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31

Business Administration / কয়েদির অভাবে বন্ধ হচ্ছে কারাগার

« on: November 12, 2016, 02:22:56 PM »

কয়েদির অভাবে বন্ধ হচ্ছে কারাগার

 
যুক্তরাজ্যসহ বিশ্বের বেশির ভাগ দেশ যেখানে কারাগারে কয়েদিদের ভিড় সামলাতে হিমশিম খাচ্ছে, সেখানে নেদারল্যান্ডসের সমস্যাটা ঠিক বিপরীত। কারাগারে ভরে রাখার মতো কয়েদির বড়ই অভাব। এ জন্য গত কয়েক বছরে ১৯টি কারাগার বন্ধ হয়ে গেছে। আগামী বছর বন্ধ হবে আরও কয়েকটি। এমন অবস্থা হলো কীভাবে?

সম্প্রতি বিবিসি অনলাইনের প্রতিবেদনে নেদারল্যান্ডসের একটি কারাগারের চিত্র তুলে ধরা হয়েছে। কারাগারটি দেশটির উত্তর-পূর্বাঞ্চলের নরগারহেভেনে। সেখানে রয়েছে নিশ্ছিদ্র নিরাপত্তা। সেখানে কারাকক্ষের দরজার ওপাশ থেকে পেঁয়াজ ভাজার সুবাস আসছিল। রান্নাঘরে কয়েদিরা তাঁদের রাতের খাবার তৈরি করছেন। একজনকে ছুরি দিয়ে দক্ষতার সঙ্গে সবজি কাটতে দেখা গেল। তিনি বলেন, ‘আমি ছয় বছর ধরে এই কাজ করছি। দিন দিন এ কাজে দক্ষতা বাড়ছে।’

ছুরিগুলো শিকল দিয়ে আটকে রাখায় কাজ করার সময় শব্দ হচ্ছিল। এ ব্যাপারে নরগারহেভেনের ডেপুটি গভর্নর জ্যান রয়েলফ ভ্যান দের স্পয়েল বলেন, ‘আটকানো থাকায় এই ছুরিগুলো কয়েদিরা নিয়ে যেতে পারে না। তবে পাস থাকলে তারা ছোট ছুরিগুলো ধার নিতে পারে। এতে বোঝা যায়, কার কাছে ছুরি রয়েছে।’

কয়েদিদের কেউ কেউ সহিংসতার দায়ে কারাগারে বন্দী। তাই ছুরি বহন করার বিষয়টিকে সতর্কভাবে দেখা হয়। রান্নাবান্না করার মতো কাজ মুক্তির পর বন্দীদের স্বাভাবিক জীবনে ফিরে যেতে সহায়তা করে।

ডেপুটি গভর্নর রয়েলফ বলেন, ‘আমরা প্রত্যেকের দিকেই আলাদা নজর দিই। কেউ যখন মাদক সমস্যা নিয়ে আসে, তখন তার আসক্তির চিকিৎসা করি। যখন কেউ ক্ষুব্ধ থাকে, আমরা তা দমানোর চেষ্টা করি। কারও অর্থসংক্রান্ত অপরাধ থাকলে তাকে ঋণ-বিষয়ক পরামর্শ দিই। তাদের অপরাধের কারণগুলো আমরা দূর করার চেষ্টা করি। সংশোধন হতে কয়েদিদের নিজেদের ইচ্ছাও থাকতে হবে। আর আমাদের সংশোধন প্রক্রিয়াগুলো খুব কাজে আসে। গত ১০ বছরে আমাদের কাজ দিনে দিনে আরও উন্নত হয়েছে।’

কোনো কোনো ক্ষেত্রে এই লোকদের নিজেদের কর্মস্থলে রেখে, পরিবারের সঙ্গে রেখে অন্যভাবে শাস্তির ব্যবস্থা করা হয়।

একই এলাকার এসারহেমে কারাগারে গেলে দেখা যায়, সেখানে প্রচুর খোলামেলা জায়গা। শরীরচর্চার জায়গাটি অনেক বড়। সেখানে আছে ওকগাছ, পিকনিক টেবিল ও ভলিবল খেলার নেট।

