the difficulties and challenges of foreign capital investment opportunities in Oman.

the difficulties and challenges of foreign capital investment opportunities in Oman.

This section consists of research design, study site, research sample, sampling techniques, research instruments, data collection, and data analysis procedures that I used in my research project in the bid to evaluate the difficulties and challenges of foreign capital investment opportunities in Oman.

3.2 Research Design

This is a general plan of how a researcher will answer the research questions, Lewis and Thornhill (2007). The study adopted a descriptive research design and ex-post design. Descriptive research seeks to find answers to questions through the analysis of variables, relationships, what factors seem to be systematically associated with certain occurrences, conditions, or types of behaviour (Best & Khan 2009).

To achieve this, a mixed-method approach, which involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data via questionnaires, was employed. This approach was preferred because of its relevance to business researches. (Hallinger& Murphy, 1993).

The questionnaire was used to gather data because it was the most cost-effective means for collecting data in favour of such purpose. It was also considered to be a lot more efficient as it required less amount of time and able to accumulate data from a much larger sample (Mohd. Ashraf, 1995).  Another advantage of using the questionnaire is that it can assure the respondents of total anonymity, International Journal of Arts and Commerce Vol. 1 No. 3 4, unlike the face-to-face interview (Babie, 1989; Dilman, 1978; as cited by Mohd. Ashraf, 1995).

3.3: Target Population

The study targeted the Omani government, the Omani citizens, including journalists, Omani archives management, foreign investors and citizens, business enterprises from other nations with other nationalities outside the Omani.

3.4: Sample size and Sampling procedure

3.4.1 Sample size

The sample consisted of 67 respondents; 14 employees working in the Omani government enterprises, 29 Omani citizens, 14 foreign investors in Oman, 17 non-Omani employees or residents, three nationalities in other countries.

3.4.2 Sampling procedure

To obtain the sample data from the respondents in the various areas, two lists were prepared. From each listing, the required number of respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique where papers with yes or no labels were placed in ‘a pot’ and potential respondents allowed to draw. For each yes drawn, the potential respondent was included in the sample data, and the no-draw excluded the potential respondent from the sample data.

For the sample data on employees and higher learning institutions, I sought permission from the companies’ and schools’ management to collect data from the employees and students and also the company records. I was therefore introduced to the employees or students and given a chance to explain myself to them, such as the purpose of the study. I then gave the questionnaires to the employees and students who I again selected using the simple random technique mentioned above. The respondents were expected to respond to the questions without assistance from colleagues under my supervision to retain control and to limit missing responses.

For the sample on the general population, I sought for the English-speaking ones and those who are at least literate or had some educational background. I used questionnaires on some, especially the highly literate ones and personal interviews on others.

Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents to get different thoughts and ideas for comparison purposes. This was necessary as it promoted variety in ideology.

3.5 Data Collection Instruments

The data for the study were the responses from questionnaires for both the management, the employees, higher learning institutions students, and the general population. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data was sourced from the field through questionnaires, while secondary data constituted of the stored information sources available in the companies, schools, government premises, and national archives.

3.5.1 Questionnaire

Data was collected using questionnaires. Questionnaires are a collection of items to which a respondent is expected to react to by writing (Oso and Onen, 2008). Kothari (2004) further observes that the use of questionnaires is a popular method for data collection in education because of the relative ease and cost-effectiveness with which they are constructed and administered to large samples. Questionnaires give relatively objective data. Though suitable to a literate population, they ensure confidentiality since respondents will be anonymous, yielding honest responses.

The first questionnaire was for the management of the various governmental and non-governmental bodies. Information on the current and past statistics of foreign investment changes and impacts and the multiple ways in which the government and entire Oman influence the investments. This was designed for all the management representatives who participated in the study. It further sought to know the nationalities’ composition of the overall bodies that were being managed.

The second questionnaire was for managed subjects such as employees and students. Employees or students with long experiences were preferred to participate in the study as they were in a better position to judge situations and skills based on the current events concerning the past occurrences. Archives employees mostly provided information regarding the historical trends of politics, economics, social, and environmental patterns. Students were mainly required to provide information regarding what they have learned on the history and current government impacts on foreign investment opportunities. They were also supposed to provide information on the Sultanate’s political, economic, and social trends. Employees were required to provide information on how they have been affected by government policies and their views on how the foreign investment opportunities have been affected.

