Benefits associated with investing in diamonds 20 Alternatives to investing in diamonds 23 Hypothesis development 25 III Methodology 26 Data collection 26 Primary research 26 Secondary...
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...A selection of rough diamonds from Voorspoed Mine ACTION ETHICS Protecting THE INTEGRITY OF DIAMONDS 33 ETHICS OUR COMMITMENT TO MEETING THE highest ethical standards IS FOUNDED ON OUR aspiration TO LIVE UP TO THE unique qualities OF DIAMONDS. THE BEHAVIOUR OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THE ROBUSTNESS OF OUR COMPLIANCE SYSTEMS and our commitment to transparency maintain stakeholder confidence in our business and play a key role in upholding ‘diamond equity’. De Beers aims to meet or exceed all applicable statutory requirements, as well as international standards on ethical issues ranging from conflict diamonds to anti-corruption. We also work with our business partners to embed ethical standards throughout the diamond value chain. 34 Report to Society 2010 Ethics The ethical provenance of diamonds is an important element of both their financial and emotional value – what we call ‘diamond equity’. To ensure that the journey from mine to finger meets the highest ethical standards, we have a mandatory, third party assured, code of ethical business conduct – the Best Practice Principles Assurance Programme (BPPs) – that applies not only to our own operations, but also to our Sightholders, contractors and suppliers. HIGHLIGHTS • All diamonds sold by De Beers are 100% conflict free. Compliance with the Kimberley Process and System of Warranties for 2010 was verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (p38) To support ethical standards more broadly we work with sectoral initiatives...
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...CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1Background to the study Mining is the extraction of minerals and precious metals from the earth. These minerals and metals consist of manganese, tantalum, copper, tin, silver, diamonds and gold. Mining may be considered in two forms: large scale mining and small scale mining. Large scale mining generally employs large number of people and produces huge tonnes of gold. Examples of companies who engage in these are the Anglo-Gold Ashanti of Ghana, Newmont Ghana, Goldfields Ghana and Minas Serra Palade Mines in Brazil which employed about over thousands workers and yielded thousands tonnes of gold (Amankwah and Anim-Sackey, 2003). Small scale mining is a form of mining that is done at small levels and mostly employs relatively a low number of people (Appiah, 1998). It is generally engaged in by local people within the area where these activities occur, and comes along with it the influx of people from other areas. Small Scale Mining companies use a considerable number of the labour force in the country. While there is no accurate SSM employment number for Ghana (Appiah, 1998), it is estimated that some 500,000 people are openly employed in the sector while additional 500,000 may indirectly be benefiting from the doings. About half of those directly engaged in the S.S.M are said to be illegal operators (Amankwah & Anim-Sackey, 2003) commonly known as “galamsey operators”. The actions of small-scale miners also generate economic linkages with other...
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...bus-sides and billboards of major American cities. Set against a lush black background, the ads displayed a perfect set of diamond earrings, or a single sparkling solitaire. The lettering, in white, was sparse and to the point: “What better time to celebrate the timelessness of love?” they asked. Or, “What are you waiting for, the year 3000?” Some were even more direct: “This wouldn't exactly be the year,” they noted, “to give her a toaster oven.” Coyly, the ads captured a joint fascination with the new millennium and the enduring allure of diamonds. How better to capture time than with a diamond, they urged. How better to herald eternal love? Indeed. According to analysts, U.S. diamond sales (30% of which occurred during the Christmas season) were expected to surge by more than 10%, hitting a high of over $20 billion for 1999.2 A significant portion of this windfall would flow to De Beers, one of the world’s most successful corporations and the controlling force of the international diamond market. There were many ironies behind De Beers’s millennial campaign, not least of which was that diamonds — those eternal gifts — had only been sold on the mass market for a hundred years. And that their allure was largely a creation of advertising. There also, though, were many stories buried behind the campaign — stories which ran to the core of the global diamond market and De Beers’s position within it. The millennial campaign, for example, was part of the company’s first attempt...
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...For those planning to take the Foreign Service Officer exam (FSOE): “Define realpolitik and describe how this principle is evident in the strategies of Otto Von Bismarck and Camillo di Cavour.” This is one of the questions in the world history portion of the FSOE written test. I’ve heard people say that the FSOE is the most grueling government exam because the Department of Foreign Affairs is, they say, the most elite office in the government. Some even dare say that the exam is more difficult than the bar. I really wouldn’t know but one thing’s for sure: the mortality rate is definitely higher in the FSOE. Out of 628 examinees in 2011, only 9 passed. That's 1.4%. I heard there was even a year when no one passed. I'm one of the lucky 9 who made it. And so to help future examinees prepare for the FSOE, I thought of writing down and sharing my experience. This is my own small way to thank and show appreciation for the people who supported me and helped me make it through. The exam is difficult because it’s the type of exam which you can’t really study for. The scope covers everything under the sun, and, actually, none of the topics I studied for was asked. The exam proctor told my batch that the best time to review for the FSOE is in college, which is a little bit too late by now, right? So the best tip I can give is simply to make reading a habit. Try committing yourself to read for at least 30 minutes every day and you’ll have a pretty strong fighting chance. What to read...