ডেপুটি গভর্নর রয়েলফ বলেন, খোলা বাতাস কয়েদি ও কারাগারের কর্মীদের দুশ্চিন্তা কমিয়ে আনে। বন্দীরা একা পাঠাগার, ক্লিনিক বা ক্যানটিনে যেতে পারেন। এই স্বাধীনতা কারাগার থেকে মুক্ত হয়ে তাঁদের স্বাভাবিক জীবনে ফিরে যেতে সাহায্য করে।

এক দশক আগেও বন্দীর সংখ্যার দিকে ইউরোপের শীর্ষস্থানীয় দেশগুলোর একটি ছিল নেদারল্যান্ডস। কিন্তু এখন সেটা সর্বনিম্ন বলে দাবি করা হয়। প্রতি এক লাখে ৫৭ জন সেখানে বন্দী রয়েছে। ইংল্যান্ড ও ওয়েলসে সেখানে প্রতি লাখে ১৪৮ জন বন্দী। ২০০৫ সালে নেদারল্যান্ডসে ১৪ হাজার ৪৬৮ জন বন্দী ছিল। এখন তা আট হাজার জনে নেমে এসেছে, যা আগের চেয়ে ৪৩ শতাংশ কম।

দক্ষিণাঞ্চলীয় শহর লিডেনের অপরাধ আইন-বিষয়ক অধ্যাপক পলিন স্কুয়াটের মতে, শুধু পুনর্বাসন কর্মসূচির কারণেই নেদারল্যান্ডসে কারাবন্দীর সংখ্যা কমে আসেনি। ২০০৫ সালের দিকে কোকেনসহ মাদকদ্রব্য বহনকারীদের ব্যাপকভাবে ধরার পর তা কার্যকরভাবে কমে আসে। পুলিশ এখন মাদকদ্রব্যের দিক থেকে নজর সরিয়ে মানব পাচার ও সন্ত্রাসবাদ রোধের দিকে মনোযোগ বাড়িয়েছে।

এর বাইরে নেদারল্যান্ডসে বিচারকেরা অপরাধীদের বিকল্প শাস্তির ব্যবস্থা করে থাকেন। সাজাপ্রাপ্ত ব্যক্তিদের কমিউনিটির বিভিন্ন কাজে লাগানো হয়, জরিমানা করা হয় এবং প্রযুক্তির মাধ্যমে তাঁদের কর্মকাণ্ড পর্যবেক্ষণ করা হয়।
[Source: Prothom-Alo]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

32

Business Administration / What is a 'Most Favored Nation Clause'?

« on: April 13, 2016, 02:18:33 PM »

A most favored nation clause is a level of status given to one country by another and enforced by the World Trade Organization. A country grants this clause to another nation if it is interested in increasing trade with that country. Countries achieving most favored nation status are given specific trade advantages such as reduced tariffs on imported goods.
[source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mostfavorednation.asp

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

33

Business Administration / What is Environmental Tariff?

« on: April 13, 2016, 02:17:33 PM »

A tax placed on products being imported to or exported from countries with unsatisfactory environmental pollution controls. An environmental tariff is, in effect, a sin tax, designed to make trade with environmentally negligent countries less desirable.
[Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-tariff.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

34

Business Administration / What is Environmental Economics?

« on: April 13, 2016, 02:13:00 PM »

Environmental economics is an area of economics that studies the financial impact of environmental policies. Environment economists perform studies to determine the theoretical or empirical effects of environmental policies on the economy. This field of economics helps users design appropriate environmental policies and analyze the effects and merits of existing or proposed policies.
[Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-economics.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

35

Business Administration / What is Green economics?

« on: April 13, 2016, 10:32:28 AM »

Green economics is a methodology of economics that supports the harmonious interaction between humans and nature and attempts to meet the needs of both simultaneously. The green economic theories encompass a wide range of ideas all dealing with the interconnected relationship between people and the environment. Green economists assert that the basis for all economic decisions should be in some way tied to the ecosystem, and that natural capital and ecological services have economic value.

[Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/greeneconomics.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

36

Business Administration / What is Venture philanthropy?

