Report on Compare and Contrasts approaches to Operations management at Dell and Tesco - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1548 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Compare and contrast essay Did you like this example? Operations management focuses on carefully managing the processes to produce and distribute products and services. Major, overall activities often include product creation, development, production and distribution. Related activities include managing purchases, inventory control, quality control, storage, logistics and evaluations of processes. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Report on Compare and Contrasts approaches to Operations management at Dell and Tesco" essay for you Create order A great deal of focus is on efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Identify the types of Operations/transformation process in each organisation and analyse each organisation operation/transformation activities are adequately designed to meet its customers needs. Dell Computer Corporation Dell assembles desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, enterprise storage devices and workstations. All of these products are assembled to custom specifications afters orders have been placed; therefore, dell holds essentially no finished goods inventory. All of the components that go into these products are purchased from other companies. Even the Dell labelled chasses, keyboards, and mice are manufactured by other companies on contract. Therefore, Dell is quite different from traditional manufacturers in that it does not own or operate any injection moulders, pick and place circuit board assemblers, or sheet metal stamping machines. In addition to its computing products, Dell sel ls branded computer peripherals and consumer electronics such as monitors, printers, PDAs, MP3 players, and LCD televisions, all of which are made by contract manufacturers. Dells operations Selling directly to consumer Single point of Accountability get solutions quickly Build to order production Being the low cost leader in the industry Use of standard based technology The key competencies of Dell are customer focus, manufacturing processes, supply chain management, customer selection, acquisition and retention, customer service and human capital management. Dells strategy has been to match its core competencies with key industry success factors. Dells direct-selling business model revolutionized the computer industry. The organization has maintained a massive marketing budget to push its customized PCs. Although most orders are placed via Dells website, customers may also place customized orders by phone, fax or through limited retail locations. Those ord ers, which now include printers and consumer electronics, are then shipped within one week for significantly less cost than its competitors. Dells differentiation stems from process innovation. The company is very successful in leveraging and harnessing the value of its suppliers and partners technology innovation. This allows Dell to minimize RD spending and improve the cost structure, a strategy that is rarely matched by competitors DellsÂÂ  mission is to be the most successful computer company in the world at delivering the best customer experience in markets we serve (Frequently, 2011). In doing so, Dell will meet customer expectations of: Highest quality Leading technology Competitive pricing Individual and company accountability Best-in-class service and support Flexible customization capability Superior corporate citizenship Financial stability The exceptional performance of Dell Computer in recent years illustrates an innovative respo nse to a fundamental competitive factor in the personal computer industry-the value of time. Organisations set out to perform the same basic function: to transform resources into finished goods. To perform this function in todays business environment, manufacturers must continually strive to improve operational efficiency. They must fine-tune their production processes to focus on quality, to hold down the costs of materials and labour, and to eliminate all costs that add no value to the finished product The PC industry is driven by rapid technological improvements in components, particularly microprocessors, other semiconductors, and storage devices. The improved performance of hardware has been matched historically by increased complexity of software, creating demand for the latest hardware. This means that time is a critical competitive factor in the industry in two ways: First, excess inventory loses value and costs money; second, products incorporating the most advanced t echnologies are in high demand and carry a price premium. As a result, companies that minimize inventory and bring new products to market faster can reduce costs, increase market share, and maintain higher margins. The traditional distribution system of the PC industry is an indirect model. The PC maker sells its products to distributors, who buy products from many manufacturers and then sell them to a variety of retailers, resellers, system integrators, and others, who sell products and services to the final customer. This distribution system was an effective means for distributing high volumes of PCs with a variety of configurations to reach a broad customer base. Dells strategies of direct sales and build-to-order production have proven successful in minimizing inventory and bringing new products to market quickly, enabling it to increase market share and achieve high returns on investment in a highly competitive industry. The impact on the industry of Dells success is seen in the efforts of other leading PC makers and distributors to develop their own direct sales and/or build-to-order capabilities. Dell marketing strategy was simple and basic. Cut out the middleman and sell the product cheaper. Offer great customer service by giving the customer exactly what they want. That is how Dell is about to become the largest company in the world selling computers. They did it by building computers made to order for the customer. By handling all the sales (retail) themselves. If you want a Dell computer you can only get it from Dell. Their marketing strategy allowed them to pass the savings onto the customer. Dell Competitive Priorities on Cost, Quality, Time, and Flexibility by providing customized PC configuration, with short delivery times and affordable prices. Supporting DELLs Competitive advantages through a new operational model Focused on strategic partnerships: down suppliers from 200 to 47 Supplier maintains nearby ship points; del ivery time 15 minutes to 1 hour. Suppliers own inventory until used in productions. Demand pull through value chain. TESCO Tesco PLC is a Retail Company based in the UK. It is the most recognised retailer of groceries in the UK. Tesco mainly deals in the provision of foodstuffs. In addition to these, it also engages in the sale of clothes, electronics, financial services, insurance services, internet services and sale of houses this is its latest business venture. (Slack, N 2007) The operation section of Tesco can fulfil all the above requirements, and then marketers can coordinate between promotions and service delivery. (Ruffian 2000) Customers who come to buy products or goods directly from the Tesco store. They also include those who order for goods and services online or those who have secured a deal with the Tesco to deliver the goods to them personally. (Ruffian et al 2000) ÂÂ  Such customers expect to find most of the goods that they need in the st ore or delivered promptly. They also expect to find a lot of variety in the store. Tesco sets its objectives with the following categories; the first are the customers because these are the main people that bring in revenue to the organisation. Then there are the suppliers; the operations section depends on these groups of people to perform adequately. (Tesco, 2007) Tesco Competitive Priorities Speed: delivery time. Tesco values this because customers can get what they require when they need it. This establishes a good record and makes them come back for more business. Flexibility: different variety of products. Flexibility also applies to the way services or products are delivered. Flexibility applies to creation of new types of products in line with changing customer preferences. Flexibility also enhances dependability within the organisation because speed will have been improved. Cost: is because if an operation process is dependable, flexible, and fast and full of quality then