ISMG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

ISMG - Essay Example We would ask our customers and employees to leave suggestions and comments in our suggestion boxes placed inside the cafà © and also on our websites in order to encourage an open line communication. With coming suggestions and comments we would be able to know our lacking and immediately start working to improve our services. We here in Broadway Cafe use e-business strategy to be in touch with our customers and also to attract new consumers. As we are working with online business services we keep our customers update with new offers. We will give opportunity to our customers to create an online account to give them opportunity to keep in touch with us. Our registered customers will get periodic offers and discount through email. We will use social media for promotions and customer attractions. There could be three easy ways for our customer to keep in touch with us easily. E-business strategies being very cheap advertising solution will help Broadway Cafe to attract customers and grow sales and providing encouragements for customers to visit the cafe. The advertisement will contain promotional discount coupons for encouraging more purchases which will also increase sales. Cafà © Broadway could take advantage by effectiveness metrics. Our website will get our name out to the general public, promoting special deals and offers, etc. With the use of effectiveness metric, we will be able to get feedback from our customers and to see how much consumers are satisfied with Broadway Cafe. We will use tracking options on our website to track the amount and number of time visitors spends on our website. We would use online ordering process to communicate the requirements to our partners and suppliers. Online website also give us an opportunity to setup an online ordering system for customers for online ordering. We can use email for communication with our partners and suppliers. Online communication is the easiest way for us to reach our

E-commerce Essay Example for Free

E-commerce Essay Introduction E-commerce means conducting business online. Selling goods, in the traditional sense, is possible to do electronically because of certain software programs that run the main functions of an e-commerce Web site, including product display, online ordering, and inventory management. The software resides on a commerce server and works in conjunction with online payment systems to process payments. Since these servers and data lines make up the backbone of the Internet, in a broad sense, e-commerce means doing business over interconnected networks. Here are a few examples of e-commerce: accepting credit cards for commercial online sales generating online advertising revenue trading stock in an online brokerage account driving information through a company via its intranet driving manufacturing and distribution through a value chain with partners on an extranet selling to consumers on a pay-per-download basis, through a Web site Globalization of production and increasing competition spurs greater business use of innovative information systems. As globalization extends its reach over cities and regions, the positions of those places within the emerging global paradigms of regional economies is changing. Only those regions and cities that can mobilize assets for local advantage would succeed. E-commerce is a burning issue of today because the global business is moving towards a virtual business world. Everything is done here virtually. The transaction is done within seconds not being present physically. People now want hassle-free shopping. They are indifferent to go to the market for purchasing the goods or taking the services. All they want one stop service. All these things can be done only with the help of e-commerce. So, the scope for the implementation of e-commerce is ever on the increase in Bangladesh. The main objective of preparing this paper is to identify the feasibility of the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh and the challenges behind it. Description: The feasibility analysis of the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh is a matter of detailed anatomy. If we want the actual scenario regarding the issue, at first, we will have to go for the analysis of both of the sides- arguments for and arguments against in detail. Here, we would like to make a comparative explanation of the feasibility to implement e-commerce in Bangladesh. Arguments For: There are several arguments for the feasibility of the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh. These are mentioned below: Cost effective: E-commerce is the process of buying and selling of goods or services over the internet. If any organization can once portrait the e-commerce based website then it has to spend the maintenance cost only. So, it can be feasible to implement e-commerce in Bangladesh. Technical know-how: Today some institutions are promoting e-commerce in Bangladesh. There are some private or public institutions providing the website development courses and some of these institutions are promoting the e-commerce based website with special importance. So, it can be possible to implement e-commerce in Bangladesh. Infra-structure: E-commerce needs a special infra-structure to be implemented or practiced. As we are moving towards the global market sharing it can be possible to implement e-commerce if we restructure or modify our existing organizational structure. M-commerce aspects: There is enough potentiality for our m-commerce sector to be developed. Especially, 3rd Generation network is coming within this November. So, if we can ensure the handsets with specification of GSM 2000+ Bandwidth then we can definitely think of the feasibility of e-commerce in Bangladesh as well. Reducing digital divide gap: The mass people are currently experiencing an acute digital divide gap. If we can ensure the digital Bangladesh through reducing this gap we can definitely plan for the implementation of e-commerce in our country. Reduced pricing: As the e-commerce involves internet marketing, the physical marketing cost is reduced considerably. So, the seller can provide the goods and services at a minimum price. So, the feasibility of implementing the e-commerce practice in Bangladesh is quite feasible. Comprehensive education system: The education system in our country is on a changing trend now the time being. Both the public and private universities are now enlisting the course related to the e-commerce sector. So, after some days we can implement e-commerce in Bangladesh as well. Transport facilities: Though we have crisis in the transport sector, the sector is highly a potential one. The present govt. of Bangladesh is planning for some projects for the development of transport sector. If it happens, the physical delivery of the goods and services will become easier according to the prior order via internet. So, in that sense, the implementation of e-commerce can be considered feasible in Bangladesh. Increasing market place: The participation of the mass people in the modern amenities is gradually increasing. As a result, the market place for the e-commerce based organization is ever on the increase. In the circumstances, the implementation of e-commerce is quite feasible. Easier transaction process: The people always want simplified lifestyle. E-commerce can make it happen. So, the implementation of e-commerce will be encouraged by most of the people. In that sense, the implication of e-commerce in Bangladesh will be encouraged. Modern payment systems: In day to day life we come across some modern payment systems like different types of cards. It is a positive sign for the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh. So, this is high time we planned for e-commerce implementation. Less complexity of cyber law: The cyber law involves comparatively less complexity in Bangladesh. So, there is respectively less implications regarding law provisions to implement e-commerce in Bangladesh. New entrepreneurship: In present times, it is observed that the percentage of the new initiators is ever on the increase. As the e-commerce implementation needs high initiatives, it is feasible to implement the e-commerce in Bangladesh. Increasing number of users: The number of internet user is increasing day by day. So, there is enough scope for the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh. Arguments Against: There are several arguments against the feasibility of the implementation of e-commerce in Bangladesh. These are mentioned below: Cost orientation: The implementation of e-commerce is cost oriented to some extent. The e-commerce demands for the high involvement of technological infra-structure. If an organization wants to implement e-commerce in the operational fields, it has to develop or modify the overall infra-structure having an alignment with technological use. In the context of Bangladesh the implementation of e-commerce is almost next to impossible as the organizations are not financially that much solvent. Lack of technical know-how: The e-commerce involves a high volume of technological use in the operational fields. The maintenance of the e-commerce systems is also the matter of high technological know-how oriented personnel involvement. But there is an unavailability of such personnel supply in Bangladesh. As it is not still a part of our traditional educational system, it will take a long time to fetch such intellectual personnel. Poor Infra-structure: If we try to implement the e-commerce in the every sphere of our day to day life, at first, we will have to develop the overall infra-structure of the country, ensure the education in the fullest sense. Other than the implementation of the e-commerce is not possible in Bangladesh. Lack of trust: In case of e-commerce, the payment of the goods is paid through credit card number or bank account number at first. Then the seller ensures the delivery of the goods or services to the buyer. But as per the context of Bangladesh, the buyer can hardly have the full faith on such types of advance payment system. So, this is also a constraint for e-commerce implementation in Bangladesh. Communication problem: The e-commerce depends on the communication process to some extent. But the communication system of Bangladesh is not that much advanced as the infrastructure of the communication system is poorly furnished. If a buyer purchases the products and waits for the physical delivery of that product it is influenced by the communication system. So, before implementing the e-commerce in Bangladesh, at first, we will have to concentrate on the development of the communication system. Digital divide gap: Bangladesh is a developing country. In this country the mass people have little access to the technological instruments rather than the poverty stricken problems. Some people here are using the modern amenities. But the majority can not have the minimum requirements. As a result, the physical divide is ever on the rise. Traditional education system: Our education system is still traditional. Here the aspects of e-commerce are hardly encouraged. The students of our country can barely research on it. So, the expansion or implementation of e-commerce seems to be impractical. Insufficient transport facilities: E-commerce commerce involves the physical transport while ensuring the physical delivery of the product. The transport facility in our country is still traditional and underdeveloped to some extent. So, we can not think of the implementation of e-commerce in our country to the date. Digital goods vs. Physical goods: E-commerce is feasible for the buying and selling of digital goods only. The features of the digital goods can be displayed in the e-commerce based websites. There is less option to test the physical goods before purchasing but in case of physical goods and the perishable goods, there is lots of scope for mismatch of the real goods and the goods displayed in the websites. So, the implementation of the e-commerce in our country totally depends on the trust of our people. Taxation: The implementation of e-commerce is encouraged in the aspect of Bangladesh but the govt. will be the ultimate repentant of the issue because the process of buying and selling of goods via internet involves lots of scope for tax escape. If e-commerce is implemented in Bangladesh the law regarding the issue is to be introduced first which is not possible over night. The govt. sector needs also to involve those personnel who have that much technical know-how to minimize the escapes. Limited market place: There is a very few people who have the access to the modern technologies and  amenities. They can hardly use internet frequently. Most of the people, here, can rarely use internet and e-commerce based websites. So, the e-commerce sector has limited market place. If e-commerce is implemented in Bangladesh, the limitations will be much more than the competitive advantages. Delivery after confirmation of payment: E-commerce emphasizes on the paid delivery. But in Bangladesh we people are not accustomed to this system. We want the products or goods to be delivered before the payment and the settlement. As a result, the psychology of our people does not support e-commerce system to some extent. We know the tradition of a nation cannot easily be transformed overnight. So, it is not feasible to implement e-commerce in a third world country like Bangladesh. Traditional payment systems: The payment system in our country is still traditional. The use of debit card or credit card or visa card is still relatively low. In fact, most of the people do not even understand the functionality of these payment methods. In this situation, the implementation of e-commerce is not only impractical but also making a castle in the air. M-commerce limitations: E-commerce is dependent on m-commerce to some extent. We cannot think of e-commerce without efficient m-commerce. But m-commerce is still not that much developed in our country. If we try to implement e-commerce in Bangladesh, at first, we will have to go for large screen mobile based m-commerce. Large screen based m-commerce can support e-commerce as the e-commerce based websites are of high resolution. But most of us cannot afford such type of large screen mobile like I-phone of Apple or HTC costing approximately 40000 taka. So, it is not feasible to think of implementing e-commerce in Bangladeshi perspective. Limited implementation of cyber law: In Bangladesh, there are law regarding the cyber crime but it is not sufficient to protect the cyber crime. Even, the provisions present, are not  thoroughly enforced. But the e-commerce system involves virtual transactions in various phases. These transactions involve high hacking risks as well. If we think about the implementation of e-commerce before introducing the proper provisions and without enforcing those provisions, it will not be that much fruitful. The parties associated with it will be in monetary risks and most of them will not get encouraged to go for e-commerce. Lack of entrepreneurship: As the e-commerce practices is of very recent times, the sector demands for new entrepreneurship. But there is no such encouraging institution in Bangladesh that can lead the new generation or new entrepreneurship to take initiative to march on this sector. Limited number of users: The e-commerce depends mostly on the proactive interaction of the buyer and the seller of the goods or services over the internet. But the number of internet user is still relatively low in our country. So, there is a question mark to the feasibility of implementing e-commerce in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The government can initiate pilot projects and programs for capability-building, training and e-commerce support services, such as Web design. In general, government initiatives should be in line with current efforts in the foregoing areas of concern. Coordination with development cooperation agencies is important to avoid any duplication of initiatives and efforts. But there are several reasons that can challenge the feasibility of the e-commerce implementation in Bangladesh. The challenges would really be hard nut to crack. The End