« on: April 13, 2016, 10:31:20 AM »

Venture philanthropy is the application or redirection of principles of traditional venture capital financing to achieve philanthropic endeavors. Venture philanthropy applies most of the same principles of venture capital funding to invest in start-up, growth or risk-taking social ventures. It is not explicitly interested in profit but rather in making investments which promote some sort of social good. Venture philanthropy ventures generally focuses on building capital and scale. It is an umbrella term that can be used to refer shorthand to many different kinds of philanthropic investing, but notably, it is distinct from impact investing, which places more emphasis on turning a profit while nevertheless investing in ventures that address social concerns.
[source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/venture-philanthropy.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

37

Business Administration / What is 'Corporate Inversion'?

« on: April 13, 2016, 10:29:37 AM »

Corporate inversion refers to re-incorporating a company overseas in order to reduce the tax burden on income earned abroad. Corporate inversion as a strategy is used by companies that receive a significant portion of their income from foreign sources, since that income is taxed both abroad and in the country of incorporation. Companies undertaking this strategy are likely to select a country that has lower tax rates and less stringent corporate governance requirements.
[source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corporateinversion.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

38

Business Administration / What is a Simple Random Sample?

« on: April 13, 2016, 10:28:24 AM »

A simple random sample is a subset of a statistical population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen. A simple random sample is meant to be an unbiased representation of a group. An example of a simple random sample would be a group of 25 employees chosen out of a hat from a company of 250 employees. In this case, the population is all 250 employees, and the sample is random because each employee has an equal chance of being chosen.
[Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/simple-random-sample.asp]

Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

39

Business Administration / The Primary Elements of TQM

« on: April 13, 2016, 10:11:37 AM »

The Primary Elements of TQM

Total quality management can be summarized as a management system for a customer-focused organization that involves all employees in continual improvement. It uses strategy, data, and effective communications to integrate the quality discipline into the culture and activities of the organization.

    Customer-focused. The customer ultimately determines the level of quality. No matter what an organization does to foster quality improvement—training employees, integrating quality into the design process, upgrading computers or software, or buying new measuring tools—the customer determines whether the efforts were worthwhile.

    Total employee involvement. All employees participate in working toward common goals. Total employee commitment can only be obtained after fear has been driven from the workplace, when empowerment has occurred, and management has provided the proper environment. High-performance work systems integrate continuous improvement efforts with normal business operations. Self-managed work teams are one form of empowerment.

    Process-centered. A fundamental part of TQM is a focus on process thinking. A process is a series of steps that take inputs from suppliers (internal or external) and transforms them into outputs that are delivered to customers (again, either internal or external). The steps required to carry out the process are defined, and performance measures are continuously monitored in order to detect unexpected variation.

    Integrated system. Although an organization may consist of many different functional specialties often organized into vertically structured departments, it is the horizontal processes interconnecting these functions that are the focus of TQM.
        Micro-processes add up to larger processes, and all processes aggregate into the business processes required for defining and implementing strategy. Everyone must understand the vision, mission, and guiding principles as well as the quality policies, objectives, and critical processes of the organization. Business performance must be monitored and communicated continuously.
        An integrated business system may be modeled after the Baldrige National Quality Program criteria and/or incorporate the ISO 9000 standards. Every organization has a unique work culture, and it is virtually impossible to achieve excellence in its products and services unless a good quality culture has been fostered. Thus, an integrated system connects business improvement elements in an attempt to continually improve and exceed the expectations of customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
    Strategic and systematic approach. A critical part of the management of quality is the strategic and systematic approach to achieving an organization’s vision, mission, and goals. This process, called strategic planning or strategic management, includes the formulation of a strategic plan that integrates quality as a core component.

    Continual improvement. A major thrust of TQM is continual process improvement. Continual improvement drives an organization to be both analytical and creative in finding ways to become more competitive and more effective at meeting stakeholder expectations.

    Fact-based decision making. In order to know how well an organization is performing, data on performance measures are necessary. TQM requires that an organization continually collect and analyze data in order to improve decision making accuracy, achieve consensus, and allow prediction based on past history.

    Communications. During times of organizational change, as well as part of day-to-day operation, effective communications plays a large part in maintaining morale and in motivating employees at all levels. Communications involve strategies, method, and timeliness.

These elements are considered so essential to TQM that many organizations define them, in some format, as a set of core values and principles on which the organization is to operate.