less resources will be spent trying to nullify mistakes. Quality: actually means that the products or services offered by any given Company conform to international or local standards. This aspect is important for two main reasons. Customers expectation: Effectiveness through reduction of costs, increasing dependability and speed. Dependability: is essential because it dictates what kind of image the organisation presents to customers and consequently whether the organisation can be counted on the next time a customer comes back. Conclusion Tesco is an extremely successful retailer that has succeeded through use of technology and finances. Tesco is dynamic and offered varied services and products in the UK and Europe, the chain store will expand as the market is large. Tesco has a highly structured way of choosing its suppliers who ought to have ability to deliver. (Tesco, 2007) The operation management of the chain store is effective and Tesco has a highly structured distribution chain for its products and services. All the above goes to show that the Companys production process is efficient although improvements like performance measurements and encouraging creativity can be able to improve the process further. The basis of analysis should be any two from Competitive Priorities Corporate Strategy: specifies the businesses that the company will pursue, isolates new opportunities and threats in the environment, and identifies the growth objective. Differentiate itself from the competition Choices includ e producing standardized versus customized products and services or competing on the basis of cost advantage versus responsive service delivery. Corporate strategy provides an overall direction that serves as the framework for carrying out all the organizations functions An organisation product or service strategy addresses certain competitive priorities that will win orders from customers such competitive priority is variety. Mass Customization and Marketing Strategy Discuss how theoretical principles, concepts/framework covered in Capacity planning Inventory management Supply chain design Performance measures and Total quality management are appropriate/ inappropriate for managing operations at each of the organisations. Evaluate the mix of concepts/frameworks are discussed

Management and Lithuanian Managers - 1611 Words

VILNIUS UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ECONOMICS DOMANTAS TRACEVIÄÅ'IUS, ELENA Ã… ½ILYTÄâ€", GEDIMINAS RICKEVIÄÅ'IUS, URTÄâ€" RUPÃ…  YTÄâ€" Cross-cultural comparative management Developing Cross-Cultural Effectiveness Lithuania and China Comparison Prof. DanutÄâ€" DiskienÄâ€" Vilnius, 2012 1. Lithuania‘s cultural profile Parameter Time focus Time orientation Space Power Structure Competition Communication Action Value=1 monochronic past private equality individualism co-operative low-context being Value=5 polychronic future public hierarchy collectivism competitive high-context doing Lithuania 3 4 3 3 2 4 2 4 2. Comparison between China and Lithuania Parameter Time focus Time orientation Space Power Structure Competition Communication Action Value=1†¦show more content†¦Chinese people are used to a relatively strong hierarchical structure. Promotions at work are in many cases based on age before ability. The young, in turn, are deferential and respectful to their older co-workers and business associate, the advice and opinions of an older worker are generally valued more than the words of a younger person. In Lithuania there are differences between young entrepreneurs and older businesspeople. Younger businesspeople generally have a less bureaucratic approach. Management style in China tends towards the directive, with the senior manager giving instructions to their direct reports who in turn pass on the instructions down the line. It is not expected that subordinates will question the decisions of superiors - that would be to show disrespect and be the direct cause of loss of face (mianzi) for all concerned. In a business negotiation or meeting setting space orientation will be private - more physical distance between individual participants and no physical contact but office situation space is more - large open spaces are filled with many desks. ï‚ · Management strategies As a manager you should act in a more flexibl e, improvised manner. If one wants to successfully coordinate work with a Chinese, one tends to have more communication to stay in his mind. They tend to be conservative in management and slow to change those things that are tied to the past. Lithuanian managersShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Arcadia Group Ltd.1331 Words   |  6 PagesKingdom department stores for example Debenhams, House of Fraser and Selfridges and also have several hundreds of franchises in foreign countries. The company was primarily founded before World War 2, by an 18 years old boy named Montague Burton a Lithuanian immigrant in Chesterfield in 1903. His initial operation was men’s clothing manufacture, retailing and tailoring operations. The chairman of this group is Philip Green, CEO Ian Grabiner and the finance director is Paul Budge. There are some subsidiariesRead MoreGlobalization Article7776 Words   |  32 PagesgloISSN 1392-1258. EKOnOMIKA 2008 82 GLOBALIZATION AND hUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Rima ÄÅ'esynienÄâ€" Assoc. Professor vilnius University Department of Management vilnius, saulÄâ€"tekio al. 9 Tel. (370 5) 236 6134 e-mail: rima.cesyniene@ef.vu.lt Globalization represents the structural making of the world characterized by the free flow of technology and human resources across national boundaries as well as the spread of Information Technology and mass media presenting an ever-changing and competitiveRead MoreEssay on Reflections on Cultural Aspects of International Business3278 Words   |  14 Pagesbusiness situations. My company is a global management consulting firm with more than 75 offices around the world and its employees representing more than 120 countries. I am a Financial Analyst whose daily duties among other things involve decision support to over 30 offices in the Americas including offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil. My team consists of 5 analysts – 2 Americans, 1 Chinese, 1 Indian and 1 Lithuanian – American (myself - born in Lithuania (theRead MoreIkea Global Retailer Essay17554 Words   |  71 Pagestotally successful in dealing with this complex notion of culture especially among employees across borders. Indeed, IKEA’s managers tend to forget to take the many particularities of national and regional cultures into consideration, they deal with everywhere in the world. Although it came out that in many countries which are culturally close to Sweden the leader and managers efficiently transmit the core beliefs and values to the employees. 2 http://www.geert-hofstede.com 2007-05-08 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Read MoreHiring the Elderly: an Ethical Dilemma5321 Words   |  22 Pagesthe labour market, and a tax allowance being found to be the most suitable means for that in Latvia. The information used is mainly derived from published material in form of internet publications, relevant textbooks, and personal interviews with managers of companies and the elderly employees. Table of Contents Scrooge vs. philanthropist 4 Urgency or Demographics of Trouble 4 Age Discrimination at its Finest 5 Price of Experience or First Out 5 Unrealised Advantages or Last In 6 Read MoreDifferent Qualities Of Leadership Based On The Situations2514 Words   |  11 Pagessample of the diversity of concepts in regards to leadership, which are similar in certain areas and differ in others. The leadership qualities vary from one leader to another, depending on their status, for example, a military officer, politician or manager (Lord, Brown, Harvey, Hall, 2001) WORKING ENVIRONMENT The working environment is the place where workers deal with people; this can affect a worker’s performance if not done properly. In general, the working environment can change one’s way ofRead MoreAnalysis of Internal Audit Function in Poland Empirical Research Findings6214 Words   |  25 PagesB USINESS, MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION ISSN 2029-7491 print / ISSN 2029-6169 online 2011, 9(2): 236–247 http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/bme.2011.16 ANALYSIS OF INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONING IN POLAND – EMPIRICAL RESEARCH FINDINGS Edita BieliÅ„ska-Dusza Department of Strategic Analysis, Cracow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 