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Point of view: Waikato Museum 2018
Get PDFPoint of View is a perception based installation presented as part of the 'INDELIBLE' exhibition at Waikato Museum.
The work consists of a 3 sided box suspended above the viewer. The box is painted white and is projected onto from above the primary viewing point (this prevents the viewer from noticing the projector, but also from blocking the projection). The light-based projection onto the surface of the box creates the illusion that the 3 sided box is actually a 6 sided cube. The viewer is invited to move around the space, observing the cube. Once the viewer walks under or past the suspended cube, they enter the secondary viewpoint in which they see the actual form of the box – a 3 sided/open box. The work talks about how we as individuals perceive communities depending on our unique viewpoints. One may see a community as a negative group, where others see the same group as supportive or encouraging. Communities are built on shared or common attitudes and interests, because of this, our own experiences shape the way we see them. It raises questions about the difference between reality and perception
Implementing a human resource plan
Get PDFThis research involved evaluating the human resource management practices and processes within an organisation. The organisation is a well-established life sciences organisation located in New Zealand. The organisation manufactures an insert device which is sold to over 60 countries. The organisation has experienced significant changes, and these changes to the organisation are still in the process of being implemented. The organisation has a clear and focussed business strategy and human resource plan however, the plan has not been implemented. The changes to the organisation have affected the motivation of the employees, job insecurities with the restructuring of the organisation, and employees have experienced an inability to adapt and change. Communication from senior management was initially on a regular basis however, the communication is now less. An audit of human resource systems is recommended, to review current practices and to provide statistical data and information, to senior management to establish the motivation and engagement levels of all employees. The organisation adheres to strict compliance and regulatory guidelines. Therefore health and safety procedures and processes are established, employees are trained during induction and receive ongoing health and safety training. There are robust reporting systems in place for incidents and hazards, a no blame culture is encouraged and employees are comfortable reporting health and safety concerns. The management team support a positive health and safety culture and encourages continuous improvements. For the organisation to evolve its brand and to achieve its vision of attracting and retaining top talent, encouraging collaboration, communication and engaging employees, this report recommends, the human resource plan to be communicated to employees as soon as possible. Communication from senior management should be on a regular basis and results continually reinforced. Senior management should become more visible to the employees on the shop floor
Retaining customer loyalty when moving to a new location: A case study on a small restaurant
Get PDFThe restaurant was opened recently. Due to the reconstruction of the building, the owner is considering moving the restaurant to a new location. The research aims to discuss how location and other factors affect customer loyalty and how to retain customers when moving to a new location. To analyse and explain the aims, the researcher conducted an interview with the owner of the restaurant and used two questionnaires, one for the customers of the restaurant (30 sampling) and another for potential restaurant goers (30 sampling). The research method used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The research is still under development and not yet complete, therefore only part of results and recommendations are illustrated. The restaurant has a relatively large group of loyal customers. Location plays only a small role in customer behaviour for choosing a restaurant. Accessibility, surroundings and affordability need to be considered when choosing location
Issues for charities applying the new requirements for financial reporting
Get PDFThis research is to determine the issues that charities/non-profit organisations (charities/NPOs) have encountered when applying the new requirements for financial reporting introduced in 2015. Currently in New Zealand, there are 27,217 registered charities affected by these new requirements. This primary, semi-structured research uses a quantitative method and a convenience approach. Literature reviews were gathered and divided into seven themes, from which the questionnaire survey questions were developed. Nine charities/NPOs in New Zealand respondent to the questionnaire survey with results showing 45% of respondents were under Tier 4; 33% for Tier 3 and 22% for Tier 2. Results further revealed that 67% of the respondents find the new requirements clear. The majority of respondents (56%) also indicated increased accounting costs as a result of applying new requirements for financial reporting. Also, 66% respondents indicated a need for staff training. Overall the new requirements for financial reporting have a positive side as they ensure that financial reports are standardised, comparable, readable, consistent, reliable, and transparent to users such as donors, benefactors, government agencies, businesses, funders, and stakeholders. Thus, the financial reports help in the decision-making of external users
Examining the implications of the anti-money laundering and countering financing of Terrorism Act 2009 on New Zealand accounting firms
Get PDFMoney laundering is the act of introducing illicitly gained funds into the economy to assist in concealing their origin. On October 1 2018, it became mandatory for most New Zealand accounting firms to comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009. The purpose of this act is to help detect and deter money laundering within New Zealand. The AML/CFT Act creates additional requirements for accounting firms and has severe penalties for non-compliance. This led to the research question of ‘What are the implications of the AML/CFT Act 2009 on New Zealand Accounting firms?’ For this research, interviews were conducted with accounting firms to help identify the costs and implications associated with the AML/CFT requirements. The results revealed that despite the October 1 deadline, accounting firms are still implementing programs. The new requirements were unclear and underestimated by firms. Large money and time costs were reported by all the interview participants and they all feel that the new requirements are excessive. As the AML/CFT Act is still new, it would be beneficial to explore further research in the future that examines the actual impact of maintaining the AML/CFT programs