[http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/total-quality-management/overview/overview.html]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

40

Business Administration / How is a Facebook marketing campaign developed?

« on: January 04, 2016, 03:45:11 PM »

Facebook pages are often linked to company web pages elsewhere on the Internet; therefore, it’s often a good idea to use some of the same information in both places, in order to maintain a familiarity. A business page can be searched for as soon as it is up, but unlike a personal profile, you cannot invite friends through it. Business pages do not get “friends,” they get “fans”—and that distinction does make a difference.

To create an initial seed for the fan base, each member of the marketing team should begin by liking the business page on their own personal profiles; all employees, in fact, should be encouraged to join in. When an individual likes a page, Facebook immediately posts (read: advertises) this event to their profile—and this activity can be seen by every one of their friends. “Joe Smith likes [this brand].” The word begins to spread.

Every Facebook user who likes a page will get to see any content a business posts, and be notified of posts through their news feed. If they are engaged by that content, they may comment on it, or like that item; and “Joe Smith commented on [this brand’s] status update” appears on all of their friends’ news feeds. Additionally, they may share this content, which will post (again, read: advertise) the entire content to their own profiles, and notify their friends to come look. The company's task, then, is to encourage this process as much as possible.

The most important aspect of Facebook marketing is consistency of communication. Creating a Facebook page and then leaving it alone will net a business nothing. To attract fans, a business should regularly post new content in a variety of different formats, so that more people will see and share the page. Content can announce upcoming promotions, spot-light specific products or people, share fun facts, provide incentive codes for discounts on products and services, and anything else that will catch the interest of fans.

Given the way Facebook’s news feed works, the recency of a post is a major factor in organizing what a user sees. The average user has more than 130 friends, and may be a fan of several brands, personalities, and organizations. When he or she logs in, there is no way to instantly see activity from every one of those sources.

The news feed shows them posts from the friends/etc. they interact with most, and which are more recent. Therefore, a company's post is only likely to be visible on their fans’ news feeds for about three hours after they post it. Furthermore, depending upon the time of day they post, it is likely to be seen by entirely different portions of their fan base.

In addition to varied content and formatting, posts should invite customers to interact and respond. Businesses should present consistent calls to action, which can be as simple as “watch this,” “like this,” or “share this." Additionally, businesses can invite participation through contests and polls (which are also a way to collect market research). Such low-commitment investments encourage familiarity and affinity in their customer base.

This positive relationship can be further promoted through maintaining two-way communication. In other words, when fans post a comment on content, businesses should respond. How much they respond will depend upon how many fans comment, and how much time they can commit to Facebook marketing; but the more any particular fan interacts with a page, the more likely he or she is to buy.

[source:http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/facebook-marketing.html]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

41

Business Administration / Who employs Facebook marketing?

« on: January 04, 2016, 03:42:58 PM »

Featuring nearly a billion potential customers, every business should be using Facebook. It is at least as essential as having a business web page—and actually much easier to create. Whether you represent a big brand or a small business employing only a handful of people, you can bet that some portion of your customers are already on Facebook. Commonly, Facebook marketing is used by:
(a) Brands. Food, electronics, home goods, restaurants—nearly any kind of brand can be promoted through Facebook, turning passive customers into active fans who follow news of promotions and developments, and who share with their own friends.
(b)Local businesses. Whether a business is family-owned, or a franchise of a larger company, a Facebook page can be used to turn a local customer base into a fan base that more commonly visits your store.
(c) Personalities. Musicians, celebrities, authors, syndicated columnists—anybody who makes their money through being known wants to be known by as many people as they can on Facebook.
(d) Non-profit organizations. Charities, political groups, and public service campaigns can all leverage the natural sharing capabilities of Facebook.

[source: http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/facebook-marketing.html]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

42

Business Administration / What is Facebook marketing?

« on: January 04, 2016, 03:41:33 PM »

Facebook marketing refers to creating—and actively using—a Facebook page as a communications channel to maintain contact with and attract customers. Facebook actively provides for this, allowing users to create individual profiles or business pages for companies, organizations, or any group attempting to develop a fan base for a product, service, or brand.

[source: http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/facebook-marketing.html]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

43

Business Administration / How is a Youth Marketing Plan Developed and Implemented?