16, 31-510 Krakà ³w, Poland E-mail: edytadusza@gmail.com Received 18 November 2010; accepted 15 January 2011 Abstract. The purpose of the article was to present the researchRead MorePerformance Appraisal Hrm Absolute Standards4401 Words   |  18 Pages+98-21-88814576 Abstract Performance appraisal is one of the most important processes in human resource management, because it has a great effect on both the financial and program components of any organization. There is a verity of methods for the appraisal of employees performance. Obviously, no method can claim that it has an integrated approach in performance appraisal. Therefore, human resource managers should select an appraisal method which is most efficient in their organizations. In this paperRead MoreAnalysis Of Upton Sinclair s The Grapes Of Wrath 3839 Words   |  16 Pagescycle that the lower class unceasingly endures to no avail. The illusory American Dream is an endeavor that Jurgis Rudkus, of The Jungle, travailed over to no end. The origins of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle stem in 1906, and follows the plight of a Lithuanian family and the miseries that plague them upon their arrival in the United States. Here was a population, low-class and mostly foreign, hanging always on the verge of starvation, and dependent for its opportunities of life upon the whim of men everyRead MoreTypes of Organizations and Leadership Styles5738 Words   |  23 Pagesenvironment as well as identify what leadership can mean to an organization’s bottom line. Most importantly, the desire to accomplish the organization’s goals is crucial to both the leader and the manager in the organization, yet how they achieve them varies. â€Å"Leaders provide vision and inspiration† while â€Å"managers provide the resources and expect results† (Ofori Toor, 65). Effective leaders are often referred to as being coaches that guide employees along the way. The mere presence of a leader encourages

Death, Dying and Other Ethical Dilemmas Free Essays

Death, dying and other ethical dilemmas are issues that all Intensive Care Units (ICUs) throughout the world have to face and address. In the Current Opinion in Critical Care, Vol 16, No 6, December 2010, p. 640, Dixon-Woods and Bosk, writing on the topic of â€Å"Death, dying and other ethical dilemmas† under the journal’s section of ‘Ethical, legal and organizational issues in the ICU’, have stated that â€Å"Recent ethnographic work suggests that ethical dilemmas associated with end-of-life care in ICU clearly persist, even if clinicians are now more open about patients’ chances of surviving. We will write a custom essay sample on Death, Dying and Other Ethical Dilemmas or any similar topic only for you Order Now An Australian study identified how decisions and actions made outside the ICU—such as proceeding with surgical procedures with very poor prognosis or admitting moribund patients who had sustained severe respiratory or cardiac arrest—led to a higher than expected rate of non-booked admissions. Staff believed these to be the result of futile interventions by staff outside the ICU that then resulted in ICU staff having to manage the patient and family through the dying process. ICU staff believed that this practice was detrimental to families by offering false hope of recovery, and that they were left to ‘clear up the unfinished work of medical staff’. Other studies have also documented the problems faced by staff confronted by patients whose potential for recovery is, at best, marginal, or when patients’ ‘significant others’ seek to influence ICU priorities and distribution of resources. Tensions exist between the critical care clinician’s view of the ICU as a place for caring for patients who can be salvaged, and an external view of the ICU as a place appropriate to send desperately ill, dying patients. Patients admitted to ICU despite ICU staff’s belief that they are not candidates for intensive care lead to role conflicts and other dilemmas for staff. The conflict is embedded in whom ICUs serve, the relative ease with which non-ICU clinicians can ‘turf’ their most critical patients to ICUs, the tensions ICU clinicians experience when delivering what they believe to be futile care, and the despair that family and clinicians share when having to abandon hope. † This administrative ethics paper takes a look at the issues contained in the article of the aforementioned journal, Current Opinion in Critical Care, Vol 16, No 6, December 2010, and applies these issues to the situations faced by ICUs today and in particular, the ICU healthcare personnel at the 6-bedded ICU at the San-Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), a general multi-disciplinary 680-bedded hospital situated in the south of the island of Trinidad and which serves a catchment area of 600,000 people. Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island republic in the West Indies, south of the archipelago with a population of 1. million people. The SFGH also has a 4-bedded HDU (high-dependency unit). Brainstem death The future plan for brain-dead patients whose hearts have been resuscitated by doctors in the Emergency Department (ED) of the SFGH following a cardiac and or respiratory arrest at home, poses an ethical dilemma for the healthcare personnel at the SFGH. Should these patients be admitted t o the ICU which has only six beds to serve a population of 600,000? Shouldn’t these ICU beds be kept for patients with potentially reversible and salvageable pathology? Emergency physicians at the SFGH defend their decision to resuscitate such patients on the grounds that they cannot predict with any certainty which patients have reversible brain function and which do not. The present practice at the SFGH to provide ventilator support for these patients in the ED instead of the ICU while tests of brainstem function are being carried out, is frequently met with severe criticisms from relatives and loved ones who claim that the best is not being, and cannot be, done for such patients in the ED as opposed to the ICU. And to a certain extent, this is true bearing in mind the chronic shortage of doctors and nurses in the ED. Frequently therefore, here in Trinidad, the ICU personnel have no choice but to transfer such patients to the ICU for monitoring and cardio-respiratory support. Passive Euthanasia â€Å"While active euthanasia is illegal, passive euthanasia, or allowing a patient to die naturally, is legal everywhere. Passive euthanasia includes withdrawing basic needs such as hydration and nutritional feeding† (Fremgen, 2009, p. 304). The Ministry of Health, an arm of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, has issued a written protocol/policy for the discontinuation of life-support from patients on whom the diagnosis of brainstem death is confirmed but, for such discontinuation, written consent is required from the relatives. â€Å"The person should be pronounced dead, and there is no need for the permission of the surrogates to cease treatment, although there are still questions about consent for donation† (Garett, Baillie, McGeehan and Garett, 2010, p. 253). But intensivists here in Trinidad face an ethical dilemma because forty-five percent of the population consists of people of East Indian descent who, because of their religious and cultural background, do not readily agree to the discontinuation of ventilator support from their loved ones who have been pronounced brain-dead. For similar reasons, they do not readily agree to the donation of organs while the heart is still beating, a situation that has stymied the development of transplant programs here in Trinidad and Tobago. The Surrogate’s Obligation Patient-physician relationship is at the heart of patient management. The trend over the recent years has been towards promoting patients’ autonomy. This model falls apart, however, when the patient loses decision-making capacity. Surrogacy is one means of preserving patient autonomy. Several European countries have recently developed laws defining the physician’s role, as well as patients’ and surrogatesâ₠¬â„¢ rights† (Lautrette, Peigne, Watts, Souweine and Azoulay, 2008, p. 714). â€Å"Each of the principles (the best interests principle and the rational choice principle) entails problems. The best interests principle asks the surrogate to do what is nearly impossible—to judge what is best for another. Furthermore, it does not address the fact that the interests of the patient and the interests of the surrogate may be in conflict. The rational choice principle