The third questionnaire was meant for the outside population involving the Omanis and foreigners. This was mainly given to the literate and the ones who knew how to read and write in English. They were to provide information on how they have been affected by the regime or the population in terms of business and social wellbeing.

3.5.2 Interviews

This method was used to get an in-depth understanding of the facts about foreign investment in Oman as it is an open-ended method of acquiring data. It also targeted the respondents who were not that elite or did not master the English language well to be able to read and write but only speaking. Though it was time-consuming and challenging to arrange, it gave me a deeper understanding of Oman’s foreign capital investments and their challenges and difficulties.

An example is a Personal interview with a university teacher, Muscat, on February 16, 2020.

3.6 Study Site

The study was conducted in the Oman country, at government premises, companies, higher learning institutions, media houses, homesteads of the citizens, archaeological buildings, and other nations such as my home country (United Kingdom). The selection of the study sites was based on the target population.

3.7 Validity and Reliability of the Instruments

3.7.1 Validity of Instruments Validity is the extent to which research instruments measure what they are intended to measure (Oso and Onen, 2012). According to (Orodho 2004), validity is the degree to which results obtained from a study represents the phenomena under study. It ensured that my research instruments were relevant to the objectives of the study. The validity of research instruments was determined through consulting and discussing it with the project supervisor.

To further ensure the instruments’ validity, a pilot study was conducted in my home country among my peers before the instruments were used to collect the data for the study in the research areas of study sites. This ensured that I got the intended information from the questionnaires. The pilot study also helped me identify the problems of both me as the researcher and respondents that we would encounter during the actual data collection exercise. The questionnaires were then revised before preparing the fare copy.

3.7.2 Reliability of Instruments

Reliability is a measure of the degree to which a research instrument supplies consistent results or data after repeated trials (Cooper and Schindler, 2006). Reliability of measurement concerns the degree to which a particular measuring procedure gives similar results over many repeated trials (Orodho, 2004).

The reliability of the questionnaires and interview schedule was improved through a split-half reliability method. The score obtained from the two sets of questionnaires was then analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient formula. A high correlation coefficient of above 0.5 implied that the instruments were reliable.

3.8 Data Collection Procedure

Having made several submissions of the proposal write-up, I was eventually granted them permission to go to the field and collect data having mastered the required proposal writing skills. After the approval, I, as the researcher, obtained an introductory letter from my institution, though the supervisor, to get a research permit from the Ministry of Higher Education and the one of Oman. I further sought consent from the provincial Director of Education offices to research within the province (where information resources and potential respondents were found). I then visited the participating study sites both locally and globally for familiarization and to obtain permission from each of the heads in charge of the potential places to conduct the proposed research in particular areas at an agreed day or time.

I then visited each of the sampled study sites to collect data from the sampled respondents. I then administered the questionnaires to my selected respondents, allowing them adequate time to respond appropriately. I assured the respondents of total confidentiality and guarantee of no victimization from the information given. I then collected completed questionnaires at the end of the exercise each day from each study site for data analysis purposes. Respondents were not required to write their names on the research tools to enhance confidentiality further.

3.9 Data Analysis Techniques

The resulting sample data was first coded and tabulated using the codebook as a guide. The resulting template was used to create a digital data file in SPSS and Excel. The data file was used in creating information through the use of both descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. The descriptive procedures were used to measure distribution tendencies (aggregation and dispersion) in the sample data for an accurate description. The resulting descriptive information was then used to make decisions on which inferential statistical procedure (Parametric or non-parametric) would be most appropriate in generalization with regards to measuring association or differences at the stated confidence level.

The study used correlation coefficients (either Pearson’s r or Spearman’s r) as a measure of the strength of association between the Oman government and its citizens with the foreign investors in the country while regression analysis (linear or non-linear) was used to measure the dependence of foreign investors performance on the Oman foreign investment climate (independent variables).

CHAPTER FOUR DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Introduction

This chapter outlines the questionnaire return rate and demographic characteristics of the respondents in a study that sought to establish the influence of the Oman investment climate on foreign capital investment performance. The chapter presents descriptive data for the sample drawn from a population of 83 respondents, as mentioned earlier. This chapter, thus, presents the findings of the study. Frequencies of responses and percentages were tabulated for the research tools’ responses as well as the respondents’ demographic data.

