Optimizing Investment Portfolio of a State-Owned Company Pension Fund

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The Pension Fund of PT Pos Indonesia (Dapenpos) is considering cutting off all its stock from the portfolio and trying to find the optimal portfolio to increase the funding ratio level. This research is using Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) by Markowitz to solve the current issue faced by the company by optimizing company’s current portfolio, company’s stock universe, and optimizing modified portfolio of company. Portfolio optimization of the company is complying to the OJK regulation as well as company’s investment direction with constant government bond proportion of 30% and unchanged proportion of both direct investment and property assets. The historical existing portfolio of Dapenpos from 2017 to 2021 has an expected return of 8.83% with standard deviation of 3.45%, so it is suggested that both mutual fund and stock portfolio should be emptied and reallocated to time deposit and corporate bond. The efficient frontier from current portfolio optimization indicated that Dapenpos could get a higher return of 9.31% by choosing portfolio above the optimal frontier. The optimal LQ45 index has a range of return from 6.90% as its Global Minimum Variance (GMV) to 27.46% as its optimal portfolio suggestion. GMV LQ45 is the preferable portfolio to modify the existing portfolio, with an optimal modified portfolio expected retrurn’s range of 7.37% to 9.28%. The decision of the fund manager to cut all the stock from its portfolio is validated by MPT tools with strategic reallocation to time deposit and corporate bond in gaining potential higher return with similar risk.

 

Capacity Planning of New Product in PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (Oolong Tea)

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In early 2021 PTPN VIII began producing a new product based on consumer demand, namely oolong tea, within an estimated contract worth IDR 6.000.000.000 of 150 tons. Thus, the firm should be prepared related to the garden and the factory to produce the oolong tea. This research uses a quantitative descriptive method by analyzing the capacity of the garden to provide the raw material for oolong tea; in the process of oolong tea production, the garden can provide 2.5 tons per day, exceeding the calculation of 1.9 tons. However, the machine used for the production process is inadequate. The machine’s capacity is only available to produce 106.78 tons per year, which is below consumer demand. It requires the firm to add three rotary dryer machines. Adding three machines meant oolong tea production reached 150 tons only in 13 hours and 25 minutes. Adding these machines also requires the firm to invest as much as IDR 540,000,000; by this investment value of the machine, the payback period will return in 4,4 years with the machine durability more than 25 years.

Study of Agronomic Characteristics of Citronella Plants (Cymbopogon nardus L.) Cultivated Agroforestry in Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh Province

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Citronella plants can grow on marginal lands. Cultivation of citronella by farmers in Gayo Lues Regency is carried out under pine stands and in open fields. This study aims to examine the agronomic characteristics of citronella cultivated agroforestry that was carried out in citronella gardens owned by farmers in all sub-districts in Gayo Lues Regency. This study used a field survey method and quantitative descriptive analysis. The citronella gardens observed were citronella orchards under pine stands and in open land on different soil types, altitudes and slopes, which were designated as homogeneous land units (SLH) of the observation site. Variables observed were variety, number of tillers, quantity, length and width of leaves, weight of wet herb, dry weight of herb and oil yield. The results showed that the agroforestry cultivation pattern of citronella plants under pine stands showed very good growth, which was indicated by the agronomic characteristics of citronella, namely the number of leaves; the leaves were longer and wider than when planted in open land. The agroforestry system of citronella cultivated in open land has agronomic characteristics of citronella, namely the number of tillers, the weight of the wet herb and the dry herb weight is higher than when cultivated under pine stands in Gayo Lues Regency. Citronella plants should be cultivated in open land (without shade) with Red-Yellow Podzolic soil type at an altitude of 1,000 – 2,000 m above sea level so that the best oil yield is obtained, namely SLH AAS44, without pine stands.