assumes that we know what the patient would have chosen when competent and after having considered every relevant factor. This is a very broad assumption. We doubt that anyone can know what a person would have done in all circumstances† (Garett, Baillie, McGeehan and Garett, 2010, p. 2). When surrogates refuse to give permission for their brain-dead loved ones to be disconnected from the ventilator, intensivists at the SFGH in Trinidad, well aware of the limitations and constraints of the situation that exists at the SFGH, choose the ethical route and not only discontinue all drug and intravenous fluid therapy but also reduce the settings on, and oxygen therapy going to, the ventilator to as low as i s possible, so as to satisfy the family that the patient has not been disconnected from the ventilator. A do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) is not only written, but is also verbally communicated to the nurses by the doctors in the event of a cardiac arrest. The Cost Factor â€Å"Critical care medicine is expensive and its high cost has been a concern for many years. † (Halpern, 2009, p. 591). Canada’s health care system, including its delivery of hospital-based critical care services, is changing due to fiscal pressures. â€Å"Critical care services should be delivered to those who can benefit from them. Limiting therapy in patients with a poor prognosis may help redirect resources† (Leasa and Sibald, 1997, p. 320). Trinidad and Tobago, like the rest of the world, is currently facing an economic recession and so the Government of the day has to be very prudent in its fiscal spending. The Ministry of Health which is responsible for providing the financial resources for running the health system in the twin-island republic simply does not have the money required for the provision of quality healthcare at this time. ICUs are expensive and as such all attempts must be made by all stakeholders involved in the ICU to ensure that monies spent in this area of the hospital are spent wisely, ethically, effectively and efficiently. Conclusion This administrative ethics paper took a look at various challenges faced by healthcare personnel in ICUs today as they deal with death, dying and other ethical dilemmas. Particular reference was made to the ICU at the San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad, West Indies. How to cite Death, Dying and Other Ethical Dilemmas, Papers

Sugar Is Not Sugar the Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup free essay sample

The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup Rhonda Sullivan DeVry University Sugar is Not Sugar: The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup Every one has seen the infamous TV commercial with the young couple sitting in a park on a blanket, innocently sharing a Popsicle made out of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The female offers her male cohort a portion of the frozen treat, responding to his hesitance with the disreputable claim hosted by the corn industry, â€Å"sugar is sugar. Ironic, this commercial enticing the general public to accept the ill-fated ingredient of High Fructose Corn Syrup, is the epitome of Eve offering Adam the apple in The Garden of Eden. High Fructose Corn Syrup has seemed to invade even the most discrete products in the current day kitchen. Hiding in ketchup, soups, and meats, to name only a few, this overused sweetener has wreaked havoc on the American people; much less the unfortunate, overweight, diseased, diabetic rats that fell victim to its studies. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is  a man made, chemically altered, and potentially neurotoxic byproduct, largely at fault for our nation’s health epidemics of obesity diabetes and cardiac disease, but if eradicated from our diet the sequelae of its morbid effects  could be alleviated. Problems Although society is starting to hear more controversial information about the ill health effects of HFCS consumption, what they are not aware of is the dangerous contaminates within it. Chemicals and enzymes used in the processing of corn into HFCS are polluting it with unsafe levels of mercury, and since this heavy metal is neurotoxic, it could very well be to blame for the rapid rise in Autism and other neurological disorders amongst our youth (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008). To first understand how mercury ends up invading the Nation’s processed food sources, people need to understand how HFCS is developed. As described by Wallinga, Sorensen, and Yablon (2009), through an industrial process, enzymes and caustic soda are used to synthesis the sweetener from corn. Caustic soda is used throughout  the process for many reasons, including its initial employment in the separation of the starch from the corn kernel (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). The problem is, caustic soda is produced in industrial chlorine plants, which many still use a technology relying on the use of mercury, allowing the heavy metal to seep into goods made from its use in processin g (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). Multiple studies done by the Environmental Health and Food and Drug Administration have found commercial HFCS, and many name brand food items with HFCS in their ingredient list, contaminated with mercury (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). An article written by Hyman (2011), presents us with an interesting case, in which a FDA researcher was denied a request for barrels of HFCS in order to test for contaminants. Once she represented herself as an entrepreneur to a new soft drink company, a large vat of the sweetener was sent and used as a part of her study, showing toxic levels of mercury present in some of the samples. The importance one could gather from these findings is that mercury has invaded our food sources, and in all of its forms, it is toxic to the brain (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). Studies show that maternal antenatal consumption of mercury-contaminated food â€Å"adversely affected the IQ, language development, visual-spacial skills, gross motor skills, memory and attention in their offspring† (Schettler, 2001 p. 814). All of these symptoms are similar to conditions of Autism, or Attention Deficit Disorder. An article, supporting mercury provocation of Autism, written by Geier, King, Sykes, and Geier (2008), provides evidence that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) may result from exposure to mercury at critical times of brain development. It goes so far as to state â€Å"mercury has been found to cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining ASDs,† and these â€Å"patients who undergo protocols to reduce mercury show significant clinical improvements in some cases† (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008 p. 383). Also, it is well known through research that mercury can cause neuronal degeneration, and cell death; something that is observed in the brain of ASDs patients (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008). Schettler (2001) notes a growing rate in the incidence of developmental disabilities corresponding to the increasing prevalence of ADD and ASDs diagnoses. HFCS was first produced on a commercial scale in the 1970s, but became more widely used in the 1980s, when Coca Cola and other soda drink manufacturers started using it in their sweetened drinks (Reshanov, 2012). Bascian, Federico, and Adeli (2005) reveal alarming statistics, stating the use of HFCS has increase 1,000% between 1970 and 1990. Similarly staggering, childhood Autism diagnoses increased 800% from 1990 to 2003 (Rudy, 2009). The consumption rate of HFCS among children has mimicked the increased rate of our youth’s neurologic diagnoses, HFCS consumption is also a major contributor to the increasing numbers of people with obesity, diabetes, and elevated triglyceride levels. Just as every action has a reaction, the intake of HFCS causes a physiological strain of affects that negatively impacts the body. The digestion, metabolism, and absorption of HFCS, differ from that of table sugar, or glucose since biochemically they are different. Because the molecules that comprise HFCS are not bonded, digestion is not necessary, causing rapid metabolism in the liver (Elliott, Keim, Stern, Teff, Havel, 2002). The liver finds storage for these molecules as fat cells, and becoming overwhelmed, releases many in the blood stream. These are known as triglycerides. Elevated triglycerides inhibit insulin production (Kelpe, Johnson, Poitout, 