i-manager's Journal on Management (JMGT)


Volume 9 Issue 2 September - November 2014

Research Paper

Agricultural Insurance Pricing Model

Chao-Hui Yeh* , Ti-Ling Wang**
* Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, I-Shou University, Taiwan.
** Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, Kao Yuan University, Taiwan.
Chao-Hui Yeh and Ti-Ling Wang (2014). Agricultural Insurance Pricing Model. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 9(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.9.2.2988

Abstract

With growing concerns about climate change on agricultural yields and prices, the authors studied and designed the agricultural profit insurance as risk management tool in this paper. They identified the key issues and concerns that arise in the design and rating of agricultural yield insurance plans, with particular emphasis on yield risk modeling. They showed how the availability of data shapes the insurance scheme and the ratemaking procedures. Relying on Taiwan’s experience and recent developments in Statistics and Econometrics, the authors review some risk modeling concepts and provide technical guidelines in the development of agricultural insurance plans. Yield randomness varies regionally. Price randomness differs among commodities and changes over time. Yields and prices tend to move in opposite directions. Finally, they showed how these risk modeling techniques can be extended to price risk in order to develop agricultural profit insurance schemes.

Research Paper

Project Appraisal at Durgapur Steel Plant

Tamma Koti Reddy* , Praveen Sharma**
* Associate Professor, Economics, IBS, Hyderabad.
** MBA, IBS, Hyderabad.
Tamma Koti Reddy and Praveen Sharma (2014). Project Appraisal at Durgapur Steel Plant. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 9(2), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.9.2.2989

Abstract

This research paper studies the tools and techniques used in investment appraisal in Steel Authority Of India Limited using a live modernization project at SAIL “ the rebuilding of coke oven battery # 4”. It is observed that Investment decisions are the most important and crucial decisions of the corporate world owing to the large amount of risk involved. They affect the value of the firm and thus they need to be critically analyzed both technically and financially. To investigate the feasibility of a proposal, project appraisal techniques like Net Present Value (NPV) method, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) method and Sensitivity Analysis were employed. The authors opine that the NPV comes out to be `. 296.20 crores (posttax) and IRR 26.81% and 33.75% for post- tax and pre- tax respectively which is well above the hurdle rate, hence the project is feasible and recommended for implementation.

Research Paper

Employee Perception on Industrial Relations Practices in ITC-ILTD of Andhra Pradesh

Alluri Balaji* , V. Tulasi Das**
* Research Scholar, Department of HRM, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, AP.
** Head, Department of Human Resource Management, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, AP.
Alluri Balaji and V. Tulasi Das (2014). Employee Perception on Industrial Relations Practices in ITC-ILTD of Andhra Pradesh. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 9(2), 24-31. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.9.2.2990

Abstract

Every business in the competitive world needs a kind of competitive advantage. The present strategy that is practised by all the entrepreneurs is revenue and profit maximization, and simultaneously cost cut strategy has been implemented, and it reduces labour force by implementing automation technique. This climate in the organization leads to or spoils the relations between employer and employees, because the nature of human behaviour is complex and dynamic, and it must be studied. Against this, the present study is undertaken to find out the perception of employees on industrial relations climate in the organization, by using constraints i.e. management-employee relations, employee commitment and responsibilities, nature of work, employee motivation climate, cooperation, resolving grievances, workers participation in management, welfare and working conditions. The data has been tested against the null hypothesis, and the result shows that by bringing significant improvements in these factors, a conductive climate can be achieved. However, different variables are required to be qualitatively enhanced for ensuring significant improvements in the classified factors.

Research Paper

Stock Return and Investor Sentiment: Evidence for Emerging Market

Amari Mouna* , Jarboui Anis**
* Doctoral Student, FSEGS, Tunisia.
** Professor, Finance, ISAAS, Tunisia.
Amari Mouna and Jarboui Anis (2014). Stock Return And Investor Sentiment: Evidence For Emerging Market. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 9(2), 32-39. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.9.2.2991

Abstract

Humans are constantly susceptible to cognitive errors and these create biases in their judgments. The main purpose of this paper is to determine how the sentiment of the small investors affects their decision making by examining their portfolio returns. The proposed model of this research uses the logistic regression analyses to examine this relationship. Investor's biases have been measured by means of a questionnaire comprising several items. As for the selected sample, it has been composed of 178 small investors actively trading on the Tunisian stock market. The findings show that the portfolio returns of the small investors were somehow influenced by behavioral biases and the results indicate that anchoring, familiarity, age and experience to be important contributory factors to the portfolio performance. This study has implications for the development of the portfolio performance of the individual investor. Also some psychological aspects of a theoretical nature could not be wholly approached in a complete empirical way. The paper pushes investors to make their financial decisions based on their financial capability and experience level and to avoid relying in their sentiment when making financial decision. This paper incites the government to establish training programmes aimed to develop the individual investor financial literacy and competency

Research Paper

Economic Conditions of Agricultural Labourers-A Case Study in Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh

B. Rambabu*
Associate Professor, Department of Science & Humanities, Sreenivasa Institute of Technology and Management Studies (SITAMS), Chittoor, A.P.
B. Rambabu (2014). Economic Conditions of Agricultural Labourers-A Case Study In Nellore District In Andhra Pradesh. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 9(2), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.9.2.2992

Abstract

The agriculture laborers are the most exploited and oppressed class in rural hierarchy. Before independence, their position was nothing better themselves. They were victims of not only economic exploitations, but also of social discrimination. If they fail to bow to the tunes of the masters, they were beaten up and tortured. By advancing small loans to them, the landlords often succeeded in trapping these poor people into their net and converted them into virtual slaves. This slavery continued from generation to generations and forced the agricultural workers to lead a watched existence of deprivation and oppression. Though the situation has improved to some extent during the last 67 years of independence, even now this class of agricultural workers are the poorest and resource starved class in rural areas.