The sample size was tabulated and represented as follows

The data was represented in the pie chart below.

Therefore, Omani citizens were the most respondents of my data collection process as they are the ones with adequate background information in their country.

Nationalities only contributed a little in my research as they were not mostly involved with Oman affairs.

I analyzed the observations as follows from the following questionnaire questions according to the data collected from the various respondents.

In regards to whether the current regime was putting enough efforts to provide conducive foreign capital investment environment; the following were answers

When represented on a pie chart

The majority of the respondents are in sharp disagreement with the government’s efforts in solving foreign investment challenges. Quite a number contradicts the majority by being satisfied with the government efforts. Some are not aware or sure of the government efforts while others do not strongly agree or disagree with the amount of force the Sultanate government is putting to provide a conducive environment for foreign investment.

Those in disagreement are the majority, as seen from the column chart above. This may signify that most of the Omani citizens and foreigners are not satisfied with the action taken by the government to solve difficulties and challenges facing foreign investors in Oman.

The government, however, has some evidence of putting efforts into solving foreign investment challenges and difficulties, as seen by those in agreement.

The efforts may not be visible to quite a good number of the Omani citizens and its visitors, as indicated by the not sure column.

The no answer column indicates that some Omani do not have anything to do or do not want to be involved in Oman’s foreign investment activities.

The foreign investors’ response to whether they were comfortable doing business in Oman was as follows

When represented on a pie chart

Majority of the foreign investors are not comfortable doing business in Oman

According to all the foreigners living in Oman comfortability in staying in the country, the following was given;

Most of the foreigners residing in Oman may not be comfortable, as indicated by the above sample representation.

Research Structure and Timeline

Budget for the research

Time Plan

Ethical Issues

In Oman and other areas during my research, there are various issues of moral conflict that arose and therefore needed to be addressed. There are several occasions where my moral standard is questioned. The ethical problems also set out the way I and any other organizations or individuals such as foreign investors are expected to behave. While the moral values are agreed broadly, but also there is a wide variation as to how the values ought to be interpreted in real practice. The below-given decisions, scenarios, or activities created conflicts with various societies’ moral principles, especially Oman or with organizations’ code of conduct.

Honesty and Integrity

I am required to report my research methods, findings, and data honestly. Also am needed to be truthful as to whether I have previously published this project or not. I am supposed not to make up data such as unreasonably extrapolating data from the results found, or engage in anything that can be construed as misleading to anyone. For my findings, underselling is better than over-exaggeration. Also, it is a requirement that when working with others, I ought to keep always to the agreements and to act sincerely.

Objectivity

I have aimed to maintain a strategic distance from inclination in any part of m research, including plan, information investigation, understanding, and companion audit. For instance, I have not suggested a friend, anyone that I know, or anyone that I have worked with as a reviewer. I have ensured that there are no groups that have undergone exclusion from my research inadvertently. I have disclosed any interests that may be personal or budgetary that may influence my research/exploration.

Carefulness

I have taken care of completing my research to keep away from thoughtless errors. I have likewise surveyed my research work cautiously and fundamentally to guarantee that my outcomes are sound. I have kept full records of my examination. On the off chance that I am approached to go about as a friend commentator, I ought to set aside the effort to carry out the responsibility wholly and adequately.

Openness

I am always prepared to share my information and results alongside any new thing that I might have created during the distribution of my discoveries, as this helps me promote knowledge and advance science. Likewise, I am available for analysis and new thoughts.

Respect for the Intellectual Property

I have not engaged my research in any counterfeit or duplicate of others’ work and attempt to make it look like your own. I have consistently requested consent before utilizing others’ apparatuses or techniques, unpublished information, or results since not doing that will be written falsification. I have regarded copyrights and licenses, along with different forms of intellectual property, and consistently recognized commitments to my research. If in doubt of anything, I do acknowledge to prevent plagiarism risk.

Confidentiality

I have given respect to whatever has been given in confidentiality. For instance, when interviewing my respondents during research, some of them did not want their details to be known, and therefore I promised to keep their identity secret. Thus, the reason why I have not mentioned the names of some respondents in my research. I have likewise followed the rules on the assurance of delicate information.