Essay --

SOCI 201A: Professor Hyslop Francesca Surraco Social Theory Final Exam QUOTE #1: â€Å" †¦[the] worker is related to the product of his labor as to an alien object †¦ the more the worker exhausts himself, the more powerful the alien world of objects which he creates over and against himself becomes, the poorer he and his inner world become, the less there is that belongs to him as his own†. - Marx (Kamenka p. 134). In this quote, Karl Marx discusses his theory of alienation. This quote describes how capitalist the worker becomes alienated from the products they make, which further alienates them from aspects of their human nature mostly due to social stratification (bourgeoisie and proletarians). Their alienated work becomes a routine, mechanical activity directed by the bourgeoisie. The selected text in Kamenka this quote is from discusses the laws of political economy which examine how the â€Å"more wealth the worker produces the more his production increases in power and scope. The poorer he becomes the more commodities the worker produces the cheaper a commodity he becomes†. There was an example spoken in class, I believe of a blacksmith, which highlighted pre-capitalist working conditions. A blacksmith would own his own shop, set his own hours, determine his own working conditions, shape his own product, and have some say in how his product is bartered or sold. However, the prolet ariat under capitalism works in order to earn money to live. Despite the fact the worker puts their life into the product; they are alienated from their product that they no longer own. The capitalist has purchased the proletariat's labor-power in exchange for exclusive ownership over the proletariat's products and the profit made from the products. The pr... ...ident in this quote. In my personal opinion, I do believe Foucault’s argument, that knowledge and power are interconnected, is indeed valid mostly due to the fact that his argument is still relevant in terms of the power relations present in our society’s current institutions. This is exemplified by how the prison system is still run with heavy surveillance of prisoners even more so with the technological advances (Security cameras, computers for documentation and filing, etc†¦) that have occurred since the time period Foucault discusses. This quote ultimately reveals how members of society gain and maintain positions of power and further produce more knowledge by having knowledge, as exemplified by the penal system in our society discussed by Foucault. Work discussed: Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York: Pantheon, 1977. Print.

Bartolomé de Las Casas.. Immanuel Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” Response Essay

This reading is an account of the discovery of the Americas by Spanish Christians. It tells of the devastation of the many islands around Hispaniola and the mainland of what is now North America for forty-nine years. On the Spaniards arrival the Natives did no harm to them and believed them to be descended from the heavens. That was until the Spanish began to murder and torment them due to their greed for what the Natives had. The choices of converting to the Christian religion or dying were the Native’s only options and anyone showing any sign of resistance were killed. An estimated 12 million Native American souls were lost during those forty-nine years due to the devastation. The motives behind the Spanish’s taking over of the land was supposed to be religious but the killings, violence and theft showed no sign of religion at all. It was all about greed and the Native American’s were treated extremely unfairly. The Spaniards greed kept them from treating the Natives as anything more than beasts. It also makes me wonder how they would have treated the Chinese or Asians, since that is what they were originally looking for on their voyage west. Reading: 18-5 Immanuel Kant, â€Å"What Is Enlightenment? † This reading is an essay by Immanuel Kant going into detail about the lack of enlightenment, explain what enlightenment is and what the public needs in order to be enlightened. Kant explains what dependency is and how it is hard for someone to work themselves out of it and that enlightenment is a person’s emergence from their own dependency. He says that the public can only achieve enlightenment slowly. Freedom is required for enlightenment according to Kant, the freedom to use our own reason on issues. I think that this essay has a powerful message. Kant explains how important it is for individuals to be independent and free in order for the public as a whole to be enlightened. It would seem that these things are common sense to people, because they really are simple and things that we here every day but I have never really thought of it the way Kant explains it. Kant’s words are sort of a guide to what people should strive for in life.

To What Extent Does Restructuring Transform Corporate Market and Financial Performance?