2002), the chemical responsible for controlling our blood sugars. Leptin, our satiety hormone, is regulated by insulin, so when insulin levels are low so are leptin levels (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005 Bray, Nielsen, Popkin, 2004). Obesity seems to be the most obvious epidemic as it related to HFCS consumption. It should be credited to the result of over eating due to HFCSs influence on the appetite suppression hormone leptin. When sufficient levels of leptin are circulating throughout the blood stream, the brain tells the body to no longer eat. When that hormone is diminished, the urge to continue eating is influential. As cited in Parker (2010), Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neurosciences of appetite, weight, and sugar addiction states, â€Å"when rats are drinking high fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese – every single one, across the board. † He continues to add to the discussion by saying even rats that are fed a high fat diet, don’t all gain weight (Parker, 2010). Supportive studies using rats show that when fructose was injected into the cerebroventricles of the animals, enhanced food intake was observed, while the same concentrations of glucose injections resulted in a suppression of  appetite (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005. Further, the accumulation of readily converted fat cells, especially in the abdomen (Parker, 2010), doubles as a cause to obesity. When these processes are understood, it is apparent how HFCS contributes to America’s obesity issue. Elevated triglycerides have been well known for a long time in the health community to be a great risk factor for cardiac disease. When a bolus of unbounded molecules directly enter the liver for metabolizing, lipogenesis occurs, causing nonfat food products to be turned directly into fat and fatty acids (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005.  ) Fatty acids, or triglycerides accumulate in the blood stream, at levels that can be considered dangerous, predisposing the person to coronary artery diseases and strokes. Multiple studies done on rats have provided evidence showing the contributory nature consumption of HFCS has on triglyceride levels. For example, a study cited in Bascian, Federico, and Adeli, (2005) showed that when rats were fed a 32% fructose, glucose, or sucrose solution, the fructose fed rats had an elevated triglyceride level. Insulin resistance is directly related to the intake of HFCS. â€Å"Because fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic ? cells, the consumption of foods and beverages containing fructose produces smaller postprandial insulin excursions than does consumption of glucose-containing carbohydrate† (Elliott, Keim, Stern, Teff, Havel, 2002 p. 911). Therefore, if large amounts of HFCS were being consumed that insulin was not acting to control, the result would be uncontrolled circulating blood sugars. In human studies done by Johnson et al. (2009), with high levels of fructose ingestion, it took just one week for the subjects to develop insulin resistance. People that were already predisposed to obesity or unhealthy diets, exhibited insulin resistance after very small amounts of fructose were taken in. Again, the prevalence of these epidemics seems to mirror the widespread utilization of HFCS as a sweetener. Bray, Nielsen, and Popkin (2004) analyzed the relationship of increased HFCS consumption with the development of obesity stating that ironically, the increased use of the sweetener in the United States has mirrored the rapidity of America’s obesity. Cited in Parker (2010), The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes that in the last 40 years, since the introduction of HFCS in the American diet, rates of obesity have â€Å"skyrocketed. † They report that in 1970, about 15% of the American population was afflicted with obesity, but as of now, roughly one third of our adult population is considered obese. The increase in fructose intake in the last twenty years is also associated with the astonishing increase in diabetes diagnoses according to Johnson et al. (2009). These discoveries are beyond coincidental, and highly recognized among experts in the field of nutrition and health. Solutions By abolishing high fructose corn syrup from our diets, we could alleviate the morbidities affiliated with its use. Because of the backlash HFCS is receiving recently, many food manufactures are removing the sweetener from their products. Even though still widely found, reading food labels will allow consumers to purchase goods without HFCS in its ingredient list. Buy products that are not processed, or advertised as â€Å"organic. † Prepare meals at home using whole foods, not prepackaged. Most manufacturers have contact information on their products, allowing consumers to notify them of their discontent with the presence of HFCS in our food. People can contact elected officials, asking for hearings that address why the FDA does not protect our nation from the mercury contamination of HFCS (Wallinga, Soreson, Yablon, 2009). One step New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, is taking, will propose a stop to all sweetened drinks greater than 16 ounces in size, hoping managed portions will reduce the intake of these drinks (Reshanov, 2012). This appears to be an important step in diet modification for decreased incidents of obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, but its presence in even small portions may not change the risk of mercury exposure to developing brains. Just don’t eat it, drink it, or support HFCS in any manner. Although sugar has a bad rap when consumed beyond moderation, it could be reclaimed into our nations diet as a primary sweetener, since it has not shown to have the detrimental effects on health that high fructose corn syrup has. Researchers from the Department of Science and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute report that male rats given HFCS sweetened water in addition to a rat chow diet gained much more weight than those that received water sweetened with basic table sugar along with the chow (Parker, 2010). Many favorite food brands have provided an alternative using sugar to sweeten a product as opposed to HFCS. Examples of these are Pepsi â€Å"Throwback,† and â€Å"Simply† Heinz. To alleviate an extensive craving, many health food stores provide candy sweetened only with cane sugar. Trader Joes is a whole foods store that has a jellybean product with flavors similar to the famous â€Å"Jelly Belly’s† jellybeans, sweetened with only cane sugar. Making home cooked goodies with sugar, also gives the option of adding some additional ingredients with nutritive value while satisfying a weak yearning. Although sugar in excess can still have some unhealthy effects, in moderation it is recognized, metabolized and processed in the body without detriment, and is unknown to harbor neurotoxic mercury or other damaging contaminants. In previously cited findings by Parker (2010), it is apparent when comparing the outcomes of fructose fed rats as opposed to rats fed typical table sugar, that the rats eating fructose suffered ill effects to their health, unlike their glucose fed counterparts. Call to Action . Without actions on behalf of our food and drug administration (FDA), the statistics for obesity, diabetes, and cardiac disease, as well as what may be the contributing factor to the rise in our nation’s neurotoxic afflictions will continue to rise. Mercury contamination in HFCS is completely avoidable, with current technology allowing most chlorine plants to no longer use it (Wallinga, Soreson, Yablon, 2009). Since HFCS was first introduced in the 1970s, its use and consumption by the American people has continued to climb with the Average American eating an estimated 60 pounds per person per year, all concurrent with the â€Å"tripling of obesity rates and a seven-fold increase in diabetes diagnoses† (Hyman, 2011 p. 1). When comparing the ingredient list from a French based McDonalds, to an American McDonalds, there is no HFCS or multiple other unhealthy ingredients in the foreign food choices (Beardsley, 2012). Why does our nation allow poor quality, harmful food additives, disregarding years of well researched information? What makes American’s settle for less, knowing the potential ill health effects? The FDA needs to recognize the negative impacts HFCS is having on the American people, and protect them. Our nation must write, call, or email legislators and representatives to make the FDA aware .

Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying

Introduction Consumer involvement refers to that â€Å"state of mind that motivates a consumer to identify with a product or service offerings, their consumption patterns and consumption behavior†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Involvement enables consumers to develop the urge to search for or think about the available product categories before selecting a preferred brand and purchasing a product. Involvement reflects the amount of effort (physical and mental) that a person invests in the process of making a purchase decision. Involvement creates a level of relevance to the product or service offering and this, prompts the consumer to collect and interpret relevant information about the product before making a purchase decision (Schiffman and Hansen, 2011, p. 89).Thus, it influences the consumer’s decision making process , as well as, the process of searching, processing and transmitting information. Involvement varies across persons, situations, product offerings and time. The strength and intensity of involvement determines the consumer’s level of involvement. Thus, involvement can be high or low (East, Wright and Vanhucle, 2008, p. 132). Involvement can also be short-term and situational or long-term and enduring. Additionally, involvement is often directed at the elements of marketing mix. This paper focuses on purchase involvement and the process of consumer decision making. Purchase Involvement Purchase involvement refers to the â€Å"level of concern for or interest in the purchase process, once the purchase process has been triggered by the need to consider a particular purchase† (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). Purchase involvement is a temporary state that is typical of a consumer, and exists in a process. Purchase involvement is influenced by current external v ariables which include the product, situation, and communication. It is also influenced by past external factors such as enduring, ego, as well as, central values. Thus, purchase involvement reflects the time, thought, as well as, the energy that consumers dedicate to the process of purchasing a given product.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Difference between Purchase Involvement and Product Involvement Purchase involvement differs from product involvement in the following ways. First, purchase involvement refers to the consumer’s interest in the buying or purchase process (Kim and Sung, 2009, pp. 504-519). This interest is initiated by the need to purchase a product. Product involvement, on the other hand, refers to a consumer’s or a person’s interest in purchasing a given product and the consumer’s commitment to purchase a particular brand (Que ster and Lim, 2008, pp. 22-38). Thus, purchase involvement focuses on the interest in the purchase process, whereas product involvement focuses on the interest in a particular product or brand. In the context of product involvement, the arousal, interest, as well as, emotional attachment is evoked by the product, whereas in purchase involvement, these attachments are evoked by the need to purchase the product. Second, purchase involvement is situational, whereas product involvement is enduring. Situational involvement occurs when the consumer attaches relevance to a product in the short-term. Thus, it is temporary in nature. Purchasing a computer as a gift to a student on his birthday is an example of situational involvement. In this case, the involvement disappears as soon as the purchase is completed. Enduring involvement, on the other hand, occurs when the relevance attached to a particular product last for a long period. A high school student planning to purchase a computer to u se in collage three years from now is an example of enduring involvement. In this case, the student has three years to get involved with the product offering and plan for the purchase. Finally, consumers can have a high purchase involvement in a product without necessarily having a high product involvement. For example, a person purchasing a dish washing machine may have a high purchase involvement due to the high cost of the product. However, he may have a low product involvement due to band loyalty.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors Influencing Purchase Involvement The factors influencing purchase involvement includes the following. First, the consumer and his personal characteristics such as interests, lifestyle, attitude and motives/ needs determine the level of purchase involvement (Bezenco and Blili, 2011, pp. 682-708). A p rudent consumer will always explore and evaluate the available alternatives before deciding on what to buy. A shrewd consumer tends to search for more information in adverts, and sale offers. Additionally, they are willing to spend more time in shopping in order to obtain the product with the lowest price. A consumer who is price conscious gives priority to price when making a purchase decision (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). The consumer’s cognitive ability determines the extent to which he or she can process, as well as, draw conclusions before purchasing a product. These characteristics lead to high purchase involvement. In general, products associated with the consumer’s image and personality normally leads to high purchase involvement. Consumers associated with high levels of apathy and hassle-free attitudes tend to be less concerned with the shopping process. Thus, their levels of purchase involvement tend to be low. Second, purchase involvement is determ ined by the product or service to be purchased. The features or benefits associated with the product will influence the level of purchase involvement (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). Thus, a consumer who is concerned about quality will be willing to spend more time comparing brands with varying benefits and features. Additionally, purchase involvement can be low if the consumer is loyal to a particular brand. The amount of risk associated with the consumption or purchase of the product will also determine the level of purchase involvement. The level of involvement will be high if the product is associated with high risk levels (Radder and Huang, 2008, pp. 232-243).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Third, purchase involvement is determined by the situation under which the act of purchasing a product is undertaken (Ozdipciner, Li and Muzaffer, 2012, pp. 34-43). For example, a person purchasing a gift for a loved one will tend to be highly involved in the purchase process in order to obtain the best product or brand. Social pressures such as shopping in the presence of friends also influence the level of purchase involvement. Socially, individuals tend to be more conscious of the products or brands they buy in the presence of their friends as compared to when they are alone. The amount of time devoted to the purchase process also has a bearing on the level of purchase involvement (Benerjee, Koshy and Shobha, 2007, pp. 746-763). In this case, the available time determines the consumer’s ability to collect and process or interpret the information about the product to be purchased. The level of purchase involvement will be low if the time to be spent in shopping is little an d vice versa. Consumer Decision Making Consumer purchasing decisions â€Å"fall along a continuum of three categories namely, habitual decisions-making, limited decision making and extended decision making† (Neal and Quester, 2007, p. 56). This continuum is anchored by habitual response behavior on one end and extended decision making process on the other extreme. The categories of decision making are influenced by, the level of involvement, available time, information, and the availability of alternatives. The difference between the three decision making categories can be explained as follows. Habitual Decision Making In habitual decision making, the consumers do not make any decisions regarding the purchase of a product (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). In this case, the consumers simply purchase a given product whenever there is a need to consume that particular product. The consumers normally