« on: January 04, 2016, 03:39:58 PM »

Youth marketing takes so many different forms that it is difficult to make generalizations about how a marketing plan will work. To understand how youth marketing is conducted by real companies, consider Levi's jeans. By the mid 90's, the iconic denim maker was struggling. They had seen their percentage of market share plummet and the image of their brand weakened by upstart clothing makers like Diesel and Gap. For years, Levi's had relied on a reputation for being rebellious, hip, and stylish. Lazy marketing had caused this reputation to erode and the brand was slowly becoming irrelevant to young people.

The company quickly realized that their classic design no longer appealed to young people. Market research revealed that the brand was seen as old and designed for the middle-aged consumer. Levi's began their new marketing strategy with a careful analysis of the company and its customers. This analysis revealed that the problem was with the product itself and not just the way it was marketed. A marketing plan was enacted that would reflect a whole new youth marketing strategy for Levi's.

Designers developed a line of jeans and pants made from new materials and featuring contemporary cuts. To help publicize their product and re-brand the company, they took an aggressive, multi-channeled marketing approach, opening several stand alone stores that sold the company’s products along with fashion and design offerings targeted at urban trendsetters.

If Levi's could establish themselves as a “cool” brand they would attract the attention of the young. A widespread TV ad campaign featuring a yellow puppet was the perfect mix of silliness and strangeness to connect with young viewers. A heavy focus on viral, guerrilla, and other non-traditional forms of advertising helped to differentiate Levi's from other denim makers.

Levi's may never become the iconic brand that they once were, but they managed to successfully reposition themselves as a clothing brand that young people want to wear. Rather than clinging to a declining reputation and an outdated notion of what kids want, Levis was willing to make big changes and fundamentally redesign the image of their company.

[Source: http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/youth-marketing.html#link2]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

44

Business Administration / Examples of Youth Marketing

« on: January 04, 2016, 09:17:16 AM »

Examples of Youth Marketing:

  (1)  Apple – When the iPod was first introduced, Apple ran a now legendary series of TV ads featuring black silhouettes dancing while listening to iPods. The ads made the iPod seem innovative, energetic, cool, and inherently youthful.
   (2) Sony – The Walkman was developed after the chairman of Sony noticed how important music was to his teenage daughter. He realized that young people were clamoring for a way to take music with them everywhere.
   (3) Virgin Mobile – Riffing on the idea of “The parent trap” Virgin created ads that encouraged teens to pester their parents to buy them more cell phone minutes. The ads were placed in magazines like CosmoGirl that cater to teens.
   (4) Taco Bell – The fast food company appeals to a young, bar hopping crowd by keeping their restaurants open late and promoting the idea of a “fourth meal.”
   (5) Wal-Mart – The retailer teamed up with pop star Miley Cyrus to introduce a line of clothing targeted at young girls.
   (6) American Eagle – The clothing maker gave away free pairs of flip flops to incoming college freshmen.
   (7) Red Bull – The energy drink maker produces games and mobile apps to encourage participation in their social media.

[source: http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/youth-marketing.html#link2]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University

45

Business Administration / Tips for Youth Marketing

« on: January 04, 2016, 09:15:08 AM »

Tips for Youth Marketing:

  (a) Use student media – Take out advertisements in high school newspapers and on college radio  stations
  (b) Use text ads – It is no secret that kids like to text. Send out announcements and offers straight to their phone.
  (c) Send out a campus rep – Go to college campuses and high school football games and hand out free samples and company info.
  (d) Support a cause – Research which issues and organizations are most important to young people and make a donation or suggest a partnership.
  (e) Make a quick pitch – Young people are impulsive and have short attention spans. Effective sales pitches should be short and direct.
  (f) Be interactive – Use tools like games, videos, and online apps to keep kids engaged.
  (g) Listen – Solicit and respect feedback from customers. Young consumers want to feel like a partner in the brand.
  (h) Use flyers – Place inexpensive, but attention grabbing flyers in bars, record stores, and coffee shops where young people gather.

[source: http://www.marketing-schools.org/types-of-marketing/youth-marketing.html#link2]


Sayed Farrukh Ahmed
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Business & Economics
Daffodil International University