To what extent does restructuring transform corporate market and financial performance? Discuss using an extended example. Restructuring is simply the reorganisation of a company’s structure to combat external or internal forces that hinder the maximisation of shareholder value. The term restructuring is quite broad an is an umbrella term for any action taken by a firm to maximise shareholders wealth (Wright et al) or a company’s reaction when it’s under pressure (Usui and Colignon, 1996). These actions â€Å"bracket mergers and acquisitions with much else† (Froud et al. , 2002, P. 2).This essay should explain in great detail how restructuring can transform corporate market and financial performance. It will focus on financial, portfolio and organisational restructuring and more specifically the following restructuring actions: mergers and acquisition and outsourcing and off-shoring. In addition Marks and Spencer and British Airways would be used interchan geably as extended examples to further illustrate stated points. Restructuring actions usually occur to revive failing businesses. By delayering or merging with another business firms are likely to become more competitive and more profitable.It is also not uncommon for restructuring to be used as a preventative measure to stay ahead of the game and react to competition. If done correctly and when necessary, it should result in economies of scale, decreased operational costs and easier communication. Financial restructuring refers to changes in a company’s financial structure. It involves managing debts, stocks and shareholder payments. Portfolio restructuring on the other hand deals with products, acquisitions and diversification. Finally organisational restructuring is mainly concerned with the human resources in the company.Mergers and Acquisitions are the most common forms of restructuring. â€Å"In value terms, the merger of whole companies through (often hostile) takeov er continues to be the most important form of restructuring†. (Froud et al P 3). Companies prefer to restructure in this manner as it brings numerous instant benefits and can aid in transforming market and financial performance immediately. Firstly, merging with or acquiring a company gives an instant increase in market share. It is the easiest way to enter into a new market and have a larger customer base overnight.British Airways' recent merger with Iberia has been beneficial to shareholders, employees and customers. According to the airline their corporate market would be transformed as they would be flying to more destinations, own more aircrafts and have more passengers. Thus making it more competitive and strengthening the company's image and brand. In addition, their financial performance would be transformed as they stand to benefit from a significant decrease in costs and benefit from economies of scale the merger is bound to provide.These costs savings can be then pa ssed on to the customer and might enable British Airways to be competitive on price; a luxury it might have not been able to afford prior to the merger. The merger might also help British Airways break into the South American market; a market in which it had no prior expertise or significant market share in. In addition to an increased market share, Kotler’s 8 C framework details how a firm’s market power could be increased through mergers and acquisitions (Kotler et al 2005).Firms gain greater control of every aspect of their products, greater efficiency, greater control of customer experiences and increased buying power if they have links with their competitors, challengers, collaborators, commodities, components, customers or consumers. Despite aiding in transforming corporate market and financial performance to some extent, mergers and acquisitions aren't exempt from critique. This form of restructuring despite being the most common is also the most critiqued. Firs tly, there is the issue of Monopoly and fair competition. The Acquisition of a competitor could instantly make a firm the market leader.Consumers suffer as a result. There might be little product differentiation, increased prices and barriers to new entrants could be put to prevent other smaller companies from entering the market thus giving a single organisation too much power. The government sometimes has to step in to minimise the formation of monopolies. British Airways were hopeful for a merger with American Airlines which would have made them a dominant airline in major airports across the world. The deal was eventually stopped because of its anti competitive nature. In addition to monopolies, a popular critique on mergers and acquisitions is they just don't work. †¦ the Boston consultancy group estimate that 64% of recent US acquisitions actually destroy value for the acquirers shareholders† (Kotler et al 2004) â€Å"rather than increased profitability, mergers an d acquisitions have come to be associated with lowered morale, job dissatisfaction, unproductive behaviour†¦ † (Meeks 1977, Sinetar 1981, Attendorf 1986, Cartwright & Cooper 1993). Three major reasons for the failure of mergers and acquisitions are a clash of organisational culture, human relations dilemmas and abandoning core competencies. Different organisations have unique styles of going about their day to day operations.When a company merges with or acquires another the dominant culture usually prevails however employees from the organisation with the less dominant culture might still carry on doing things the way they've always done it thus causing this clash. Errors associated with clashing cultures could range from minute to disastrous and if this carries on for a prolonged period of time, the opposite of the perceived benefits of mergers and acquisitions is most likely to occur. Employees also tend to feel worried about their job security when any form of restruc turing takes place.Their insecurities are manifested through their actions that usually prove costly for the newly merged or acquired organisation and can eventually drive it to failure. High labour turnover, absenteeism and decreased productivity are some of the actions that could be manifested as a result of job insecurity. A disparity in core competencies is a final reason why mergers and acquisitions are becoming more prone to failure. Hamel and Prahalad (1994) argue that an organisation can never gain long term financial rewards if its core competencies are ignored.Thus merging with or acquiring a company with contrasting core competences isn't likely to be successful. The merger between Daimler Benz (makers of Mercedes Benz) and Chrysler is a perfect example of a failed merger. Due to a clash of organisational culture and contrasting core competencies, the merger eventually ended in failure. There were good intentions behind the merger but finding the balance between Daimler B enz's high end auto mobiles and Chrysler's middle of the road range proved more difficult than anticipated thus Chrysler was eventually sold off.Druckers (1985) critique of mergers and acquisition argued that managers often seek to restructure in this manner to spread risk but it doesn’t guarantee success and usually results in failure. His five rules for successful acquisition give useful steps that managers might want to take into consideration prior to restructuring their organisation in this fashion. Outsourcing is another restructuring initiative used by firms when they find it necessary. Outsourcing aids in transforming the corporate market and financial performance of a firm to a great extent.It enables firms to focus completely on their core competencies as other organisations are hired to carry out activities that aren't directly related to the company's operations. It saves costs, improves efficiency and aids in the implementation of rapid change. In addition, findi ng workers with the necessary qualifications and skill in a specific country required might be difficult, thus offshore outsourcing becomes a necessity (King, 2009). One of the most outsourced operations in the United Kingdom and the USA is Information Technology. †There are more IT positions in the USA than there are graduates† (Morrill, 2009).Mark's and Spencer's indulge in offshore outsourcing to aid with its IT operations. As a result they have been able to focus on areas of more importance to them which is the quality of their products and their customer service. Additionally, offshore outsourcing aids in creating jobs in developing third world countries where unemployment rates are high. Some of the accounting and research operations on Wall Street are outsourced offshore. The companies are usually based in India where the best candidates are selected for the job and would be paid a good wage according to the standard of living in India.However if the very same ope rations were to be performed in New York, the staff may not be as skilled as those in India and would demand triple the salary in accordance to the higher standard of living in New York. All in all, Outsourcing is intended to ensure that the most skilled and most efficient people do the job at a mutually beneficial financial cost. On the other hand, there are so many ethical and political concerns associated with outsourcing. Many believe that it’s damaging to the economy as creating employment offshore decreases employment in the company's home country. â€Å"†¦ utsourcing is a poor alternative to a firm's internal management of Information Technology and services because it is tantamount to selling your ‘birthright'†¦ † (Clark et al, 1995). Also, ethical issues such as exploiting local workers in offshore countries in a desperate bid to keep overheads to a bare minimum and maximise profits have been connected to outsourcing. Numerous companies have be en scrutinised and criticised for this. The likes of Nike and Primark have endured the embarrassment and scandal of engaging in child labour in an attempt to keep overheads unrealistically low.Pisano (2009) argues that outsourcing operations especially manufacturing can provide a leak in information which might enable competitors overseas to hone their skills and possible surpass the skills of the company outsourcing. Other criticisms of outsourcing include quality control, loss of managerial control and hidden costs or the service being outsourced proving to be more costly in the long run. British Airways outsources almost all its operations. Back office operations, finance and accounting and its in-flight retail business are all outsourced.This has resulted in poor employee relations, a breakdown in communication and poor customer service amongst a host of other things. Whilst Marks and Spencer's restructuring included outsourcing IT operations which resulted in some employees bei ng made redundant and other transferred to their outsourced off shore location. To conclude, restructuring transforms corporate market and financial performance to a significant extent. Every firm needs to change especially when it is at risk of failure or it’s not as profitable as it once was.Mark's and Spencer’s restructuring ensured the company was re-branded in the customer's mind and an emphasis was placed on quality. As a result sales soared and market share was gained. On the other hand their restructuring initiatives also led to the company making the strategic decision to close all shops in France; thus bringing about bad press, criticism from trade unions and the French government, law suits and parties calling for consumers to boycott Mark's and Spencer's stores. Restructuring is however necessary if a business is to remain competitive.If competitors are changing and a firm decides to remain stagnant, it is only a matter of time before it becomes irrelevant. The decision to restructure must be dependent on the overall business strategy. â€Å"Strategic management as a discipline is concerned with how firms formulate and implement strategies in order to accomplish desired performance goals. † (Schendel and Hofer 1979). A more aggressive proactive strategy might be better suited for companies pursuing mergers and acquisitions whilst an organisation with a cost saving and value adding strategy might prefer to outsource.Restructuring does transform corporate market and financial performance but should only ever be used in synch with the overall corporate strategy to reap maximum benefits. Bibliography * MN220 Strategic Management: Lecture 18- Restructuring. Sukhdev Johal. 2012 * Restructuring for Shareholder value and its implications for labour. Cambridge journal of economics. Julie Froud, Colin Haslam, Sukhdev Johal and Karel Williams * Bbc. co. uk/business – Why firms bother to restructure. 12 Feb 2003: http://news. bbc. c o. uk/1/hi/business/711722. stm * Caterpillar: Two stories and an argument.J. Froud, K. Williams, C. Haslam, S. Johal, J. Williams. Accounting organisations and societies vol 23, 1998 * Globalisation, shareholder value, restructuring: The (Non)Transformation of Siemens Alexander Borsch * The Psychological impact of mergers and acquisition on the individual: A study of building society managers. Sue Cartwright, Larry L. Cooper. 1993 * Principles of Marketing. Phillip Kotler, Veronica Wong, John Saunders, Gary Armstrong. Fourth European Edition * The Outsourcing of information services: Transforming the nature of business in the information industry.Thomas D. Clark Jr, Rober W. Zmud, Gordon E. McCray. 1995 * An evaluation of the impact of corporate strategy and the role of information technology on IS functional outsourcing. V Grover, M Cheon, J TC Teng * Theoretical perspectives on the outsourcing of information systems. Myun J. Cheon, Vraun Grover and James T C Teng. 1995 * The U. S is outsourcing away its competitive edge. Gary P Pisano. HBR Blog network. 2009 * Offshore outsourcing: Practical and ethical arguments for and against from a small business perspective. Danny King. 2009 *

Problem Set 4 Essays - Economy, Gross Domestic Product, Unemployment

Problem Set 4 Essays - Economy, Gross Domestic Product, Unemployment Problem Set 4 1. Explain the concept of moral hazard in 3-4 sentences. It is a situation in which one party gets involved in a risky event knowing that it is protected against the risk and the other party will incur the cost. These situations are caused due to information asymmetry ( When both parties have incomplete information about each oth er ), and are ubiquitous. They a re caused due to hidden actions. For example : Taking big bets in a marketplace with your firm's capital because you have limited exposure to the downside but lots of exposure to the upside . 2. Explain the concept of adverse selection in 3-4 sentences. Adverse selection refers to a situation where sellers have information that buyers do not, or vice versa, about some aspect of product quality. In the case of insurance, adverse selection is the tendency of those in dangerous jobs or high-risk lifestyles to get life insurance . To fight adverse selection, insurance companies try to reduce exposure to large claims by limiting coverage or raising premiums. To overcome adverse selection, the following could be done : Signaling - adopting ways to ascertain the quality of the product such as issuing warranti es, third party verification. Screening -make efforts to learn more abou t the product or service . 3. What are the pros and cons of using GDP as a measure of a nation's well-being? Pros: GDP provides a better analysis or measure of economy activity through its growth rate and changes in an economy than any other existing measure. It summarizes a whole range of economic information in and determines the comparative strengths and weaknesses of various sectors. GDP serve as accurate barometer of the business climate, where it provides the government and business useful information to adjust in different kinds of contingency problems like recession and depression. GDP serve as a simple proxy for social and economic welfare. Cons: G DP does not include non-market activities. These activities are based on production and consumption that occur outside the market economy that does not have a price attached like unpaid house workers, volunteer work, barter and the illegal drug trade. It does not include domestic household products or black market. It does not consider how the wealth of a nation is distributed equally. For example , GDP provides an estimate of each person share of the market economy but, in reality some people share of the economy is greater than others. This level of unequal distribution of incomes and consumption and the incidence of poverty cannot be determined by tracking the GDP. Some GDP measured expenditures do not contribute to Economic Welfare. It does not account for any welfare loss or any negative events that results from an event such as a natural disaster environmental cleanup or reconstruction effort contributes to welfare and the GDP. It does not accurately reflect the wellbeing and the living standards of people. The performance of few top companies can skew the GDP figure (It is a mean). E.g. : While India is the 5 th largest economy in terms of GDP, a significant number of people still earn less than $2 a day and lead a difficult life. 4. Please listen to the following Planet Money podcast (titled "How Recalculating GDP Can Help App Designers In Nigeria", broadcast on 5/31/2013): http://wlrn.org/post/how-recalculating-gdp-can-help-app-designers-nigeria and answer the following questions: a. What are the arguments for restating Nigeria's GDP? The current Nigeria's GDP was calculated based on data collected in 1990. T here were significant developments o ver the last 2 decades . Many new industries such as telecommunications have sprung up. T he current GDP model did not capture the contributions from such fast-growing industries . So, they decided to upgrade by rebasing to a new year. This move would greatly help the country to borrow money at a low cost and invest in those sectors that further boost the economy. Further, this would also make Nigeria a target destination for investments. b. What are the arguments against restating Nigeria's GDP? If the GDP of Nigeria is restated, hence updated based on a new base year, Nigeria would become the largest econom y in the