Legality

I am aware of the laws and regulations that govern my work, and I do conform to the rules and regulations to avoid any issues with the institution or government authorities.

Responsible Publication

I have distributed my research progress to the condition of research and information, and not merely to propel your profession. This implies, fundamentally, that I have not distributed only what is new and also not copies another person’s work.

Human Subjects Protection

Since my research involves people, I have lessened any conceivable mischief to the base and expanded the advantages both to members and others. I have consistently given regard to human rights, including the privilege of autonomy and privacy. I have taken specific consideration with defenseless gatherings that incorporate, yet are not constrained to, kids, more seasoned individuals, and those with difficulties in learning.

In terms of foreign capital investments in Oman;

As organizations grow globally in Oman and other countries, they should not just comprehend an association’s crucial objectives, approaches, and procedures. Still, they should also consider the legitimate and moral issues in universal business. At the point when organizations plan their drawn-out venture into a foreign domain, they should handle genuine good and ethical difficulties and dynamic to make their development a triumph.

The absolute most fundamental moral issues in worldwide business incorporate re-appropriating, working measures and conditions, working decent environment variety and equal chance, kid work, trust and uprightness, administrative oversight, human rights, religion, the political field, nature, pay off and defilement. Organizations exchanging globally are required to completely conform to government and state wellbeing guidelines, natural laws, financial and fiscal detailing rules, and social liberties laws.

Social contemplations can likewise represent the deciding moment, an organization leading business all-inclusive. Each culture and country have its history, customs, conventions, and code of morals. Social obstructions incorporate language, which frequently implies an organization must depend on interpreters when addressing business contacts and clients. Sexual orientation can be an issue in nations where ladies don’t have equal rights from men. Strict occasions and other social occasions can restrict exchange on specific occasions. Acting as per moral and social qualities is urgent for a worldwide organization to win customers’ help and business and to accomplish an upper hand in a specific market.

Users

This research project is dedicated to investors, countries, institutions, and any other personality who wish to know the challenges encountered when investing in various countries or regions. The problems and difficulties involved in foreign capital investment opportunities in Oman may apply to other nations. Therefore, this research may and can be used by;

The institution (name).

The research evaluation of the difficulties and challenges faced by foreign capital investment opportunities in Oman is an academic requirement for qualification; therefore, they are the first-hand users of this research project.

Myself.

It would be awkward if I am the owner of the research project, yet I do not use it for analysis purposes. The project content has given me the full scope of the various challenges and difficulties facing potential or actual foreign investors in Oman and other countries.

Other institution.

The students, tutors, or organization of any institution may use this research as a basis or reference to any other project related to or involving the evaluation of difficulties and challenges facing foreign investment opportunities in Oman and other countries.

The Oman government.

Oman government may use this research as a guide to know the difficulties and challenges facing foreign investors or those wishing to invest in the country. Understanding these challenges and difficulties can, therefore, use the solutions provided by this research or come up with their own to solve these challenges for a sound investment.

Oman citizens.

The Omanis will, therefore, know their cause in making it difficult for foreign capital investors to do business in their Sultanate. They will consequently know their role in bettering foreign investment conditions in their country.

Business analysts.

Those in charge of carrying out business analysis and evaluations to come up with sound solutions can use this research as a basis or reference to further do further business analysis involving foreign investment opportunities in Oman and other nations.

Foreign investors or entrepreneurs.

The organizations, countries, international bodies, companies, or individuals wishing to invest or involved in investing in foreign countries might or will need this project or related to this one the most as it directly affects them. You cannot put portfolios in Oman or any other country without knowing the difficulties and challenges of foreign investment in a particular country.

Other nations.

Different countries need this type of research as a basis of evaluation on the difficulties and challenges facing foreign capital investment opportunities in their States to come up with effective strategies and policies to solve the difficulties and challenges.

Business enthusiasts or anyone wishing to do business analysis.

Any individual interested in business analysis or would like to evaluate the difficulties and challenges facing foreign investment opportunities in his/her country or any other country may use this research to progress with his/her ambitions or tasks. The individual will eventually be able to relate the content of the study and come up with answers or further questions that will enable him to do new research.