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... Concepts S1-Friday: Intro and Amgen Case S2-Saturday: Jeffrey Immelt Case Week Two (Jan 26 & 27) S3-Friday: IBP Case S4-Saturday Copeland-Bain Case Week Three (Feb 9 & 10) S5-Friday: Millennium (A) Case S6-Saturday: Wendy Simpson Case Week Four (Feb 23 & 24) S7-Friday: Masco & Household Furnishings Cases S8-Saturday: Cisco & Grand Junction Cases Week Five (Mar 9 & 10) S9-Friday: Cross-cultural simulation S10-Saturday: Dennis Hightower Case Grading: 55% Group Case Projects, 30% Individual written project, 15% Contribution. Text: Carpenter & Sanders. 2007. Strategic Management: A Dynamic Perspective + Cases. Data Sheet |Date |Cases |In Packet? | |Jan 12 |Amgen: Planning the Unplannable (HBS 9-492-052) |Yes...
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...Afghanistan’s Marble Industry Critical Success Factors 2012 Online MBA Study Report By: Mohammad Aman Nawabi Navid Miakhel Mohammad Aziz Taher Elyas Ghiasi Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Literature review .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Marble in Afghanistan ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Production Process ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Marble & Onyx Production Process .............................................................................................................. 8 Cutting to Pieces ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Shape Cutting............................................................................................................................................ 8 Grinding and Rubbing .....................................
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...in the mine for many days. The rescue team was led by a newly elected minister of mining: A successful businessman with little or no information regarding the mining or rescue operations. The dilemma was on how to handle the victims, the relatives of victims, the media and the country at large. This was a matter of life and death. The number of stranded miners was 33. * Identify the key problems and issues in the case study. * Formulate and include a thesis statement, summarizing the outcome of your analysis in 1–2 sentences. 2. Background Chile has been known as one of the leading mineral explorers in the world as well as having numerous mining fields with different minerals. Mining has been extensively been sources of income thus many people are engaged in mining. This activity has been descripting as dangerous with many miners losing their life. The number of deaths in the mining field has increased considerably in the past few years up to 2010 as companies continue to breach mining rules and regulations. * Set the scene: background information, relevant facts, and the most important issues. * Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study. Body This body is divided into the different rescue dates and activities that happened as summarized in the table below Date | Location | Description | intervention | Finding | Thursday 5th | Inside the Mine | Two groups were involved. One at the entry of the mine and the...
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...Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business Administration GS601-100 Strategic Information Fundamentals Spring 2012 Syllabus & Schedule as of January 3, 2012 Professor: Dennis Anderson Office: Smith 402 Email: danderson@bentley.edu Office Phone: 781 891 2238 Class Times: Section 100: Monday, 7:30 - 9:50 pm Office Hours: For quick/easy questions, send me an email. For tough questions, career advice and other matters, face to face is better, and I’m happy to meet with you by appointment. Description: GS601 provides an enterprise-wide perspective on the management of information technologies (IT), software applications and the operational processes they support, and the data and knowledge that inform business processes and decisions. The course focuses on how IT professionals and non-technical managers work together to ensure that applications and data are aligned with organizational strategy and business processes. The cases and readings examine how companies in various industries use IT to serve customers well, manage operations efficiently, coordinate with business partners, and make better business decisions. A key theme -- IT as a double-edged sword -- reflects a central challenge: how to maximize the strategic benefits of investments in hardware and software, while minimizing accompanying technical and business risks. The course places equal weight on technical and managerial skills. Our primary objective is to...
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......13 Windows on Organizations: Cemex: A Digital Firm in the Making ....14 Window on Technology: UPS Competes Globally with Information Technology ....17 It Isn't Just Technology: A Business Perspective on Information Systems 18 • Dimensions of Information Systems ....20 1.3 Contemporary Approaches to Information Systems ....25 Technical Approach 26 • Behavioral Approach 26 • Approach of This Text: Sociotechnical Systems ....27 1.4 Learning to Use Information Systems: New Opportunities with Technology ....27 The Challenge of Information Systems: Key Management Issues 28 • Integrating Text with Technology: New Opportunities for Learning ....30 Make IT Your Business ....31 Summary, 31 • Key Terms, 32 • Review Questions, 32 • Discussion Questions, 33 • Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Adding Value to Information for Management Decision Making, 33 • Dirt Bikes USA: Preparing a Management Overview of the Company, 33 • Electronic Commerce Project: Analyzing Shipping Costs, 34 • Group Project: Analyzing a Business System, 34 • Case Study: Dollar General: Heavy on Organization, Light on Systems, ....35 Chapter 2. Information Systems in the Enterprise ....38 Opening Case: Fast Fashion, Hot Systems ....39 2.1 Major Types of Systems in Organizations ....40 Different Kinds of Systems 40 • Four Major Types of Systems 41 • Relationship of Systems to...