airfield mgmt essays

airfield mgmt essays Airfield and aircraft familiarization are two critical factors that must be understood by rescue/response personnel. Judging by successful attempts to contain and minimize losses, it is readily apparent that crash fire crew knowledge of airfield and aircraft design are interracial parts of perpetual training. Being part of initial response can be an awe-inspiring experience; the initial shock of the situation will hamper normal response behavior. With continued education and unconditional situational awareness we can program our response posture to enable us to approach the scene without delay and armed with a plan. Many aircraft maintainers experience differing aircraft and airfields daily; situational awareness coupled with learned behaviors allows us to tackle this challenge head on. As an aerospace ground equipment mechanic, I feel my actions of querying aircraft personnel helps me in understanding basic blueprints for aircraft function and design. Airfields on the other ha nd are almost of cookie cutter design; I spend more time trying to understand traffic flow patterns than any other facet of an airfield/flightline. A more specific explanation will now follow. Airfields consist of runways, taxiways, marshalling areas, parking spots, terminals, maintenance hangers and structures. Of those items, most if not all service ground vehicle and aerospace vehicle traffic flow on a daily basis. By understanding specific traffic flow patterns, we can almost anticipate suitable response and exiting routes to and from the incident/accident scene. Differing airfields host general aviation, military aviation as well as commercial aviation platforms. During any response scenario you will be concerned with common airfield parking patterns, any hazardous or explosives materials and also oxygen rich environments. Any potential hazard that is defined as routine should be imbedded in your defensive posture. Perpetual training ef...

The Most Dangerous Myth about Writing - Freewrite Store

The Most Dangerous Myth about Writing - Freewrite Store Based on the encounters I’ve had as an author and an editor, I’d say it’s rarer to find someone who doesn’t want to write a book than someone who does. Today’s guest post is by editor and author Susan DeFreitas (@manzanitafire), whose debut novel, Hot Season, won the 2017 Gold IPPY Award for Best Fiction of the Mountain-West.       Based on the encounters I’ve had as an author and an editor, I’d say it’s rarer to find someone who doesn’t want to write a book than someone who does. Many dreamers never so much as start. But there are also a whole lot of would-be authors who start writing a book and never find a way to finish it. Some writers lose the thread of a novel because they lack a sense of the big-picture, the story as a whole. Some abandon their writing projects because they lack the discipline to set aside time to write. But there are many writers who fail not because they’re not cut out for writing, but because they are, in as much that they’re perfectionists. But that perfectionism has been misplaced. Which is why I consider the idea that you should revise while you’re drafting a book the most dangerous myth about writing. The Great (Unwritten) American Novel In 2000, the ink on my degree in creative writing was not yet dry, but I was working on the Great American Novel. For me, at twenty-two, this involved working in a bagel shop and spending a lot of time in Coyote Joe’s, my local watering hole- but despite my youthful excesses, I worked steadily at the novel I had in mind. Sure, it was a sprawling epic- and sure, my reach exceeded my grasp (by a mile, at least!). But the book didn’t fail because I lacked vision, nor did it fail because I stopped writing- in fact, I worked diligently on it for the next ten years of my life. That novel failed because every time something seemed off, I went back to the beginning and revised. The Power of Deadlines There is a perennial truth known to grad students and journalists: a looming deadline will make you actually finish a piece of writing, no matter how epic or ambitious your aims with it might be. When I went back to school at thirty-two, I no longer had the luxury of revising ad infinitum, because I had to turn out twenty pages of new work every two weeks. And yet, these were somewhat famous people I was working with, who might just give me a hand up if they liked my work. The incentive to produce polished prose was high. But how could I produce polished work in just two weeks? My solution was simple: I worked twelve-hour days. I hadn’t kicked my perfectionist’s habit of revising as I drafted, I’d just found a way to accommodate it (by eliminating nearly everything else of any consequence from my life). As a result, I did produce some polished work (though I’d scrap a whole lot of it later; see Editor’s Note, below). And maybe, just maybe, I managed to impress someone- if not with my work, than my work ethic. But what I lost, in the process, was my enjoyment in writing itself. Remember When Writing Was Fun? When I was a kid, I didn’t dread the act of writing. Between the pages of my composition notebooks, fantasy worlds came alive and â€Å"imaginary friends† became real. I was always looking for an excuse to play hooky from the rest of my life (especially if it involved homework or chores). After grad school, I asked myself, â€Å"When did writing become something I hate?† I realized this change occurred when I tried to perfect a piece of writing, to finish it, in too short a span of time. But that short span of time- the almighty deadline- was what had finally allowed me to finish in the first place. How could I make writing fun again, while actually producing publishable work? For me, the answer was this: Stop revising as you write. Separate drafting from revising. And reconsider your tools. Part One: Stop Revising as You Write Remember my Great (Unwritten) American Novel? It’s languishing in the back of my hard drive because I could not stop going back to the beginning and revising it. Which, though it gave me the illusion of progress, kept me from doing anything more than inching forward. It can be useful now and then to look back at where you’ve been with your novel and the promises you’ve made to your reader- useful too to remember what the voice of the protagonist or narrator sounds like. But take it from someone who sacrificed years of her life in the service of a failed manuscript: that boomerang that keeps sending you back to the beginning is unlikely to ever give you enough momentum to write your way through to the end. And oftentimes it’s only once you’ve reached the end of your book that you know- really know- the way that it should begin. So no matter how polished your opening pages might be, you might have to scrap them in the end. Part Two: Separate Drafting from Revising When I talk about drafting, I’m talking about the process of creating new work. By revising, I’m talking about the process of improving that work- adding to it and deleting from it, reshaping and improving it. Productivity experts tell us that we’re less efficient when we’re constantly switching between tasks, and it doesn’t take a neuroscientist to tell you that drafting and revising make use of very different parts of the brain. (The former generally involves throwing spaghetti at the wall; the latter involves deciding what sticks.) As a consequence, switching back and forth between these two tasks in the same session tends to be not only inefficient but frustrating- and because it’s hard to do both tasks well, you never quite achieve the effortless state of flow. That’s another term productivity gurus like to throw around. But writers, you know what I’m talking about: The flow state in drafting is when the next word, the next sentence, the next movement of the story, is clear; the flow state in revising is when you can easily tell what’s on and what’s off (and how to address the latter). If you want to work efficiently- and with less frustration- my advice is to separate these two tasks as much as humanly possible. Part Three: Reconsider Your Tools When I decided I was going to make writing fun again, I tried all sorts of process-oriented hacks. Some of them stuck, and some of them didn’t, but one of the most useful strategies I found was drafting by hand. When you open up a Word document, the first thing you see is the beginning of the piece. If you’re a perfectionist- and to succeed at writing, I believe, you must be- it’s difficult not to get sucked in. (What’s a little nip and tuck here and there?) The trusty composition notebook from my childhood, I found, did not work that way. I opened to the last thing I had written, not the first- and in doing so, more effortlessly found the thread (especially if I had made a few notes the last time I wrote, about what came next). Of course, writing by hand is slower than writing on a computer. So if you can find a way to write- via a typewriter, via tech like the Freewrite, or simply via the willpower required to start at the end of your Word document, rather than the beginning- you’ll have the best of both worlds. Editor’s Note Everything I’ve learned in the course of my journey as a writer has been backed up by what I’ve learned in my career as a freelance book editor. At Indigo Editing Publications, we work with authors over the course of three distinct rounds of editing: a developmental edit, a line edit, and a proofread. Which is to say, we don’t cut a comma, question a word choice, or ask to see a single image clarified until the story itself has been nailed down. Doing so would be a waste of the client’s money, and of our time- because the word, sentence, or image in question might not even make the cut for the next draft. Just as writers are best served by separating drafting from revising, revising is best served by separating work on the story from work on the language itself. It can be hard to do, but it is, without a doubt, the most efficient way to work. In Conclusion Certainly, there are exceptions to every rule, and there are some successful authors who meticulously revise as they draft new work (Zadie Smith is a good example). But in my experience, these writers are the exception. Those who succeed in publishing are usually those who’ve learned how to reliably enter a state of flow, in both drafting and revising- and in most cases, they’ve learned to do it by separating drafting from revising. Of course, I’m curious about your thoughts on this. When has writing been the most fun for you? How has perfectionism served you as a writer (or held you back)? And what’s the number one most useful writing hack you’ve found?    An author, editor, and educator, Susan DeFreitas’s creative work has appeared in (or is forthcoming from) The Writer’s Chronicle, The Utne Reader, Story, Southwestern American Literature, and Weber- The Contemporary West, along with more than twenty other journals and anthologies. She is the author of the novel Hot Season (Harvard Square Editions), which won the 2017 Gold IPPY Award for Best Fiction of the Mountain West. She holds an MFA from Pacific University and lives in Portland, Oregon, where she serves as an editor with Indigo Editing Publications.