depend on their long-term memory to identify the preferred band (Ch ang and Ling, 2003, pp. 94-107). Thus, no effort is devoted to the process of searching for information about the product. In habitual decision making, post-purchase evaluations are rarely done. In most cases, the consumers evaluate the product or brand only when it fails to function as expected. Habitual decisions are often made when the level of purchase involvement is very low. Additionally, the option of not purchasing the product is hardly considered by the consumer. For example, a person whose body lotion has run out may purchase the same brand. In this case, the decision is habitual since, the consumer is loyal to a particular band which she purchases without much thought or consideration of all available alternatives. Habitual consumer decision making can be classified into two categories namely, â€Å"brand loyalty and repeat purchase decisions† (Parsons and Maclaran, 2008, p. 88) Repeat purchase decisions occur when the consumer buys a particular brand repeatedly wi thout being committed to that particular brand. Repeat purchase can be made as a result of apathy. Apathy is a situation in which the consumer is indifferent towards the available brands (Grebila, Colson and Menapare, 2011, pp. 112-115). Consequently, the consumer can settle for any brand that is readily available. For example, a student can be indifferent towards the brands of pens available at a local store. Thus, the student will buy the pen she or he finds in the store. Repeat purchase decisions can also be made due to non-availability of alternative brands. For example, a student can continually purchase locally made pens if the government restrict importation of pens. In the context of brand loyalty, the consumer is usually committed to a particular brand. This usually occurs when the consumer is emotionally attached to a product due to the actual and perceived superior qualities of the product (Gunjan and Amitava, 2011, pp. 430-432). Due to the high level of loyalty, the cons umer will always prefer a particular brand over the rest in the market. For instance, a consumer can consistently purchase a particular brand of soft drink until a better brand is launched in the market. Limited Consumer Decision Making Limited consumer decision-making occurs or exists between the habitual and the extended decision making categories (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). The difference between limited and habitual decision making is that the former involves a limited search for information prior to making the purchase decision. For example, a consumer who is interested in purchasing coffee may spare some time to compare the prices of various coffee brands. The consumer may also be interested in trying a new coffee brand. Hence, he or she will have to seek information on the quality and prices of the available coffee brands. Limited decision making is likely to occur if the consumer has past experience with the product. For instance, a consumer interested in trying a new toothpaste brand may allocate limited time to compare available brands. Limited decision making can also occur if the risk associated with the product or making the wrong choice is moderate. In this case, failing to search for some basic information about the product may be costly to the customer (Broderick, Graley, and Dentiste, 2007, pp. 678-681). However, the consumer may not devote a lot of time and resources in searching for product information since the risk associated with the product is moderate. Lack of knowledge about the available brands can also lead to limited decision making. With limited decision-making, consumers tend to depend on personal information rather than external sources of information. Limited decision making is also associated with low levels of purchase involvement. This is because the consumers devote limited time and effort to searching information or comparing available alternatives. Additionally, the post-purchase evaluations are hardly d one. Extended Decision Making This is the most complex purchase decision making process. Extended consumer decision making occurs when the consumer intends to buy a new product. In this case, lack of knowledge about the product will prompt the consumer to consider external sources of information (Torres-Moraga, Vasquez-Parraga and Zamora-Gonzalez, 2008, pp. 302-313). Extended decision making also occurs when the product is very expensive or the product is one that is seldom bought. For example, the purchase of a house involves extended decision making. The person intending to purchase the house must extensively search for information about the house, the financing options and the quality of the environment in which the house is located. Since a house is a very expensive product, purchasing it involves a high risk. This is because the consumer is likely to lose a large potion of his or her investments if the wrong choice is made. In order to avoid these risks, the consumer must engag e in extensive information search, as well as, evaluation of available options (Dobbelstein and Zielke, 2007, pp. 112-121). The evaluation normally involves reviewing the attributes of each brand at a time. The attributes of each brand are then matched to the desired characteristics or expectations of the consumer. The consumer will depend mainly on external sources of information to make the right decision, especially, if the consumer has no past experience with the product. The internal search or the consumer’s memory is also considered an important source of information in extended decision making. Other products that involve extended decision making include cars, and plasma TVs. Extended decision making involves high level of purchase involvement. The extended decision making differs from limited and habitual decision making in the following ways. First, limited and habitual decision making are characterized with low risk products and low purchase involvement. The extende d decision making on the other hand is characterized with high risk products and high purchase involvement. Second, limited and habitual decision-making involve little or no information search. The acquired information is often processed passively, and the consumer is likely to make in-store decisions. Extended decision making, on the other hand, involves extensive search for information about the product’s quality, price, promotions and discounts. In extended decision making, information is often processed actively. Additionally, the consumer usually consults multiple sources before settling on a preferred brand or product. Finally, habitual and limited decision making involves limited shopping time. The shopping process is normally self-service in nature with little or no help required from the store attendants. Additionally, the choice of products or brands is often influenced by the store or shop displays (Delgado-Ballester and Munuera-Allemon, 2001, pp. 1238-1258). The e xtended decision making, on the other hand, involves visiting several outlets in order to find the best shopping deal. Communication or assistance from the store personnel is normally required to help the consumer to make the right choice. Conclusion Consumer involvement is a high state of awareness that stimulates a person to search for, attend to, as well as, think about a product’s information before purchasing the product. It reflects the interest, as well as, the importance that a person attaches to the process of acquiring and consuming a given product. In this context, involvement can be conceptualized in terms of product and purchase involvement. Product involvement refers to the interest a person has in purchasing a product and the person’s commitment to a particular brand. Purchase involvement, on the other hand, refers to the consumer’s interest in the purchase process. The level of involvement influences the purchase decision making process. Consumer decision making can be classified into three categories namely, habitual, limited and extended decision making. Habitual decision making does not involve any decision. In limited decision making, the consumer searches for limited information before making any decision (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). Habitual and limited decision making are associated with low purchase involvement. Extended decision making, however, involves extensive search for information and high purchase involvement. References Benerjee, B., Koshy, A., and Shobha, G., 2007. Brand Specific Association and Consumer Involvement in the Evaluation of Brand Extension. Journal of International Business Studies, 28(5), pp. 746-763. Bezenco, V., and Blili, S., 2011. Segmenting the Market Through the Determinants of Involvement: the Case of Fair Trade. Psychology and Marketing, 28(7), pp. 682-708. Broderick, A., Graley, L., and Dentiste, R., 2007. The Behavioral Homogeneity Evaluation Framework: Multi-Level Evaluation of Consumer Involvement in International Segementation. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(5), pp. 678-681. Chang, L., and Ling, Y., 2003. Determinants of Habitual Behavior for National and Leading Brands in China. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 12(2), pp. 94-107. Delgado-Ballester, E., and Munuera-Allemon, J., 2001. Brand Trust in the Context of Consumer Loyalty. European Journal of Marketing, 35(1), pp. 1238-1258. Dholakia, U., 2001. A Motivational Porcess Model Product Involevement and Consumer Risk Perception. European Journal of Marketing, 35(11), pp.1340-1362. Dobbelstein, T., and Zielke, S., 2007. Consumers’ Willingness to Purchase New Store Brands. Journal of Porduct and Brand Management, 16(2), pp. 112-121. East, R., Wright, M., and Vanhucle, M., 2008. Consumer Behavior: Appliocations in Marketing. New York: Routledge. Foxall, G., 2002. Consumer Behavior Analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill. Grebila, C., Colson, G., and Menapare, L., 2011. Analyzing Pork Purchase at the Point of Sale: the Role of Consumer Involvement. Advances in Management, 3(2), pp. 112-115. Gunjan, M., and Amitava, M., 2011. Consumer Behavior Towards Mobile Phone Services Provider. Advances in Management, 4(6), pp. 430-432. Harari, T., and Hornik, J., 2010. Factros Influencing Product Involvement among Young Consumers. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 27(6), pp. 499-506. Hawkins, D., 2010. Consumer Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hoyer, W., 1984. An Examination of Consumer Decision Making for a Common Repeat Purchase Product. Journal of Consumer Research, 11(3), pp. 822-829. Kim, J., and Sung, Y., 2009. Dimensions of Purchase Decision Involvement:Affective and Cognitive Involvement in Product and Brand. Journla of Brand Management, 16(1), pp. 504-519. Laaksonen, P., 2004. Consumer Involvement. New York: Routledge. Mittal, B., 1989. Meaeuring Purchase-Decision Involevement. Psychology and Marketing, 6(2), pp. 147-162. Neal, C., and Quester, P., 2007 . Consumer Behavior. New York: Cengage Learning. Ozdipciner, N., Li, X., and Muzaffer, U., 2012. Cross-Cultural Differences in Purchase-Decision Making Criteria. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Reserach, 6(1), pp. 34-43. Parsons, E., and Maclaran, P., 2008. Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Consumer Behavior. New York: Cengage learning. Quester, P., and Lim, L., 2008. Product Involvement/ Brand Loyalty: Is there a Link. Journal fo Product and Brand Mangement, 12(1), pp. 22-38. Quester, P., Pettigrew, S., and Hawkins, D., 2011. Consumer Behavior: Implications for Marketing Startegy. New York: MaGraw-Hill. Radder, L., and Huang, W., 2008. High Involvement and Low Involvement Products: A Comperision of Brand Awareness among Students in a South Afriocan University. Journal of Fashion and Marketing Management, 12(2), pp. 232-243. Schiffman, L., and Hansen, H., 2011. Consumer Behavior: A European Outlook. London: John Wiley and Sons. Torres-Moraga, E., Vasquez -Parraga, A., and Zamora-Gonzalez, J., 2008. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Starts with the Product Culminates with the Brand. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 25(5), pp. 302-313. This essay on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying was written and submitted by user Kamden Sullivan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

War and Violence Throughout History essays

War and Violence Throughout History essays Throughout this course, there were many eras as well as events that were dissected and examined, resulting in great findings of the history of the world. One specific theme that seemed to be recurrent in many events and time periods is that of war and violence. This was seen through the effects of WWI, Adolf Hitler's reign over Germany, and the use of the atomic bomb by the U.S. against Japan. It may be observed then, that change was brought about as a result of war and violence, but in both positive and negative ways. When looking at WWI, it was falsely perceived that this would be a short war, giving the countries involved grief instead of victory by the end. One negative aspect as a result of the war is that there was financial debt throughout Europe due to warfare needs, which in turn, caused them to borrow money. While the countries were wasting away their money, as well as the borrowed money, on firearms and war provisions to prove they were the better country, in the long run, they were putting themselves in financial debt that would take years to pay off. There were some positive outcomes as a result of the war, one being the change in women's roles. During the war, women were forced to come in and take over the roles of the men while they were off fighting. When the war ended and the men returned, women were seen as more equal because it was recognized that they were able to sustain everyday life without the men. This included taking over their jobs, as well as helping out with nursing i n the war, and maintaining the war industry. Finally, one change that was important and resulted from the war had both a positive and negative effect, this being the shift of the West's wealth from Europe to the U.S and Asia. After the war, the countries involved were preoccupied with repairing their countries, so the U.S. and some countries in Asia saw this as an opportunity to benefit their own countries economically. Therefore, as a resu...

Analytical frameworks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analytical frameworks - Essay Example The Porter’s theory is known as the ‘Porter’s Five Forces Method’. According to Boone (2012), porter’s theory states that a business should consider five aspects to maintain a competitive edge on a given industry. The five forces include: threat of substitute products; threat of new entrants; bargaining power of consumers; threat of established rivalries; and, bargaining power of suppliers. Porter provides that an industry which is characterized by low-entry and high-exit barriers is likely to suffer from decreasing profits in the long-run. In this regards, a firm that is intending to maintain high profits in the long run should choose that industry that is associated with high-entry and low-exit barriers. In relation to substitute products, Nour (2013) provides that availability of similar products enhance the chances of a buyer switching to other goods and services. Porter emphasize that attention should be paid to quality and price as far as an industry that is characterized by substitute products is concerned. An industry that has a few firms relative to the number of suppliers is likely to experience a low price of raw materials and other inputs. The ratio of buyers to firms in an industry affects the profitability of a given industry. Loyalty and other practices are employed to reduce the influence of consumers’ bargaining power (Alter, 2000). In regards to established firms rivalry, a firm should consider innovation and other effective business strategies to maintain a competitive edge relative other firms. In order to test the Porter’s five forces model, a case study of a bakery firm known as Hrstic, trading in Croatia, would be analyzed. An analysis was performed to find out the future of small bakery businesses operating in Croatia. This is due to the fact that there are 374 small sized firms in relation to 8 medium and 2 large bakery companies. In addition, it is reportedly that approximately 2,500 bakery firms