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...complexity science, the course applies a multiple perspectives framework to challenge embedded assumptions and advance students’ ability to think creatively, analytically and strategically. Students learn to identify and reframe complex problems more effectively, and to develop and communicate actionable solutions compellingly. This course will introduce MBA students to some of the new mindsets needed for success in today’s turbulent and complex global environment. For example, today’s leaders must have the capacity to accept and deal with unpredictability and be adept at recognizing and integrating multiple perspectives and priorities. They must be able to spot and anticipate emerging trends and patterns; ask and explore provocative questions about their organizations and the world at large; deal with challenging ethical issues; and generally think both “inside” and “outside the box” in a deep and probing way. LEARNING OUTCOMES The course develops and enhances students’ ability to deliver compelling and coherent presentations; to apply analytic, critical and strategic thinking to complex business problems and to reflect and identify underlying assumptions and reframe them in order to drive to actionable outcomes. By the end of the course, you will have enhanced your critical awareness and skills in three areas: 1. Leadership Thinking to develop mindsets and thinking skills needed for success in a turbulent world. 2. Responsible Business to enhance your awareness...
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...MKT 348 CONSUMER BEHAVIOR PROJECT GUIDELINES General Overview All students must complete a consumer behavior project that will be due at the end of the semester. The purpose of this project is to provide you with the opportunity to: * Examine a specific consumer behavior in detail as experienced/practiced by consumers personally and directly * Gain experience in collecting and analyzing primary consumer data * Apply some of the important concepts and knowledge acquired in the course to derive practical, managerial insights about the behavior you have examined * Work through differences of opinions, work habits, schedules, and so on characteristic of a group dynamic to produce a quality final report Group Formation Students must complete the project in self-selected as opposed to professor assigned groups of 4 students. These groups should be formed as early as possible (as soon as the enrollment stabilizes around the third week of the semester). Groups must elect one designated member, who will be responsible for all project online submissions/uploads. For the most part of the semester, you will need to meet outside the class to work on project-related tasks. Additionally, to ensure that you have adequate time to meet with your group to work on the project, three project workshop days (refer to syllabus) have been scheduled during class time. Topic Selection Although your group can pick the project topic, you are strongly encouraged to...
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...co-curricular activities - I was confident about my aptitude and was focussing mainly core and analytics. - I didn’t prepare for GD but finally had to give GD in Coca Cola, ITC and Schlumberger. So you can never be too sure of what comes your way during the placements. PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE - I started my placement journey by getting shortlisted in Capital One on Day 1. They shortlisted 125 candidates on the basis of resume. Then they took a case study interview and reduced the number to 30. Then again took an aptitude test but finally didn’t give offer to anyone. - Then came Coca Cola on Day 2. They organised GD in the groups of ten each and then there was a single interview of about half an hour which mainly consisted of HR based questions. The topic of the GD was “Are Engineering students wasting time in studies ?”. The interview mainly focussed on the commitment to work with them and asked whether I did any activity depicting leadership skills. - Coca Cola shortlisted candidates with medium profile like moderate CPI with few extracurrecs. I had a target of gettng placed in Qualcomm from second year itself. It came on Day 2 and I got a call from Qualcomm in the middle of the interview of Coca Cola so I could not take their call. Immediately after this I went for the Qualcomm interview but they were not happy and asked me to leave without much interrogation. The results of Day 2 came and I got placed in Coca Cola. AJAYPAL SINGH, MECHANICAL...
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...Leading the Rescue of the Miners in Chile Disaster struck on August 5, 2010. Thirty-three miners, drilling 700 meters (2,300 feet) below the surface, were entombed by a massive cave-in. They had been working in a medium-sized copper and gold mine beneath the moonlike wilderness of the Atacama Desert near the city of Copiapó, Republic of Chile (Chile), some 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the country’s capital, Santiago. Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne had arrived in Quito, Ecuador, at 9 p.m. that same day with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera on a state visit. At 11 p.m., Golborne’s smart phone came to life with a message whose brevity spoke urgency: “Mine cave-in, Copiapó; 33 victims.” Golborne informed the president the next morning and flew on commercial air flights to Lima, Peru, and then to Santiago. He then took a Chilean Air Force (FACH) flight to Copiapó, and, from there, he was driven some 45 kilometers to the mine, finally arriving at 3:30 a.m. on August 7. Piñera, a business-friendly Chilean president inaugurated on March 11, 2010, had recruited Golborne, an engineer, entrepreneur, and corporate executive, to serve as Chile’s minister of mines. Golborne had served as chief executive of Cencosud S.A., a large retail firm, and under his leadership, the company had increased annual sales ten-fold, entered the Brazilian, Colombian, and Peruvian markets, and opened two new business lines, including financial William and Jacalyn Edgar Professor of Management...
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