Estrogen and progesterone ( Advanced pharmacology) Essay

Estrogen and progesterone ( Advanced pharmacology) - Essay Example Pills containing progesterone also act by secreting thick cervical mucus which blocks the movement of the sperm beyond the cervix. There are many different types of progesterones like synthetic or oral progesterone, crinone, injectible progesterone and progesterone suppositories. Before recommending an oral contraceptive pill which is usually a combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) to the client, a detailed clinical history must be taken. The history should cover information like the previous and current medications taken by the client, herbal and over the counter remedies and drug usage. In case of women above 35 years and women with a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, migraines, gall bladder disease and pulmonary hypertension, COCP recommendation should be avoided (Petitti, 2003). The oral contraceptive may either be a combination birth control pill or a minipill. The combination birth control pill contains both progestin and estrogen and different combinations of active and inactive pills which may be conventional or continuous dosing type. Progestin is the only constituent of the minipill. The combination birth control pills may be monophasic or triphasic. In case of a monophasic birth control pill, every active pill comprises of the same quantity of progestin and estrogen, whereas the triphasic combination birth control pill contains three different types of pills that contain different hormones taken for a period of 3 weeks. Other than oral contraceptives, there are also novel approaches available to prevent conception. Ortho evra is a trans-dermal patch that is worn on any region of the body like abdomen, buttocks, upper arm or upper torso except the breasts that delivers progestin and estrogen in an uninterrupted manner into the blood stream through the skin. Contraception is also achieved through depot specific injections. For instance, Depo provera is medroxyprogesterone acetate which could

CHILDHOOD OBESITY Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CHILDHOOD OBESITY - Research Paper Example I. Parents fear the intervening in their child’s life regarding food and eating would result in their losing their child’s love and appreciation. A. Parents need to realize that their child’s health issue needs to be identified and confronted. B. This intervention should be done by the parents since they are the ones whom the child can trust and gain support from. II. Some parents feel that their overweight children will grow out of their weight problems as the years go by. A. Children normally gain weight throughout their early years of childhood because it is a necessary part of the growth process. B. However we cannot depend on the child’s routine growth spurts to compensate for the child’s weight problem. III. Some parents feel that their child may seem overweight based on growth charts but it is not really a weight problem since everyone in their family is ‘big boned’. A. Focus should be on the growth and body mass index charts. B. One cannot rationalize the overweight issue of a child. IV. Parents are responsible to adapt healthy meals and exercise routines to help their children to lead healthy lifestyles. Parents should therefore lead by example. Childhood obesity is one of the leading healthcare issues facing children and adolescents in America today. Nearly 10% of children below 2 years and 21% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years are classified as being overweight for his or her age and height (Ogden et. al., 242). Childhood obesity has been found to be more prevalent among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic preschool-aged children compared to non-Hispanic white children (Anderson et. al., 344). The extra pounds in children often lead to health issues that were once common among adults like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self esteem and depression in children. Although a lot has been blamed on television food advertising (Mehta, 535), sp ending too much time in front of the T.V. or computer, lack of exercise and proper nutrition, one cannot ignore the fact that parents are ultimately responsible for the health of their child and they need to set examples and encourage their children to choose a healthier lifestyle. Some parents do not agree with this idea because they maintain that their children should grow up being independent and have the freedom to choose what they want to eat or what they want to do. They claim that if they intervene in their child’s life regarding food and eating, it could make matters worse or lose their child’s love and appreciation (Natenshon, 2). They also fear that they may interfere with their child’s privacy and developing autonomy by stepping in to rectify an eating problem in the making. However, parents need to recognize that their child’s health issue cannot be resolved unless and until it is identified and confronted. And who better to do it than someone whom they can trust and gain support from – the parents! In fact, some health care professionals also believe that parents should not be involved in their child’s treatment for eating disorders. They express concern about the issues of separation/individuation and the need for protecting the child’s privacy. But this stance too frequently blinds them to the need to educate and guide parents through family therapy, where they become mentors to their child and provide a supportive environment to their child to assist in the recovery process. These professionals must understand that the most successful separation takes place through healthy bonding between parents and children. Studies have shown that working with parents to prevent obesity in the early years can place young children on a lifelong trajectory toward

Prescrption with controlled medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Prescrption with controlled medicine - Essay Example Similarly, legislation on the drugs and medicine practices is divided based on commonwealth and the states. The commonwealth laws are classified into schedules. There are various schedules, which, are based on their effects on the public and which, control both the production and distribution of the products (Chaar, et al., 2005). Focusing on the discussion, schedule eight provides rules and regulations on prescription of controlled medicine by practitioners (Australia, 2010). Under the same, it is important for the medical practitioners to prescribe medicine for a genuine therapeutic person affected. In this case, a valid approval number is essential in validating the scripts. Lack of approval number may result into penalties on the side of pharmacists. According to Bessell & Silagy (2002), the chief health officer has to approve the script for patients who have been either under controlled drugs for a period of about 2 months or more. The same applies to patients considered drug dependant. Pharmacists that operate within the stipulations of the code of conduct by ACT are exposed to the risk of severe punishment. Penalties apply to those who do not adhere to the guidelines on prescribing medicine to patients. It is obvious that prescribers have to prescribe the medicine with a number authorized by the chief health officer. To avoid any penalty, the pharmacist is supposed to comply with the rules and regulations set by ACT. He or she has to give medicine that has a recognition number from the chief health officer (society, 2012 p. 200). The number is meant to validate the medicine. On the side of the patients, it will be important for one to confirm that the prescription is accompanied with a valid number from the chief officer. Though there are no penalties on the side of patients, use of such medicines may have an impact on their health (Australia, 2010). Secondly, the relevant authority may conduct several checklists in

SESSION LONG PROJECT MODULE 5 TOTAL REWARDS (USAA INSURANCE COMPANY) Essay

SESSION LONG PROJECT MODULE 5 TOTAL REWARDS (USAA INSURANCE COMPANY) - Essay Example This method also helps attract the employees and their attention and help retaining the employees to a great extent. Here in most cases this method helps in improving the morale and levels of motivation and productivity of the employees, thereby being a major benefit for the company as well (Thompson). Using this technique in USAA will be very helpful due to the nature of the job. Here the company will be able integrate the organizational culture, business strategy and also the human resources strategy and draw them towards one main focus, i.e. the total rewards system which focuses on includes all aspects like the compensations, benefits, work life, recognition and performance of the employees and also the overall development and career opportunities. Together all of these are focused towards attracting and motivating people which in turn leads to better satisfaction and engagement of the employees. This concept is clearly one which will remain and become more common within companie s (Buchanan and Huczynski). This technique is here to stay and companies can benefit from the technique to a very great extent. The drawback of this technique, in the case of USAA, it proves to be very costly for a number of employees and also does not meet the needs of the employees.

What is High Stakes Writing Low Stakes Writing Article

What is High Stakes Writing Low Stakes Writing - Article Example On the other hand, low-stakes writing is writing activities which are informal in nature and in grading. The objectives of teachers for giving low stakes writing assignments are to encourage active involvement of the students in the course through short essays written in the students’ own words. Through this method, teachers would immediately determine the scope of the students’ understanding of the modules and enable the teachers to immediately address any concern. Examples of low stakes writing assignments are abstract writing, summaries, headlines, paraphrasing exercises, definitions, editorials, letter writings, and reaction papers, among others. (The Centre for Teaching Excellence 11) Elbow averred that low stakes writing encourages students to explore other venues of the course materials to hone their skills. This type of writing provides opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom. Their research and data gathering skills are improved. They also learn to assimilate course materials with the external information gathered for the essay requirement. On the other hand, high stakes writing can be very stressful for students considering that a major portion of their overall mark depends on this assignment. At the same token, considerable stress is also placed in the hands of the professors who would grade these high stakes writing an assignment. Finally, these are not viable for very large classes considering the number of students to grade for the requirement. (1) Low stakes writing, on the contrary, create a more relaxed atmosphere for learning due to its informal nature and grading. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions and insights in their own words; thereby giving the teachers the opportunity to easily determine if the  students fully understand the concepts and theories imparted.  

SESSION LONG PROJECT MODULE 5 TOTAL REWARDS (USAA INSURANCE COMPANY) Essay

SESSION LONG PROJECT MODULE 5 TOTAL REWARDS (USAA INSURANCE COMPANY) - Essay Example This method also helps attract the employees and their attention and help retaining the employees to a great extent. Here in most cases this method helps in improving the morale and levels of motivation and productivity of the employees, thereby being a major benefit for the company as well (Thompson). Using this technique in USAA will be very helpful due to the nature of the job. Here the company will be able integrate the organizational culture, business strategy and also the human resources strategy and draw them towards one main focus, i.e. the total rewards system which focuses on includes all aspects like the compensations, benefits, work life, recognition and performance of the employees and also the overall development and career opportunities. Together all of these are focused towards attracting and motivating people which in turn leads to better satisfaction and engagement of the employees. This concept is clearly one which will remain and become more common within companie s (Buchanan and Huczynski). This technique is here to stay and companies can benefit from the technique to a very great extent. The drawback of this technique, in the case of USAA, it proves to be very costly for a number of employees and also does not meet the needs of the employees.