From the above list and any other that I might have left out, it means that this research project fits many users both locally and globally who can use it for different purposes but with a common goal of coming up with solutions to different business situations. The research project is subject to change for improvement purposes or to customize the needs of the various users.

The government of the United States is currently facing significant challenges in its attempt to solve the health care issues about the high cost of health care services. The private health insurance care, which is costly, and the Lack of Insurance which result from the increased cost of health care services, are some of the main challenges faced by the Americans. Medicine in the United States has become a great business whereby the expenditures on health research, health care, and other services and items have sharply increased. Such spikes in the cost of treatment have been the trend in the recent past, and is still predicted to keep rising, should there be no solution attempted (Lichtenstein, 2013). To solve the issue of the spiking costs of health services, the government has proposed the inclusion of the people who have 65 years and below to the national health coverage, through Medicaid. The solution is most appropriate since it includes all the people, including those living below the poverty line and those with low income. The United States largely depends on the direct fee system insurance, whereby the Medicare insurance only covers the elderly-those with 65 years and above-leaving the others to take care of their bills (Betancourt, Green, Carrillo, & Owusu Ananeh-Firempong, 2016). Therefore, this essay will explore the proposed solutions to the problem of the high cost of health care services, the contribution of different government levels, and branches to the challenge and finally examine the reactions of the critics and why they are wrong.

The United States legislators have had different proposed approaches to curb the issue of high costs of medical care services. According to MHE Staff, 2019, the Americans pay the highest price to receive medical services compared with other nations. For instance, most of the U.S consumers spend about $2,669 for the supply of Humira, the drug for rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast, the same drug costs relatively cheap in Swiss, whereby the pay is about $822, which is less than a third of the cost in the U.S. One of the proposals to curb the spikes in health care services is the requirement for the hospitals to post the prices for the services (MHE Staff, 2019). The proposal s to be implemented by all the hospitals, with close supervision from the national, federal and states government. Failure to execute these measures, legislative action is to be taken for the concerned hospitals. This proposal is, however, not highly effective and is difficult to implement.

Another proposal to regulate the high cost of health care services is to allow the Medicare insurance cover to negotiate for the price of the drugs. Medicare is an insurance coverage policy used by the government to protect the people of age 65 and above from high costs of treatment. Therefore, it is evident that booth the branches and levels of the government have a significant role to play in the implementation of the policy (Problems with health care issues, 2010).  However, the policymakers can allow Medicare to negotiate for the cost of the drugs from the manufacturers. The governments stand a better position to negotiate the price of the drugs compared to private parties. The U.S. government has more purchasing power and can significantly influence the pricing strategies used by private manufactures. However, this solution has negative impacts on the individual business sectors, and thus it is not favourable for the private business sectors.

The most recent statutory reforms lay more emphasis on the Medicaid initiative as an incentive for employment, through mandating transitional and extended coverage in which monetary assistance threshold exceeds due to earnings from employment.  They argue that fewer people, especially the poor and young people, may not benefit from health coverage. The approach has opened a loophole for many criticisms about the government approach. The criticizers have offered specific solutions such as the government’s involvement in price negotiation for drugs as an alternative. However, this approach does not take care of others the necessary medical procedures such as C- section during delivery and other forms of operation and medical procedures. The critic only focuses on the cost of medication rather than the whole sector of health. Therefore, this makes Medicare health insurance a reliable solution to the problem.

In conclusion, the government of the United States has played a vital role in bringing a solution to the problem of the high costs of treatment. At every level and branch, there is a role played by each. For instance, the federal and state government has organized for congresses, offering a platform for an in-depth discussion of the matter. The federal matching funds have been used in catering for the health services. Similarly, the judiciary, executive and legislature have played a plausible role in making, and implementation of health policies regarding the existing problems.

References

Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. E., & Owusu Ananeh-Firempong, I. I. (2016). Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public health reports.

Lichtenstein, R. L. (2013). The United States’ health care system: Problems and solutions. Survey of Ophthalmology, 38(3), 310–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-6257(93)90080-q

MHE Staff. (2019). The Biggest Issues Facing Healthcare Today. Managed Healthcare Executive. https://doi.org/https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/node/34395