Quality Improvement to Enhance Customer Satisfaction Using Lean Six Sigma (Case Study: XYZ Restaurant)

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Bandung was designated as a national culinary destination city in 2017 by the Ministry of Tourism due to its culinary diversity. The development of food and beverage businesses in Bandung, which increased from 524 in 2020 to 729 in 2021[4], shows that competition in the culinary business is quite intense. XYZ is one of the restaurants that can survive during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, XYZ often experiences complaints from customers regarding the quality of its products and services. Usually, this restaurant can receive 200-300 customers on weekdays and 400-600 customers on weekends. But until now, XYZ only receives 50% of its customers. This research will discuss the improvement of product and service quality using the DMAIC Lean Six Sigma methodology. The research uses primary data by distributing questionnaires to XYZ customers who visited in 2021 to 2023. From the results of the questionnaire, 4 out of 19 sub-variables customers feel that the performance is not good but has a high importance, namely in T1 (Taste), TX1 (Texture), E1 (Empathy), and R1 (Reliability). These four indicators need to be improved so that customers feel satisfied with the services and products provided by XYZ. Based on the main problems from the data obtained, quality improvement efforts that can be made such as employee training and quality control at suppliers. These efforts aim to improve and maintain the quality of XYZ for the long term so that an increase in the number of customers can be achieved, such as 200-300 visitors on weekdays and 400-600 on weekends.

Public Speaking Anxiety among College Students at St. Paul University Surigao

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Public speaking is the act of making speeches in public or the art of effective oral communication with an audience. Fear of public speaking is common among students and the general population. The National Institute of Mental Health Report stated that public speaking anxiety is considered a social anxiety disorder (Brewer, 2001). This research aimed to find out the public speaking anxiety among college students of St. Paul University Surigao. It sought to answer the participants’ anxiety levels as Trait Anxiety, Context Anxiety, Audience Anxiety, and Situation Anxiety. The data were tested for the significant difference when grouped according to their profile. The researchers utilized the quantitative descriptive survey design using a researcher-made questionnaire that was subjected for validity and reliability checking and was administered to 81 education students. The findings revealed that students experienced very high Audience Anxiety while only high Trait, Context and Situation Anxieties. Furthermore, the findings found no significant difference in the participants’ level of anxiety when grouped according to profile. This means that anxiety level remains the same regardless of age, sex, and year level. Hence, it is recommended that public speaking should be offered as a subject to all degree programs at the tertiary level especially for teacher education programs. Also, the school administrators should encourage more public speaking activities in and out of the school where students would participate in such public speaking events to hone skills, thus, minimizing public speaking anxieties.

Rheological Studies of Anionic Surfactants in Presence of Urea Derivatives and Monohydric Alcohols at Constant Temperature

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Surfactants are adaptable amphiphilic compounds have an especially distinctive polar hydrophilic head and non-polar hydrophilic tail group. The surfactant is extensively used in each walk of life such as care products, domestic cleaners, pharmaceuticals, oil recovery, food handling, and nanotechnologies due to decreasing the interfacial tension,. The Micellization of anionic surfactants such as potassium dodecyl sulphate (KDS), sodium dodecyl sulphate (NaDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (NaDBS) in presence of urea derivatives (2.0 M) in 2.5% alkanol-water systems at constant temperature (35ºC) are measured using the Agla micrometer syringe. The conclusion of this study gives the Critical Micelles Concentration (CMC) values of anionic surfactants decreased with the increase in methyl group of urea derivatives, monohydric alcohols (methanol, propanol butanol) and water systems at 35ºC.

A Study on Secure Wireless Mobile Data Exchange System in Healthcare Using RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

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IoT provides a unified framework for coordinating the use of diverse real-world and digitally- enhanced healthcare assets. Telemedicine is appealing in poor countries because of a lack of access to healthcare services, an aging population with chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditures, and a need to monitor patients remotely. The Internet of Things can provide individualized health services that enhance people’s quality of life while also reducing the burden on public health infrastructure. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to catalog, compare, and categorize previous research into Healthcare IoT (HIoT) systems. In order to better understand the backdrop, we looked at research articles on RFID-based Secure Wireless mobile data exchange systems in healthcare. There was also discussion of other crucial issues including security and interoperability. At the conclusion of this report, we briefly discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of each study. Lastly, there is a dearth of research into the security and interoperability concerns of IoT design in healthcare. Important outcomes of IoT in healthcare include improved information sharing, shorter hospital stays, and lower overall healthcare expenses. IoT in healthcare faced major obstacles due to concerns over patient privacy and data security.