Case study of Chipotle Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Of Chipotle - Case Study Example We ought to solidify Chipotle as Mexican-American food. Unlike our competitors, Chipotle does not use many aspects of Mexican culture to advertise its products. This strategy will establish Chipotle as a household name for Mexican-American food, rather than Mexican fast food. No need to create authentic Mexican experience, since our competitors have tried to do the same since our customer value local ingredients more than imported ingredients and enjoy our food because of its taste and is good for them. Thus our strategy for 2014 should be to learn from our competitors and learn from their downfall. We should avoid the idea that we are a fast food restaurant and instead focus on provision of healthy fresh ingredients. This will distinguish us from the likes of Taco bell and others. We should also do massive marketing that shows how we handle our ingredients. Apart from that our clients should know that purchasing Chipotle means contributing to a greener future. Though they may pay dearly for our services, they should not feel the pinch since we are riding on the promise of our mission statement. They will understand that they are paying for local ingredients and a healthier lifestyle. This will keep their bargaining power low and not compromise the quality of our food for greater profit. Last but not least is solidifying Chipotle as Mexican-American food. No need to create an authentic Mexican experience, since this has been created by our competitors. This will make us stand out and be unique in every way, thus endearing us to our

The King, The Demigod Essay Example for Free

The King, The Demigod Essay The never-ending narrative of a young truck driver (Wadhams, Nathan Lindsay 39) turned into a world cultural icon never fails to garner praise and admiration. Years and decades have elapsed, yet the Elvis phenomenon has managed to maintain a cult following has endured the tests of time. The Elvis Presley fairy tale continues to echo the success and seemingly unsurpassed popularity of a man who shaped and transformed the rough terrains of history. Indeed, Elvis Presley is one of the most celebrated fairy tale protagonists similar to that of Cinderella. He is the fulfillment of every boy’s dream. He is the knight in shining armor of countless damsels in distress. He symbolizes the youth’s vibrant energy and even adults are swayed by his presence. He is Elvis Presley. However, his massive influence is neither caused by musical virtuosity nor pure charm. A simple musician that he was, it always bring wonder how Presley has captivated the hearts of many. Could it be that just like Faust, Elvis also sold his soul to the devil? Could it be that Elvis Presley is no less than a media-made hero? Yet if he is a product of media hype or exaggeration, his glamour could have already faded as new faces and rising stars enter the limelight. Evidently, the Elvis fever remains an epidemic in which the cure is yet to be discovered. On the other hand, as a deeper examination of Elvis Presley’s seemingly inevitable success can be attributed to the fact that he embodied a demigod image (Paytress 10) whose primary weapon is no less than music. A demigod is briefly defined as â€Å"half human† and â€Å"half god (Loewen 13). This image is greatly portrayed and manifested by the so-called King of Rock n Roll (Browne 636). Elvis Presley is a demigod in the sense that his charisma, style and presence create a divine like euphoria among his supporters. He is omnipresent and his prestige is something that even the most powerful leaders and politicians cannot easily acquire. Yet, unlike the well-revered gods of Olympus, Elvis Presley is not a product of an imaginative mind. He exists in real-life situations. He can be touched. He can be hugged. Thus, his mortal side enabled him to develop strong connections and relationships with his respective fans. The strong degree of attachment between Elvis and his supporters provided a god-like experience, without really resorting to romanticism and escapism. Elvis Presley is a walking fairy tale Relatively, Elvis Presley’s music created a sense of belongingness. Presley established a strong sense of community deeply characterized by similarities of interests and perspectives. Although marked with rebelliousness, for many Elvis believers, rebelliousness is a sign of struggle against the highly constricted nature of various social values, norms and mores. At one point of history, Elvis and his music articulated the hidden angst and concerns of the youth. The celebrity transformed into a superhero fully determined to regain and freedom and liberty via music. If music is described as the language of one’s soul, then Elvis Presley became the music of many youths. In addition to that, Elvis Presley’s sensual imageries and gestures readily challenged the existing taboos of society. Under this context, it can be argued that Elvis Presley has also preempted the rise of sexual revolution. The non-conformity, the unorthodox style, the courage and freedom that Elvis Presley manifested were more than enough to immortalize his memories. The duality of characteristics that Presley possessed contributes to his popularity and influence. He is the thesis and the anti-thesis. He is praised and criticized. He is half-human and half-god. He is loved and hated. In other words, Elvis Presley was able to provide a duality of experience that mostly of his contemporaries have failed to achieve. With a legion of supporters that he garnered, his untimely death served as an unpleasant surprise. Somehow this made his fans longed for more. The king is greatly missed by his believers. His absence basically explains why his memories remain intact. As Elvis Presley is emulated by his fans, somehow, the connection is reestablished—once again, the demigod is brought back to life. The fairy tale becomes a reality and his music continues to play. Works Cited Browne, Pat. The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 2001 Loewen, Nancy. Zeus. Minnesota: Capstone Press, 1999 Paytress, Mark. Bolan. London: Omnibus Press, 2002 Wadhams, Wayne; David Nathan and Susan Lindsay, eds. Inside the Hits. Massachusetts: Berklee Press, 2001

Principles of Effective Offender Intervention

Principles of Effective Offender Intervention Introduction From way back in history, the process of correcting those who were believed to be wrong in a way or another was practiced. Communities are guided by certain morals, and whenever one goes against the morals, it is believed that the person might have a problem and it is only good to deal with the problem before it escalates. People are different; whereas there are people who can change by just being advised to do so, there are some who need intense programs to change. Correcting young ones so that they can be part and parcel of the bigger community is a process that must be guided by principles. The four principles are meant to intervene and help the targeted persons to be better people in the society. The four principles of intervention There are four different principles of intervention that are used in making sure that some of the young law offenders are helped to become better people in the society (Guevara, 2009). The four principles are more in a sequence because one must follow the other if good results are to be achieved. Effecting one principle in the absence of the previous might produce different results which might be opposite of the expectations of the community or the program. For a lot of years, the four principles have been used in many correction facilities, and they have produced tremendous results. Risk principle Offenders are divided into different groups as far as risk is concerned; low-risk and high-risk offenders. Low-risk offenders are offenders who do not pose a great threat to the community as well as to themselves. When it comes to such offenders, all that is needed is minimal coaching or minimal intervention for them to fit back into the community. For example, an offender who has been involved in a quarreling that resulted in violence is not a high-risk offender. The reason for stating so is because the offender might have acted out of frustration but not under motivation or passion. Therefore, the attention and resources needed to bring back such a person on the track are minimal. At the same time, the person is not a threat to him or her life. The second group consists of high-risk offenders. These types of offenders are not only a risk to the community but themselves. When it comes to attending to them, a lot of resources are required. The interventions used must also be in line with their needs. Risk principle calls for prioritization of resources in line with the risk of the offender. For example, a person who possesses a risk to a larger community cannot be treated like a person who possesses lesser risk. The methods of intervention used on a riskier person also differ in some ways (TJRC, 2016). The principle helps in addressing cases with all the seriousness they deserve. The principle is effective and reasonable. For example, a person who is used to involving him or herself in criminal activities needs a more effective intervention method. The reason for doing so is because a lesser effective method cannot help him or her. The intervention methods are not meant to punish but to change. Allowing continuous offenders back to the community with the expectations that he or she will change is not helping him or her in any way. Since he or she has proven to be risky, it is only good to make sure that more resources are used so as to make the intervention effective. Need principle Need principle states that the needs of the offenders should be considered in any given intervention process. The need might be direct or indirect. Some people are forced by circumstances to engage in criminal activities. In most cases, they lack a thing or two, and that is why they end up doing what they do. What they lack is what is referred to as a need. The principle states that for a person not to go back to his or her old ways, the need must be satisfied. A person might end up being a criminal for lack of education and knowledge on certain issues. Taking that person through a correctional facility and bringing him or her back to the society only solves part of the problem. Therefore, it is important to enlighten that person on the issues that he or she might not be familiar with so that he or she cannot go back to his or her old ways. The environment, on the other hand, can influence one towards committing a crime. When the environment of the offender is not looked into, the offender is taken back to the same risks after corrections, and that might not bear the expected results. For example, if a person lives in an environment where people live by the gun and earn from illegal activities, taking him or her back to such an environment is exposing him or her to risks (Edward Jennifer, 2004). The principle is effective because it tries to look for a lasting solution in the process of making sure that an offender gains from an intervention program. Helping people and not looking at what they lacked for them to commit a crime is dealing with the problem partially. The best way to make sure that criminals do not get back to their old ways is dealing with the causes, and that means looking at the needs and satisfying them. Treatment principle The treatment principle emphasizes the need to look for the most effective treatment strategy. The principle concentrates much on the high-risk offenders. An offender must go through some effective treatments for him or her to be accepted back in the community. Factors to consider when it comes to treatment are the type of treatment, the interval of treatment, and the length of the treatment. A person who is of great danger to the community must be treated in a different way. Though the main reason why the offender is taken in a correctional facility is not to be punished, a high-risk offender must be treated in a way that he or she will never admire hurting himself or others. The treatment must be intense and if the need calls it must take a longer period so that he or she can be ready to fit in the community after the treatment. There are different offenders, and they are motivated to engaging in criminal activities by different reasons. Some are criminals because they are failed by their brain. In such cases, the treatment must be special and different from others. Regardless of him being a high-risk offender, the person also has a mental health condition. In such a case, double care is required (Guevara, 2009). The facility or the parties involved might choose to provide both psychiatric help and at the same time correctional help. By so doing, the offender gets his or her sanity back and is helped to avoid getting into trouble shortly. The principle is effective because it considers the nature of the offender. By considering the nature of the offender, it becomes easy to help a person with a series of problems by knowing the best way to treat him or her. Fidelity principle Fidelity principle states that the program must be run by people who follow the rule of law and whose integrity cannot be compromised (Edward Jennifer, 2004). It is important to know that the offenders need help and there is no way of doing it better than taking them through a program. The person running the program should leave the responsibility of correcting to the service providers, and he or she should not be bribed to grant favors to some of the law offenders. The principle is effective because it makes sure that any offender goes through the program and benefits from it without any shortcut. Conclusion The four principles guide offenders towards using the most effective ways in gaining help. At the same time, they guide the service providers towards being effective and taking care of the offenders on humane ways of doing things. Though the four principles have dwelt so much on programs and services, their main aim is to help the law offenders so that they can be people who can be accepted back into the community. They are in place to make sure that most humane means are used to correct the offenders. At the same time, they make sure that each offender is provided with help that is suitable to his or her behaviors. References Edward, J. Jennifer, A. (2004). Applying the principles of effective intervention to juvenilecorrectional programs. Retrieved from http://cjonline.uc.edu/resources/criminal-justice Research/applying-the-principles-of-effective-intervention-to-juvenile-correctional programs/ Guevara, M. (2009). Implementing Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Community Corrections, 2 Nd Edition. Retrieved from http://b.3cdn.net/crjustice/92d6c98633d1448ff0_cfm6iiq27.pdf The Justice Research Center. (2016). What Works Principles. Retrieved fromhttp://thejrc.com/wwi-principles.asp