Strategic management accounting
Get PDFThe concept of strategic management accounting (SMA) was brought about by criticism by stakeholders. The criticism came about as a result of management accounting r beingtoo internally fixated. Being a relativity new concept, SMA lacks a conceptual framework. Literature describes SMA as a general approach interfacing management accounting and marketing management. Techniques considered under SMA include propositions of numerous management accounting techniques having a ‘strategic’ focus. The most convincing development within SMA studies that exemplifies the conceptualisation of SMA is attribute costing. This research aims to examine the extent of strategic management accounting practices used by a family timber company in a Waikato regional town. It also aims to examine the impact of these techniques on the performance of the company. Three individuals who hold very important positions in the company were interviewed and an analysis of company records (e.g. business plan) were conducted. Because of the significant growth experienced by the company in the last 10 years and considering the longevity of the company, it is expected that the company will be practicing some form of SMA. Interim results suggest that a relatively fair amount of SMA has been practiced. Realising the improvements made by the company through the uses of these practices may close the gap that exists in the area of SMA
Designing the balanced scorecard to improve student satisfaction in educational organisations
Get PDFStudent satisfaction is the top priority of educational institutions. The focus of this research is designing and implementing a balanced scorecard for educational institutes. Kaplan and Norton developed the concept of a balanced scorecard framework. This framework is broadly applied by both profit and non-profit institutions. Higher educational organisations are under a continuous burden to gather as many students as they can. In this competitive market, there are a lot of factors which contribute to the selection of the institute where students want to study. This research aims to analyse the trends of students and factors which contribute to student selection of an institute. This framework will be utilised to investigate student satisfaction which will contribute to strategic planning and improving performance. The method used in this research was interviews with pupils, which were used to measure their satisfaction, views, and opinions. There is an overall good level of student satisfaction. There are some areas which need attention and suggestions from students can help improve performance. Results derived can also be used for future strategic planning and help in management decisions, and further modification of the frameworks will definitively contribute to a high level of performance and better student satisfaction
Improving inventory management systems
Get PDFInventory management is an important part of operations management of any organisation. Maintaining a balanced condition in the inventory operations, maintaining the efficiency of all systems as well as minimizing all losses, is a difficult process. The organisation involved in this research deals in retail convenience of dairy products and it is unable to produce detailed reports regarding economic conditions of the market due to its outdated accounting systems. The aim of the research is to study the issues of improper and outdated inventory record systems, accounting systems and inventory tracking systems in order to develop solutions to upgrade them. The research will also help to upgrade the weak cost saving system of the company along with solving the problem of time delays due to the location of its warehouses. Theory of just-in-time inventory theory, economic order theory, and economic production theory have been applied in this study. The major objective for application of these theories is to stabilise inventory management system along with the systems regarding cost analysis. Participants were specifically chosen for data collection method and the process was carried out ethically. The results exclusively pointed out the requirement of new technologies to digitalize the system and upgrade the current cost analysis system. Therefore, the research concluded that with incorporation of skilled staff and high-tech systems to manage organisational resources, the organisation can achieve a better inventory management system and minimise excessive expense
Marketing strategies to attract new customers
Get PDFThe aim of the study is to investigate the most effective ways that social media marketing can be applied to ensure customer loyalty management in the hotel industry, as well as features, benefits, and methods of these strategies. The aim is to create appropriate guidelines for the case company to build social bonds with customers that will positively impact on maintaining communication and retention. The data for this study were collected from several sources, such as articles, books, journals and semi-structured interviews. The customer retention process is examined based on workplace experience. The qualitative research method was selected for acquiring in depth data from the manager, who has long experience of the company, for the formulation of recommendations. The results of the study revealed the significance of social media marketing in hotel management in kiwi society. A comparison of earlier and more recent studies on customer retention helped in the investigation of effective strategic approaches that successfully work nowadays. Together with the analysis of the organisations that played the role of examples in the author’s case study, a set of general guidelines were elaborated for restaurants that disclose some hidden opportunities for social media sites for an improved application of customer retention techniques
Importance of production planning and control in a restaurant
Get PDFThe main aim of the research project is to study the importance of production planning and control in a fast food restaurant. Production planning and control improves the flow of the entire production process in an organisation. The objective of the research is to oversee all the process of the production and check that the quality of the product is well maintained. It also ensures that all inventory levels are well maintained and there is no over stocking or understocking. The method used to do this research is qualitative. Data is collected by having informal discussions with the franchise owner. There are some recommendations. Sometimes the workplace is very busy so at that staff have little time. The place to dine in is very small