Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Exploring the Intrinsic Valuation of Cisco: Strategic Reasoning for Informed Decision Making(Queen Mary University of London, 2023) AlNahdi, Ghaith; Koutroumpis, PanagiotisThis dissertation evaluates Cisco Systems Inc., a leading global technology company, to determine its intrinsic value and provide investment recommendations—buy, hold, or sell. Utilizing 2022 financial data and assuming an analysis date of January 1, 2023, the study employs Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and relative valuation methods to establish a comprehensive valuation. A detailed review of valuation methodologies highlights the advantages and limitations of each, with DCF emphasized for its robustness in isolating intrinsic value, albeit with challenges in cash flow forecasting and terminal growth assumptions. Relative valuation is also explored for its efficiency, though the identification of comparable companies poses significant hurdles. The analysis incorporates an in-depth examination of Cisco’s business model to identify suitable industry peers, ensuring relevance in the relative valuation process. By integrating both approaches, this paper aims to deliver a well-rounded perspective on Cisco’s financial health and future potential, aiding investors in making informed decisions.9 0Item Restricted THE IDEA OF WOMEN’S' RIGHTS AS EQUITY VERSUS WOMEN'S RIGHTS AS EQUALITY/SAMENESS " THE CASE OF SAUDI ARABIA AND BEYOND"(University of Minnesota, 2024-04) Basalem, Badriya Omar; Carbone, JuneThis dissertation examines the concept of women’s' rights determined as equity versus women's rights as equality/sameness by considering the reservations of Saudi Arabia when ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and highlights the difficulties in reconciling the too disparate approaches whilst offering possible solutions. Essentially CEDAW and the West define equality in terms of sameness and that women and men should have equal opportunities. The Saudi Arabian and Islamic approach is that equity is the correct approach. Concepts of Equality: the dissertation examines the different definitions of equality, and also the different definitions of equity. Equality may be defined as sameness (equal access or opportunity), or as equality of outcome, also called substantive equality, although this is shown to also be problematic in some cases. There are also two views of equity, one view, presented by Islam (and some other religions, like the Roman Catholic church), says society should accord all individuals what they need, and what individuals need is determined by the roles they play in society, whilst another view of equity emerges out of the idea of structural inequalities. This is the idea that we need to focus on equal outcomes rather than equal opportunities to make up for past discrimination. Critics suggest that the first does not go far enough, but that the second goes too far, however, the second is closest to substantive equality. CEDAW in the Saudi Context: Saudi Arabia has many issues related to human rights and women’s rights, and UNDP and the CEDAW committee have analyzed some of these, acknowledging some progress and raising some questions or problems. In the dissertation a deep analysis of the current situations, laws, and policies are undertaken by a Saudi citizen, highlighting issues such as Saudi Arabia: Vision 2030 and new anti-discriminatory laws and the commitment of the government and officials. The analysis also covers all areas of Saudi Arabian life, and how the difference between equality and equity could impact society, emphasizing the view that Islamic teaching puts responsibilities ahead of rights, whilst acknowledging both. Conclusion and Recommendations: the dissertation concludes that it is, in fact, possible to reconcile the equity/equality debate, and that Saudi Arabia is making slow but steady progress towards a definition of substantive equality that meets the requirements of Islamic teaching whilst eventually providing a level of de facto equality that will be indistinguishable from the Western definition found in CEDAW. If this conclusion is accepted and the recommendations followed, the Saudi Arabian progress can be consolidated and perhaps accelerated.16 0Item Restricted Challenges Facing COVID-19 Vaccines Cold Chain Systems in Low-income Countries and Their Effects on COVID-19 Vaccine Inequity in Africa and Globally(Saudi Digital Library, 2022-10-03) Alfaraj, Ghaidaa; Roberts, StephenRealizing that the COVID-19 pandemic is a tremendous public health burden due to dramatically increased morbidity and mortality rates, countries undertook measures to limit the transmission of the virus. Eventually, experts and scientists met the urgency of this matter with unprecedented extensive efforts to develop safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly, and little attention was drawn to their deployment. Therefore, it is justified to expect supply chain challenges in low-income countries, especially those related to the vaccination cold chain. This literature review dissertation aims to explore the challenges facing the COVID-19 vaccines’ cold chain systems in low-income countries and discuss what impacts these challenges have on vaccine inequity in the African region and on larger global efforts to end the pandemic. The methodology of this dissertation is a literature review that employs a qualitative research approach to address the research questions. It is conducted by referring to the six-phase framework for doing a thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. All publication types were retrieved electronically by searching relevant databases. A total of 14 papers were included in this review. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes, including the challenges facing cold chain systems in low-income countries which are: inadequate cold chain establishment, special vaccine requirements, lack of human resources, and poor infrastructures. Findings show that low-income countries struggle to provide and maintain cold chain systems for COVID-19 vaccines, leading to difficulty deploying them where they are needed, which confirms the contribution of the COVID-19 vaccines cold chain systems’ deficiencies in low-income countries to vaccine inequity in Africa and globally. These consequences and delays in COVID-19 vaccines’ deployment cause vaccine inequity in low-income countries, further exacerbating the pandemic’s dire global effects and challenging global health’s progress towards achieving global health equity.19 0