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. HSGM 371 Professor Final Paper Vicie Rich November 9, 2013 â€Æ' Table of Contents Title Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction/Identified Problem 3 Literature Review 4 Cost 5 Type chapter title (level 3) 6 â€Æ' Final paper: Identify a work-related topic/issue/problem (or a real-life problem in the treatment of healthcare focusing on access, quality, and/or cost) and write a final paper 6-8 pages, in APA format with a title page, table of contents, introduction, , literature review, discussion, solution/recommendation, conclusion, and reference page (title page, table of contents, and reference page do not count in the 6-8 pages). The outcome is to discuss the pros and cons of that topic and your recommendation of a better solution that will improve healthcare delivery at your institution. Introduction: I would like to examine some of the reasons for the frequent ER hospital readmissions for post-surgery patients within a 30 day period. There has been a high rate of post-surgery patients returning to the emergency room within 30 days after discharge. Identified problem There are several incidents when my sister was seen in the Emergency Room, treated and released and then hospitalized within 30 days after having major surgery. In August 2012, she was diagnosed with a second round of breast cancer and had a mastectomy of the right breast. She had multiple complications (hematoma, elevated blood sugar, and allergic reaction to a medication given in the hospital and infection) with this surgery which required the readmission. I spoke several times to her physician about a longer hospital stay because of her existing illnesses but was told that it was up to the insurance company to approval the additional hospital inpatient da... ...entered Outcomes Research Institute would be the perfect medium to open the eyes of rationers. Republicans and Democrats would both agree that health costs are spiraling out of control. Ultimately, there are only two ways to lower costs. One approach empowers and incentivizes patients to be smarter health care consumers. This entails solutions such as expanding health savings accounts, creating a national market for health insurance, and leveling the tax playing field. These could bend the cost curve down and strengthen the patient-doctor relationship. The administration shunned this approach. My recommendation is that Congress should take a closer look at Medicare, Medicaid and the insurance companies to access what is best for the patient’s recovery post-surgery. They should become more patient-centered, focusing on preventative care and health literacy.