Business Valuation Using Discounted Cash Flow Method in Restaurant Industry (Case Study: Coffee Shop XYZ)

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The level of coffee consumption continues to increase from year to year due to the influence of third wave coffee, this also affects the sales of Coffee Shop XYZ which continue to increase. Departing from this success, management wants to open two new branches, namely in Purwakarta and in Subang through raising funds on the equity crowdfunding platform. That’s why Coffee Shop XYZ needs steps for company valuation to find out the business value and share price that Coffee Shop XYZ will provide. Coffee Shop XYZ’s company valuation assessment uses absolute and non-absolute valuation methods, where the absolute valuation method uses discounted cash flow with terminal value, while the non-absolute valuation method uses a relative model which compares Coffee Shop XYZ’s financial ratios with similar companies in the same industry. , namely the restaurant. Based on the results of the study using the absolute valuation method, it was found that Coffee Shop XYZ had an enterprise value of Rp 19.930.457.260, with a share price of Rp 49.706,38 and 390.000 outstanding shares. Meanwhile, based on the non-absolute method, the EV/EBIT, P/E and P/B ratios indicate that Coffee Shop XYZ is undervalued, meaning that the business will generate greater profits, and the business is considered not too high-risk for investment. It also has a fair share price and the ratios show its ability to distribute dividends to investors. In conclusion, based on Coffee Shop XYZ’s valuation, it is known as a declining overvalued company. Even so, Coffee Shop XYZ will still provide positive residual income.

 

Relationship between Training Evaluation and Perceptions about XYZ Corporate University

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XYZ Corporate University plays a role in developing employee competencies, supporting XYZ Corporation performance, and filling competency gaps. One of the performance indicators is the Customer Satisfaction Index. The data shows that there is a gap, where the assessment from the participants states that the average rating has met the target, but the scores from superiors and business unit heads are still far from the target score. This brings forth the question of relationship between elements of training evaluation that influence perceptions towards XYZ Corporate University and how to improve it. Quantitative research methodology is used in this research with primary data gathered from employees of XYZ Corporation who filled out a set of questionnaires. For analysis technique, linear regression analysis is performed. From these results, XYZ Corporate University needs to prioritize Learners’ Reaction and Changed Behavior after Learning, because increasing these two independent variables can affect the four dependent variables, namely positive perceptions of XYZ Corporate University. Of the five levels of training evaluation, Level 5, namely return on Training Investment, does not show a significant effect on perception, so further research is needed to examine its effect on training.

 

Conversational Implicature in the Webtoon Suddenly, I Became a Princess

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In conversation events, sometimes the speech contains a specific purpose that is different from what is said. This condition is done by someone to disguise his speech. This research discussed the conversational implicature contained in a webtoon. The aims of this research 1) to describe the conversational implicatures and intentions contained in the webtoon Suddenly, I Became a Princess, and 2) to analyse the conversational implicatures and intentions contained in the webtoon. This research used qualitative descriptive methods. The data collection technique used the listening technique with advanced techniques in the form of note-taking techniques by collecting data in the form of conversational sentences between characters from episodes 21-41 which contain conversational implicatures. The data were analyzed by classifying conversational implicature using three types of conversational implicature (Yule, 2014) which are divided into general conversational implicature, special conversational implicature, and scaled conversational implicature. The results of the analysis, there were 42 utterances which contain conversational implicature, 17 utterances of general conversational implicature, furthermore 20 utterances of special conversational implicature, and 5 utterances of scaled conversational implicature.