Cb Prepartions

Exam: 3hours, 19/50 =15. 2/40 (-31) Section A: MCQ (20m) Section B: Choose 2 from 3 Questions (15m each) 1. Describe the type of promotional message that would be most suitable for each of the following personality market segments: (a) highly dogmatic consumers, (b) inner-directed consumers, (c) consumers with high optimum stimulation levels, (d) consumers with a high need for cognition, and (e) consumers who are visualizers versus consumers who are verbalizers. Give an example of a promotional message for each segment.Social character traits have shown that inner and other-directed consumers may have different preferences in terms of promotional messages. Inner-directed people prefer advertisements that stress personal benefits while other-directed people seem to prefer advertisements that feature social acceptance. (a) HIGHLY DOGMATIC CUSTOMERS: It is a personality trait that measures the degree of rigidity (versus openness) that individuals display towards unfamiliar and towards i nformation that is contrary to their own established beliefs. Dogmatism: general tendency to be open or closed to new ideas and innovations.A person who is high in dogmatism approaches the unfamiliar defensively while the person who is low in dogmatism will rarely consider unfamiliar or opposing beliefs. * more receptive is Ads for new products or services that contains an appeal from the authoritative figure. Marketer uses celebrities and experts to their new product advertising for making it easier for the potentially reluctant customers. * Highly dogmatic consumers are likely to respond favorably to a new product when the advertising message is presented in an authoritarian manner (e. g. celebrity endorsement or expert testimonials). * prefer traditional or established products rather than innovative ones. close minded towards unfamiliar and untoward information that is contrary to their own established beliefs * approach such information with considerable discomfort and uncertai nty. promotional message most suitable would be endorsement or appeal from an authoritative figure. * New products need to be presented in an authoritative manner and that celebrities could be employed to reach dogmatic consumers who are more closed minded. For example: Colgate Dental Cream with Doctors and Experts endorsements. Anti-Polio Campaign featuring Amitabh and Sachin Tendulkar also useAuthoritative statements. The Cadbury’s brand took a beatng in sales after the worms were found in somepackets. Dogmatic Consumers stopped purchasing the Brand. Amitabh Bacchhanwas then used as Authority figure to reestablish Brand. b) Inner-directed consumers * tend to use their own values and standards in evaluating a new product * ads aimed at them should depict the attainment of personal achievement and satisfaction. ads that stress product features and benefits, which enable them to usetheir own values and standards in evaluating products * rely on their own inner values or standa rds in evaluating new products and are likely to be the consumer innovators. * other directed customers tend to look to others for guidance as to what is appropriate or what is inappropriate. * be prefer ads that stress product features and personal benefits ( enabling them to use their own values and standards in evaluating products whereas the other * For example: Surf Ad showing Shabana Azmi saving two buckets of water is an example of the same.The latest from Surf Excel is currently running on television. This is the ad where many people are seen walking with two buckets full of water. They then pour it into a large reservoir. At this point none other than Shabana Azmi informs you what a great thing thissaving of water is for the country and implores you to use Surf Excel. * manufacturer of cameras who advertises to inner-directed consumers should stress the ability to take better pictures and the resulting personal satisfaction. c) Consumers with a high optimum stimulation leve l * more open to risk-taking, more likely to be innovative have a greater willingness to take risks, try products with many novel features, and shop in new retail outlets. * likely to respond favorably to promotional messages stressing more rather than less risk, novelty,or excitement. * to seek purchase related information and to accept new retail facilities. * For example: The exciting and exotic Vacation Campaign of Malasia-Truly Asia is positioning of  Airways to sell the Asian Adventures. These enjoy thinking. They are responsive to that part of Ad that is rich in Information. The TATA-AIG Life insurance Ad showing Naseeruddin Shah giving informationthough Q&A will click for them. benefit of new product offering should not only consider functional features but also the risk, novelty and variety that the product offers. * place different promotional emphasis on particular age segments, as it may be worthwhile to reduce perceived risk for a market segment comprised primarily of older people, while it may not warrant it for a younger market segment. d) Consumers with a high need for cognition * ones who often crave or enjoy thinking. * responsive to ads that are rich in product-related information or description and are unresponsive to the auxiliary or contextual aspects of an advertisement. Need for cognition: stable individual difference in tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activity. Individuals high in need for cognition enjoy thinking abstractly. * high-NFC individuals are likely to express more favorable ad attitudes, brand attitudes and purchase intention. * more likely to use message content as a basis for judgments * high NFC leads to the generation of inferences about omitted conclusions ), to less memory decay and greater resistance to counterarguments about products), and to longer processing and superior recall for brands and claims individuals who are high in need for cognition would be expected to be critical thinkers, and t o not necessarily accept arguments found in media or elsewhere on face value. * should be more difficult to persuade, a phenomenon that can be investigated several ways. * high-NFC individuals did so only when the signal was accompanied by a substantial price reduction. * process information presented in the media more thoroughly than those who do not enjoy thinking as much, able to retrieve from memory more information * individuals with higher NFC, who are assumed to process information more extensively, would be expected to generate more thoughts. counterarguing and source derogations are prevalent in advertising and that support arguments are critical if persuasive messages are to have a chance of acceptance * high-NFC would be expected to engage in a wide range of media consumption activities, and would not necessarily be expected to differentiate between sources of information, such as news, advertising or entertainment. All would be stimulating. high NFC individuals are more likely to closely scrutinize the arguments contained in any message, campaign strategists must make sure that arguments are strong in order to cope with the higher resistance to messages by this group * appear to be the ones already predisposed to watch or listen to issue, image or financial advertising featuring long copy. The challenge for strategists thus is to enhance the already high motivation of high-NFC indivduals, by highlighting the relevance of messages, and to enhance the ability and opportunities to process such messages. Example: (e) consumers who are visualizers versus consumers who are verbalizers. * Verbal aggressiveness: tendency to insult and attack others' self-concepts to achieve one's objectives in an argument. * Visualisers (i. e. , consumers who prefer visual information, products that stress the visual) * Morning Dew Ad where there is a race with a Cheetah is a visual treat * detailed descriptions and explanations in targeting verbalizers (i. e. , consumers who prefer written and verbal product information). ‘Do the Dew†Verbalizers prefer verbal dimensions to the promotional message. * The Oye Bubbly Jingle of Pepsi is a Verbal treat to the ear, though it conveys nothing much about the product. 2. A marketer of health foods is attempting to segment a certain market on the basis of consumer self-image. Describe the four types of consumer self-image and discuss which segment would be most effective to target for health foods. In Self-concept theory personality is exemplified by the kinds of things with which people surround themselves.The self-concept has shown to be multi-dimensional and encompasses the way a person actually is, the way individuals see themselves, the way a person would like to be, and the way in which individuals think others perceive them. Theories of self-concept have generally focused on two areas in marketing research. In the one, self concept has been applied to the discrepancy between the self and the ideal self as a measure of personal dissatisfaction. In this instance, product use has been related to items that deal specifically with self enhancement.Consumers have four types of image. 1. Actual self image-how consumers in fact see themselves. In Everyday house hold products, they see themselves in Reality. For example,Washing powders Ads would be realistic. Nirma Powder focuses on Housewives ability to get more for less money. 2. Ideal self Image-how consumers would like to see themselves. In case of Fantasy Products, consumers desire to see themselves perfect, as in case of  Women, Fairness or looking Pretty is high on desire list. The fair and Lovely campaign for fairness cream sells this dream. . Social Self Image-how consumers feel others see them. Here there is an inherent fear factor also involved as to how they are being perceived by others. For example Products which position themselves on social front, showing appropriate behaviour at parties etc appeal here. 4. Id eal Social Self image-how consumers would like others to see them. For Example, Aashirwad ready to cook products and Sambhar Masala Product campaign show the desire of Wives to be seen as a great cook by others.However, since they are working or busy, they do not have time to cook themselves. That is when the Brandcomes to rescue. And finally they are seen as Ideal Wives. There are two more categories of Self-image: Expected Self image-how consumers expect to see themselves at some specified futuretime. The ABKING PRO Ad for machine to slim down people hypes this expectation of  individuals that they will slim down and look good in Future. 5. expected self-image (e. g. , how consumers expect to see themselves at some specified future time) . ought-to self (e. g. , consists of traits or characteristics that an individual believes it is his or her duty or obligation to possess). Ought to self image-traits consumer thinks he ought to have. The Ashrwad readymeal Adis a hit for the wiv es feel that good cooking is a trait they ought to have. The expected self-image is somewhere between the actual and ideal self-images. It is somewhat like a future-oriented combination of â€Å"what is† (the actual self-image) and what consumers would like â€Å"to be† (the ideal self-image).Moreover, because the expected self-image provides consumers with a realistic â€Å"opportunity† to change the â€Å"self,† it is likely to be more valuable to marketers than the actual or ideal self-image as a guide for designing and promoting products. In targeting consumers of health foods, the marketer can use the expected self-image to attract consumers who would like to enhance the quality of their lifestyles through better nutrition, and ideal social self-image to appeal to consumers who are likely to adopt health foods due to peer influence and pressure. Advertisers focus on components that make people feel better about themselves.Many decisions based on look ing glass and ideal self–ie. Aspiring to group not yet reached–image appeal Psychographic info enhances demographic info– people individuals 3. How can Toshiba use the diffusion of innovations framework to develop promotional, pricing, and distribution strategies for its computer notebooks targeted to the following adopter categories? a. Innovators b. Early adopters c. Early majority d. Late majority e. Laggards * In term of the nature, there are five major types of innovations: novelty, competence shifting, complexity, robust design and continuous improvement.While in term of the extent of change, innovations can be divided into incremental, radical and transformational models. Innovation deals with the change related to product, service and process, and the innovation management involve people, product, process and technology† * diffusion is defined as a process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members o f a social system * innovation as â€Å"an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as â€Å"new† by an individual or other unit of adoption. * company will usually sell the hardware at a relatively lower price to capture a share of the market, and then charge relatively higher prices for the software to maximize profitability * Based upon the time variable, individuals seeking new innovations are placed into adopter categories, according to the rate of adoption. Rate of adoption is the â€Å"relative speed with which an innovation is adopted by members of a social system. † * the rate of adoption is the relative speed in which members of society adopt an innovation. It is usually measured as the number of people who adopt an innovation within a specified time-line. Some companies have a defensive strategy and aim to follow the leader. Such companies hope to profit from the mistakes of the first-to-market company by devising incremental design and performance impro vements and cost reductions compared with the original product. In addition they hope to exploit the new market that has started to grow, so timing is important. * But it was the major Japanese companies (such as Sony, JVC, Toshiba) that captured a large share of the mass market through reducing the cost of these devices and improving their performance. (a) Innovators: Venturesome [1st group to adopt]Rogers describes innovators as obsessed with being venturesome. They have an interest in new ideas and innovation and have generally very cosmopolitan type social relationships. Innovators generally have communication patterns and friendships among a certain clique of innovators even though their geographic distance between each other may be very significant. Innovators must be very financially secure in order to absorb a possible loss from an innovation that doesn’t turn into fruition. Likewise, an innovator must have a sound educational background, in order to comprehend a comp lex technical terminology.Furthermore, an innovator must be able to cope with a degree of uncertainty whether the innovation will be adopted by society. Ultimately, Rogers believes the innovator takes risks in being the gatekeeper of innovations, but if the innovation is adopted the rewards are high. Early Adopters: Respect [2nd group to adopt] more integrated in the local society than the innovator. Where an innovator is considered a cosmopolite, an early adopter is a localite. Early adopters have the greatest degree of leadership in most localities. Most potential adopters look to the early adopter for advice and information regarding an innovation.Generally, early adopters are respected and considered successful by their peers. The early adopter is the main group that decreases uncertainty of an innovation by adopting it, and then communicating with potential adopters about the idea. Early Majority: Deliberate [3rd group to adopt] Rogers suggest that the early majority group adop ts new innovations just before the average member of society. Members of the early majority frequently interact with people in their society, but usually do not hold key positions of leadership. The early majority is the largest group and make up approximately one-third of members in a society.The early majority follows with deliberate willingness to adopt an idea, but are rarely leaders. Late Majority: Skeptical [4th group to adopt] Rogers states that the members of the late majority adopt innovations just after the average member of society. The late majority also makes up approximately one-third of members in a social system. Members of the late majority are cautious and skeptical about new innovations. Most of the uncertainty surrounding an innovation must be removed before the late majority will adopt the new idea. Laggards: Traditional [last group to adopt]Laggards are the last group in society to adopt a new idea. Generally, they possess almost no positions of leadership with in their community. Laggards’ point of reference is the past, they are very cautious and only make decisions based on what has already been done. Usually, laggards’ educational and financial resources are limited, forcing them to be completely certain the innovation will not fail before they adopt. These are the traditional categories of society members with respect to the adoption of new ideas and innovations. The diffusion of innovations follows a common life cycle. 82 However, the period over which this trend occurs varies greatly due to a number of factors. 183 By the end of the 20th century many of the following innovations were adopted by society at a much greater rate. 184 For example, the PC, Internet, and cell phone, which are all relatively new products, have steeper gradients when compared to automobiles, electricity and traditional telephones. Price is one of the most important factors involved in adoption of consumer products. This pricing policy pattern c an be used to predict the rate of adoption of new innovations.When it comes to consumers’ rate of adoption to innovations, new technologies succeed at a faster rate than replacement technologies. An early adopting individual may decide to adopt in anticipation that the innovation’s rate of adoption will take off in the near future when others adopt, although past diffusion research suggest that most individuals do not adopt an innovation until after learning of their peers’ successful experiences. † The diffusion of an innovation among the consumers can usually be presented by an s-shaped curve.On a frequency basis the adoption over time will normally follow a bell-shaped curve, but when plotted on a cumulative basis the adoption will form an scurve. 9 The s-curve reflects the acceleration of the adoption. At the early stage the curve is rising slowly meaning relatively few adopters pr. time-period (x-axis). At about the middle of the adoption period the a cceleration peaks and then fades as the percentage of adopters goes up. This course of events is typical for the adoption of new technologies. The logic behind this diffusion lies in the actual number of adopters.The early adopters will be a majority compared to the people who have not yet adopted the technology and therefore there are less people to preach the virtues of the new technology to potential adopters. At the point where the adoption process reaches 50 % the number of adopters equals the number of potential adopters, by definition, thus providing maximal acceleration of the adoption. In the last period, adopters outnumber the people who has not yet adopted, and there will be less people to convince to adopt the technology – slowing down the acceleration of the adoption process.The adopters are often divided into adoption groups. These groups are usually formed on the basis of innovativeness, meaning to which degree each individual is willing adopt new technologies, relative to other members of the social system. From this measure individuals can be placed into groups containing a certain range of innovativeness. The distribution is based on a mean and to which degree individuals’ deviate from the mean (standard deviation). Innovators are the first group of adopters and can be associated with the word venturesome.The individuals representing this group are adventurous and often related to entrepreneurial environments. The innovators run the risk that the innovation does not catch on, and thus subject themselves to a potential loss they must be prepared to absorb. Therefore innovators have to live with the uncertainty about the potentials of the technology, which can be viewed upon as the price to pay for being pioneers in a new field – catalyzing the diffusion of new technologies.The early adopters are ready to adopt a new technology when they observe that other individuals has started adopting, and sees the potential for being s ome of the first adopters of a new and promising technology. These individuals are often a more integrated part of the local society than the innovators, and their adoptions are crucial for the technology to take off and get hold of the broad public. For the early adopters the uncertainties about the merits of the new technology are strongly diminished, and can therefore adopt the new technology without running the risk of buying a young and untested technology.This group accounts for about one third of the total number of adopters, and provide the link between the progressive early adopters and the more skeptical later adopters. In the latter half of the spectrum the late majority also represent about a third of the adopters. This group is skeptical to new innovations, and is not willing to adopt, until a lot of other people have adopted before them ensuring the success of the technology and possibly massive network effects. The last 16 % of the adopters, the laggards, often focus on traditional values and base their decisions on past events.They are suspicious of any new inventions to change the way life are traditionally lived, and must be 100 % certain that the technology will prevail before they are willing to adopt. From a consumers’ point of view it is essential to think about the decisions of future adopters when choosing what technology to go with. The decisions of previous adopters are on the other hand a know factor and plays a role for the decision also. So does the structure of the market, i. e. which technologies are available at the time of adoption, compared to potential superior technologies that could be available in the future.Recent findings indicate that there is a lack of willingness to wait by the early adopters. 11 This high priority of being among the very first users of a new technology is said to inflict negative externalities on the later adopters. These later adopters can be forced to adopt an inferior technology to make sur e that they are compatible with the technologies of the early adopters, or they might be forced to give up compatibility to get a superior technology. That said the diffusion of new technologies is often strongly dependent on the choices of the early adopters.